Harris paused and slowly pivoted. He cleared his throat. “When was this?”
“This weekend.”
“Then, I forgive you,” he said with a slight head nod.
“Uhhh…I don’t need you to forgive me. We broke up.” I practically yelled the last word.
“Which is precisely why I forgive you. I think we can move past this hump in our relationship now that you got that out of your system.” He turned back around and sat down. “Now, since you don’t want to go to dinner, we can talk right here, right now.”
I groaned and stomped back to the kitchen, where I’d left my purse. I pulled out my phone and began typing furiously.
Seventeen
Griffin
I had just poured a drink for a customer when my phone buzzed twice in my pocket.
“Excuse me,” I said and went to my office. I tried not to be on my phone at the bar unless I had to.
It was Madeline.
Mads: 911! Harris was waiting in my driveway when I got home from work and now, he won’t leave! He’s determined to get back together. I even told him that I slept with someone else this weekend, and he still won’t leave! Please help.
Mads: P.S. I lied and told him you were eating dinner at my house. We’re having roast beef.
I walked back out to the bar. “Mitch, I have a slight emergency. Can you handle things?”
Mitch looked around at the less than impressive Tuesday crowd. “I think I can manage,” he said sarcastically.
“Good. Call Casey if you need help,” I said as I pushed open the door.
“I was joking.”
“I know.”
I rushed to my car and pushed the speed limit all the way to Madeline’s. I wasn’t really worried that Harris would do anything to hurt her, but sometimes, previously decent guys lashed out.
When I got to her house, I pulled into the driveway behind Madeline. I’d wanted to park behind Harris simply to make his life more difficult, but that would defeat the purpose of getting him to leave.
I also had to resist the urge to key his car door as I walked toward the house.
I walked in through the garage without knocking and immediately noticed the flowers on the counter. They looked like some bouquet he had quickly grabbed off the shelf without any thought.
I could hear Harris talking in the living room. There wasn’t any yelling, so I took that as a good sign.
I took my coat off and pulled up the sleeves of my long-sleeved shirt.
When I came around the corner, I saw Harris sitting with his legs crossed and speaking as if he were trying to sell something.
Madeline was sitting on the couch with her head leaning against the back and an arm over her eyes.
“What’s going on here?” I asked.
Harris jumped, and Madeline sat up.
“Oh, thank God,” she muttered.
I smiled at her reassuringly.
Harris turned in his seat. “If you don’t mind, Madeline and I are having a discussion.”
I walked around his chair until I faced him. “Yeah, well, it looks like Madeline doesn’t want to have this conversation with you. I believe she told you that things were over between you two.”
Harris stood and moved closer to me.
Madeline got up from the couch, but I held up my hand at my side to let her know I had this.
I gave Harris a deadpan look and crossed my arms. He wasn’t the least bit intimidating. He was fit, but I was taller and had more muscle. I didn’t want to brag, but if the we got in a fight, I could easily win.
“The two of us are none of your business, Griffin.”
“It is when she texts me that you won’t leave.”
Harris turned his eyes to Madeline with an accusing look.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her turn her head away in guilt.
“Besides, Madeline and I have dinner plans tonight. You’re kind of ruining them.”
Harris clenched his jaw. “Madeline accused me of not liking her friends. But that’s not exactly true. It’s just you I don’t like.”
My brow went up. “Am I supposed to be offended by this? I don’t like you either.”
Eyes narrowing, he said, “You think you’re so wonderful because you’re the best friend. But that’s all you’ll ever be. Griffin Davis: permanent friend.”
I looked at Madeline and pointed to Harris with my thumb. “Hey, Mads, Harris knows my last name.” I tapped my forehead. “I think he’s more bothered by us being friends than he lets on.”
She looked at me with a half-smile, half-grimace expression.
I turned back to Harris and hoped that Madeline wouldn’t be upset with me for what I was about to do.
The guy was like a dog with a bone, and he wasn’t going to give up on Madeline if he thought that he had any sort of chance. I needed to make sure he knew he didn’t have one.
I stepped forward. “What if I told you that Madeline and I are no longer just friends?”
Harris’s eyes darted between Madeline and back to me several times. “Bullshit.”
“I believe she told you that she slept with someone this weekend?”
“Yes, she did. But it wasn’t you.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He hesitantly raised his chin. “I am.”
“Then, how do I know about the little mole on the inside of her thigh, right next to her pussy?”
Harris’s eyes widened, and he lost some color to his face.
But I kept going. “Not even a best friend would know about that.”
He swallowed.
“But maybe you don’t know about the mole because you never bothered to pay that close of attention to her.” I lifted a shoulder. “I mean, if you had, then she wouldn’t have been asking me to make her come.”
“You’re lying,” Harris hissed.
I chuckled. “No lie, man.” I licked my bottom lip. “And holy shit, was it worth it. She’s beautiful when she comes, am I right?” I grimaced. “Oh, sorry, I forgot, you couldn’t make her do that.” I patted him on the shoulder. “It’s okay. You’ll just have to take my word for it.”
Harris surprised the hell out of me when he tried to take a swing at me.
But I was faster.
I caught his fist and pulled his arm behind his back as I got so close that our bodies touched. “Madeline doesn’t want to be with you. The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can all move on because she’s mine now. Got it? I don’t let anyone touch what’s mine.”
I spun Harris around and led him to the front door.
“Don’t show up here again,” I said as I opened the door and pushed him out onto the front steps.
“Wait,” Madeline said. “His stuff.”
She ran to her kitchen and came back with a box.
I plucked it out of her hands and shoved it into Harris’s chest. “Good-bye, Harris,” I said and slammed the door in his face.
I took a deep breath and began preparing my apology to my best friend.
Eighteen
Madeline