Page 104 of Most Likely to Fear Love

“Why would you need to know that?”

“Because he thinks he loves me. This was his way of letting me know I can trust him. That he’s exactly who he says he is.”

“Oh, well, that sounds amazing, actually.”

Hannah was having none of Mia’s gushing. From her, I got a searching stare. “Does he know everything that happened with Brian? Like, everything?”

I nodded, rubbing at my arms. Was it suddenly cold in here? All Hannah knew was that Brian cheated. She had no clue to how deep his betrayal had been. Or how thick the scars were that he left behind.She’d clearly caught the significance of the fact that I’d told Harle more than I’d told my own sister.

“So what are you going to do now?”

“Nothing. I’ve told him where we stand and he’s accepted it.” And okay, he’d looked like I’d torn his heart out and stomped on it, but still. It was done. “I’ll just mail the money back to him.” Because fuck knows, I definitely couldn’t face him again.

Hannah pressed her lips together, eyes narrowing again as she studied me. There was a beat of silence where I was sure she was going to argue some more. But then something shifted in her expression, so subtle I almost missed it. She nodded slowly. “Well, sounds like you’ve got it all handled. How about I make us coffee then? You got anything to eat?”

The sudden change of subject had me suspicious, but I was too emotionally drained to probe. “Sure, I can rustle up some cheese toasties, if you like.”

“Great.” Hannah’s tone was just a fraction too bright, but I chose to ignore it. Sometimes letting things go was easier than fighting. And god knows, there was no fight left in me.

HARLE

The dogs shifted in the backseat, their excitement building as they recognized where we were. They loved visiting Sarah’s, mainly because of the kids.I glanced at them in the rearview mirror, trying to muster a smile. Buddy’s ears perked up, and Max, always the big oaf, was already halfway leaning out of the window, tail wagging like mad.

“Alright, guys, let’s get this over with.” I cut the engine and just sat there for a long moment, staring through the windshield. Dreading getting out of the truck and knocking on Sarah’s door. She’d read me in a fucking nano second and the last thing I wanted to do was talk. The time for talking was over, well and truly over. Now, I just needed to get away from it.

Needed to be as far away from Cassidy as possible. Fuck, I couldn’t even be mad at her for it. Maybe that was the problem. If I could rage at her, I could burn away all the hurt. But she’d looked so sorrowful and so incredibly alone, that I hurt for her almost as much as I did myself.

I forced myself out of the truck. The dogs bounded out, their energy making a mockery of my own heavy steps. As Iapproached Sarah’s front door, I plastered on a smile that felt more like a grimace.

Sarah swung the door open before I could knock. “Harle! We were wondering when you’d—” The smile died on her face as she really looked at me, that same sharp awareness I’d seen after Jackson’s passing crossing her features. But she covered quickly as the kids came running. “Lily, Jake, look who’s here!”

“Yay! Uncle Harle’s here!”

Lily latched onto my leg while Jake made a beeline for the dogs. They were so damn cute, it was almost enough to make a man feel better. Almost.

As we moved to the living room, Sarah handed me baby Gracie. Holding my niblings had never weirded me out before, but the moment the little bundle was in my arms, it took all my resolve not to hand her straight back. Lots of things had changed.

“How about a coffee?”

Fuck me. All I really wanted to do was hit the road, but that would only get me more sharp stares and hard questions, so, “Yeah, okay.”

I took a seat on the couch, letting Gracie settle against my chest. Her tiny breaths were calming, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, just listening to the soft rhythm. The kids played with the dogs, their laughter echoing through the room. I really tried to let it lighten the heaviness in my chest.

But the weight was still there, a constant reminder of what I’d lost.

Sarah returned with two mugs of coffee, setting them on the table before sitting beside me. She took Gracie from my arms and settled her in the crib. “Okay, I’m not going to make you talk about it, but you can’t fool me. Something is very wrong with you right now. I’ve only seen that look in your eyes once before. It’s all I can do not to freak the fuck out.”

I knew if I met her gaze, I’d let it all out, so I stared down at my coffee mug. “I’m fine.” The biggest lie I’d ever told my sister, right there.

She let out a frustrated sigh. Knowing she needed a little more reassurance than that, I said, “Okay, I’m not fine. But I will be.”

“I’ll take that, if it’s all you’re going to give me.”

“It is, for now. I just need time, Sarah.”

Sarah gave me a sad smile. “You take all the time you need. Just know we’re here for you, okay?”

“Yeah, I know.”

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