Page 138 of Dark and Dangerous

Please don’t take my absence for anything more than me needing time alone to get my head straight. I have love in my heart for you too (meaning whatever you want it to mean). If your bedroom door opens in the middle of the night again, don’t panic. It’ll just be me.

86

Jace

I’ve only been able to sleep when Harlow’s in my arms—and I realize how fucked up that is considering who we are to each other. Or, more specifically, who we’renot.

It’s been four days since I started creeping into her house in the middle of the night and crawling into her bed, only to take off before she’s awake because I’m a pussy, and I don’t want to talk about it. I wouldn’t know what to say other than how I feel, and how I feel is this:

Harlow heals me.

Could you imagine those words coming out ofmymouth?

I really need to cut this shit, because it’s doing more harm than good, and yet here I stand, on her porch, about to knock on her door.

At least it’s not three in the morning this time.

I knock.

Harlow opens the door a few seconds later, and the first thing I notice is the giant bouquet she’s holding. “What are those?”

“Hello to you too,” she says.

“Hello.” I force a smile, though I’m sure I don’t deliver. “Who are they from?”

“Levi and his mom.”

I glare at the flowers.

“It’s a late graduation gift,” she explains.

“We graduated three days ago.”

“I’m aware. I was there. Hence thelate.” Her head tilts to the side. “And by the way, nice timing at graduation. Sneak in right before your name’s called, then dip before the final speech?”

I shrug, looking up from the flowers, my glare still in place. Obviously, I’m jealous of this Levi guy because she considers himsafe and comforting.But I also kind of maybe like him for the same reason. Can’t win. “So, Levi, huh?”

Harlow rolls her eyes, then leans in close, her words a whisper, “I think my dad and Levi’s mom might be starting something.”

“Oh, yeah?” I pull back, my eyebrows raised. “So, if they get together, then you and Levi will be siblings.”

She smiles at that. “I guess so.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

I awkwardly shift the basketball I’m holding from one hip to the other, then look over her shoulder. “Is your dad home?” I know he is because I watched his truck coming up the driveway. I waited all of a minute before coming over.

Harlow laughs, and I don’t know what’s funny. “Dad, your boyfriend’s here!”

Shawn appears from the kitchen. “Jace, nice to see you in the daylight, not creeping into my daughter’s bedroom in the middle of the night.”

“We’re not having sex,” I explain.

“Jace!” Harlow gasps.

“What?” I shrug. “It’s true.”

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