Page 150 of Gathered Sparkle

She nods, and I can see how much she appreciates the idea.

I kiss her again before letting go and starting the engine. Her hand slips into mine as I pull out of the lot, and as her fingerstighten around mine, I realize I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her happy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Nicholas

“You played yourself, Harrington.”

I stand in front of my closet, staring blankly at the rows of perfectly pressed suits and tailored shirts. The last couple of days have been hell.

Sylus’s words have been ringing in my ears, slicing through the carefully constructed walls I’ve built around myself. And fuck, the bastard is right. I wanted something so badly, someone,her, so badly that I dove headfirst without hesitation. I fell for her without asking questions, without looking too closely, because for the first time in years, it felt real. She felt real.

And when it all crumbled, when I found out about the lies, I lashed out. Not because I couldn’t see their reasons. Not because I couldn’t understand the why. I could. Ido. It was because it fucking hurt. It hurt to realize that even the good things in my life came with conditions.

But I see it now. My brain has been trying to tell me, nudging at the edges of my pride, whispering there’s more to this than betrayal. That what she said was true. That the way she laughed, the way she kissed me, the way she looked at me like I was morethan the polished surface I’ve spent my entire life pretending to be—that was real. Shewasreal.

If I’m honest, I’m not mad at her. Not anymore. I’m mad at me. Mad that I let my fucking ego get in the way, that I let my pride blind me to what I already knew deep down. She cares. And I care too.

God, do I care.

I grab a shirt off a hanger, simple, soft, not the kind of thing Veronica would approve of, and toss it onto the bed before reaching for a pair of jeans.

I hate this—the vulnerability, the uncertainty, the gnawing fear that maybe I’m too late. That maybe I’ve pushed too hard, said too much, and she’s already written me off.

But I can’t let that stop me because Sylus is right about something else. Iwantthis. I want her. I want the insane, messy, complicated family they’ve built. I want out of this miserable cycle of pretending, posturing, and being exactly who Veronica wants me to be.

I wantmore. And Novalee is more. She’s everything.

I take a deep breath, steadying myself as I grab my, or Koen’s,whatever, keys. This is it. No more overthinking. No more clinging to pride, resentment, or the thousand other things that have kept me from what I really want. If I’m going to do this, I’m goingall in.

Because they’re worth it, and I’m tired of living like this, of being the polished doll in someone else’s game. I want to be a part of something real, something messy, something that fucking matters.

And for the first time in years, I might have a shot at that.

I just have to be brave enough to take it.

And ask for help.

Walker.

I type out the message and hit send before I can second-guess myself.

I want to fix this, but I need help.

My fingers hover over the screen, waiting for Sylus’s inevitable chaos to hit me back. I don’t have to wait long.

With what?

I need to get inside the mansion and her room without her noticing.

… you’re in?

I’m in. 100.

You’re sure?

Yes.

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