Page 92 of Dark and Dangerous

“But—”

“I promise I won’t go anywhere or do anything. I just need to, like… decompress. Please, Jace.”

I give in to her, only because I can hear the desperation in her words. “I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she says. “I understand.” And then she hands me the necklace before turning and holding her hair away from her neck. “Will you help me put this on?”

I press my lips to her neck first, then clip it in place.

When she turns to me again, she rises to her toes, kisses me once. “I love it so much,” she whispers, clasping the pendant. “Thank you.”

It takes way too long to find my grandpa passed out in a ditch on the side of the road between Mae’s shop and my house. He must’ve tried walking home and fallen at some point, but I know he’s still conscious because he groaned when I shined the flashlight at his face.

I get him into my van, into the house, and into his bed as quickly as possible, and then race up to my room to see Harlow. She’s sitting in the middle of my bed, staring out the window, and she’s changed out of her clothes and into one of my athletic school shirts. I can’t help but smile at the sight of it.

“I stole one of your shirts,” she says. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You look good in it.” After slipping off my shoes, I get on the bed with her, sitting opposite, and place the paper bag between us. “I got us some food from the rink. I know it’s hard, but you should try to eat something.” My eyes narrow when I take in her face. She’d been crying, obviously, but that’s not what I’m focused on. Her cheek is red right where her mom slapped her. It’s darker just beneath her eye, and she winces when I run my thumb gently over the spot. My rage simmers beneath my flesh, and I fight to push it aside. “Has she ever done this to you before?”

“Never,” she says, her eyes drifting shut. “I don’t know how you handle it the way you do.”

I don’t respond, because what can I say?

“Did you find your grandpa?”

“Yeah… he was in a ditch on the side of the road.”

Her eyes snap open. “Jace…”

“Hey, at least it wasn’t a gutter, right?”

“Oh my God,” she murmurs, dropping her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry she said that. She had no right.”

“Don’t apologize for her. AndI’msorry. It was supposed to be a joke…”

“It’s not funny.”

“Sorry.” I open the bag and start divvying out the meal. “I got you that chicken sandwich you like and that iced tea lemonade drink.” She doesn’t respond, and I don’t question her silence. I’ve worked out that when Harlow’s upset, she likes to stew in those feelings. Usually, I’ll stay quiet and let her go through the motions, until eventually, she changes the subject, and we go from there. But that doesn’t feel like enough now, and I don’t know what to say, what to do, or how to fix her.

She takes a bite of her food, then swallows before saying, “I don’t know why she hates me so much. If anyone has the right to, it’s my dad. He had to look at me every day and question if I was his…”

I’m too caught up in my thoughts to respond right away, and clearly, I take too long, because she asks, “Jace? Are you listening?”

“Yeah,” I’m quick to say. “I was just thinking about your dad. Does he have anyone to confide in right now?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, it’s just… I don’t want to take away from what you’re feeling, but your dad is going through it too, and the two people who should normally be there for him aren’t exactly…” I trail off, not knowing how to finish. “I just hope that he’s okay. Your dad’s a good guy, and your mom—she’s a real piece of work.” I reach up, move her hair behind her ear so I can see her clearly. Red cheek and all. “Luckily, even shitty humans can create perfect children.”

“I’m far from perfect,” she scoffs.

“You’re perfect to me.” I shrug, unwrapping my burger and bringing it to my lips.

For a long moment, Harlow just watches me eat, the way I’ve watched her in the past, and the second I’m done, only minutes later, she smiles. “I love the way you see me.”

“I wish you could see yourself through my eyes.” I lean forward, press my lips to hers, keep them there when I add, “You make loving you so easy.”

“Jace…” She pouts up at me.

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