Page 121 of From the Start
“You’re also twenty-four. Give yourself a break.”
I growl. I’ve had enough of being reminded of my age. It’s just a number.
“This is my fault,” Jaxon says and I whip my head up to meet his gaze.
“Your fault?”
“I shouldn’t have been so hard on you.”
“No, you were right. I was goofing off at work and you were handling my responsibilities.”
“Not anymore, I’m not.”
My brow wrinkles. “What?”
He clears his throat. “Ever since we had our conversation, you’ve changed. You show up at work on time. You get your tasks done. You’ve proven to me you can be the operations manager of the distillery. I should have told you as much.”
“See? You are nothing like Dad,” Miles says. “You would never abandon one of us when we need you. Even when wedrag you to Mermaid Karaoke when all you want to do is spend time with Harper.”
I scan the faces of my brothers and Dakota and Blossom. All of them are nodding in agreement.
Are they right? Can I believe them? I blow out a breath.
“Okay. I’m not Dad.” I hope. “But Harper did leave me.”
Blossom threads her arm through mine. “Let’s go get her back.”
Hope ignites in my belly. “Do you think I have a chance?”
“Let’s go find out.”
I allow her to lead me to the speakeasy door. The bouncer, Trent, opens it before anyone has a chance to knock. I’m doing this. I’m going to fight for the woman I love.
Dakota shoves me inside and the music starts up. I groan when I realize the song isWe Are Never Getting Back Together.Awesome. Taylor Swift is on Harper’s side.
Hold on. This isn’t Taylor Swift singing. My eyes nearly bug out of my head when I realize it’s Harper on the stage, belting out the lyrics.
So much for having a chance. Harper’s message is loud and clear. We are never getting back together.
I whirl around – intent on escaping – but Jaxon stops me. “Trust me. You don’t want to leave.”
“Trust me. I do.”
I struggle to escape his hold, but he’s not letting me go. In fact, he’s pushing me closer and closer to the stage. And now Harper is singing directly to me.
Except she’s no longer singing about how we’ll never get back together. She’s singing about Christmas lights and our house and making our own rules.
My heart gets stuck in my throat as I listen to her singLover. She smiles down at me. It’s one of her dazzling smiles with her dimples fully on display.
The song finishes and the place erupts in cheers.
“What does everyone think?” she asks the crowd. “Should we never get back together?”
My heart forgets how to beat as I wait for the crowd’s reaction. Everyone boos. Especially my family.
“Or should I reinstate Kai as my lover?”
The crowd breaks into a chant. “Lover. Lover. Lover.”
