Part 17 (1/2)

”Don't ask this of me right now.”

”Everyone in this room knows but me.” She had to hear it from him.

”Coach and Finley sent me home to Jessamine to keep me out of trouble,” he said softly.

Betrayal stabbed her right in the heart. ”I see.”

”No, you don't see. Things happened, and after I got to know you, I told Finley that you weren't part of the boost anymore.”

”Yet, here Harper and you are, cuddling and kissing all over social media,” Jellie pointed out. ”The walk of shame, guy style, or should I say... the run of shame.”

Harper stared at Jellie's phone, shocked to see Austin running from her house, dressed in the exact same clothes he was wearing now. The caption underneath read: Trouble in Paradise has Avengers' QB Lawson Running for Cover.

”I swear I had nothing to do with that,” Apple said. ”That's not my style.”

”I know it's not. You are very upfront,” Harper said, and then fixed her gaze on Austin. It was all she could do to not collapse in front of him, but she refused to give anyone the satisfaction.

”I'm sorry.” He handed her phone to her. ”I didn't mean for you to find out like this.”

His words were another nail in the coffin of their relations.h.i.+p. Of course, she'd be the dumba.s.s to sleep with a guy only to find out he was using her. Only her.

”Well, I did. I guess you can be on your way now.”

Her mother came to stand beside her. ”Let's go home, Harper.”

Harper nodded, lacing her arm through her mother's and walking out of the room, her head just as high as when she walked in.

But inside, her heart had been stomped on and left for dead.

”Harper, wait,” she heard Austin call out.

”Let her go,” Apple said, but for once, there wasn't malice in her voice when it came to a Lawson, which only served to make Harper feel even worse.

Finally, Harper had been the McCoy to capture the attention of the entire town, but for all the wrong reasons.

Austin ran the entire way back to Harper's house, hoping he'd beat her home. Unfortunately, he had no such luck. Her mother was backing out of the driveway while Harper unlocked the front door.

”Harper!” he shouted and she turned, her face red and blotchy. His heart ached at the sight. ”Wait!”

Crossing her arms, she tipped her chin up and actually waited for him to come to her. Maybe he had a chance after all. Maybe he could explain things and- ”How could you?” Harper said before he could get a word out. Tears ran down her face, smearing the eye makeup she'd spent so much time putting on this morning. He'd loved watching her get ready, loved how feminine she was, and how she would glance his way every so often.

”I didn't mean to hurt you.”

”Did you mean to use me or was that an accident, too?”

He deserved that. He deserved every bit of her anger. ”I didn't mean for it to happen. You were just there... right in front of me-the perfect answer to all my problems. What was I supposed to do?” He wanted to hold her, wanted to take her in his arms and a.s.sure her that everything would be okay. Only, because he was the source of her misery, she wouldn't let him, and it was breaking his f.u.c.king heart.

The fight seemed to go out of her. ”You should have left me alone,” she whispered.

”Yeah, I should have. But I didn't, and if I had to do it all over again, I would. I would pick you every d.a.m.n time.”

She flinched. ”I need you to leave.”

”Not leaving until things are settled between us.” He leaned against her doorway, his entire body shaking while he struggled to maintain an outward calm. He was completely s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g things up with Harper, but he didn't know any other way to say it.

”Things are settled. You used me. You lied to me. Worst of all, I had to find all of that out at the stupid McCoy luncheon. My mother was there.”

”d.a.m.n it, Harper. I'm sorry. Truly sorry. But I have no control over what your family talks about or shows you on YouTube. I have no control over how they treat you. I have no-”

”Stop talking. You're only making things worse-not better,” she cried. ”I don't care how they treated me because they treated me like they always have. I don't even care about the stupid video. You lied to me, you willingly deceived me, and you fooled me into thinking that I was special. That I was more than this Plain-Jane type who was just waiting for her Prince Charming to help her get rid of her virginity.”

He winced. ”The timing was most definitely bad. Had I known you were a virgin, I would have waited longer. h.e.l.l, I had plans to tell you last night during dinner.”

Her eyes rounded. ”That's why you wouldn't have s.e.x with me for so long?”

”Yeah, but that's a good thing. I respected you and didn't want you to feel... used.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. ”f.u.c.k. This is coming out all wrong.”

”No, it's coming out all right, because I finally know where I stand with you.” She began to close her door. ”Good bye, Austin.”

He grabbed her arm, but she shook him off.

”Please let me have the dignity of walking away from you,” she whispered.

Jaw clenching, he did as she asked. ”We're not done, Harper. Not by a long shot.”

She didn't answer him as she shut the door. That bothered him more than an angry retort would have. Her silence was d.a.m.ning, and he didn't have a clue how to get out from behind the eight ball.

Chapter Thirteen.

Harper refused to talk to anyone for the entire weekend. She didn't answer her phone or texts, including the ones from Austin that begged for her forgiveness. To let him come by and apologize in person.

She never wanted to see him again and had refused to open the door when he'd stopped by a couple of hours ago.

Libby went to the back door and whined a little.

”Sorry, sweetie, I'll let you out.” Harper went to the door and opened it, nearly tripping over the dozens of bouquets of flowers that Austin had sent her. ”Ugh.”

What was she supposed to do with all these things? Looking at them made her want to cry, but so did seeing them sitting out here for no one to enjoy. It was a shame that she couldn't just give them away.

Or could she...?

Heading back inside, she grabbed her phone from her purse and texted Apple. If anyone would know what an organization would need, it would be her.

Harper: Do you think it would be okay to deliver flowers to Jessamine's Retirement Center?