Carter didn’t mean to make her cry. He wasn’t used to seeing this side of her. The woman he knew was fierce and would have had some kind of a stinging comeback. “What can I do to fix this?”
Slowly, Harlem raised her head and looked deeply into his eyes. “You can’t. The moment you made your decision, there was no coming back from that.”
His chest tightened. “I know you blame me. Sometimes, I wonder if there was more I could do. I wish there were. I’ve got to live with that, but it won’t change the fact that Damian is not coming back.”
Harlem blinked a few times. Then, out of nowhere, she lunged at him. “This is all your fault!” Harlem lost it as she pounded her fist against his chest and screamed. “I hate you! God, I haaaaaaaate you! How could you do it?! I wasn’t ready!!”
Neither was he. Carter had second, third, and fourth guessed his part in this madness. It was his own guilt that forced him to stand still as Harlem beat on his chest, releasing her pain and frustrations. He would allow it until she got tired. Fortunately, it didn’t take long.
Breathing hard, Harlem couldn’t believe she had just lost her shit. Harlem had never hit another person in her entire life. She stared at her hands as if she had never seen them before. “Oh, my God. Carter, I—”
He finished her sentence. “Needed to get that out.”
Harlem looked as if she were going to collapse. Carter pulled her into his arms and wrapped them around her. Exhausted from everything that life had thrown her way, Harlem rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She hated him. But, he offered the comfort that she needed.
The room was quiet for a while.
Her outburst was long overdue. Carter spoke into her hair. “You’ve wanted to kick my ass for some time.”
“True.”
“You’re going to be okay. We both are.”
She whispered. “He’s not coming back. I don’t know how to move forward, and I can’t go back to how it was.”
“It’ll take us some time to lean into our new normal. It will get easier.” It had to. Harlem was his responsibility, and he was at a loss on what to do, but he wouldn’t tell her that. He hadn’t done a great job of taking care of himself, let alone another person, but Carter had to try. “Why don’t you go grab a shower, and I’ll make you something to eat.”
Gently, Harlem pushed against his chest. “I’m not hungry.”
His arms loosened. “Still, you should try.”
He was right. “Will it be edible?”
That was the girl he knew. He cracked a small smile. “I do well enough. Any foods I should stay away from?”
“Onions.”
“Cool. No onions.”
Harlem started to walk out of the kitchen then turned around slightly. “Carter, I don’t know . . .”
He shrugged. “Me either, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”
She held his gaze and slowly nodded before leaving the room. As soon as Harlem left, Carter took out his cell phone to call Elaina. “Hey. Have you already left for the restaurant?”
“I was just about to leave.”
“Can I get a raincheck? Harlem is pretty shaken up from last night.”
“You’re at her place?”
“Yeah.”
Elaina paused. “Harlem again?”
“She’s been through a lot.”
“So have you.”
“She’s pregnant, Elaina.”
“Is that going to be your excuse every time you break off plans with me?”
“It won’t be like this forever. Harlem needs me right now.”
“Doesn’t she have friends? Why doesn’t she go and spend some time with her parents?”
“Are we really going to argue about this? She’s having a hard time.”
Elaina’s patience was running out. She wanted to scream but did her best to remain calm. She spoke through gritted teeth. “If our relationship is going to work, you’re going to have to figure out how to make me a priority!” The next sound Carter heard was a dial-tone.
Shit. Elaina had every right to be upset. Carter made another call to his personal assistant. “Amy. I hate to bother you on a Saturday, but I need your help.”
“Of course, Mr. Owens.”
“Please send flowers to Elaina.”
“Flowers? On a scale of one to ten, how bad did you mess up?” Amy giggled.
“Not a ten, but maybe somewhere between seven or eight.”
“Ah. Maybe you should send something shiny with those flowers.”
“This is new ground for me, so send whatever you think will make her less pissed.”
Carter opened Harlem’s fridge while speaking to Amy. “What the hell does she have in here?
“Sorry?”
“No. I was talking to myself.” The damn thing was almost empty. There were a few eggs, some cheese, and a little milk. He’d seen some spinach in the freezer. “Hey, while you’re ordering for Elaina, can you order some groceries for Harlem?”
“Of course. By the way, how is she feeling?”
“I wish I could say well.”
“Please tell her she’s in my thoughts. I’ll get right on it, and I will let you know once everything is all set.”
“Will do, and thanks.” Carter disconnected. He took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. Omelet it is.
Chapter 5
Harlem stood underneath the spray of warm water and let it cascade down her aching body. She didn’t move for almost thirty minutes until Carter knocked on the door.
“You good in there?”
She had lost track of time. “I’ll be out soon.” Harlem washed her hair. Her stomach grumbled. She wasn’t hungry before but was now starving. Lately, it seemed as if her body had two gears. It switched between something resembling starvation
