Chapter 41
Harlow
I walk into the office building, apprehension gnawing at my insides.
The first thing I do is glare at Drake’s closed door, and my chest tightens.
Does the fact that it’s closed mean he’s here or out? Is he sitting in there, going about his day like nothing happened? Has he even thought of me once?
My neck starts to burn. The heat radiates outward, spreading across my shoulders, down my spine, over my whole body, until I feel like I might combust right here in the lobby.
I’m so angry that I’m not even sure what to do with the emotion.
It’s foreign and sharp, filling every corner of my chest until there’s no room left to breathe.
Counting today, Drake hasn’t bothered to come to practice for three whole days. He hasn’t so much as spoken a word to me since the incident with Hammer, and I’m beyond pissed off at this point.
When I asked Scar where Drake was, he told me that Drake had work commitments he couldn’t get out of. That he would be back as soon as possible. That I wouldn’t fall behind in my training. He even tried to reassure me that all was well and not to worry.
But it isn’t. Not by a long shot.
“Good afternoon, Harlow,” Charlotte chirps from behind her desk, her happy tone grating.
I pull myself together, forcing my expression into something resembling pleasant. “Hi, Charlotte.”
“What can I do for you?” She smiles, completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside me.
“I came to swap out my swimsuit.” I hold up the freshly laundered suit. “I need a bigger size.”
Scar announced today that we would be going back to Mermaid’s Tail tomorrow.
That we’d be making an attempt to scale the rock everyday going forward, weather permitting.
Which means I need a suit that actually fits properly if I don’t want to end up flashing everyone when I’m dangling off of the wet stone.
“No problem.” Charlotte stands, coming around her desk. “Did I give you the wrong size?”
“Not at all. I’m quite tall. It can be tricky finding the right fit for me.” I shrug, trying to keep my voice light. “I probably should have tried on the last one you gave me, like you recommended.”
“We’ll have you in the right size in no time. Is one size up okay?”
“That would be perfect.” I nod.
“I’m just going to the storeroom. I’ll be back in a second.” She disappears through a side door.
The moment she’s gone, I stare daggers at Drake’s closed door.
The anger surges again, hot and suffocating.
He might be busy with work, but he could have taken the time to speak to me about what happened.
To let me know that he wouldn’t be attending practice so that I wouldn’t look like an idiot day after day.
I looked for him. I waited by the SUV like some pathetic puppy. Waited until Scar finally called me over, his expression sympathetic, to tell me that he was taking me to training. That Drake wasn’t coming.
I actually got looks of pity this morning. Not just from my friends but from the shifters, too. Whispers behind hands. Sideways glances. It isn’t fair. He isn’t being fair.
“Here you go.” Charlotte returns, holding out another swimsuit. “You should try that on before you leave. Make sure it fits this time.”
I take the suit, my eyes drifting back to his closed door despite my best efforts.
“Is Drake in today?”
“Yes, he is.” She sits back behind her desk. “But he has asked not to be disturbed.”
“Would you mind telling him that his rider is here to see him?” I ask her. “I really need to speak with him, Charlotte.”
She scrunches her nose up. “He was adamant about not being disturbed.”
“I’m not just anyone.” I lean forward slightly, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. “I only need five minutes. Please can you check? That’s all I ask.”
Charlotte hesitates, then nods slowly. She picks up her phone, pressing a button.
“Hi, Drake. I’m sorry to bother you, but Harlow is here. She says she needs to speak with you.”
A pause. I watch Charlotte’s face carefully, trying to read the response in her expression.
“Yes, I told her that, but she’s insisting.” Another pause. “I understand.” Her shoulders slump slightly. “I’ll let her know.”
My heart sinks like a stone.
Charlotte puts the phone down, her expression apologetic.
“I’m sorry, Harlow. He is really busy. He said he will see you at practice tomorrow.”
Screw tomorrow and screw him!
My feet are moving before I make a conscious decision, carrying me around Charlotte’s desk and straight toward his office door.
“W-wait…um…Harlow…you can’t—”
I grab the handle and push it open.
Drake looks up from his desk, his eyes widening in surprise before his expression hardens. He stands, his chair scraping against the floor.
“Harlow—”
“What the hell is wrong with you?” The words burst out of me, raw and angry.
“You can’t go in there.” Charlotte’s footsteps sound behind me, quick and panicked. “I’m so sorry, Drake.” Her voice is tight with shock. “You can’t be in here, Harlow.” The sharpness in her tone when she addresses me is unmistakable.
