“It’s exactly like that,” Drake said. “And it’s been going on for months.”
“I told you that’s not how it is, Drake.” God, this had been such a bad idea. He should have gone to Drake’s house to have this discussion. They might have gotten into a brawl, but at least Harmony wouldn’t be embarrassed. “What happened between Harmony and me shouldn’t have been your business in the first place. I didn’t need your permission to do anything with her.”
Drake lunged for him, but Harmony stood between them. “This is ridiculous. It’s not the Dark Ages. I do not need you to come between me and any man.”
“He’s not the right one for you,” Drake said.
“Drake,” Mama Diane said, her voice low and warning. “Mind your words.”
“Really,” Barrett said, deciding he’d had just about enough. “And what makes you think that?”
“Because any man who would screw his best friend’s little sister has no honor. And she’s just as bad as you.”
And just about became more than enough. He moved around Harmony and went for Drake, pushing him against the wall and pinning him with sheer force of will and strength. “Do not ever fucking talk about Harmony that way again.”
Drake threw a punch, connecting with Barrett’s shoulder. He felt the shock of pain, and retaliated with a punch of his own to Drake’s head. Drake shoved him hard and he fell, and suddenly Drake was on top of him.
He didn’t hear anyone else. It was only him and Drake rolling around on the ground together, shoving each other but not getting any more punches in, since they both had death grips on each other.
He finally heard Mama Diane yelling, and suddenly their teammates were on them, pulling them apart.
The first thing he saw when he was pulled up off the ground was Harmony, tears streaming down her face. Her friend Alyssa had her arms wrapped around her.
Barrett pulled free of his teammates, but it wasn’t Drake he wanted to go to. It was Harmony.
“Harmony,” he said, but she took a step back.
Drake went toward her as well. “Hey, baby sis. Don’t cry. This asshole isn’t worth it.”
She held up both hands and shook her head.
“Stop. I’m sick to death of both of you.” She looked at Drake. “If you weren’t so obsessively overprotective, Barrett and I wouldn’t have had to hide our relationship this entire time and none of this would be happening.”
Then she turned her attention on Barrett. “And if you weren’t so afraid of ending your friendship with Drake, you might have actually had the balls to face him and tell him we were seeing each other.
“I don’t even want to look at either of you right now.”
She turned and went inside. Barrett saw her grab her purse, then she and Alyssa left.
Mama Diane turned to Drake. “For God’s sake, Drake. What is wrong with you? Your sister is a grown woman more than capable of running her own life. You need to let it go. It’s time to let her go. I’m ashamed of your behavior toward your sister and your best friend.”
Then she turned to Barrett. “Harmony’s right, you know. This is not the way someone who claims to care about my daughter should act. I know you love my son. No one has been a better friend to him than you have. But this.”
Mama Diane shook her head. “You handled this whole situation poorly, Barrett. I’d like you to leave now, while I have a few more words with Drake.”
He’d never once been asked to leave Mama Diane’s house. He felt like someone had shot a hole in his heart.
For more reasons than one.
With a short nod, he walked inside, then out the front door, feeling like he’d just lost an entire family of people he loved.
And the woman he loved right along with them.
Thirty-Five
Barrett went home, but he didn’t feel settled. He needed to talk to Harmony.
He called her, but she didn’t answer. He texted her, but she didn’t answer his texts, either.
No way was he going to leave town tomorrow without seeing her, so he got in his SUV and drove over to her town house. When he knocked at the door, Alyssa answered.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you right now, Barrett.”
He inhaled, then let it out. “I just need five minutes.”
Alyssa opened her mouth as if she had a very definite opinion about him needing five minutes, but then she just shrugged. “I’ll ask her.”
She shut the door in his face.
He waited, pacing the small front porch until the door opened again. This time, it was Harmony.
“What?”
Wow, she was really mad. He deserved it.
“I’m sorry. Can I come in?”
“No.”
He raked his fingers through his hair. “Harmony, I don’t want to do this on the porch. Please.”
She sighed. “Fine.”
She opened the door and he stepped in. Alyssa stood just behind Harmony, arms folded like a warrior bodyguard.
“Alyssa,” Barrett said. “Can we have a minute, please?”
Alyssa looked over at Harmony, who gave her friend a short nod.
“I’ll be upstairs. You holler if you need me.”
Alyssa gave him a look that told him not to upset her best friend, then went upstairs.