Page 108 of Cougar

“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He laughs. “I live with Mimi. I hear that word at least once a day.”

“They ganged up on me. Ashton Grant pulled my hair and then”—she gestures to Zach— “his ex-girlfriend, Reagan, punched me in the head.” She snorts.

I don’t find any of this funny.

“Are you having trouble with these girls?” my father asks.

“Not really. I don’t think it was me they were targeting.”

“They?” Bass prompts.

Jay nods. “Hannah Scott and Ashton Grant.”

“Hannah is Harold Scott’s daughter,” I tell my father.

I did my homework on Hannah and Ashton after I learned they were giving Harper a hard time at school. Harold Scott was on the football team with Mike and Chris. He was a total fucking asshole, and from the sounds of it, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.

“Which one is Ashton?” I ask for clarification.

“She’s a cheerleader, and she acts like she’s the queen of the school because she used to mess around with Cole.”

And there you have it. The heart of the problem.

Dad lets out a soft laugh as his eyes flick in my direction. “Ah, I see. What happened to the redhead?”

“That’s Harper,” Jay explains.

“I thought Cole was sweet on her?”

“He is.” She uses her index finger on her good hand to point to her broken finger. “Hence the broken finger.”

“Ah.” Dad nods. “I get it now. They targeted her, but you stepped in to help and they hurt you instead.”

“Yep.” She nods.

“Got it. I’ll be right back to get started on your cast.” He gives me a pointed look as he leaves the room.He’s pissed.

“Are you mad?” Jay asks me.

“I’m not mad at you, honey, but no more fighting. Stooping to their level makes you just as much of a bully as the rest of them.” I move toward the door and hold up my phone. “I need to make a call and check on Harper. I’ll be right back.”

I step out of the room and search for my father. I find him down the hall speaking to one of the nurses. She looks familiar.

I approach them and hold out my hand. “Hi. I’m Emerson.”

She takes my hand. “Mia.”Mia. Liam’s naughty nurse.“It’s good to meet you, Emerson.” She turns her attention to my father. “I’ll grab the supplies for the cast,” she says before walking off.

“Daddy, are you okay?” I ask.

“I don’t remember the girls being so aggressive when you were in high school.”

I twist my lips to the side. “That’s because Ella Mackenzie was a scary woman. Those girls knew better.”

“Should I give David a call?”

“Absolutely not. Do you really think I’m gonna let this go?” I let out a humorless laugh. “Don’t tell Mom about this.”

My father winces. “I already did.”

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