Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132657 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 663(@200wpm)___ 531(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
His jaw nearly dropped as Harlow walked through the revolving door, Niall following her. She was in a dress looking like she brought the damn sun with her. Everything felt more light, more beautiful, with her in the lobby.
She laughed at something Niall said and slid her sunglasses off. Niall was dressed in basketball shorts and a tank, carrying his gym bag. He saw Jensen before Harlow did and put a hand on Harlow’s arm. He leaned over and whispered something in her ear.
She pulled back and shook her head.
She didn’t want to see him. “I should go. Where are we meeting?”
“You should be patient and trust her,” Chase said under his breath.
Harlow turned and started walking right up to them. She hugged her dad. “Hey. You’re still doing this? I would have thought you guys would have moved to like checkers or something.”
Her dad laughed. “We’re not that old yet. Well, Taggart is.”
“Fuck you,” the big blond guy said as he walked past them. “Wiley, if you think I’m going easy on you because you had a couple thousand volts through your system a few days ago, you’re wrong. Old, my ass. I am timeless.”
Chase flashed a grin as Taggart disappeared behind the door leading to the courtyard. “See, you want to put him on his ass now, right?”
“You are a terrible influence,” Harlow said with a shake of her head. She turned to him and her light dimmed slightly. “How are you, Jensen?”
She was so pretty. He wanted to take her hand and tell her everything. But patience was the key. “I’m okay. The shaking has stopped, and I haven’t tripped over my own feet since yesterday. I’m having sessions with your Uncle Leo, and they’re going well. How about you?”
“Niall is keeping me busy,” she replied. “But today I’m here to support my mom and my auntie. They lead a survivor’s group. It’s the one they belonged to years ago, and now they help facilitate. They’re having a tea today to celebrate their volunteers. I’m going to be in serving mode.”
He remembered how nice her serving mode could be, but he tamped that right down since her dad seemed to have a six sense about him. “That sounds great. Niall? Are you ready for this?”
Niall gave him a big smile and slapped him on the back. “I’m here so the olds don’t take you out, brother.”
No. Niall was here to support him. Those tears were right there again. “Thank you.”
Harlow kissed Niall on the cheek and started to walk toward the banquet hall. “Don’t tear an ACL, please. I know they’re all old, but they’re mean and well trained. Do not underestimate them. Hey, lunch after? My mom is serving tea cakes and shit. I need a burger and a beer.”
He waited for Niall to tell her yes and then realized everyone was looking at him.
“No?” Harlow asked. A brow rose over her eyes. “Niall thought you might like a burger. They serve a lot of froufrou food here.”
“Yes.” He nearly tripped trying to get the word out. “Yeah, I would love a burger. I would love to have lunch with you. With you and Niall. That would be great.”
Chase snorted. “So awkward. I’m going to go to the locker room and make fun of my brother.”
Harlow walked back as her dad left. “It’s only lunch.”
He nodded. “Only lunch.”
“Do you want it to be more?” She managed to make the question a challenge.
“I want it to be forever, but baby, I’m willing to work. Your dad is right about a lot of things. Not the sniper stuff. He’s extremely invested in not getting sniped, and the actual statistics don’t hold up, but that’s not the point.”
She was smiling. Like she used to. Like he amused her. “I think it’s a perfect point, and you should bring it up with Dad on the basketball court because it will totally throw him off.”
“I think I’m on his team. But I’ll hold it for a good time,” Jensen promised. “My real point is I’m trying. And it’s for you but it’s for me, too. I think I might like being happy for once. Like this asshole who is obviously euphoric.”
Niall shrugged. “How could I not be? I got my warrior princess.”
“Then it’s just lunch, but Jensen, you should know that lunch can be a starting point,” she said.
“We take it slow this time,” Jensen offered. “I know sometimes you think we’re a flash fire, but I’m going to be good for you. So friends for now?”
She held a hand out. “Friends for now.” She sighed. “It won’t take long if you keep looking at me like that, Jensen. Niall, I love you. Take down my dads for me.”
She turned and walked away, and Jensen and Niall watched her.
“I don’t think we should take down her dads,” Niall said. “She’s kidding about that. Her mom would be pissed if one of them ended up in a brace or something.”