15
Harlow
Date night.
Woot woot.
I am fire.
I don’t get dressed up like this often, but tonight, I am. For Jaxson.
Ting, ting.
My phone.
THE PATIENT: Have fun on your date tonight
That son of a... he is so good.
THE PATIENT: You deserve a good time
I’m going to murder him. I know he got me drunk to lower my defenses. I’m surprised he didn’t take it further. He could have considering how much I drank. I should be furious with him. I am.
He cut my clothes. He cut me.
My body ignites.
Do not like that psycho, Harlow.
Just because he’s wrapped in sex and expensive cologne doesn’t give him the right to…
Make you orgasm repeatedly.
Ugh!
Why does this feel like history repeating itself?
Honestly, I’m angry I put myself in that situation. Twice now. Drinking around a man like him was my mistake. I will never do that again.
Me: Thank u Killian.
Simple. Professional. Perfect.
I set down my phone and do a twirl in the mirror. Tonight is a new start with a much better type of man.
This dress will do it. Metallic gold. Low-cut back. Hem a few inches past my ass. And Lord, it is tight. After dinner, I will be having fun in the club. Jaxson will not know what hit him—
Ting, ting.
THE PATIENT: Do you need money?
Me: WHAT???
THE PATIENT: In case he doesn’t pay for things.
Oh, Lord. He’s just messing with me now.
Me: He can buy me dinner. G2G. Have a good night.
Perfect. Send.
THE PATIENT: Do you need a ride there?
Ugh!
Don’t get upset. He’s baiting you. Calm down. Ignore him.
Ting, ting.
THE PATIENT: Want to borrow my car to impress him?
I purse my lips so I don’t smile.
Me: I know what ur doing. Stop it.
THE PATIENT: angel emoji
Me: U used the wrong one. U = devil emoji
Me: SATAN
THE PATIENT: Me = eggplant emoji
Okay, he’s being a child. I refuse to look at the phone. It chimes again but I ignore it.
Jaxson, Jaxson, Jaxson.
Knock, knock.
Someone’s here.
I hurry through my trailer and peek through the peephole.
A man in a white uniform holds a vase of roses.
Aww.
I open the door and beam.
“Delivery for Ms. Anderson,” he says.
“That’s me!” I joyfully take the roses. He tips his hat and leaves.
I set the vase on the kitchen table and pluck the card. The front reads:
To my big booty girl
My heart sinks. No, it drops through the floor. It can’t be.
Slowly, I open the card.
Harlow,
I know I promised not to contact you again,
but I have good news. I’m sober for the past year.
I think about you every single day. You are never far
from my thoughts. I hope we can talk. Soon.
Love always,
Evan
My fingers tremble. I set the card down and back away from the roses like they may explode.
My ex.
Oh, God.
I can barely process this. That chapter is supposed to be closed forever. It isn’t just a scab being peeled off. It is a scar being ripped open. He’s not supposed to come back. He isn’t supposed to be in my present or future. To be honest, this feeling... it’s violating.
I rush back to the bathroom and spot my phone next to the flat iron. I scoop it up, determined to call Keysha. A few texts fill my screen.
THE PATIENT: Have fun for real
THE PATIENT: And call me if u need anything
Ohhhh, I hate him, too.
I need him to stop being nice.
I swipe fast.
“Hey, girl,” Keysha answers.
“Evan,” I blurt into the phone. “He sent me roses!”
“Oh.”
“What do I do?” I squeak, my voice almost inaudible.
“Throw them away,” she replies immediately. “Then go on your date.”
“Right,” I murmur, because the answer is so obvious. “Sorry I bothered you.”
“Hey, hey. You didn’t bother me!”
I sniffle back tears. My whole body is shaking. I know I am not with Evan anymore, but that chaos feels so close. It’s on my kitchen table.
“Don’t cry,” Keysha coos. “You’re safe. He can’t hurt you. You look fly, right?”
I glance in the mirror and nod, seeing my carefully applied makeup and styled hair. I put a lot of work into tonight. Hell, I even got a wax. You never know.
“Yeah,” I say, breathy. “I look... good. Real good.”
I try to psych myself up.
“See? You bad. Now go have fun with Jaxson. You were dreaming about this man. Don’t let that asshole from the past ruin something that hasn’t even started.”
“Yeah... Yeah! You’re right! I feel better. Much better. Thanks.”
“Call me after, and let me know how it went,” she says.
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too, babes.”
I draw in a deep breath and stalk to the kitchen. I don’t even look at the flowers. I just grab the vase and drop it in the trash bin. They won’t get a second more of my attention tonight. This date is for me and Jaxson. It is the start of something new, and I won’t let anyone ruin that for me.
Jaxson’s car rolls under my carport. I snatch my purse and head out with a big smile.
