23. Harley
Chapter Twenty-Three
HARLEY
The following day, time got away from me.
I meant to go over to the lodge for breakfast as the situation in our refrigerator was looking bleak.
I had a video conference on a graphic design project, then dived into work, forgetting everything until I went to stand.
I was starving and almost light-headed. I stuffed my feet into my shoes and hurried through the trees to the lodge.
Daphne always kept leftovers around. I realized my mistake as I stepped into the back hallway.
My heart felt funny, the beats too fast. It felt almost as if my heart stumbled.
I saw black dots on the edges of my vision.
That was the last thing I remembered until I heard Daphne saying my name. She sounded far away.
“Harley,” she repeated.
I blinked my eyes open. She was kneeling beside me, her worried eyes widening the moment mine opened. “Oh, thank God.” She sat back on her heels and let out a deep sigh.
“I'm fine,” I said.
“Um, you were unconscious.”
When she put her hands on her hips and gave me a sort of concerned glare, I almost burst out laughing. Except I felt weak, and, apparently, I’d just fainted in the back hallway at the lodge. Fuck my life.
“I'm fine. It's this heart thing I have.”
“I know, you’ve mentioned it before, but?—”
I cut her off. “It's not a big deal. I just started medication for it. My heart skips a beat here and there, and it can get a little out of whack. I need to be careful about not having my blood sugar get low or anything like that. I skipped breakfast this morning. We don't have anything over there. Please don’t mention this to anyone.”
Daphne studied me quietly. “I sent Cat into town for errands because she has practice tonight for her play. It’s just you and me.”
She deftly avoided agreeing not to tell anyone. I knew Daphne would say something to Flynn, and Flynn would say something to Diego and Grant. Well, whatever. I resigned myself to the inevitable.
“Should we sit for a minute?” she asked.
“I'm lying flat on my back,” I pointed out. She rolled her eyes. “And you're already sitting,” I added.
“I am.”
Daphne fussed over me, helping me up and herding me into the kitchen, where she sat me down at the table and made me tea. She cooked an omelet, insisting that I needed the protein. I probably did.
She sat with me at the table, nibbling on a leftover scone. “Can I have a scone for dessert?” I asked.
She smiled at me, her eyes twinkling. “Of course. You're another scone lover.”
“I like the subtle flavor. They're always a little buttery too.” I finished the last bite of my omelet.
She took a sip of coffee before asking, “So how are things with Grant?”
I almost choked on the sip of water I’d just taken. “I'm sorry, what?” I asked after I dabbed the water on my chin with a napkin.
Her lips curled in a knowing smile. “You must know he told Diego he has feelings for you. It’s pretty obvious to me that you two have the hots for each other.
It’s definitely a two-way street. I was just wondering how long it would take.
After Cat moved out to the staff house, I figured she would be the unwitting chaperone. ”
I felt my cheeks heating and ignored it. I mentally sighed and decided to take the honest approach. “Things with us are good.”
“Really?” She looked a little surprised I’d shared anything.
“Don't be so surprised. If I'm going to tell anybody, it's you.”
“Really?” she repeated, her gaze genuinely curious.
“I trust you. You might mention it to Flynn, but you won't give him the juiciest details.”
She laughed softly. “True. So this is a thing?”
“Oh yeah, it's totally a thing. I just didn't want Diego to know it’s a thing already. Please don’t let Flynn in on that detail.”
“I’ll keep it vague.” She made the cross in front of her heart.
“There was a…” I paused, uncertain what I was trying to explain.
“A spark?” she offered helpfully.
I grinned. “Sure. I thought it would just be a one-time thing, but Grant’s a really nice guy.”
She nodded firmly. “He’s a great guy.”
I must have looked distressed because she leaned over, curling her arm around my shoulders and squeezing quickly. “What's wrong if it's a good thing?” she asked softly as she leaned back.
“I don't know. I'm independent. It's hard for me to rely on anyone. My last boyfriend screwed around on me, but it wasn't like we were in love.” I paused, considering the one detail I hated talking about. “When I was sixteen, my sister’s boyfriend hit on me. He was twenty-seven.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What an asshole and a creep!”
“I told him to fuck off, but I guess it made it hard for me to trust. My sister thought he was the best guy. He was nice and everything.”
“What happened?”
“I told her, and she dumped him. It was a big thing. He told her I was lying, but she believed me.” Thank God for small favors.
My stomach curdled every time I recalled him trying to kiss me after sliding his hand too low past my waist. I’d been horrified.
I shook those thoughts away. Sure, it had definitely contributed to my distrust of the world, but it was the past. “Grant doesn't really do serious, does he?”
Daphne was gracious enough to let the conversation move on. “I don't think he's opposed to it. Maybe he hasn’t met the right person.”
“Yeah, but how can I be the right person? It could get messy.”
She shrugged. “We all survived Gabriel and Nora's breakup. You weren't here for the whole of that, but they were pretty cold for a bit there.”
“Well, now they’re happy. Maybe Grant and I are just meant for a brief thing.”
“Do you really like him?” she asked gently.
My heart took off at a fast clip. I took a breath, letting it out in a sharp sigh. “I think so,” I reluctantly admitted. “Has he talked to anybody about it?”
I hated, absolutely hated, my curiosity, but I really wanted to know. If anybody knew, it would be Daphne. “Diego told Flynn that Grant said he had feeeeeeelings for you. I think you two are good for each other,” she offered with a decisive nod.
“Why do you say that?”
“Because you are. Life hasn't been a walk in the park for Grant.
Their mom died, and it sounds like their dad was a flake before he passed away.
Even with that, Grant's got this easy personality.
I think things do come fairly easily to him.
You're a challenge for him. He can't just be the guy all the girls want to kiss or fuck, as the case may be,” she said bluntly.
I burst out laughing at that. “Are you saying I'm difficult?”
“No. I'm saying you're a challenge for him. You're independent. You're intelligent. You don't need him for anything, and I think that's good for him.”
“How is he good for me?”
Her eyes softened. She paused, finishing the last bite of her scone and taking a sip of water before answering.
“It seems like you don’t trust the universe, especially when it comes to romance.
You’re kind of prickly.” With the way she said it, I couldn't even get defensive, and I snorted a laugh.
“Just saying,” she offered with a quick grin.
“Grant will be good to you, and I think you deserve that.”
“Why would he want me? Like you said, I’m prickly.”
“I'm kind of prickly.”
“No, you're not!” I protested.
Her brows hitched up. “I'm doing better than I was, but when I met Flynn, I was pretty, well, really , uptight. That's why he calls me princess.”
I grinned. “I love when he calls you that. It's really sweet.”
Her cheeks flushed pink. “I love it too, but it drove me nuts at first. Anyway, sometimes it helps to have someone really good and solid. That's all I'm saying.” She paused, her gaze skating over me. “Does he know about your heart issue?”
“Yeah, remember? He’s the one who told Diego when I fainted before.”
She slapped her hand to her forehead. “That’s right!”
“I just started taking medication.”
“Will that help?”
“I hope. Quinn said we might have to adjust the dose.”
“I think you should let him know this happened.”
“I will. I have a follow-up appointment,” I said, feeling a little defensive.
“Good. I’d rather not find you passed out in the hallway again. Next time, I’ll call Grant or Diego.”
I glared at her.