Harlow

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“I was starting to think you’d forgotten you owned a phone.” I huff the instant Winston’s voice comes on the line.

“Some of us have actual lives and don’t live on our devices,” he kicks back, the familiar sounds of my dad’s car shop filtering in through the background.

“Yeah, I know. I’m one of them,” I remind him. If anyone avoids technology, it’s me. I don’t do social media, and I’m rarely on my phone outside of sending a quick text or making an actual phone call. “Sounds like you’re in a mood,” I point out.

“Not in a mood, just busy.”

“Well, I won’t keep you. I just haven’t talked to you in a couple of weeks, and I feel like you’re avoiding me.”

“I’m not avoiding you.”

“So you just conveniently decided to stop answering my calls the day Miles came to talk to you?”

“That’s not true.”

“It absolutely is true,” I tell him. “You avoided your apartment like the plague the last week I was there, and you didn’t even help me move like you promised you would.”

“I gave you a bed.”

“Yeah, that you made our father deliver.”

“I told you, I’ve been busy,” he clips, irritation clear in his voice.

“You’re an awful liar, Winston.” I shake my head even though he can’t see me.

“Harlow.”

“Look,” I cut him off before he can say more. “I get that this Miles situation is not ideal for you, and I’m sorry that we didn’t come clean as soon as we realized there was something between us, but we’re happy. Doesn’t that count for something?”

“It would if I thought there was any chance in hell it would last.”

“Why are you so sure that it won’t?”

“Because I know Miles.”

“And I don’t?” I question.

“Not nearly as well as you think you do.”

“So tell me.”

“I’m not getting in the middle of this, Low. I’m just telling you straight up, don’t get too comfortable. It’s only a matter of time before this ends.”

“That’s your opinion. I guess we will just have to prove you wrong.”

“I hope you can.” He pauses, sliding his hand over the phone as he talks to one of the other guys at the shop. “Hey, Low, I gotta go.”

“Okay, but you’re having dinner with  Miles and me tomorrow.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

“You can. I’ve already checked with Stella, and she promised you two would be there. Preston’s. Seven o’clock. No excuses.”

“I’m not sure how I feel about you going behind my back with Stella.”

“I’m not sure I really care,” I counter playfully. “Seriously, Winst, Miles and I are together. It’s time you wrap your head around that so we can all move on with our lives. He loves you, I love you, and we just want things to go back to normal. Or as normal as they can.”

“You’re very pushy. You know that?”

“I do because you are too.” I smile. “Wonder where we get it from,” I say, knowing we both already know.

“Dad,” we say in unison, both of us laughing directly after.

“So tomorrow. Seven o’clock?”

“Fine, I’ll be there.” He tries to hide it, but I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Love you,” I sing into the phone.

“Love you too,” he grumbles, promptly ending the call seconds later.

——

“You seem nervous.” Miles slides his hand under the booth and squeezes the top of my thigh.

“I am nervous,” I admit, jumping slightly at the contact.

“Don’t be.  It’s Winston. He’ll come around.” He gives me a reassuring smile.

“I know.” I blow out a slow breath. “I just can’t help but feel a little guilty.”

“You have no reason to feel guilty.”

“But I do. I feel like I blew in and disrupted his whole life. First, by invading his apartment and being there a lot longer than I intended. Then by hooking up with his best friend.”

“He’s your brother. You didn’t invade or mess anything up. Things happen, and we adjust.”

“When did you become so sure of everything?” I question. Knowing when this first started he was questioning things way more than I was.

“I’m in love with you, Harlow Cabell. Of that, there’s nothing to feel unsure about.”

I suck in a breath, the weight of his words settling down over me like a warm blanket, cocooning me in their safety.

“I...” I start to respond, but my words die off when I look up and catch sight of Stella and Winston heading our way.

“Hey, you two.” Stella smiles, sliding down into the booth directly across from me.

“Hey.” I look up at my brother as he takes the seat next to her, settling in across from Miles.

