Page 30 of Hard Ball

I say nothing, trying to breathe through the idea that I was seconds away from coming in my pants and now I’m left to sit here and watch as Harper grabs her phone off her desk and answers it.

“Hi Mom,” she mutters, turning her back to me as she leans against the edge of the desk.

I don’t blame her for stopping to answer her phone, but I silently curse her mother for having horrible timing. Harper listens to something her mother says as she turns to give me an apologetic smile when her eyes catch my chest and widen. When I look down and see the scratch marks that were not there ten minutes ago, I give her a cocky smirk, loving the fact that she was so in the moment that she did something so unexpected. My fingers trace the marks, imagining if she would do the same thing once I was inside her.

Harper’s gaze meets mine once again and I can tell by the faraway look in her eyes that she’s not listening to what her mother is saying. So, when she says, “Sorry, what did you say?”

I give her a wink and get up to go pick up my shirt that is lying discarded on the floor. As much as I wish we could pick up where we left off, I know that’s not going to happen.

Her mother obviously says something she doesn’t like because Harper’s eyes narrow and then roll into the back of her head. From what I can tell from Henry’s passing remarks and the fact that Harper doesn’t talk about her mother at all, it makes me believe that their relationship isn’t the best.

“I’m fine, just finishing up work.” Her small smile gives me a shred of hope that whatever happened between us tonight won’t end with just tonight.

I take my seat once more, trying not to remember what she looked like grinding against me as she sits down in her chair and tilts her head back to look up at the ceiling.

“Yes, I still work at Dad’s gym,” she whispers and I can see the tension rising in her shoulders.

It takes all my self-control not to go over there and rip the phone out of her hand and hang up, because I know whatever her mother is telling her right now is causing too much stress for a girl that has already gone through too much.

“Mom, please, I really don’t want to talk about this right now.” Her voice is clipped, and I can tell she’s trying to put on a brave face for me.

I wonder if I should leave, give her some privacy but she doesn’t look upset that I’m still here, and to be honest, the more time I can spend with her, I will.

I can hear her mother’s muffled voice, she says something about Harper working at an awful place as she sinks back into her chair, looking defeated. There’s a new kind of pain in her eyes, one I’ve never seen before and my fists clench at the fact that I can’t do anything to take that pain away. Not yet anyway.

“I work here because it’s where I want to be,” she whispers, almost in tears. All of a sudden, she gets up, pacing back and forth, anger seeping out of every pore. “I don’t care what you think, Mom,” she starts. “Yes, I know you don’t approve of me working here, but I love it and it makes me feel closer to—” Her mother cuts her off and it’s not long before Harper is full-on yelling. “Say his name, Mom! For fuck’s sake it’s been fifteen years, why can’t you say his fucking name!” Her tears fall silently as she rests against the back wall, her head against the picture frame behind her.

“I know you miss him. You think I don’t?”

She’s so fucking strong and even though I don’t know exactly what’s going on between her and her mother, I’m proud of her. I’m proud that for her, grieving isn’t a singular moment in her life, but a revolving door of emotions that meld together to create memories instead of perpetual sadness.

Her mother says something that makes her eyes roll, a small smile crossing her lips, then all of a sudden everything changes. Her entire body goes rigid as I sit up straight in my chair.

“Seriously? What the hell is he doing calling you?” she yells before she pinches the bridge of her nose and lowers her head. “And to that point, what are you doing answering his calls?”

She starts pacing again as I sit there, trying to figure out if I should step in. At this point I don’t care what anyone says, I’m staying until I know she’s okay.

“I told you we’re not seeing each other anymore.”

Now I know exactly who she is talking about and it makes me want to punch a wall. The idea of that man-child laying a hand on her makes me livid.

“Oh my god,” she groans, rubbing her forehead in frustration. “He cheated on me, there is no way I’m getting back together with him, even if you do think we were a great couple and he’s such a sweet boy.”

I chuckle at that last part as her eyes dart to mine.

“You know what, Mom? I don’t have time for this right now. I’ll talk to you later.” She hangs up without waiting for a reply and we are again in blissful silence.

She mutters a curse as she sets her phone down on the desk as she looks up and our eyes meet. She takes a breath, her eyes flaring, and I know she feels this connection as much as I do, but right now all I can think about is making sure she’s okay.

I get up out of my chair, making my way around the desk so I’m standing right in front of her. It takes all my willpower to carefully take each and every button of her blouse and do them up one by one. Her breath catches every time my fingers brush against her skin, making me hard all over again.

“I probably shouldn’t have stayed for that whole conversation,” I admit, hoping it breaks some of the tension that’s oozing off her. My fingers trace the line of her jaw, loving the way her head absently leans into my touch. I stop at the edge of her lips, wanting to know so badly what they taste like but knowing this isn’t the time.

“You’re probably right,” she says, looking down at the one hand that still hasn’t let go of the front of her shirt. “It’s not a secret that my mother and I don’t get along. Working here has always been a point of contention, and I guess me breaking it off with Cole has pushed her over the edge.”

I say nothing as she takes a deep breath and continues.

“She feels that because he comes from money, that I’d be set for life.”

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