Page 110 of The Reluctant Siren
Jensen nodded. “So much I was willing to give her up.”
“How about you? You want to be happy, Wiley? Do you deserveto be happy?” Chase asked, and there was no sarcasm in his tone this time. Hewas serious and open, and this was the father Harlow loved.
“I don’t know,” Jensen replied with quiet honesty. “I know Iwant to be happy, but I’m not sure I deserve it.”
“Then we’ll work on that,” Chase said. “Niall, you’re goingwith Ben. I’ll take Jensen to The Club, and I expect you both to be there in acouple of days. We have a group that plays basketball twice a week.”
“We’re playing basketball?” Jensen asked and then nodded.“Yes, we can play basketball. Niall, are you okay with this? I left you, too. Ileft you alone to take care of her and I just… I’ve been trying to leave you onyour own for years now. I don’t want to. You and Harlow are everything to me.”
He let go of his anger. It was a surprisingly easy thing todo since he’d figured out a long time ago that he did deserve happiness. Therewas only one way for him. Sharing Harlow with his best friend. “I’m okay withgetting our girl back and making her happy. And somehow I don’t think it’s justgoing to be basketball, man.”
Ben stood and put a hand on his shoulder. “You, Niall, are asmart man. Now let’s talk about how you’re going to break into my daughter’scondo and be waiting for her when she gets home from her extended session withthe girls to complain about men. It’s why we’re here. If we stayed it wouldturn on us.”
“I thought we should go to a bar or something, but Benthought we should do some charity work.” Chase was right back to snarky. Itseemed to be his true language.
But Niall had seen the real man lurking under his rage andsarcasm. He’d seen the man who loved his daughter and would open his home andheart to the people she loved.
He was going to be a hell of a father-in-law.
“I’m ready,” Niall said and reached a hand out to his bestfriend. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jensen took his hand, squeezing it tight. “You love herenough for both of us tonight.”
“Did not need to hear that,” Chase said under his breath.
Niall snorted. He wasn’t taking anything back. “Will do.”
He followed Ben out, ready to start the fight of his life.
ChapterNineteen
Harlow sat in Ruby’s car, staring up at her building.
This was not how she’d expected to end the evening.
“Where did your dads go? How are you not worried about themdisappearing?” Ruby sat in the driver’s seat of her SUV, her hands on thesteering wheel.
She’d been a rock this afternoon and long into the evening.Ruby waited at the police station where she’d given her statement.
Then Ruby had taken her to her parents’ place where her momand Greer and Gigi had been waiting with food and wine and willing ears.
Not that she’d used those. Everyone had tried to get her totalk about her feelings, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t be the dumbass girl whocried over the guy who’d left her twice. The first was reasonable. She hadn’tknown what he could do. The second time she’d been very informed and still letthe asshole into her bed.
“I suspect they went to tell Jensen and Niall to stay awayfrom me.” She’d briefly talked to her fathers. Dad had been pissed she hadn’tcalled him in, and Papa had actually agreed with him but they’d dropped itpretty quickly. They’d hugged her and told her they loved her, and Dad told herhow proud he was that she’d followed all her training and dropped the assholewith two to the chest.
“I thought Niall wasn’t the bad guy here,” Ruby proddedgently.
Her mom had looked worried when she left with Ruby, butHarlow promised to be back for breakfast in the morning and everyone had givenher some space. It looked like her bestie was ready to push her.
“I know. He didn’t leave me, but I’m also not sure that itcan work. They’ve been friends for a long time. Honestly, they’re practicallybrothers, and while Niall might be mad at Jensen right now, he will get overit.” She’d thought about it all afternoon. Ever since the moment she lookeddown and Niall was on the ground beside Jensen, holding his hand, following hisinstincts when she couldn’t give in to hers.
Ruby was quiet for a moment. “You haven’t forgiven him forspying on you for Jensen?”
She should have gotten out of the car faster. Harlow sighedand sat back. “I think I have. It wasn’t like he stalked me. He moved into mycircle and hung out and tried to help me when he could. But that kind of makesmy point. He moved his whole life when Jensen asked him to.”
“He seems like he loves it here,” Ruby replied. “I would besurprised if he doesn’t try to keep his membership at The Hideout. Are yougoing to ask the board to expel him?”
“No.” But how was she going to see him every weekend? Shetended to spend most Friday and Saturday nights at The Hideout. Thursdaynights, too. Sundays they usually had brunch at someone’s house, and all of themembers were invited. Niall usually showed up and wolfed down pancakes andbacon and laughed with everyone. “I don’t think he should get kicked out. He’sa good Dom, and I think he needs the club.”
