Chapter 45

Julian

"Is she sleeping?" Henry asks, his voice low, as if afraid to break the silence that Harper's grudging hospitality has left thick in the air.

The fact that Harper let Henry inside her house is a miracle that should be added to the Bible.

Remind me never to piss off Harper.

She only allowed Henry inside because Poppy asked her to, but silently, I could see Harper plotting ways to torture Henry for his past sins.

" No," I reply in a hushed voice, leaning against the cool wood of the doorframe. " She was pretending to sleep." It ' s a hard admission to make. I had laid in bed with Poppy, holding her until I hoped she fell asleep, wiping away the tears that fell sporadically, kissing her forehead, and promising brighter days ahead. I sensed her pretense; her body tried to lie still, but her erratic breathing gave her away. I think she wanted to be alone.

I ' ll give her time, but it can ' t be for long. I don ' t want her mind wandering down into a hole she can't climb out of.

Henry grabs the back of his neck, his discomfort clear. He hadn ' t sat down since he arrived; he just remained standing in the living room like a misplaced piece of furniture that wasn ' t sure where it belonged. "Theo said you love her."

Yeah, a lot more than you do. I ' d never leave her. Never let her suffer.

I cross my arms, fixing my gaze on him. " I do."

He shakes his head, the weight of his regrets visible in his downturned eyes. " I just wanted to protect her from myself. From the enemies I've made. From the hate inside of my heart."

I understand that; blackened hearts tend to pollute red ones.

" Poppy will do anything to be your sister again," I say, meeting his gaze firmly. " I won ' t let her get hurt," I warn him.

I know men like Henry. They tend to run when things get too emotional, as he did the day they had to bury his brother.

" You went to great lengths to not just ensure she was safe but also to know about her. Now you have the chance to be here in person. Don ' t mess it up." I uncross my arms, stepping closer. " I love her, and I won ' t watch you or anyone else put her through emotional turmoil again. You have a chasm to bridge that ' s wider than the Grand Canyon. You ' ve done things, emotional things. Consider me the judge and jury, Henry. Consider me always watching and listening. You better be the brother she wants and, more importantly, the brother she needs. Someone who will help her realize she isn't at fault."

" That should be the speech I give you," he grinds his jaw and looks out the window, a muscle flickering in his cheek.

" You haven ' t worn the Big Brother shoes in years. You don ' t need to anymore. I ' ll protect Poppy."

" I will, too," he hisses. " Theo always spoke highly of you. He said you were more of a father to him than your own dad was." A slight grin traces Henry's lips as he turns back to face me. " I see what he means now. I know Poppy is in good hands. You ' ll protect her and love her, but remember, she ' s my sister, and you ' re the guy trying to date her."

I shake my head. "Not just date. I ' m going to marry her. She ' s my life. My future." I point my finger and circle my face. "Get used to this face, these eyes watching you because I ' m a permanent fixture in her life."

He stills, his eyes morphing into a mask I can't quite read. After a moment, it softens, and he smiles, albeit reluctantly. " I ' ll be judging you too, Julian. Make my sister happy."