Chapter 17
CHAPTER
SEVENTEEN
CARBON
Pulling out of the parking lot after having dropped Harlow off at work, I head to the office but will swing by her apartment after. She says she is good with staying, but I don’t think it has fully had time to sink in for her. Seeing more of her shit in my place, that will speed it along.
I knew Harry and I would be so fucking compatible in the sack, but fuck.
She is everything and more. I especially love that she lets me touch her however the fuck I want to, during sex and just normally.
The rest of yesterday, we both just wore comfy clothes, and she was quite content resting against me working on tattoos designs while I worked on contracts.
She let me slide my hand up her shorts, holding her thigh, or push under her shirt holding her stomach, even a tit.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure how comfortable she was with her scars since she always keeps them covered.
The ones on her hand, she can’t hide beyond tattoos, but they also are nowhere near as bad.
I hope she will be willing to talk about them sometime soon.
But the comfort she has with me all over her body, fucking love that.
Getting into the office, I drop off some documents then look in Dad’s office door, he is engrossed in something, so I tap on the doorframe. His head pops up and a big smile spreads across his face. “You look happy. Come in.”
I blink surprised by his assessment. He motions me in. I take the seat across from him. “Hey.”
“Did she come to you?” he questions.
I shake my head. “No. She epically fucked up.” I walk him through what happened and tell him how angry I was about how she was so fucking careless with her own safety. I clear my throat a little. “I, ah, I moved her and Ronny in.”
His brow goes up. “Well, that explains how you are happy after what you just told me. I assume you are not letting her stay in her own room.”
I chuckle. “Fuck no.”
“So, does that mean you are officially together now?” He watches me, his smile growing back up his face and I know why, it’s because I am grinning like a fucking dope. “I knew it. I knew she was just as obs—eh… devoted to you.”
“Dad, I have been honest, telling her all the shit. I have been showing her me, all of the fucking pieces. Dad, she… she is into it.” I rub my hand back through my hair. “She really is. None of it was in my head.”
Dad gives a quiet laugh. “As soon as she turned up angry you weren’t following her around… I knew it was gonna work out. Hanger know yet?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think he is going to get pissed. I think he will just… I dunno, maybe I am wrong and he will be pissed.”
Dad leans back in his seat. “I’ve known Hanger a real fucking long time.
The man isn’t blind, he knows who his daughter is.
Besides, he has his Old Lady that knows her better than anyone—” he snorts, “—second better than anyone.” He motions his hands toward me.
I chuckle with him because yeah… pretty sure I know my woman better than anyone or will within a couple weeks.
I just need to soak up all her feelings and thoughts.
“You think Hanger will be good?” I am a little skeptical.
“I think he will want to feel certain you love his kid in a way that brings her happiness. I think he is fully aware that Harry needs what you can offer, he just will want to be sure that’s what you are offering.
So, be honest and let him see it. I think Mint is going to be the problem. ” He rolls his shoulders.
“Yeah, Mint isn’t gonna like this.”
“No, he is going to love it when he finally sees how happy you make her. He just isn’t ready to see his sister in her entirety. He is getting there. Frankie…” he trails off, rubbing his chin.
“Just say it.” I am nervous about whatever he is going to drop.
“Mint will only get there when Harry chooses to be honest with him. He knows she has a shitty past. He knows there is pain there, but she hasn’t shared it with him, so it makes him overly protective.
He doesn’t know what hurt her. He wasn’t there for her—obviously not his fault—but it makes him work overtime to keep everything away from her.
With Meadow, he knew what caused her pain.
He knew what battle he was fighting and where he could step back and let her grow.
Right now, with Harry he is fighting every shadow hoping it absolves him. Get what I’m saying?” He eyes me.
I nod. Yeah, I do. Harry has to be open and honest with her brother, or he is never going to accept that she doesn’t see him as a failure as her brother. “Do you think that her silence is confirmation to him that he hasn’t proved he can be a good brother and thus doesn’t trust him?”
Dad’s brows go up. “Wow. Shit. Yeah. That’s entirely likely.”
“We both know her silence has nothing to do with him.” I frown as I think about it.
Dad smiles at me. “We do. He just doesn’t know that.
That boy is really fucking good at trying to carry the weight of the world on his shoulders.
