Page 98 of From the Start
“Harper!”
Her response? She floors it and the car rockets down the street. Fuck.
I run a hand down my face. I shouldn’t have love bombed her during sex. I shouldn’t have love bombed her, period. She’s not ready.
Now she’s panicking. I’m panicking. Everyone’s panicking.
I do the one thing proven to help when I’m panicking.
“Kai,” Mom answers on the first ring.
“I need help.”
“I don’t bury bodies. Call your brothers.”
“Ha. Ha. Very funny. It’s girl trouble.”
“What did you do?” She growls, making it clear whose side she’s on. Spoiler alert. It’s not mine.
I can’t tell her I told Harper I love her and she ran. There’s not a hole small enough for me to crawl into.
“Harper’s upset. She drove away.”
“I’ll handle this. Where is she?”
“She….” I pause when I realize I have no idea where Harper would go when she’s upset. Not home. She’ll avoid her dad. And not to work. I think.
“I’ll message you.”
“I’m on standby.”
“Thanks, Mom. Love you.”
“Love you, baby boy.”
Great. I need to have another humiliating conversation today.
“What?” Henry answers.
“Hi, Henry. Hypothetical question. Where would Harper go if she was upset?”
“If you hurt my baby girl, I’m coming after you. Wheelchair be damned.”
I cringe. I don’t doubt Henry would accomplish his goal. He’s as stubborn as his daughter after all.
“I didn’t hurt her. I … ah…” Damnit. I have no idea how to explain myself.
“Out with it, boy.”
“I told her I love her.”
“Well, shit. No wonder she ran.”
“I didn’t say she ran.”
“But you calling me tells me she did.”
I can’t argue since he’s right. “Where would she go?”
