Chapter 22
CHAPTER
TWENTY-TWO
CARBON
Getting Harry home, she disappears into the back, I hear the sink running and know she is washing her face.
I go through the motions of shutting the house down with Ronny-boy on my heels.
We give her space while she works through her feelings.
She is mad. I can feel it. I am not sure what part of it all has her mad, but I don’t feel like any of it is directed at me.
My phone buzzes, my eyes dart around trying to find where I set it down.
Making my way back to the kitchen I see it on the counter. Lifting it up, I check the messages.
Mint
I’m not happy, but I said some really awful things. I didn’t mean those things I said. Do you have time tomorrow to meet?
I stare at the screen. Meadow must work really fucking fast. I expected radio silence for a bit. Another message comes through.
Mint
I get it, I fucked up. But I need to be there for my sister. This asshole has to pay.
My head bobs as I read. That tracks.
Me
Lunch?
Mint
Yeah, let’s do it. And Wally is coming.
Me
Sounds good.
He sends me a couple details, mainly that he and Wally are going to bring lunch to my place. I should let Harry know, it might make her feel better. Turning back, I spot her sitting on the floor by the couch, holding Ron Ron in her arms watching me.
“Sexy—”
Her head shakes. “I just want to go to bed.”
I move over to her, reaching down, I help her to her feet while she keeps hold of our son.
We walk silently down the hall to the bedroom.
Stripping down to my boxers, we climb into bed, I wrap my body around Harry’s.
Her back nice and snug against my chest, Ronny-boy curls up against her chest. I hold them both.
Pressing a kiss against the back of her head, I want so badly to tell her how proud I am of her.
How impressive she was tonight. How brave she is.
Instead, I tighten my arms on her. Her body relaxes against mine, and her whispered words hit my ears.
“I love you, Frankie. This here, this is everything to me too.”
I press another kiss to the back of her head. “I promise to make everything around us as safe as this right here. I love you, Harlow Lilian Harker.”
When she finally lulls into sleep, I let it take me.
In the morning, we meet with the bank and get everything mingled and on the drive to drop Harry at work, I let her know about lunch. “This is good, right?”
“I think so,” I keep my voice light and optimistic. “Him reaching out so quickly, he wants this to be right too.”
“Or Meadow is a greater force to be reckoned with than we thought.” We both laugh at that because it clearly is rooted in truth, but her version must be so soft and sweet. I get it, Meadow has a way about her.
“Sexy girl, what do you need?” I ask because I need her to know that anything she asks for, I will ensure it happens.
“I just need Mint to accept this. To not treat you how he did last night. I’ve never been so mad in my whole life. Those things he said. It was vicious.” Her hands tighten on my waist as we pull off the freeway.
“He didn’t mean it. He was just upset,” I try to soothe.
“No, he doesn’t get your defense. He doesn’t get to act that way. I get he went through it with Meadow, but he doesn’t get to hold that against you. He doesn’t get to hurt you,” she grits.
The grin on my face is hard to push back down. I love hearing my wife be protective of me. I love that she has internal claws that match the delicious little claws pressing into my stomach right now. “Love, I promise, it is all going to be okay. Can I offer you some food for thought?”
A humming sound comes over the helmet comms. “Sure.”
I chuckle, loving that she considered if she was open to hearing something before accepting.
“Like Meadow said, he doesn’t do well without control.
He knew what to protect Meadow and even Wally from.
Sexy girl, he knew something was going on for you, but he didn’t know what.
Maybe he has been treating every shadow like a threat because of that.
He loves you. He wants to protect you. He just doesn’t know what from.
Now he does, so maybe with some time to think?—”
“Frankie, you are his brother, he should know you are not someone I need protecting from. And he doesn’t get to control me or my life.
If he wants me to trust him, then he needs to know his place.
I can sure as shit tell you that bashing you and throwing a hissy fit when something doesn’t fit his little plan for my life—none of that shit is going to earn him my favor or trust.” Her little claws press more and more into my stomach as she gains steam—and yeah, I fucking love it.
The thing I love most? Harry protecting the shit out of our relationship. I think it really is sinking in that this is her safe place. That I am always going to be here. That I am always going to fight alongside her. That I am always going to hold on tight to her.
“I love you.”
Her hands slide around me, hugging her whole self to me, snuggling as close as her helmet and the bike will allow. “I love you too.”
My doorbell sounds, I pull the door open, and Wally gives me a tight smile as he walks in, Mint on his heels.
They carry some BBQ in, taking it to the kitchen counter.
Ronny and I both follow them. Mint set the bag he has on the counter, then presses his hands to the edge, his head bowed some. His back tight with tension.
“How much does she hate me right now?”
I breathe out slowly. “I don’t know if hate is the right word.”
He pushes off the counter, turning toward me and I can see deep lines of worry etched into his face.
“I know I fucked up. I do. I fucked up with the shit I said to you, but I fucked up with Harry too. Meads…” he shoves his hand through his hair.
“Fuck. She was so mad at me. She told me to think about how I would feel if anyone had said those things to her or Wally. Fuck man. You say hate isn’t the right word, but I wouldn’t blame her. I said some fucked up shit.”
I nod. “You did.”
His head shakes slowly, his eyes on the floor.
“I am real shit at this, but… uh… I’m really fucking sorry.
” His eyes meet mine. “I really am. I don’t actually think or feel those things.
