Nix dropped a kiss on my forehead. “Now stop sulking and let’s go make sure Miller is in one piece.”
“I thought you hated Nate?”
“Oh, I do. But he’s been there for you when I couldn’t be. So I owe him.” Nix got up, tugging me alongside him. His arms slipped around me and he gazed down at me. “I promise not to hurt him so long as he promises not to go after what’s mine.”
“It isn’t like that between us.”
“Let’s hope he knows that.”
I swatted Nix’s chest, but he snagged my wrist, yanking me forward so I tumbled into him.
“You’re mine, Harleigh Wren Maguire,” he whispered against my ear, the words filling the cracks inside me. “Then. Now. Forever.”
Just as Celeste said, we found everyone in the kitchen. Nate’s eyes immediately went to my hand, the one currently clasped in Nix’s. But I found no jealousy in his eyes, only gentle understanding.
“I see you two sorted out your differences,” he said.
“Watch it, Miller,” Nix drawled. “I haven’t decided if I like you or not yet.”
Zane snorted at that, his hard gaze sliding to mine. “Sorry, B, about before, at the fair.” His expression softened slightly, and I knew we needed to talk. But I wasn’t ready to face the firing line, not yet. So a small nod was my only answer.
“Oh my God, Harleigh. It’s so good to see you.” Chloe rushed over to me and pulled me into her arms. “I’m sorry about your mom. I know it was a while ago, but I never got to say it.”
“Thank you.” My eyes shuttered as I hugged her back.
When we let go, Celeste caught my eye, smiling. Miles looked less thrilled; a weary expression plastered on his face. But I didn’t blame him. Things were tense around Nix and his friends.
Always had been.
“Looking good, B.” Kye grinned in that easy way of his. “I’d hug you but I’m not sure Wilder will let me get close enough.”
Nix muttered something that sounded like ‘damn right,’ and I rolled my eyes.
“Liar,” I said to Kye. “I look like I had a panic attack and passed out on my… on Nix.” I cleared my throat, hoping no one noticed my slip of the tongue.
But Nix pulled me back into his chest, wrapping his arms around me, oblivious to the strange looks our friends were giving us. “Your what, B?”
I heard the smirk in his voice and elbowed him in the ribs, making him grunt in pain.
“Remind me never to get on your wrong side.” Kye chuckled.
“Nate, can we talk a second?” I tried to pull away from Nix, but he tightened his grip on me. Zane and Kye both smirked and I glowered at them.
“Not helpful,” I murmured, peeling Nix’s hands from my stomach.
“It’s okay, Maguire, we can talk another time.”
“You should listen to him, B,” Nix whispered. “The guy talks a lot of sense.”
Celeste and Chloe suppressed their own smiles. I twisted my face to Nix and pinned him with a serious look. “I’ll be right back. But I am going to talk to Nate.”
His jaw ticked but he relented. “Fine. Go. I’ve got my eye on you though, Miller.”
“I would expect nothing less.” Nate jammed his hands in his pockets and flicked his head toward the back door. I followed him outside, aware of the six pairs of eyes watching us.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Like I owe you a huge apology.”
“No, Harleigh. Don’t even think that. I had no idea about the text message. I swear to God… My cousin is a real asshole.”
“You think it was Marc?”
He frowned. “You don’t?”
“I guess it makes sense.” Marc or Angelica.
“I’ll talk to him—”
“No, no. You shouldn’t get in the middle of it, it will only make things worse. I can block the number.”
“Harleigh.” He gave me a sympathetic smile. “You locked yourself in the bathroom and had a panic attack.”
“I know…” Shame pressed in on me. “I … it’s been hard, you know? Trying to pretend I’m okay, putting on a brave face.”
“But you and Wilder figured things out?”
“I think so.”
“That’s good, right?”
“I… I mean, yeah. But a lot has happened.” We weren’t the same people anymore. At least, I wasn’t. And I knew Nix wouldn’t wait long for answers. He wouldn’t rest until he knew every detail about what had happened to me.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to relive it though, to dredge up all those dark and desolate memories. Not to mention the fact that the more Nix knew, the angrier he would be about my father.
My father.
God, there was a lot to unpack there.
I was choosing denial for the moment though. Because if I let myself think about it, if I let myself go there…
“I know we didn’t get off to a great start, Nate. But I wanted to say thank you. For being there for me even when I didn’t want you to be. You’re a good friend.”
“Friend… yeah.” He ran a hand up and down his face, and a strange sensation took root in my stomach.
“Nate, what—”
There was a commotion over by the door and Nix appeared. “Okay, time’s up, Miller.” He stalked toward us, and Nate laughed.
“Good luck with that.” He gave me a small nod and headed back inside.
“You couldn’t give us five minutes?”
“What can I say, Birdie, I’m a possessive idiot.” He hooked his arm around my waist and drew me into his chest. “You two clear the air?”
“I guess.”
“And did you make it clear that you’re mine?”
“Nix…” I sighed.
Guilt flashed in his gray eyes. “Shit, sorry, I’m being an ass. I… I didn’t think we’d ever be like this again. And now I have you back, I don’t ever want to let you out of my sight.”
But that was impossible.
Because we lived on opposite sides of town now, and the reservoir might as well have been a vast unpredictable ocean between us.
“B, what is it?” he asked, noticing my solemn expression.
“Nothing.” I forced a smile, unwilling to burst his bubble. He looked so happy, like the boy I’d grown up adoring.
I didn’t want to take that away from him.
Not in this moment.
Nix
“Are we going to talk about the fact this is as weird as fuck?” Zane said as we sat in Miller’s kitchen, waiting for him to return with pizza for everyone.
The girls were sitting over on the sectional talking. I wasn’t surprised how easily Celeste and Chloe slotted in beside Harleigh. They were both similar. Feisty. Sassy. Fiercely protective. Harleigh needed people like that in her life. Especially after—
Fuck, I couldn’t go there.
Couldn’t let myself think about her trying to hurt herself because she thought I’d abandoned her. It was too much of a mind fuck.
“Breathe, Nix,” Kye whispered, motioning to my hand as I white-knuckled the edge of the counter.