Page 29 of Love, Honor, and Ink

Harper’s eyes narrowed, a hint of temper flaring within the deep depths. “What the hell? He was hassling you. Of course, I helped.”

“Of course.” She let out a breath. “I didn’t need your help, Harper. I’m always grateful that you’re there. Always. But you never let me fail on my own. You never let me succeed on my own. Everything I do now is because you’ve done it with me or even for me in some cases. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t breathe with you around sometimes, and it’s because I’m so worried that something is going to get messed up, and I’m not going to be strong enough to fix it.”

Harper’s eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re angry that I’m helping you? That’s what friends do. That’s what lovers do. That’s what we do.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s what you do. You never let me help you. Everything is about you helping me as if I can’t do it on my own. I’ve never once been able to help you. I could have helped somehow with your new position with Montgomery Inc., but you never gave me the option. Never let me in. I could have done something for you other than warm your bed after you helped me once again with my father fucking up my business.”

“That’s not how we work, and you know it. I know you’re pissed off at your dad, but don’t take it out on me.”

Was that what she was doing? She wasn’t so sure. Not anymore.

“You know what? Fine. I’m done. I need to actually do my job. Thank you for dealing with the sprinklers. I mean it. Thank you.” She took a deep breath. “But I think I can handle everything from here.”

“On your own,” he bit out.

She met his gaze, knowing they were talking about more than just this wedding. “On my own.”

And with that, she left him standing there on the sidewalk as she went to make that call. Her dress swished around her ankles, damp and ruined…much like everything else she had.

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