Page 116 of Make Her Mine

For a Sapphire Falls street dance, that had gotten a little intense.

I glance over at Harlow.

She’s watching the town pass by her window as we drive toward my house.

She’s been quiet ever since we got in the truck. My hand is resting on her thigh and she’s got her hand on top of mine, but we’re not talking.

I have no idea what to say.

I’m still stunned by what her mom—and my mom and their friends—had revealed tonight.

But I don’t know why I feel that way.

All of that is completely in character. If one of their kids needs something, they all rally around. It’s always been that way. And Peyton is the epitome of a mama bear. She would have absolutely beat the shit out of Zach herself. And the other moms would have covered for her.

If I hadn’t gotten there first.

I’m glad I did. Peyton didn’t need to confront all of that, deal with all of that.

I definitely needed to.

I suppose my surprise is simply because I didn’t know they all knew what had happened with Zach.

Now that I know, everything makes sense. Including the fact that Zach has left Harlow alone.

Until now.

The guy really does have balls coming back here now, for this wedding, and telling Harlow he wanted her back.

“You could have waited until after the championship game.”

I look over at Harlow as she finally speaks. “What?”

She keeps her gaze on the street in front of us. “You could have waited to confront Zach until after the game.”

I grip the steering wheel tighter. “No, I couldn’t have.”

“Why not? The game was huge and?—”

“Harlow.” I cut her off, squeezing her thigh. I look over. She’s looking at me with wide eyes. “He drugged you. He would have done even worse given the chance. That was not going to stand. That was huge. That was bigger than any fucking football game.”

I hate that I have to concentrate on the road. We’re only a couple of blocks from my house though and we need to get there. She doesn’t say anything so I just focus on the drive.

We pull into my driveway, and I let out a long, relieved breath. I shut off the truck and turn to her. “Okay, what are you thinking? Wondering about?”

She swallows and then looks over at me. “Let’s go inside.”

I start to respond, but then close my mouth. Yes, we should go inside. I’ll tell her whatever she needs to know, but now, with all the emotions stirred up again, I want to do what I couldn’t do back then—hold her, assure her she’s safe, tell her that I love her, and no one will ever hurt her as long as I’m around.

I nod and get out, coming around to her side of the truck. She’s got the door open, but she lets me swing her to the ground and take her hand as we head up the path to the porch. I open the door, letting her past me, then I step in, shut and lock the door behind me.

“Harlow—” I start.

But she turns to me. The only light is the small lamp on the table just inside the door. “You would have gone after him no matter who he’d drugged at a party. You never would have let him get away with that. I want you to know that I know that. And…I love that. You’re a really amazing man.”

That hits me directly in the chest. I take a breath and blow it out. “Thank you. But, I…” Fuck, does she need to know this? I suppose so. “I would have talked to him, probably punched him once or twice, definitely threatened him if it was anyone else,” I say. “But it was you. I hurt him a lot more than I probably needed to. More than I should have.” I shake my head. “I’m really not proud of it, but I’m also not sorry.”

She’s watching me as I confess. “I don’t think you need to be sorry.”

---