You need to show him that when it comes to Harry, that’s your weight to shoulder.
He just needs to keep on loving her. She needs to show him that she trusts him. ”
I nod slowly as I absorb this. “I can’t make her tell him.”
He sighs. “No, you can’t. But you can plant the seed and let her decide what she wants.”
“Yeah.” I rub my hands down my thighs. “Yeah.”
“You should call your mom. She is going to be beside herself. She has been rooting for the two of you forever.” He throws that happy fatherly smile my way.
“I will. Thanks Dad.” I push to my feet, heading to the door, I pause, looking back. He is watching me. “I love you.”
His face picks back up into the smile from earlier. “I love you, Frankie. Coaxing your mom into giving me a chance to be her man and your dad—best fucking thing I’ve ever done.”
Heading on to Harlow’s apartment, I give Mom a call. She answers on the third ring. “Frankie! I just love when you pop up on my screen.”
I chuckle. “Hey Mom. I just, I wanted to let you know that I moved Harry in with me and she is my woman.” Mom is real quiet for several seconds, and then I hear a sniffle. “Mom?”
She sniffs harder, and she makes a happy sniffling laughing sound.
“Sorry. Sorry. I just… wow. Frankie. Wow. I am just so happy. I knew she was the one. I knew it. I just couldn’t figure out why you weren’t chasing that girl down.
I mean, yeah, her dad and brother, whatever, you can handle them.
Oh lovebug, I am so happy. Harry is perfect for you.
She won’t put up with your bullshit. I really love this for you. ”
I bark out a laugh. She does her snickering laugh. “Thanks Mom,” I infuse my words with sarcasm at her very spot on and adorable commentary.
“Well, it’s true. What changed? You have been after her for years without crossing the line.
Why now? Did you just get fed up? Decide her brother can just get the fuck over it?
Should I have just said that to you? Would that have gotten you to act sooner?
You have been tying yourself in knots over this girl.
I mean, she is fabulous, it’s warranted, but lovebug…
” she trails off, likely trying to get her thoughts together in a way that maximizes her information gathering but still remains supportive.
“Harry almost got herself killed. That’s what sealed it, but I decided it a couple days ago and have been hard charging her.” I pull into a visitor spot at her complex.
“And you will take care of whatever almost got her hurt?” Mom isn’t questioning it, she is demanding I confirm that is what will be occurring.
“Yes. I’m gonna take care of it. Nothing hurts my woman,” I push my assurance full of firm force.
“That’s my Franco. When she’s ready, you bring her by and we will have dinner, the four of us.
And lovebug… get the woman a fucking ring.
I know marriage is not something you are overly interested in, but that’s just because no one was Harry.
Can you really say you don’t want an official document saying you two are connected?
Hmm? My contract loving lawyer son, not wanting documents?
—” she makes that pffft sound, “—Get the ring.” She snickers in that way that is so inherently her, that brings me such comfort, and she tells me she loves me, is proud of me, and we end the call.
Taking the stairs to my woman’s apartment, my mind races over my mom’s words, pushing the door open.
I blink and find myself standing in front of the little box of jewelry Harry has.
I look through the box and find the ring she wears most often on her left ring finger, pocketing it because my mom is right.
Whatever Harry wants to call it, I know she will agree to it, she will see it as an assurance that I won’t ever leave.
I want it because I love a fucking contract.
I want Harry to be so fucking tied to me.
I need to claim her in every possible fucking way.
I start packing her things up, focusing on her clothes and shoes first. I carry things down, loading up the borrowed Tahoe.
Which reminds me. Stuffing my headphones in, I hit dial, giving Vanilla a ring while I pack more of Harry’s things.
I spot a blanket covered heavily in little black cat hairs, so I fold it up and grab a cushion that also has a plethora of Ronny’s hair.
I put those by the door for the next trip down.
Vanilla picks up. “Carbon, good to hear from you.”
“Hey man, how are the reports?” I ask.
“I think you and that hellion of a lady you wrangled yourself are going to skate your way out of this.” He chuckles.
I smirk. “Good to hear.” I think that means I can get my car. I decide to check. “And all reports on my car…”
“Hobbes swears everything is clear. I totally get if you want to wait a few more days before making the call. Things are good for your woman?” He checks in and I think that is really nice of him. I like Vanilla, he is a good guy.