Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Justin moved in and took the empty one by me.
“Hey.” It took a second for his presence to register. I melted. “Hi! Oh my God, Justin.” I reached over, giving him a big hug.
He hugged me back, cupping the back of my head. “Hey there. How are you doing?” He said it only for me to hear and we kept hugging, holding each other, because Justin was that kind of guy. He wanted to know, real quick before we got to business, how I really was doing. That’s how he spoke, how he handled himself. He truly cared about people. He was loving. Gentle. Patient. And Harper was terrified of losing him, so of course he pushed him away. I was suddenly so angry at my best friend.
I hugged Justin a little bit longer, harder. “I am mending.”
Justin leaned back, looking at me, his hands still around me lightly. “Well, that sounds healing.” He smiled, raising an eyebrow in an inquisitive way.
I smiled back, answering the unspoken question. “And you?”
Some of his smile faded and his hands fell away. “You’ll see that part.” He raised his voice, turning to include the table. “Because we’re going to hash out things between me and Harper tonight too.”
“What? There’s nothing to hash out.” Harper sat upright, doing the best impersonation of a rod being stuck down his back.
“Yes, there is because I’m tired. I’m going back and I’m moving on.”
“What?”
I reached over, touching Justin’s knee for comfort. He was so tense and at my touch, a breath wooshed out of him. He gave me a sad smile before responding to Harper again. “It’s time, babe. If you really don’t want me, I’m going to go. I have a lot of love and I know there’ll be a guy out there who’ll appreciate me. I’ve been waiting for Kali to come back, help here, and if you still say you don’t want me, a guy can only take so much you know? I gotta go then. I can’t keep harassing you.”
“But,” Harper heaved a deep sigh. “You’re not harassing me, Justin. You never could do that. I’m the harasser.”
“I know, but you’ve not been harassing me. You’ve been avoiding me.”
“I didn’t last night.”
Aly and I shared a look. Last night?!
“One night doesn’t mean you’ve changed your mind. If anything, it just opens the wounds again. Gives me hope.”
Harper looked away, his mouth pressed up and looking like he was having a hard time swallowing. “Man. I–” He took us all in before closing his eyes, hanging his head. “Put me on the spot here.”
“We can go outside? Talk privately, but I want the girls to know that I’m done waiting.” He covered my hand with his on his knee, patting it gently. “It was good to see you. I can see that you’re almost glowing.”
I felt like crying. “Justin, don’t go.”
He tilted his head to the side, that sad smile moving so he had sad eyes. “I can’t take much more. Harper’s made his decision loud and clear. I have to listen at some point.”
I knew, but I wanted to argue. Harper was wrong. Knew him all my life to know he was wrong, and he knew he was wrong too. I glanced at him, saw he was fighting with himself.
We all got off our stools for the hugs.
Justin hugged me. Hugged Aly.
Harper looked defeated so he got a hug and I knew he’d need more of those by the end of the night so no matter what happened he’d be getting all the hugs from us. Aly and Harper hugged, so I got one last hug from Justin.
He squeezed me hard, saying into my ear, “Don’t let him become like his mom.”
I hugged him back just as hard. “I won’t. I swear.”
He pulled back, taking me in before giving a final and firm nod. His eyes were set, determined. As he led the way outside, there was a resolved look to both of them. Their shoulders were hunched forward and down.
“Why do I feel like we’re breaking up with Justin?” Aly moved next to me.
I sighed because damn. That was the case. But no. No way. I knew Justin would do what he’d have to do. He’d move on, which meant he’d move away but Justin was amazing so he’d get snatched up so quick. He’d find a great guy, and all of those guys’ friends would fall in love with Justin. There’d be some visits every now and then, maybe a couple emails, texts, but those would dwindle because Justin would become loyal to his new guy. At some point, he would have to cut ties with Aly and me.
I shook my head. That wasn’t going to happen. “We need to stop Harper from destroying Harper.”
Aly asked, “We need to protect him from himself?”