Page 131 of Off Pitch

She didn’t need to do that. She could have come back without it, and I wouldn’t have been any the wiser.

But she didn’t.

She brought back that damn cheesecake, and we ate it together before I did that interview for her.

All of this tonight makes things feel like they were before. Before I told her this was fake because I thought opening myselfup completely would come back to bite me in the ass like it did with Emily.

But Harlow is not and never will be anyone but Harlow.

She’s going to be the sweet, kind, bright soul that she is no matter the circumstance.

Asking her to sleep beside me tonight was probably a leap too far, though. Hopefully, that doesn’t push her away again. But once the words were out, it’s not like I could take them back.

She only slept beside me for a few weeks, but my bed has felt empty without her ever since. I don’t know how she got to me so quickly, but she did. She did, and I actually enjoy every part of it. I miss having her here beside me.

I look at the clock on my nightstand—it’s a quarter ’til one, and I still haven’t gotten a goddamn wink of sleep tonight.

I rub my eyes out of frustration, hoping to find a way to fall asleep. Nothing is coming to mind.

Then, across the room, I hear my door knob slowly turn before the door opens. I can’t help but smile.

“I’m hoping that’s you, Freckles, and not somebody coming to murder me in my sleep.”

“What makes you so sure I’m not here to do just that?” Harlow asks, gently climbing into the bed beside me as I turn on my side to face her.

“If you’re here to kill me, at least the last thing I see will be you.”

“Oh my God,” she laughs. “When did you become so fucking cheesy?”

“I have no clue,” I reply, chuckling. “Wasn’t expecting you to come in, though.”

I hear her sigh. “I told myself I shouldn’t, that it was a bad idea.”

“Yet here you are.”

“Yet here I am.” I can hear the smile in her voice. “I guess I can’t really stay away from you.”

“You won’t hear me complaining about that, Lo. I haven’t slept well without you beside me.”

“Me too,” she admits. “I guess I got used to having somebody next to me.”

“Somebody next to you,” I ask, “ormenext to you?”

“I could tease you about it, but we both know it’ll end with me saying the same thing: not just somebody,you.I only want it to be you beside me.”

“I like that answer,” I admit. “I really fucking like that answer.”

“I had a feeling you would.”

My hand finds hers under the covers, and I rest it on hers. “Good night, Harlow.”

“Good night, Knox.”

For the first time in weeks, I’m going to get a good night’s rest.

forty-eight

Harlow

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