I have been trying to figure out why I blew over this.
I mean… I was gone a week. So yeah, it was surprising.
But… fuck that was really explosive. I was really out of hand. ”
Wally is watching me, and I know he is trying to evaluate how I am going to respond and if we are going to fix this.
We will. “I mean, I didn’t like hearing those things.
Honestly, I am concerned about having my brother back on my team.
But more than anything, I want to make sure my wife and her brother are good. ”
His head shakes more. “Wife. That is going to take some getting used to.” He gives a light chuckle. “Like… what made that happen? I thought you didn’t want to get married.”
“Harry happened. Look, Rick… I…” I trail off as I think of how to say this and decide fuck it, he knows my personality and anything less won’t be enough for him, just like his sister.
I think he really underestimated the way even he needs me to be obsessive.
“I get how my personality can be a bit much for some, but it has never been too much for this group. Harry is part of this group. You weren’t raised together, but she just fucking fits here.
The moment I met her I knew she was special.
I tried for years to hide it, but I just couldn’t do it anymore.
She is it for me. She will always be it for me.
“Arguably… with me, you know I’ll never step out on her. Anything Harry wants, it’s hers. She has my focus. She has for years and will forever. We married because… we both needed it. Maybe we are both a bit broken, but our shards fit. We both need the ties to each other. It feels… essential.”
Wally chuckles quietly and starts to unpack the food. Mint looks over his shoulder at him, then back at me. “That asshole was really the first person to say love to her?”
I nod.
“Fucking Pam. That bitch. How can anyone find it hard to love Harry? I mean, I get she is balls to the wall, but she is”—his head shakes more—“she is Harry.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, she is really easy to love.”
His eyes meet mine again. His head slowly rocks and it seems to sink in. “You really do love her.”
“She is everything,” I confirm.
His head shakes. “Meadow was right.”
Wally chuckles again and adds, “Meads is always right.”
I offer a little smirk and wait to learn what she was right about.
Mint moves toward me slowly, his hand comes up, resting on my shoulder. “Harry needs exactly the kind of love you offer.”
“I agree.” I nod.
“I’m sorry. I understand if you need time to tru?—”
“Oh, shut the fuck up.” I jerk him in for a tight hug. “Just fix this with my wife and everything will be good.”
“Got any suggestions there? I’m scared she is going to slit my throat with her fingernails.” He gives a light laugh as we pull back.
“Be honest with her. Let her have her feelings. Never do it again.” I shrug.
“I’m going to fuck up again, but I hear you. I heard Meads too. You always protect your people.” He sighs.
We sit down to eat and after. They fill me in on the ride, and I tell them about the night I tracked Harry down.
Mint just out of nowhere laughs, shakes his head and says, “When I was falling asleep last night—or really just staring at the ceiling for hours—I really thought about it, and I realized you and her make sense.”
Wally slaps Mint’s shoulder. “Finally.”
I smirk. “We do make sense.”
Mint sighs. “I’m really the last one to see it, aren’t I?”
“Yeah, you are.” Wally laughs.
I just nod but feel satisfied. I know I am going to uphold my promise to my wife. Mint seems to be in the right headspace about this now, so I think he and her will make it work. I sure as fuck am going to be hovering around for that talk if possible, but yeah, I think we are going to be okay.
“I don’t hate that it’s you. The opposite.
I… I just hate that she has kept me so in the dark about everything.
How do I fix that? How do I get her to let me in?
She is my little sister. I love her. I love her so much and I fucking love having a kid sister.
I just want to be a brother she can love back.
” His shoulder hunch as he rubs both his hands on his face.
I can see this is wearing on him. Harry’s difficulty opening up has made Mint feel shut out and he internalized it as his own fault.
As his brother, I want to help, but my loyalty and priority is my wife.
I can talk to Harry about this, encourage her to open up to him, but I won’t give him any of her secrets.
She trusted me with them, and I will take them to my fucking grave.
“You are a good brother. Harry does love you. Focus on trusting her. Trust her to know what she wants for herself. Trust her to come to you. Trust her to want to make this better for both of you. I know that must feel hard to hear since she has been closed lipped with you, but there is a reason she is beginning to share now. Lean into that.” I give his shoulder a squeeze.
I didn’t give anything of hers away, but I hope I helped my brother.
He nods, his head shifting to look at me.
“Fuck. I am so fucking sorry. Frank, seriously, I am really fucking sorry. I don’t know why I flew off the handle.
I know you would never hurt her. I can see now that you are right for her.
I don’t know why I didn’t see it sooner. Why I didn’t see what it is she needs.”
I shrug. “Shit happens. I trusted that you would come around.”
He chuckles. “Not telling me shit we both know you know because it is hers to tell. She opened up to you because you earned her trust. You understand her. Hell, even through this whole fucking conversation you have been protecting my sister. From me. I respect that.”
“Just remember that. You are my brother, but she is my wife,” I carefully remind him.
He nods. “Thankfully, I know a thing or two about that shit.” He offers me a smile, and I give him one back knowing this is going to hammer out. I just hope he is prepared for Harry to have her feelings out.
“Scale of zero to ten, how close to a hundred is my sister’s anger?” He gives me a worried-amused look. He fully gets he is in the doghouse with her.
“Eh, whatever number is recoverable. She loves you. You love her. Just remember that and maybe ask Meads for a few more pointers. And grovel.” I chuckle.