Drake’s jaw ticks. He comes around from his desk, his movements controlled despite the tension radiating from his body.
“It’s fine, Charlotte.”
“Are you sure?” Charlotte asks, hovering in the doorway.
I fold my arms across my chest, planting my feet. Charlotte is going to have to physically remove me from this office if he changes his mind. I think Drake knows that because his eyes move to me.
“Yes,” he says. “Since Harlow is already in my office, I’ll see her. You can leave and close the door behind you. Thank you, Charlotte.”
His PA hesitates for another moment, then nods and retreats, pulling the door shut.
The moment we’re alone, the air in the room seems to thicken.
“I know why you’re here.” Drake’s voice is measured. “I was out of line. I shouldn’t have hit Hammer. I shouldn’t have reacted the way that I did.”
“You’re right. You shouldn’t have.” I keep my arms folded over my chest, acutely aware that I’m still in my workout clothes. That I’m a little sweaty. I came here straight after our training session. I couldn’t put off getting a new swimsuit any longer. “But that’s not the reason I’m here.”
“You need to know that Hammer wasn’t being nice at all,” he continues. “He was being a perverted dickhead. He was hitting on you.”
“I know exactly what he was doing.” My voice comes out flat. “I’m not an idiot.”
“I know that.” Drake takes a step closer. “But you are sweet. You like to see the best in people. I was worried that you—”
“Well, don’t worry about me!” The words explode from me. “I can take care of myself. I also know that you weren’t jealous.”
He nods.
“I know that it was your dragon being protective. I know all of that. I’m not even angry you hit Hammer.”
“You’re not?” He frowns, confusion crossing his features.
“I think you overreacted, but I’m okay with it.”
“Like you said, my dragon was very much involved in the whole thing.”
“I could see that. I understand.” I take a breath, forcing myself to stay focused. “Can we forget about Hammer and what happened now? Please?”
He nods. “I’ll be at training tomorrow. I’m glad this has been cleared up. I’ll—”
“Nothing has been cleared up.” I can’t believe this infuriating man. He’s really getting on my last damned nerve.
“I don’t understand.” He frowns. “You just told me you’re not angry with me.”
“Oh, I’m angry, alright. Just not about that.”
“What did I do wrong?” he asks.
“It’s something I’ve spoken to you about over and over again.” My voice rises despite my best efforts to stay calm. “Why are you not hearing me? I need you to communicate with me, Drake.”
“Scar explained the situation. He said he would—”
“I didn’t want to hear from Scar. I wanted to hear from you.”
He shrugs. “I’ve been busy, Harlow, I—”
“You don’t give a shit about me,” I tell him, my voice raised. “You certainly don’t respect me. Not one bit. That’s become clear.”
“What are you talking about?” His voice hardens. “I defended your honor. I respect you plenty.”
I roll my eyes. “All you did was exert your dominance. That was a whole lot of macho bullshit that had nothing to do with me.” I step closer, jabbing my finger into his solid chest. “If you felt even a scrap of respect, you would have taken the time to come and talk to me after it happened.”
His jaw tightens, muscles tensing beneath his skin.
“You didn’t. You should have told me you couldn’t come to training instead of leaving me waiting by the SUV like an idiot.
Not once or twice but three damned times.
” My finger digs harder into his chest, punctuating each word.
I’m shouting now, unable to contain it anymore.
“I looked like a fool. You didn’t care enough or respect me enough to tell me what was going on. ”
“I thought Scar—”
“Stop making excuses.”
“I couldn’t…okay. I just…I… It’s complicated.”
“Bullshit, Drake.” I’m vibrating with anger now, trying hard not to lose it. “You could have taken five minutes out of your busy schedule. You could have called me. I have a phone in my room. You’ve used it before. Don’t give me that crap. We both know you’re full of it.”
“Scar forbade me from seeing you or being anywhere near you.” The words come out in a rush. “He told me to stay away. To keep my distance, which is what I have been doing.”
I actually snort out a laugh. “Scar told you? You’re blaming Scar now?”
“When it comes to our training, he outranks me.” Drake’s eyes flash. “He gave me a direct order. One I had no choice but to follow. I shouldn’t even be talking to you now.”
I laugh, but the sound holds no humor. Does he really expect me to believe that?
“You could have called. Done something. You must know deep down inside that giving me the cold shoulder is wrong.” My voice hitches. I’ve gone from mad to sad in the space of a few seconds. “I know Scar would have condoned one little phone call.”
“He was very clear about there being no contact whatsoever.” His voice is soft.