Page 71 of A Hurt So Good

“I … I don’t understand.”

“I think you should go pack your things,” he tells her. Her mouth falls open as she looks at us and then back to him. A sick smile crosses her face before she huffs out a breath.

“You’re sleeping with her too, aren’t you?” She turns to Arya now. “You little whore!” War starts toward her, but Arya grabs the back of his shirt, pulling him back.

“That’s enough! She belongs to my sons, and as long as they’re happy, that’s all that matters to me. Now leave, Julie!” I’ve never heard my dad raise his voice to this level. I’ve never imagined he would, but here he is, defending Arya to her mother, his wife. Julie looks around before she quickly takes off up the steps and my dad walks toward us. We all part for him as he looks at Arya standing in the middle of us.

“You are more than welcome to stay here as long as you like. There is no need for you to go anywhere,” he tells her, brushing her hair behind her ear.

“Thank you.”

“I’m only sorry things had to end this way. Since you’ve been here, I’ve seen a different side of your mother I didn’t know before, and I can honestly say I don’t like it.” Arya nods her head already knowing all this. Dad nods to us before turning and heading back up the stairs. We sit back down, but Arya doesn’t. She sets her bottle on the table and walks over to sit in the chairacross the room. None of us made a move to go to her. She needs her space.

And that’s exactly what we give her.

Chapter 29

Arya

It’s been a week since Jarrod made my mom leave. I still feel like it’s my fault, though. Maybe she’s right. Maybe being with them is too much, but I care about them, and I don’t want to leave any of them.

My mind has been shit for the last week, and I don’t know how to get it better. I’ve been working a lot since Jarrod got me more work. I’m thankful for it, too, and I finally have enough money to move out if I want to. The guys made it clear I wasn’t going anywhere, but some days, I wonder if this is all going too fast, but I can’t see my life without them in it in some form. I’ve grown attached to them, and that’s the scary part.

I close my laptop and yawn, even though it’s early. I wanted to go for a walk on the beach, but these strange messages I keep getting are starting to get to me. I thought about telling the guys about them, but they’re still pissed they never found who drugged me at the gala, so I keep it to myself.

The thing is, they get more in depth. At first, I thought it was someone just fucking around and trying to scare me. Now they tell me what I’m wearing and what I’m eating. It’s weird, and it scares the shit out of me, but there’s no way I’m giving up what little freedom I do have left over it. If the guys knew, I’d be locked in the goddamn house for the rest of my life.

I shove off my chair and walk out of my room and down the steps. I don’t see anyone, and I don’t know if they’re here or not, so I make my way down to the basement. Harlon sits in the chair with his head back and eyes closed. I smile at how peaceful helooks right now. I walk over, climb in his lap, and snuggle into him when his arms come around me.

“I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“You’re sitting on my cock; of course, I’m going to wake up,” he says, causing me to laugh. “What’s wrong?”

“How do you know something’s wrong?” I ask him. He sighs but never opens his eyes or looks at me.

“I can feel it. You’re tense.”

“Do you think my mom was right?”

“About what?”

“That we shouldn’t be together,” I tell him. Now, he lifts his head to look at me and shakes his head.

“No. She’s not right, baby. She’s jealous.”

“You think so?”

“Yeah, I do. She had something good with my dad, and she ruined it. She’s miserable, and now she’s trying to make you feel the same way. Don’t let her.” I nod my head and snuggle back into him.

“But he cheated, too, with me.”

“She knew that getting into things with him.”

“That he cheats?”

“That he isn’t a very faithful man. He has three kids with three different moms. What did she expect?” I nod my head. Maybe he’s right. Denz walks past with keys in his hand, and I call out to him.

“Where are you going?” he stops to turn and look at us.

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