Smiling, Harlow took my hand. “Thanks for telling me what you’ll tell them. I like that you trust me.”
I studied the needy look on her face. “Once the guys leave town and I feel less on display, you and me will need to have a chat about a few things.”
“Specific things?”
Grinning, I wrapped my fingers behind her neck and pulled her closer for a kiss. “Names, dates, locations. A full debriefing.”
Harlow laughed in an excited way. She’d exposed herself to me the night before. Now she needed me to toss aside my masks and reveal myself to her.
I knew Harlow thought I had all the power. I’d seen her so vulnerable while I’d kept my power. Yet sex had always been cold and rough with me. I expected the same with Harlow. Her skin felt warm and soft, infecting me. Everything seemed a hint better since she opened her heart.
“You threw me an anchor, Harlow,” I whispered, leaning down to nuzzle her hair. “I know you don’t think you’re strong enough, but you’re pulling me out of the abyss I’ve been stuck in since Mexico. Nothing else could save me. Not my family or my work or vacations or the lies I tell myself. Only you.”
Gazing into her eyes, I saw everything. Hope. Fear. Desperation. Faith. Harlow was mine, but I might still lose her. Even if I survived Harlow slipping through my fingers and the life of loneliness awaiting me, my mom would kick my ass. My one shot at happiness was standing before me. I only needed to hold onto her and refuse to let go.
“I wasn't kidding about ditching the game. Get knocked out as soon as you can and meet me on the deck. We’ll bail the party and go somewhere private.”
An excited Harlow hid behind a mask when voices approached. I hated pretending we were only fuck buddies. I hated to wear a mask with Harlow, but these men weren’t our friends. Nothing in Ellsberg was safe for me. I belonged to no club and shared no allegiances. I was a lone wolf in a town full of packs. The reality was Harlow was safer than I was.
Chapter Thirty One ~ Harlow
Vaughn's blue eyes shined against the camo paint on his cheeks and forehead. I knew he was tense. Standing with his arms crossed tightly, Judd was tense too. I wasn’t sure why they were acting so pissy, but I sensed their irritation was related to the Rutgers twins whispering with Dutch.
“They’re joining forces,” Judd whispered.
“Seems like it. They want to end the matches with a big bang,” Vaughn muttered.
I glanced at the men then back at Vaughn. “Or the twins want to make nice with a guy coming into power.”
“You’re not paranoid enough. I blame your parents,” Vaughn said, giving me a wink. “You look different today. Sick maybe. Did you eat bad eggs?”
“Eggs?”
Judd grunted. “Bailey ate bad eggs and threw up on Tucker who then puked back on Bailey. It was one of the more heartwarming moments between the siblings.”
“I can’t say I’m sorry I missed that.”
“You do look sick though,” Vaughn said, cupping my face. “Did Saint make you drink some kind of mineral shake? He seems like a health nut.”
Yanking my face away, I stepped back. “No and stop touching me. He doesn’t like that.”
“Is he possessive?” Vaughn asked with a jerk-sized twinkle in his eye. “Does he boss you around? Should I have a talk with him? Threaten to shove a bowling ball up his ass maybe?”
“Sounds like a plan,” Judd added, smirking. “Tawny thinks a bowling ball won’t fit in a guy’s ass. This could be our chance to test it out and answer the question once and for all.”
“I think that’s the most I’ve ever heard you talk,” I said, backing away from Judd.
Dylan pressed up behind me. “Leave her alone before I test the bowling ball up your asses.”
Looking at my brother-in-law, I smiled at his expression. He was taking a bullet for me by distracting the guys.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“Remember this when I doze off during one of your stories again.”
Losing my smile, I remembered him going as far as snoring while I explained all the super cool moves I learned in my martial arts class. Dylan grinned at my frown then walked past me and sized up Vaughn.
“I remember when you were good at bowling. Impending fatherhood hasn't been good to you.”
Vaughn lost his grin. Yeah, his bowling slump was a touchy subject. While the guys tormented each other with threats and lame insults, I noticed Saint stalking through the crowd of Memphis guys.
Even without his size and dark skin, he was all I could see in the ocean of bodies. The minute his gaze met mine, the world fell away and we were alone.