Page 69 of Hard Hat Hottie

I wince, knowing the impact this will have on both he and Ellie.

“It’s only temporary, Harrison. And you can’t take all of this on yourself. We’ll divide and conquer,” she announces before covering her mouth for fear her volume may have risen high enough to wake Mom.

“She’s right, you know.”

Turning, I find Harlow peering at me. I’d almost forgotten she was here.

“What part?”

“All of it. Let me help.”

“Harlow,” I growl. “You have enough on your plate with working two jobs and the boys.”

“I still have days off, Harrison. I can help.”

I’m irritated. I know she’s only trying to help, but I feel guilty enough over having to disrupt Matt and Ellie’s lives. At least Joyce is getting paid. But paycheck or not, I don’t want her to feel she’s working twenty-four-seven. She’s practically done that since I started flying back and forth to Miami. I should’ve known taking on this job with Outer Banks would be too much. Harlow stretching herself to add one more thing to her plate would be one more stressor than I could bear right now.

Harlow returns to my side, resting her hand on my shoulder, and I flinch.

I feel like a coil wound so tight I could fly off the handle at any moment. “You should go.” It’s not that I don’t appreciate her being here, but I’m so overwhelmed right now. I need some space. I place my hand over hers. “Go look after Alec. He needs you.”

Her hand stiffens under my touch. I should apologize for my gruff demeanor, but I just need…fuck, I don’t know what I need. Two clones of me to manage my business and care for my mother? A cure for this awful disease? A Candy Cane Key Christmas miracle?

“Okay. Well… call if you need me.” Her voice sounds so dejected. She doesn’t deserve this. I don’t want to hurt her, but I need a moment to breathe. To figure this out.

“Harlow. I’m sorry. I’m…” My head falls, the weight of all of this too much.

She squats down in front of me. “Look, I get it. It’s a lot. Especially with your job sending you everywhere. Just reach out if I can help.” She stands, gives me a chaste kiss on the cheek, and leaves. My shoulders slump. I know she’s only trying to help.

I suck at relationships. Everyone I care about leaves.Is it me?Have I somehow pushed them all away? If that display with Harlow is any indication, probably so. My gaze lands on my mother. While she may be here physically, I know the mother I used to know practically has one foot out the door. But I’m clinging to what’s left for as long as I possibly can.

Replaying her words, I can’t help but scratch my head. Something doesn’t add up. She’s made comments like this a few times now.Especially with your job sending you everywhere… I wondered why you wouldn’t just cancel your lease and move to Miami…Does she not realize I own the company? I probably should’ve corrected her. Was I subconsciously protecting myself after everything I went through with Stephanie? Hell, deep down, I knew Harlow was no money grubber. I replay her statement.Especially with your job sending you everywhere…

Yet my job isn’t sending me anywhere. I did this to myself. And now I have to figure out how to fix it.

I just hope I don’t lose everyone I care about in the process.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

HARLOW

“How’s your throat, buddy?”

“It feels like I have rocks in there.” My poor little man. “Can I have another popsicle?”

“Of course.” Walking to the freezer, I open the door and lift the box. “Do you want cherry, orange, or grape?”

“Grape.”

“Hopefully by tomorrow, you’ll feel a lot better. The medicine usually works pretty fast.”

“Can we have pizza tomorrow?”

“I think we might want to hold off on that for a little longer.” Unwrapping the frozen treat, I place it in a bowl and put it in his lap. Alec takes a few licks before placing it back in the bowl, his eyes never leaving the cartoon he’s watching.

Knock, knock.

“That must be Grandma,” I say in a sing-song voice.

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