“This isn’t really my place to be telling you this, but… Rylee can be persuasive when she wants to be. Harlow isn’t in a good place, man. I think she might need you.”
“She barely knows me,” I mutter, downing my drink in one.
“She knows you enough to help you out when you need it. I get why you’re angry. I really do. But you might need to put your pride aside for this one.”
“Is that what you’d do?” I know it’s not a fair question to ask; he has no idea what has led up to all of this, for either of us. Although something tells me he knows more about Harlow than I gave him credit for.
“Corey, I handed my balls over to Rylee quite some time ago. She needs me, then I’m there in a fucking heartbeat, man.”
The TV behind my head changes, and it has Colton looking up. I glance over my shoulder to see what’s got his attention and find a news report on the upcoming season.
“You all ready for it?”
“Ready as I can be. You planning on coming out this year?”
“Yeah, if I can.” I was at one of his races when I was here last year, Austin got me VIP tickets, thanks to Rylee. It was the first time I met Colton, although I’m sure he barely remembers it after the high of the win he was floating around on. Safe to say, I was pretty starstruck. I’d followed his career for years, never thinking I’d end up that close to him. Or that I’d be in a bar drinking with him right now.
His face flashes on the screen and he sinks down in his chair a little, pulling his hat lower in the hope that no one notices him.
“You can go if you like, you don’t need to babysit me.”
“What? Don’t be stupid. I’m not passing up a night of freedom. Actually…” He pulls his phone out and taps away for a few seconds. “Reinforcements will be here momentarily.”
“Reinforcements?”
“Yep, and he’s even better with advice than I am… or so he thinks.”
Not ten minutes later does Colton’s best mate and right-hand man, Becks, come strolling into the bar as if he’s been here a million times before. His eyes land on us and he makes his way over.
“Becks, my man. You know Corey, right?”
“Sure do.” He nods at me before falling into a chair.
“He’s got voodoo pussy issues.”
“Ah, say no more. I’ve got you covered.” He takes the drink Colton offers him and knocks it back before leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “Hit me with it and I’ll tell you exactly what to do. Ain’t that right, Wood?” He slaps Colton in the chest.
“Yeah, regular fucking Dear Abby, this one,” he grumbles with an amused smile on his lips.
Harlow aside, the night turns out to be one of the best I’ve had since moving here. I’ve hung out occasionally with the guys from the studio or Austin when he’s not working or with his missus, but spending time with Colton and Becks is just easy, relaxed. We shoot the shit, give each other shit, and just… hang.
By the time I’m back in my flat later that night with my head spinning once again, I feel lighter for the first time since walking out of that letting agent office at the beginning of the week.
Once I’m in bed, I pull my phone from my pocket and bring up an app that allows me to send her flowers. When the app prompts me to upload my own message for the card, I scramble out of bed to find a pen and piece of paper. The second I write her name, I know what to add.
Need for her pulls at my muscles as I redraw a part of the tattoo she allowed me to ink on her.
Fuck. I need her.
I’m still angry that she went ahead and bailed me out like she did, but I’m not angry enough to ignore the fact that she’s going through a hard time. Plus, the gesture will make me feel that little bit better about the fact that I should probably do as Colton suggested and push my pride aside and go and see her myself.
I tell myself that I will, but then I end up convincing myself that she’s probably surrounded by family right now who are supporting her through this. The last thing she needs is me after the way I treated her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Harlow
“You should call him,” Bailey says as we continue staring down at the card.
“N-No, I can’t. He clearly knows what’s going on,” I wave the card in front of her as evidence. “Yet he decided to send these instead of himself.” I fight to keep my voice strong, but the sympathy in Bailey’s eyes tells me that I didn’t do a very good job.
“He doesn’t know everything, though. Does he?”
“B, he couldn’t cope with me giving him a few thousand dollars. You really think he’s going to take well to me following that up with a baby?”
“He’s got a right to know.”
“I know, I’m aware. I just… I just need to get my head around it before I attempt to figure out how I’m going to tell him.”
She wraps her arm around my shoulder. “Do what feels right. I’ll support you all the way.”
“Thank you,” I mutter into her shoulder when she pulls me in for a hug.
“I didn’t know if you wanted me to or not, but I called the funeral directors when you were asleep just to get things moving.” I nod, thankful that she’s made that first step for me, because it was one of the things I was dreading the most. “Did you know your aunt had already planned and paid for her funeral?”
“What?”
“Apparently it’s all done. You just need to confirm a date. The rest has been taken care of.”
I stare at her, totally taken aback, but then this is my aunt we’re talking about.