The restaurant is beautiful — some kind of Latin and Asian fusion. There are so many colors on the walls and furniture. The lights are neon and add a modern, wild vibe.
Jaxson dips a chip into the salsa. He chews, his strong jaw flexing with each bite.
God, he is handsome. His dark skin glows soft blue under the light.
His white sleeves are rolled up his forearms. He undid the top two buttons, revealing the sexy plane of his chest. When he catches me staring, he winks from across the table.
“You? You look beautiful tonight,” he says, suave and confident.
My cheeks burn, and I primp my hair. “I clean up nice without scrubs, hm?”
“Oh, yeah.”
I giggle, smitten to have him finally show he’s as attracted to me as I am to him.
“So, what’s important to you in a woman?” I say casually.
“A nice ass,” he teases, delivering a joke almost as well as Killian does.
Killian.
I shake it off. No.
Jaxson.
“I’m playing,” he adds, “Although, your body is... something.”
“Stop!” I squeal and giggle more, both of us flirting like all-stars.
“Okay, okay. Seriously. I like a woman who is loyal, hardworking, and into family.”
“Check, check, and check,” I say.
“A woman of God is important to me, too.”
He doesn’t wear a cross. I wasn’t expecting that, but I like it. I’d rather have a religious man than a rebellious man.
I hold up my palm. “Amen to that.”
He smirks and nods in agreement. “Good. How about you? What do you want in a man?”
“Oh! Wow,” says a deep, and endlessly infuriating voice.
Killian.
I force myself to look up.
He wears a smug grin, way too pleased to see my unhappy expression. He’s dressed to impress. Two gold chains tonight. Rings on those tattooed fingers. Fresh haircut. Tight on the sides with black curls lying just right.
The bastard got ready for my date. I just know it.
“What are the chances?” he says, pretending to be astonished. “I’m on a date. You’re on a date. And we happen to end up in the same place.”
“Yes,” I grumble. “Hello, Killian.”
“Killian Easton?” says Jaxson. “The hospital owner’s son?”
“Yes,” I answer for Killian. “He’s my patient. I am his sober aide.”
Killian doesn’t flinch. He puffs out his chest. “Yep, sober for a month now.”
More like two weeks.
He drank at the pool party.
Lord help me.
“Good for you, man,” says Jaxson, who stands and shakes Killian’s hand.
A woman appears behind Killian. Blonde, gorgeous, and unfortunately, familiar.
“This is Nina, my date.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. River’s fiancée. Does he have no boundaries? He’s disrupting my night, and now her. This is obviously a sabotage attempt.
Killian rests his hand on the small of Nina’s back. I flinch, unsure why.
Suddenly, he perks up more. “Oh! We gotta go. Our table is ready. It’s outside. It was nice to meet you, Jaxson. Good to see ya, Harlow.”
“Same,” I lie.
Killian gives the most infuriating crooked smile. As he walks away, he pats Nina’s ass while glancing over his shoulder.
I don’t react, showing him I don’t care.
The bastard still smiles.
I could stab the table with a fork. He makes me so mad.
Because I didn’t like that. I hated it. I don’t want to hate him touching anyone. What is wrong with me?
“Are you okay?” says Jaxson.
“Yes, um...” I clear my throat. “Absolutely. It’s always weird to see a patient in the wild.”
He chuckles. “Definitely is. I can’t believe some drug dealer cut up his mouth.”
“How did you know about that?”
“Rumors all over the hospital.”
That makes sense. Jaxson works as a CNA too.
“He seems like a nice guy,” he adds.
“Killian is. He’s funny.”
“Like the joker. He has the scar to match.”
I squint, because I’m slightly taken off-guard. It’s not cool to say—
Wait, why the hell do I care?
Why are we talking about Killian?
“Anyway,” I say, emphasizing the word. “Let’s see. You asked me what I like in a man. Someone funny—”
Oops.
“Someone who is a people-person, smart, communicates, puts in effort, shows he cares.”
Killian.
Oh God, shoot me.
“That’s great,” Jaxson replies. “I’m those things. Marriage and kids?”
“One day. The normal stuff.”
“Good. Cheers to that.” He lifts his drink, tapping it against mine. We sip our matching margaritas and smile.
Slowly, the weight lifts off my shoulders.
Phew. It’s so silly how upset I was. Everything happens for a reason. Those two problems — Evan and Killian — tried to ruin a new start, but they’re actually showing me what a good man looks like in contrast. Jaxson. He is a God-fearing, family man, with goals.
I relax into the booth, feeling completely calm and happy.
I gaze into the lime-green margarita as every muscle in my body releases the tension.
The cool ice bobs, creating highlights and shadows.
A faint smile forms. Jack Nicholson, grinning in the movie, The Shining. It’s one of Killian’s tattoos.
Shit.
I am going to kill Killian.