Chapter 17

Given my personal circumstances, I'm not one to turn to physical violence as a means to resolve issues, so I'm not really sure what came over me the second Jonah told me some guy was hassling Harlow out in the lot. I grabbed the bat we keep under the counter and walked out there, saw his hands on her, and the rest is a blur.

I can't even say when it clicked—who the guy was to her—but in the end, it didn't matter. He left when I told him to, and swear to God, he better take my threat seriously because I meant every word of it.

Now, I'm in the office with Harlow's wrist in my hands to inspect it. My pulse picks up at the sight of it—red from where the fucker had touched her, and it takes everything in me not to jump in my van and go after him. "Are you okay?"

"Physically, sure," she states, just above a whisper. She takes back her hand, holds it to her stomach. Then she lowers her head, hiding her eyes. Not that I could look at them if I tried. "You didn't have to do all that."

"Right." I roll my eyes even though she can't see it. "Because you clearly had it under control."

"You're an asshole," she murmurs, looking up. Tears coat her eyes, and for some reason, I can't look away. "You made things a thousand times worse for me."

I heard what she said, I did, but the only reaction I have is to reach out, wipe at the tears streaking her cheeks.

She rears back, pushing my hand away. "Don't."

I lower my hands. "Why not?"

"I don't need you constantly wiping my tears, okay? I can handle it."

"I'm just?—"

"Especially when you can't give me the time of day otherwise."

"I—"

Jonah walks in, interrupting us. Heat burns in my chest, flows to my stomach. I'd never felt jealousy before, but I'm pretty sure that's what this is. He's been giving her rides to and from school the past week, and it's bad enough that I have to see them together there, but I have to work with them too, and they're always smiling at each other, laughing at dumb shit. They're probably seeing each other now. Like, actually dating, and not the fake version she offered me.

"You okay?" he asks her, and I trail my gaze back to Harlow.

She shakes her head. "No," she cries, and then she falls apart.

"Can you give us a minute?" Jonah asks, and it takes a second to realize he's talking to me.

Without a word, I step out of the office and glance back at them—at her in his arms, while he soothes her back.

What a hero.

I shut the door between us, confused, wondering if things would've been different if that's all I'd done. Simply hugged her.