Page 23 of Always Us

“Have Jade call her. I’m done talking to Harper.”

“Jade shouldn’t have to get in the middle of this and neither should I. You need to call Harper yourself.”

“Can’t do it. Sorry.”

Garret sighs. “Fine. Jade will call her, but we’re not doing this again.”

“You won’t have to. I told you, Harper and I are done. It’s over.” He slurs his words even more.

“Sean, put the damn bottle down. It’s not going to help. And hey, what the fuck were you doing sleeping on a park bench in LA? You could’ve been killed.”

“Who told you?”

“Harper said a nurse saw you sleeping there.”

“Must’ve been Deloris. She’s a nice lady. She was the only one at the hospital who didn’t treat me like shit.”

“Sean, we’ve gotta go. Stop drinking and get some sleep. I’ll call you later.” Garret hangs up. “He’s too out of it to talk. I’ll call him tomorrow when we get back.”

I call Harper again. She answers on the first ring. “Did you talk to him?”

“Yes, and he’s fine. He’s back in Connecticut.”

“Why didn’t he answer my calls?”

I don’t mean to be harsh, but there’s really no nice way to say it. “You broke up with him, Harper. He’s not going to answer your calls.”

“I just thought maybe we could—”

“You can’t be friends with him. It won’t work.”

“Did he say that?”

“No, but you know you can’t.”

“I miss him, Jade. I miss him so much.” She’s crying again. “I just want to talk to him. I just—” She doesn’t finish.

“I’m sorry, Harper.”

“I have to go.” She’s sobbing now.

“Harper, wait.” I check the phone. “She hung up,” I say to Garret.

He’s in a daze, staring at the wall behind me.

“Garret, what’s wrong?”

“They got to him.”

“Who? What are you talking about?”

“They got to Sean. That’s why he’s acting like he doesn’t give a shit. That’s why he came home early.”

“Who got to him? Harper’s parents?”

“No. The organization.”

“What do you mean they got to him?”

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