Page 46 of Swear on My Life

She punctuates her dramatic eye roll with an exasperated sigh. “See? If you went out more, you’d know these things.”

“Apparently, going out doesn’t matter because I met him anyway.”

“And how exactly did you meet him?”

We’ve been whisper-yelling out of panic. I just wish I knew why we’re freaking out. I grab a paper towel to wipe my brow during the interrogation. “At TJ’s, but how do you know him?” I ask, dabbing my forehead.

“Parties.”

My stomach drops. “Have you hooked up with him?”

“No.” She flips her hair over her shoulder and then crosses her arms over her chest. “But thanks for assuming I have sex with every guy I meet.”

“I didn’t mean it like that. It just sounded like you knew him better than someone at a party.”

She laughs and reaches over my shoulder to get a glass from the cupboard. “I’m just giving you a hard time.Anywho—”

“Sorry to interrupt.” Harbor’s deep voice flows between us, and we turn toward the hall with a gasp to our breath. He’s leaning from around the corner, looking at me. “It’s coming up on noon. Do you think we’ll be staying in bed, Lark, or should I get dressed?”

“Don’t get dressed.” I throw my hand over my mouth and clench my eyes closed.Oh my God!I did not just say that. Unfortunately, I did. When I peek one eye open and then the other, I’m met with a stupidly handsome lopsided smirk. He’s trying to do me in one grin at a time.

I glance at Amanda, whose mouth is currently hanging open as she stares at him. “Oh, by the way, this is my roommate, Amanda.”

“And best friend,” she adds, raising her hand and then sticks it toward him. “Hi, I’m Amanda.”

“Hi, Amanda,” he says, his voice smooth like chocolate syrup. Delicious. Coming from around the corner, he’s in jeans that didn’t manage to get snapped at the top and still shirtless. I bite my bottom lip.Good lord, he’s amazing. “I’m Harbor Westcott,” he adds as they shake hands. A stolen glance at me has him smiling as if we have a shared secret.

I think we’ve shared a few in the short time we’ve known each other.

“You two grew up together?” he asks.

“Yeah, just east of Calhoun Road. You’re familiar with that area. I’ve seen you at parties over there.” Her eyes narrow in his direction. “I’m just not sure who our mutual friends are.” She raises an eyebrow, leaving the question she didn’t ask directly hanging in the air.

His hand finds the back of his neck, and he scratches. The lighthearted grin now gone as he looks at her, trying to place where he’s seen her before. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to that part of town.”

“Lucas Westcott,” she starts. “That’s how I recognize you.”

“Probably.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, but I notice him glancing at the door a few times. Discomfort? Wanting to run out the door? Hungry? I can’t read his needs right now and that bugs me.

Amanda says, “Seems like quite the drive from The Pointe Estates.”

His smirk is gone. “Lucas tended to look for trouble, always managing to find it in Beacon.”

She nods, but then says, “I knew him. Met him a couple of times. He was always nice to me. I was bummed to hear about his accident.”

“Accident?” I ask, stepping closer to Harbor, but when I search his eyes, I don’t feel the timing is right to lift the lid on that topic of conversation. Not sure if it’s how he keeps looking for an escape though that’s a solid tip-off. It’s more that the pain I saw a few hours ago has returned in the current circumstances.

“Another time,” he replies quietly.

I understand the need to push certain things away. I wrap my arm around Harbor’s and lean my head on his bicep. “I’m still tired, Amanda. We’re going to head back to bed.”

“Yeah, no problem. We’ll catch up later, Lark.” Just as we round the corner, she singsongs, “Have fun.”

“We will,” I reply innocently, and then I catch her drift and giggle.

Sunshine floods the room, leaving shadows of stripes across Harbor’s body as he sits on the bed. I ask, “How was meeting the roommate?”

“I think it went well, as well as it could since she was surprised to see me.”

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