Chapter 15 The Discovery
The Discovery
Harper
“Fuck it.” Parker holds his hands up. “We aren’t trying to encroach on your property. But some of us were wondering when you were going to let Harper go.”
Let me go? Why would that matter?
“Are you fucking with me right now?” If Caden wasn’t in the booth, he looks like he would have Parker pressed up against the wall with his fist in his face.
Parker swallows and backs up a step. So he isn’t entirely stupid. “We just figured if you were done with her—”
“What makes you think that?” Luke stands. Parker is bigger, like Caden, but right now, he looks small, as if he’s shrinking into himself.
“The other girls were available after you finished—”
“You think Harper is like the other girls?” Caden finally makes Nico get out of the booth so he can stand beside Luke.
Eli draws me to lean against him. His arms wrap around my waist protectively—or possessively? Maybe both. Parker holds up his hands in surrender.
“I’m just the messenger, man.”
He also winked at me, but I don’t need him to get in more trouble. He seems nice enough. Though when I think about it, he and the others probably just want to use me too. Not actually date me.
Fuck, guys suck.
“Harper is ours. Period.” Luke crosses his arms over his chest. “She won’t be free for anyone else.”
“That’s cool.” Parker plays it off like he didn’t just come up and ask the guys I was with if they’re finished with me. As if I’m open for business after they dump me? Hell, maybe that’s why Rebecca changed schools.
“Make sure the others know not to come sniffing around Harper.” Caden looks like he wants to punch the guy. “Don’t look at her. Don’t talk to her. She’s ours and only ours.”
“Cool, man.” Parker fades away into the restaurant. A girl at the other table gets brave and clears her throat.
“So what about you guys? I mean, if the deed is done, she doesn’t need all of your attention.”
I glance around Luke to see who’s talking. She’s some girl I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure she’s a sophomore. Yeah, this won’t go well at school. Most of the girls were in a holding pattern, waiting for the guys to lose focus on me.
“It goes both ways.” Luke shakes his head. “We’re hers now. Find some other dicks to jump on if you’re so fucking eager. We’re off the market for the entire year. We won’t touch another girl.”
“Seriously?” The girl sounds incredulous. “I mean, she’s only one girl and there are five of you, so I mean, when’s the girl going to have a break?”
Like she’s really worried about me. She’s just hoping I won’t be able to keep up and they’ll need a backup pussy.
“That doesn’t concern you.” Luke glares at her. “Go back to your breakfast.”
He slides in next to me and shakes his head. “Fuck.”
“Complicated, aren’t we?” I give him a wary little smile.
He grabs my hair, making me gasp, and drags my head back. “You’re mine, princess.”
He takes my mouth in a kiss that’s meant to punish and claim. Like it’s my fault that guy asked about me. Or that those girls want what they think they’re entitled to.
Our little arrangement might shake up the whole system.
His kiss softens as he explores and nips, making my insides burn. I melt into him, letting him take what he needs.
Because, though I’ll never admit it to him, part of me needs him too.
Eli pulls into my driveway, and I take a deep breath. It seems like every time I’m away from the guys something happens. I used to look forward to being home alone. Away from them.
Now even though it’s daylight, I’m worried about going into my own house.
He threads his fingers through mine. “Do you want me to go in with you?”
“My mom should be home.” It’s not really an answer, but I don’t know. Would I like him to go through every closet and look under the beds? Um, yes.
But can I do that with my mom here? Probably not.
Not without confessing to everything that’s been happening. A guy standing outside the window is a lot different than someone standing in my bedroom. There’s a lot I would need to confess to my mother if I went that route. Including the close call in the girls’ locker room.
Fuck, the guys at our school don’t play. They take it from zero to a hundred without even thinking it through.
“I’ll be fine.” I squeeze his hand, expecting him to release me.
“Kitten.”
When I turn, he’s right there. He cups my cheek with his other hand.
“You can come with me to practice if you want.” He presses his forehead against mine. Like he’s trying to give me his strength. I release the breath caught in my chest and just absorb this moment.
“No, thank you.” Not after some players asked when I’d be open for business. Definitely wouldn’t feel safer around those assholes. Though the guys would be there and they’ve become my safe space, which should terrify me.
Hiding from them was like creeping around avoiding the monster, but being with them is even scarier because even though they’re monsters, the monsters who hate them now know I exist too.
Eli leans back and rubs his thumb across my lips. “Call or text us if you need us. We won’t be on the field, so we’ll be able to respond.”
I nod and turn to look at the door again. If my mom would just look through the curtains or open the door, I’d know everything would be all right.
His hands slip from me. Eli opens his door.
“Wha—?”
He’s already out of the car and around the hood. My heart clatters in my chest as he opens my door and holds out his hand to me.
“Come on, kitten. I’m here to protect you. Let me.” He’s determined to do this for me.
Fuck it. I want him to come in with me and make me feel safe.
I slip my hand in his and ignore the tingles that chase through my blood as he helps me out of the car.
He slides his hand behind my neck and into my hair as he pulls me into his chest for a hug.
His other arm wraps around me, holding me tight.
