Page 22 of Wicked

Safe from the shitheads who hurt her.

Safe from douchebags like me who want to nail and bail on her.

Safe from bets such as the one Brett threw down.

Which I plan to rectify tomorrow.

I’ll withdraw from the bet.

It’s not Missy I want.

And no guy better throw down or accept a bet to nail my girl.

Otherwise, there will be hell to pay.

9

Ryker

Ikeep my promise. I book it out of Harper’s place before this Shephard guy shows up at her door.

By the time I hit the showers after my team won the home game, thoughts of Harper’s “complicated” friend fades from my mind, replaced by the growing idea of asking Harper out on a real date.

Wait until Wednesday to see her? Four days without seeing her face? I’ll go stir-crazy. Sitting on my bed with my elbows on my knees, I text her.

Me: Hey

I hang my head. That’s a douchebag start in the hunt for booty if I ever recognize one. I try again.

Me: How r u feeling?

Gray bar. Three dots.

Harper: I still can’t believe he’s gone. He was so strong

Meaning, how the fuck did someone fell an MMA fighter?

Me: What were your parents’ names?

Harper: Ellis and Hannah

Ellis and Hannah Garrix. I log onto my laptop and search for her parents online. Multiple hits. The articles don’t go into how good her father was at what he did with his fists. Instead, it’s what he did with a gun that captured the news media’s attention.

Bastards.

Me: How’s work?

Anything to get my head out of Harper’s parents’ sordid personal life. I can understand why her father was hooked on Harper’s mom to the point of fatal jealousy. Harper is the spitting image of her mother, and look at how Harper got under my skin after a week with her.

Harper: Don’t know. Boss sent me home. Said I have bereavement pay to use

Me: Nice of her

Harper: It is

Me: Where are u now?

Harper: My place

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