“This place is really cool.” Stella looks around the dimly lit restaurant. “I can’t believe I’ve never been here before.”

“There food is incredible too,” I interject. “I had forgotten how good it was until Delia and I came here after work last week.”

“Delia?” my brother questions, his gaze falling to me. “Now that’s a pairing I didn’t see coming.”

“Delia is amazing,” I tell him, having grown quite fond of the girl over the last few weeks. It’s an unlikely friendship. I’ll give him that. But once you get past Delia’s hard exterior, it’s impossible not to like her.

“I’m not arguing with you there.” Winston opens his menu, turning his gaze downward. “I just never pictured you two as friends. You’re so different.”

“Sometimes being different is a good thing,” I argue, feeling Miles’ eyes on the side of my face seconds before his hand finds my leg again under the table.

“It absolutely is,” Stella agrees. “Look at me and this one.” She hitches her thumb toward Winston. “We couldn’t be more different, and yet we just make sense.” She smiles adoringly at him.

“Because you’re both batshit crazy,” Miles jokes, garnering a playful elbow to the ribs from me. “What?” He smirks at me. “It’s true.”

“That doesn’t mean you have to say it out loud,” I tell him, unable to contain the smile that spreads across my face every time I look at him.

“This is fucking weird,” Winston grumbles under his breath, drawing our attention in his direction.

“Well, for the record, I think you two look super cute together,” Stella says, dropping her chin into her hand as she rests her elbow on the table, instantly drawing my gaze to the large diamond perched on her ring finger.

“Um...” I point to her hand, my gaze bouncing to my brother.

“Oh yeah, about that.” A slow smile forms on Winston’s face. “So, Stella and I have decided we’re gonna get hitched.”

“What!” I blurt, not able to contain my excitement over the news. “Since when?”

“Since last night.” Stella beams, holding her hand out so I can get a better look at the gorgeous princess cut diamond on her finger.

“And no one called me?” I huff.

“I wanted to, but Winston wanted to wait and tell you guys in person. Surprise!” Her smile widens.

“It’s about damn time.” Miles grins across the table at Winston.

“That’s what I said.” Stella giggles. “Took him long enough.” She nudges her fiancé playfully.

“Do Dad and Jackie know?” I ask my brother directly.

“Told them this morning.” He nods, his earlier unease seeming to dissipate a bit as a lazy smile pulls at his lips.

“You guys.” I sigh, so happy I could cry.

“We’ve decided not to wait,” Stella informs us. “We’re going to do a small ceremony at the end of August and make it official already.”

“That’s only two months away,” I gawk. “That soon?”

“Neither one of us wants a big wedding, and honestly, I’m ready to be Mrs. Winston Cabell already. Ahhh, just the sound of it makes me all tingly inside.”

“Women.” Winston chuckles under his breath.

“You love me so shut it.” Stella lays a light smack to his bicep.

“That I do.” He grins at Stella, and I swear my heart melts inside my chest.

It’s one thing to find happiness for yourself; it’s something else entirely when the people you love find it too.

“So, as I was saying,” Stella continues. “We’ve decided not to wait. And, we were hoping that you two would stand up with us when we say I do.”

“Seriously?” I squeal, practically bouncing in my seat.

“Seriously.” She nods. “You two are so important to the both of us, and we can’t imagine two better people to stand next to us on the most special day of our lives.”

“I don’t know what to say.” I flatten my palm to my chest, feeling an overwhelming rush of emotion wash over me. Of all the friends Stella has, the fact that she chose me means more than I could ever vocalize into words.

“Say yes.” Winston smiles, and it’s like everything that’s happened over the last couple of weeks has disappeared, and things feel oddly okay in the world again.

“Yes!” I practically scream.

“What about you, Miles?” My brother turns his attention to the man at my side. “Think you can squeeze some time out of your busy schedule to be my best man?”

“Are you kidding?” He grins. “It’d be a fucking honor, man.”

“Then it’s settled.” Stella claps her hands together. “Now where’s that waiter? I think champagne is in order.”

