Page 34 of Fractured Frets

Together every day.

One day.

“Hey.” I placed my hand on his steadily beating heart. “I’ve gotta use the restroom. I’ll be back in a sec.”

“Want me to come?” He raised a sexy eyebrow.

“No.” I wrinkled my nose. “I really just need to pee.”

“Okay.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Hurry back.”

I dashed down the hallway to the bathroom next to Cole’s gym. I did my business, then washed and dried my hands. But when I opened the door, Harper stood leaning against the wall, blocking my path.

Shit! “Sorry.” Flustered, I took a step sideways to let her pass, but she didn’t move. “I thought you’d gone upstairs with the kids.”

“I did. They’re asleep now. I was coming back to join in the games. Needed the restroom first.”

“Cool.” I nodded and waved for her to enter the bathroom. “It’s all yours.”

But she didn’t budge.

She tipped her head to the side, not hiding the anguish in her eyes. “So...you and Slip, huh? Married? I never thought I’d see the day he’d get hitched.”

I drew in a steady breath and placed my hand on my stomach to settle the sway. Be nice. Be sensitive. Be understanding. I always tried to put myself in other people’s shoes and not say anything that would offend or upset them. But Harper had made it clear with her suggestive comments and longing looks she wanted to get her claws into Slip. She was gorgeous and sexy. It made it difficult to believe that Slip could resist her. But I refused to let her see my weaknesses.

I drew my shoulders back and switched on a fun laugh, trying to make light of the situation. “I know, right? We never expected to fall for each other, but we did.” Then I softened my tone, infusing it with a mix of warm compassion and not-so-subtle bluntness. “I understand you have a history with Slip, and I’ve seen the way you look at him. I’m sorry if you still have feelings for him, but I hope you respect the fact that we’re married.”

“Slip and I have known each other for a long time.” She smirked and arched a catty eyebrow. “Just how much has he told you about our relationship?”

“I don’t need the finer details.” I folded my arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “We’ve all had previous partners.”

“Yes. But the thing is...” She ran her tongue ring across her teeth with too much sexiness and seductiveness. “He always comes back to me. That has never failed.”

I jerked my chin back. “What do you mean ‘always come back?’ He was with you in his senior year. That was a long time ago.”

“Yes, he was.” Defiance flared in her eyes. “Then again after he broke up with Kim, Greta, Courtney, and every other girlfriend he’s ever had. We’ve hooked up at Christmas parties and other get-togethers. He fell into my bed after Phil died. I’ve always been there for him. And I’m always down for some fun.”

Alarms went off in my head. Fear seized my lungs. What the fuck? Slip hadn’t told me those things. Did they have some lingering connection I couldn’t sever? Like Slip and I’d had since we’d met? Shit. If it was as strong as the tie we had, how could I compete?

Wait . . . he married me.

Slip hadn’t given her a second glance since we’d arrived. He’d only had eyes for me. I had to believe that.

But the fissure in my heart cracked. Noah had left me for Jocelyn. They’d evolved from friends to lovers. I’d been too blind to see how they’d felt for each other. Was this thing between Slip and Harper the same? Something that kept simmering away, waiting to reignite?

Fuck.

She was around him all the time. I wasn’t.

Reining in my frantic pulse, I summoned a sweet smile. I could fucking act. I wouldn’t let my doubts bubble to the surface. Not in front of her. “Harper, that’s all in the past. Slip and I are together now.”

“I know.” Smugness skipped through her small smile. “I’m not a home-wrecker, but I’m not going anywhere either.”

I dug my fingernails into my palms. I didn’t know whether I wanted to slap her, bitch fight her, or shake the shit out of her. Anything that said back the fuck off would work.

“Ladies?” Slip’s smooth voice drifted down the hallway. He headed toward us with his hands held wide. “You talking about me? My ears are burning.”

“Always.” I slid past Harper and curled into his embrace. Tucking under his arm, I yanked him against me. “Harper was just giving me a history lesson.”

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