Chapter 23
TWENTY-THREE
HARLEY
SUMMER BEFORE JUNIOR YEAR
Another summer, another family obligation.
All of our families are attending a charity gala in Chicago, and when I say all, I mean all. Every prominent family in the country is here, which of course means she is here. I’ve barely seen her since the day she kissed me in the library. For over a month, she’s escaped me, and I don’t like it.
I don’t fucking like it.
I don’t like the thought she was too busy for me, and I certainly don’t like the idea she could be hiding from me.
My mind is a really strange place to be sometimes.
So, thank fuck I have the guys here to distract me, even if they have no idea of what they’re doing.
I glance towards the bar and see my mom and dad chatting away with Cole’s parents.
It makes me happy to see how happy they are, despite what happened.
I was never worried about the loss of my father’s career affecting their standing in society because of the families both him and my mom come from, but I was worried about how it would affect my dad’s mental health.
His career has always meant everything to him, but luckily, it seems to have done the opposite and brought a new light to him that I’ve never seen before.
But that doesn’t make what Savannah and her father did okay. Nothing will ever make what they did okay.
Speaking of the devil, my eyes narrow when I see she’s standing in a corner of the room, talking to a guy I don’t recognize.
Who the fuck is he? Why have I never seen him before, and what does she want with my—no, with Savannah.
She’s not my anything.
Is this why she was avoiding me? Because she’s moved on to the next poor soul that will be played by her and her family?
A gentle hand lies on my arm, and I glance down to see my mom looking up at me with a soft smile on her face. Just how long was I staring at Savannah for her to get from the bar to here without me noticing?
“Walk with me?”
I grin. “Of course.”
She leads me out of the ballroom and into the gardens. There’s a chill to the night air despite it being the middle of summer, so I shuck off my jacket and lay it over my mom’s shoulders.
“I missed you,” she murmurs and grins mischievously.
My mom and I are alike in so many ways, but mainly our penchant for getting into trouble, much to my father’s dismay and our delight.
“Missed you too, old lady,” I tease, and she smacks me around the back of the head.
Rude.
She sighs, her playful demeanor melting away, and I know I’m not going to like whatever comes next.
“We need to talk, Harley.”
Yep, I don’t like it.
“Okay…” I murmur and motion towards a bench facing the water fountain. Because of course, there’s a water fountain. I’m pretty sure it was built specifically for this gala.
Once we’re seated, it doesn’t take long for her to get what she needs to get off her chest. “Your father may think I’m oblivious and that I retired early to spend time with him just like he did me, but we both know that’s not true,” she starts and sends me a pointed look.
Well, fuck.
I open my mouth to say something, but she cuts me off.
“I know everything that happened, Harley. I’m a lawyer, did you both really think I wouldn’t figure it out?
” she mutters with a roll of her eyes before continuing.
“Despite the fact I was pissed he thought I should be left in the dark, I kept it to myself. And while I know how much this all must have hurt you, tonight when I saw you looking towards the Marks girl… well, I couldn’t not say anything. ”
She saw me looking at Savannah? Was it really that obvious?
The look she’s sending me tells me yes, it really was.
“The Marks family have always had secrets, and I honestly wasn’t surprised it was them who blackmailed your father. What I was surprised about was how they did it, and how you let the girl get close enough to do it.”
Familiar guilt slams into me, hard and unrelenting. I know this is all my fault, but to hear my mother say it so bluntly makes bile rise up my throat.
“I’m sorry,” I rasp, not knowing what else to say.
“Oh sweetie,” she whispers, her voice heartbreakingly soft, and I look away.
Her hand laces with mine, squeezing to the point of pain, but it’s not until I bring my eyes back to hers that she lets up on her vice-like grip.
“You are not at fault. You were caught in the middle of a bad situation, and you shouldn’t blame yourself for any of it.
I’m just worried that maybe you still have an… affliction toward the girl.”
I swallow, not wanting to confirm or deny anything.
She laughs lightly. “I thought so. Though it may be best to stay away from her. I’m sure she’s…
lovely, despite what she did.” I snort, because that’s not the case at all.
“But I’ve heard whispers over the last couple of weeks, and it seems the Marks family is planning on… .” She hesitates a moment. “Growing.”
Growing? What the hell does that mean?
A fleeting thought of Savannah being pregnant crosses my mind, and I swallow the mixture of feelings rising within me.
She must see the question written all over my face because she sighs and keeps speaking.
“Apparently, her father is looking into finding a husband for her, and I was worried you’d get sucked in and end up with no way out.
I’m not saying that whatever you two have going on is a manipulation to trap you”—she waves a hand in the air—“but I need you to be careful.”
I… I have no words.
Is that who Savannah was talking to inside? A possible suitor? Just what day and age do they think we’re living in to set up… what? A goddamn arranged marriage? Holy shit, this is all so fucked up.
And if she’s looking for a husband, then why the hell is she dropping to her knees or bending over for me? Why is she not running from me when she knows what’s coming?
Only… she has been running from me.
It all makes sense now—why she randomly disappeared on me, changed her routine, and her schedule, all so I’d stay away from her so she can pursue… whatever and whoever the fuck she’s pursuing.
Bullshit. It’s all fucking bullshit!
She’s a master manipulator, and I’m not sure what her plans were, but they stop now.
I’m fucking done with her. With it all.
No more games, no more late-night meetings, no more torture for either of us. I won’t search for her, and I won’t confront her about anything.
Doing any of that will no doubt just give her what she wants.
I’ve said before I’d stay away from her, but I wasn’t strong enough then.
Well, I sure as fuck am strong enough now.
Savannah and I are done.