Page 107 of Relentles
“Not if I can help it, Harley.”
Her lips trembled and her nose reddened as tears pooled in her eyes.
Fuck her, but she was still the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.
“I-I came to apologize for hitting you.”
“Apology accepted. It’s the season of forgetting and forgiving,” he parodied.
She sniffled. “I shouldn’t have raised my hand to you. I’ll never do it again.”
“It doesn’t matter. Just go. If Ryan hadn’t taken Molly or if you’d come alone and found us, you would’ve flipped on me.”
“I can’t help it. I love you!”
Hearing her utter those words was more painful than CJ ever imagined. When he asked her to be his girl and offered her the ring he’d had specially made for her, he’d only wanted those three words from her.
“Jaleena texted me a photo of the earrings.”
Glowering, CJ shrugged.
“Did…did you get me a gift?” she asked pitifully.
Fuck, he didn’t need her bullshit today. He especially didn’t need her tears. They always got to him. For their entire lives, as far back as his memories went, he’d moved heaven and earth just to see her smile. His day only righted itself after he talked to her.
Her eyes, once the gaze of a friend, began to ensnare him last year. Pools of browns and greens that he wanted to drown himself in for the rest of his life.
Her shoulders drooped. “You didn’t,” she said in a small voice.
“Don’t I always get you a fucking present, Harley?”
Swiping her cheeks, she nodded. “You didn’t bring it to the house this morning.”
Once his family opened their presents, CJ went to Harley.
“You didn’t come because you were…you were with Jaleena?”
“Does it fucking matter?”
“Yes! Especially after Jaleena called earlier, then message me a photo of the gift tag in your handwriting.”
He was scared for his sister, worried about his parents, and resentful of their façade. They shouldn’t have left the hospital. They should’ve stayed with Jo. It might be her one and only Christmas.
Pain poured through him, and his eyes stung.
He wanted to send Harley on her way without updating the status of his relationship with Jaleena. He wanted Harley to stop thinking about herself and see his hurt.
“Her parents aren’t fans of mine,” he said grudgingly. No reason for him to wound her because of his agony. “She knows I’m not pursuing her anymore.”
She drew herself up, stood a little taller. “I see.”
Her pleased tone angered him.
“Neither am I pursuingyou,” he snapped.
Misery darkened her face immediately. He felt like kicking himself. He’d done exactly what he’d decided not to do. Hurt her because of his own despondency. It didn’t make him feel any better.
“Then youarewith Molly?”