——

The remainder of the dinner went by in a blur of good food, bubbly drinks, and busy conversation. If you were an outsider looking in, you would have never guessed that my brother had pretty much avoided Miles and me like the plague over the last couple of weeks.

Walking out of the restaurant, I knew that all was in the past. Miles and Winston laughed and joked like they always have. While Stella and I did our best to keep up with whatever it was, they were talking about. Those two have always spoken their own language of sorts.

And while I know that things can change on a dime, for the first time in a very long time I feel like everything is exactly as it should be.

My brother is marrying the girl of his dreams – who I adore. My divorce from Alan should be final soon so I can finally put that chapter of my life behind me. My dad and stepmom are in good health and doing well. And as for me, well, I’m falling madly and deeply in love with a man who makes me happier than I’ve ever felt in my entire life.

It finally feels right. All of it feels right. Every aspect of my life seems perfect right now. And even though deep down I’m secretly waiting for the other shoe to drop, I still can’t stop myself from enjoying every second of the ride.

“You awake?” Miles nuzzles his face into my hair, his arm tightening around my middle.

“Yeah.” I snuggle deeper into his embrace.

“So I was thinking, maybe at the end of the summer we could take a few days off and take the bike up north. There’s this incredible lake in northern Michigan. The water is so blue you’d almost swear you were looking at the ocean, and they have these amazing cabins. We could rent one for the week.”

“Really?” I roll onto my back and turn my head toward him. Even though the room is dark, I can still see the outline of his handsome face.

“Really.” He hitches his hand around my waist and turns me the rest of the way so that I’m lying on my side, our faces inches apart.

“I’d love that,” I whisper.

“Me too.” I can sense his smile even though I can’t see it. “Maybe after Winston and Stella get married. That should give me enough time to rework my schedule. I might have to push up some appointments which will make my schedule a little tighter over the next few weeks, but it will be totally worth it to get to have you all to myself for an entire week.”

“I’ll have to see if my boss can give me some time off,” I tease, running my fingers through his chest hair.

“Approved.” He chuckles, rolling on top of me, bracing his arms on either side of my head before lowering his face down to mine. “You’ve completely obliterated me, Harlow. I hope you know that.”

“Obliterated doesn’t sound like a good thing,” I counter, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck.

“I haven’t decided if it is a good thing yet,” he teases, nibbling gently on my bottom lip. “But I don’t ever want you to stop either.” He presses down on top of me, and I salivate under the weight of him.

“Then I won’t stop.” I groan when he grinds his arousal into my lower belly. Seconds later his fingers flutter down the side of my stomach. “As long as you don’t stop.” I pant when he shifts his weight and his hand dips between my thighs.

“Never, baby.” He kisses me deep, applying more pressure as his fingers glide along my most sensitive area. “I’ll never stop.” He nips my jaw, withdrawing his hand as his lips work their way down my body.

I come alive under his touch. Each brush of his fingers singes every nerve ending to life. Every touch of his lips makes my heart beat faster. Every murmur and kiss makes me feel on the brink of exploding into a million tiny pieces.

I’ve never had anyone affect me the way Miles Hollins does. And not just physically, but emotionally as well. He makes me feel things I’ve only ever dreamt about. He makes me want things I never thought I’d want again. He makes me see the world that was once so black and white, now in bright, vivid color. He doesn’t just make me feel alive, he makes me want to live.

“Miles.” I urge his face back up to mine, needing to feel him inside me. “I need you,” I plead.

“I’m right here,” he soothes, somehow sensing that I need the reassurance that he’s actually here. That this is  real life.

I press up, finding his lips in an instant. The familiar zing that I always feel every time we kiss is even more prominent now. Maybe because I know that what I feel for Miles is the real thing.

“I need you,” I repeat, this time the words coming out even more desperate.

“Baby.” He groans, pressing his forehead to mine as he lines himself at my entrance.

Our eyes meet in the darkness as Miles enters me with one powerful thrust.