“I didn’t think you were going to come in.” I look back at the camper, my cheeks heating knowing that Bailey’s been watching me think this over.
“Sorry, I… uh… had a call?” I don’t mean it to come out as a question but it does, nonetheless. She quirks an eyebrow at me, clearly not believing a word that’s coming out of my mouth.
“Come in. Harlow’s asleep on the sofa. She’s really not in a good place. I hope that seeing you will help. She keeps telling me she doesn’t want to, but I know her better than she realizes I do.” The box of doughnuts is lifted from my hand and I can’t help wondering if I’m going to see them again with the way she’s staring down at them.
“If I didn’t freak out, then none of this would have happened.”
Bailey reaches out, and I still when her hand lands on my forearm. She stares up at me, and I’m unable to react. I’m too desperate for the bit of insight to Harlow that I sense is on the tip of her tongue.
“My best friend is complicated, but her heart is always in the right place. She keeps a lot of stuff about her life hidden, although I think really that she’s just trying to hide it from herself. All of it reminds her too much of her parents. But there would have been no ulterior motive behind what she did. She genuinely just wants to help.”
I nod at her, because although I lost my shit when I found out about the money, I knew deep down that there wasn’t anything malicious about it. Harlow doesn’t have a malicious bone in her body.
“I’ll make myself scarce, but holler if you need me.”
“Thank you, Bailey. I really appreciate it.”
She nods before heading up the stairs with the doughnuts.
She didn’t give me a great impression when I first met her, but I fear I might have Bailey all wrong. Maybe her and Harlow’s friendship makes more sense than first appeared.
Sucking in a deep breath, I walk through into their living room.
I scan my eyes around the mass of flowers and sympathy cards covering every surface before I find her curled up on the end of the sofa.
Dropping to my haunches in front of her, I allow myself a couple of seconds to take her in. Her red hair hangs in curls around her shoulders and her make-up is smudged around her eyes from where she’s been crying today, but her complexion is paler than I remember and the circles under her eyes darker.
My heart aches for what she’s been going through for the past week or so, and I kick myself for not being more forceful and making her see me so I could look after her.
She shifts in her sleep, and I can’t help wondering if she’s uncomfortable with her head at such a weird angle.
Making a snap decision, I stand and slide my arms under her slight body. It takes hardly any effort to lift her into my arms. The second she’s against my chest, she nuzzles her cheek against me and moans lightly.
Does she know I’m here? That she’s in my arms?
“Corey,” she moans. Every muscle in my body freezes, but when I look down I find her eyes are still closed with sleep.
As smoothly as I can, I walk us up the stairs and to her bedroom. I manage to pull her sheets back before lowering her to the bed.
She immediately curls onto her side and stays asleep.
Unable to keep the distance between us now that I’ve touched her, I toe my shoes off and pull my hoodie from my body before crawling in behind her.
I close the space between us until her back is pressed up against my front and I wrap my arm around her waist. After a few seconds, her hand finds mine and she tangles our fingers together.
“Harlow?” I whisper, thinking she might be awake, but I get no reply.
With her in my arms once again, I soon drift off into a peaceful sleep alongside her.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Harlow
When I wake, I feel better than I have in days. That is, until I stretch my legs out and find that I can’t. Something, or someone, is in the way.
Bailey never cuddl… fuck.
Cracking one eye open, I risk a look at the arm that’s wrapped tightly around my waist.
It’s definitely too hairy and tattooed to belong to Bailey.
“Morning, Vixen,” he murmurs in his deep, husky voice, and I tense.
“C-Corey, what are you doing?”
“Well, I was sleeping, until you turned into stone beneath me. Relax,” he encourages, pulling me deeper into his body.
I allow it, but just because it feels too damn good after so long. I’ve craved this feeling. The contentment, the feeling of safety that comes only when I’m in his arms.
“W-why are you here?”
“Because you need me, and because we need to talk.”
“I never said I needed—”
“Shhh.” His lips press to my bare shoulder, and I shudder. It’s such a simple move, but I feel it all the way down to my toes. “I’m so sorry for freaking out. I was blindsided by it and my anger took over.”
“I was just trying to help,” I whisper back.
“I know. I know I should have been thanking you, not shouting at you. I just… I’m not used to anyone helping me out, and I didn’t know how to deal with it.”
“I should have talked to you about it.”
“Yes.” His lips press against my heated skin once again. “You.” Kiss. “Should.” Kiss.
My heart begins to race as heat floods my core. It’s a welcome relief from the sickness I seem to get every morning right now. That thought has a lead weight settling in my belly.
He’s right. We have a lot to talk about.
As much as I want to do this with the barrier that’s between us right now, my need to look into his eyes
