Page 28 of Love, Honor, and Ink

No big deal.

Or, rather, a huge big deal.

Harper came back in, drenched, and a fire in his eyes. “Someone fucked with the system, Ari.”

She met his gaze, and her jaw tightened. “I don’t have time to think about who could do that, but I have a feeling we both know.” She cursed under her breath. “I need to deal with this.”

“Then we’re going to deal with whoever did this, together.”

With that, he strode off, and Arianna’s anger slapped at her again. He kept saying we needed to fix this, and yet this was her problem. She was the one who needed to confront the person who kept sabotaging her plans, and even bring in the police if needed.

And yet, Harper was the one who kept saving the day. Some small part of her felt like she couldn’t be enough; couldn’t quite do everything on her own, if he was the one who constantly fixed things for her.

How could she stand on her own two feet if Harper was always there to catch her?

She let that thought fade from her mind and went back to work. It wouldn’t help anyone for her to second and third guess herself at this point.

She went out front to make the call to the bride and groom when she noticed a familiar car parked out on the street.

Dread filled her, but everything clicked into place as soon as she saw it.

Damn the man. Damn him and everything he stood for.

Her phone clutched in her hand, she faced her father, her pulse beating so hard in her temple she could feel it on her teeth.

“I knew you were cruel, but I never knew you were petty,” she said once he came toward her.

He smiled indulgently, and she wanted to slap it off his face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She held up her hand, not in the mood. “You know what, I don’t care. I don’t care why you’re here, and I sure as hell don’t care why you feel the need to try to ruin people’s days. I’m going to call the police once I call the bride and groom because I’m done with you.”

“I don’t know why calling the police would be my problem. You’re the one who can’t seem to plan a wedding on your own without some sort of mishap. Why don’t you come back to King’s Weddings, Arianna? Come back to your old position, and we’ll discuss the Justin situation.”

She tilted her head; honestly stunned the man who had raised her—if what he did could be called raising—thought he had a foot to stand on.

“No. No. No. No.” Each word got louder so she was almost shouting. “I’m done. I told you I was done before when I walked out, and, apparently, seeing the back of me wasn’t good enough for you. I’m done. For real. I want nothing to do with King’s Weddings. Nothing to do with your precious Justin. Nothing to do with you. And if you come near my work or me again, I’m calling the police. In fact, I’m calling now anyway because you had to have broken some laws at this point, and I’ve been too busy trying to fix things to worry about that. But no more. Get off this property, and stay out of my life. I’m done.”

“You heard her, King. Go.”

She clenched her jaw as Harper stood beside her.

Of course, he was here.

Of course,her best friend was here to see her make a fool of herself and see her father try to break her one more time. Why wouldn’t he be? It’s not like Harper thought she could take care of herself.

Clearly not.

“Arianna,” her father began, but she held up her hand once again.

“Go. Now.”

He looked like he wanted to say something else but when he looked at Harper, his features paled ever so slightly, and he turned abruptly, walking away.

She knew it wouldn’t be the last time she saw him, not with how their lives would intersect, but him leaving for now would have to be enough. And she hadn’t been lying about calling the cops either.

“Are you okay, Ari?” Harper reached for her arm, and she turned to get out of his reach. She ignored the look of hurt on his face. She had to if she was going to tell him what she’d needed to tell him for far too long.

“Why did you have to do that?” she asked, her voice scratchy. She would not cry. Not now. “I was doing fine on my own. Why did you have to come here and save the day? Again.”

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