Page 114 of The Reluctant Siren
Embarrassment flooded him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be thatobvious.”
Chase stared at him for a moment. “Yeah, it’s hard at first.When Leo cracks you open and convinces you it’s okay to be vulnerable and shitand that emotion is like the whole meaning of human existence, so it doesn’tmake us better men to avoid it. That’s a hard lesson, but it gets easier.”
Maybe he didn’t need embarrassment either. “Why are youhelping me? I’m so grateful, but I don’t understand. Niall and Harlow aretogether. He’ll take care of her. He’ll love her. He’s the best man I know.”
Chase frowned at him. “And you’re the bad guy?”
“See, that is a loaded question because my intentions weregood, and I even had this last-minute revelation that I was being aself-sacrificing moron for absolutely no reason. So all this new info in mybrain tells me I’m actually not the bad guy,” he replied. “But I think Harlowsees me that way, so I would expect you do, too.”
He’d wondered that first night if it hadn’t all been a slowplay to murder him. He’d still gotten in the car and let Chase drive to TheClub and give him his schedule. Work and therapy and working out and back toThe Club.
He was supposed to start classes next week to get hiscertification as a personal trainer, but he kind of wanted to study somebusiness, too. Niall could use someone who could help him run the business partof the gym.
“You are not the bad guy,” Chase said with a sigh as thoughthis took a part of his soul to say. “You’re a dumbass, but then we all are.Look, it might have been pointed out to me that you didn’t have a fatherfigure. That you had to be the father figure. Well, lucky for you, I had agreat dad. Oh, he was my older brother, but he was solid. Still is. So considerthis my official taking you under my wing. I’m a sarcastic asshole but if Icare about you, I’ll go to the ends of the earth. Look, this love thing is hardwhen you didn’t get a lot of it as a kid. It’s also hard if you got a lot oflove and never had to worry about anyone leaving. You and Harlow are onopposite ends of hard, but I suspect my daughter is going to come around and bethe brave, glorious woman she is eventually. Ah, there’s my proof right now.Don’t fuck this up.”
His jaw nearly dropped as Harlow walked through therevolving door, Niall following her. She was in a dress looking like shebrought the damn sun with her. Everything felt more light, more beautiful, withher in the lobby.
She laughed at something Niall said and slid her sunglassesoff. Niall was dressed in basketball shorts and a tank, carrying his gym bag.He saw Jensen before Harlow did and put a hand on Harlow’s arm. He leaned overand whispered something in her ear.
She pulled back and shook her head.
She didn’t want to see him. “I should go. Where are wemeeting?”
“You should be patient and trust her,” Chase said under hisbreath.
Harlow turned and started walking right up to them. Shehugged her dad. “Hey. You’re still doing this? I would have thought you guyswould have moved to like checkers or something.”
Her dad laughed. “We’re not that old yet. Well, Taggart is.”
“Fuck you,” the big blond guy said as he walked past them.“Wiley, if you think I’m going easy on you because you had a couple thousandvolts through your system a few days ago, you’re wrong. Old, my ass. I amtimeless.”
Chase flashed a grin as Taggart disappeared behind the doorleading to the courtyard. “See, you want to put him on his ass now, right?”
“You are a terrible influence,” Harlow said with a shake ofher head. She turned to him and her light dimmed slightly. “How are you,Jensen?”
She was so pretty. He wanted to take her hand and tell hereverything. But patience was the key. “I’m okay. The shaking has stopped, and Ihaven’t tripped over my own feet since yesterday. I’m having sessions with yourUncle Leo, and they’re going well. How about you?”
“Niall is keeping me busy,” she replied. “But today I’m hereto support my mom and my auntie. They lead a survivor’s group. It’s the onethey belonged to years ago, and now they help facilitate. They’re having a teatoday to celebrate their volunteers. I’m going to be in serving mode.”
He remembered how nice her serving mode could be, but hetamped that right down since her dad seemed to have a six sense about him.“That sounds great. Niall? Are you ready for this?”
Niall gave him a big smile and slapped him on the back. “I’mhere so the olds don’t take you out, brother.”
No. Niall was here to support him. Those tears were rightthere again. “Thank you.”
Harlow kissed Niall on the cheek and started to walk towardthe banquet hall. “Don’t tear an ACL, please. I know they’re all old, butthey’re mean and well trained. Do not underestimate them. Hey, lunch after? Mymom is serving tea cakes and shit. I need a burger and a beer.”
He waited for Niall to tell her yes and then realizedeveryone was looking at him.
“No?” Harlow asked. A brow rose over her eyes. “Niallthought you might like a burger. They serve a lot of froufrou food here.”
“Yes.” He nearly tripped trying to get the word out. “Yeah,I would love a burger. I would love to have lunch with you. With you and Niall.That would be great.”
Chase snorted. “So awkward. I’m going to go to the lockerroom and make fun of my brother.”
Harlow walked back as her dad left. “It’s only lunch.”
He nodded. “Only lunch.”