For a second I’m shocked, but then I wrap my arms around his waist and take his comfort. Last night was a lot. The game and the party. I breathe in his outdoor scent, which has undertones of Caden’s soap. Some of my tension eases as he cradles me against him.
He draws in a deep breath and releases it. Did he need a hug too? Is it possible these guys need me? The times Luke has crawled into my bed haven’t always been sexual. Maybe Eli needs someone soft and his.
It shouldn’t hurt to give him affection, right? To show him what he’s been missing?
We haven’t talked about his home life. There are issues with his parents, but we haven’t really talked. Maybe he needs me to help him open up.
“Are you okay, Eli?” I murmur against him.
He tsks me. “Such a soft heart, kitten. I’m fine. I just needed reassurance that you’re here and whole. Come on.”
He draws away and takes my hand to lead me into my house. I unlock the door and walk into the kitchen. I’m not sure why I was so worried. It all looks like it should. It’s still home.
“Do you want me to look around?” Eli says softly.
I shake my head. “I don’t want to wake up Mom.”
He cups my jaw and tips my head up. He focuses on me. “Text if you need me. You sure you don’t want me to come upstairs?”
I shake my head. “No, Mom is here. If I scream, she’ll hear me.”
“I wasn’t planning on making you scream, kitten.” His eyes warm as he presses a kiss to my lips. Chuckling at the misinterpretation, I lean into his warmth and part my lips to deepen the kiss.
“Harper?”
I pull away and turn at my mom’s voice. Oh, shit.
Mom shuffles in. Her robe is tied around her waist, and she has on slippers that scuff the floor with her steps. Her eyes are a little sleepy, but I’m sure she saw that kiss. I don’t even know what to say.
“Eli, right?” She gestures to Eli.
“Yes, ma’am.” He gives her a look that’s like a little boy with his hand caught in the cookie jar. But he straightens like he’ll own it.
Mom makes an acknowledging grunt as she pours some coffee into a mug and puts it in the microwave to warm it up. She leans against the counter with her arms crossed.
“So, is that part of hanging out?” Mom arches an eyebrow.
What do I even say?
The microwave dings before I can form an answer. She gets her coffee and blows on it before taking a sip.
I glance at Eli, and he shrugs. This is my reason to give.
“We went out to breakfast together.” Yeah, that’s not really an excuse. More of a statement. “With the others. Eli was just dropping me off, and I was worried because of the guy outside the window, so he offered to come in.”
“Is this who you are now, Harper?” Mom sips her coffee and holds it in both hands, while she gives me a look I haven’t seen since I was eight years old and lied about breaking a glass. Not that I had anyone else to blame but myself, but I figured I could brazen it out.
I blow out a breath. That need to confess everything weighs on my heart. I could just tell her the whole truth, and she could see I’m in way over my head and probably drowning, but I won’t be sure until I’m dead at the bottom of the lake.
“Harper isn’t like other girls, Ms. Davidson. We’re all pretty smitten with her to be honest.”
Smitten. My brows furrow. That will make my mother’s bullshit trigger go through the roof.
“Harper is her own person. Always has been.” Mom takes a sip, keeping her gaze firmly on Eli. “She knows her own mind. I’m glad that someone else has discovered how special she is.”
Eli brushes his fingers against my hand. “We all recognize how special she is.”
His eyes soften as he looks at me. My heart thumps in my chest. Shit. He’s just saying this to placate my mom, right?
Mom clears her throat. “So just to be clear. You’re still hanging out with all five guys. Kissing is part of it. And they’re all on board with that.”
My mouth opens and closes. A little wave of courage flows through me. At least, enough to utter, “Yes.”
Mom nods. “Are you all being responsible?”
“Your daughter is the only one we’re kissing, if that’s what you mean.” Eli straightens.
Even I flinch a little at kissing, because I’m pretty sure we all aren’t talking about just kissing.
Mom rubs her forehead. “Okay. I’ll get a handle on this. It’s just different from what I’m used to, but that doesn’t make it wrong. As long as you’re happy with the arrangement, Harper?”
It’s a question and it’s not. I glance at Eli. My mind goes back to Caden, Luke, Jack, and Nico. Even if I could only have one of them, I’m not sure I would be happy. That I wouldn’t long for the others. Get jealous when they were with other girls.
I take Eli’s hand and squeeze it. “Yeah. I am.”
“Are you all dating then? Or is there a different term for it?” Mom arches an eyebrow again.
“We’re still trying to figure that out.” Eli strokes his thumb over my hand. “We talked about it at breakfast. None of us have really dated before. Harper is our girl. We don’t know if that makes her our girlfriend or not, but we’re definitely devoted to only her.”
For this year echoes in my mind, making my smile slip a little before recovering. We have a year to work this out of our systems and figure out what we might become or end this.
Mom nods. “We’ll talk at dinner tonight. Harper, invite your guys.”
My eyes widen and my heart skips a beat. “What?”
“You heard me. I’m sure they’re all available since you’re their one and only.” Mom’s gaze flicks to Eli with an arched brow.
Swallowing, I squeeze Eli’s hand. “I’ll text them.”
“Good.”