26. Between us girls—

TWENTY-SIX

BETWEEN US GIRLS?—

SHEP

Rage. Disgust. Fury.

The sneer on Beckett’s face has me all but seeing red.

For once, the guy doesn’t have a drink in his hand, and maybe that’s why he doesn’t make a comment to me like normal.

“Oh, hi. I was just talking to Lennon. She’s here with Shep,” Harlow says, looking down at the floor.

I don’t miss the way Beckett’s eyebrows rise to meet his hairline.

“Is that so?” He looks at Lennon, not me.

“Yep, that’s true!” Lennon rushes out before linking her arm with mine. The entire motion is rushed and awkward, but this is a part of the show.

“Damn, Fords. You’re really trying to make your way through the swim team, huh?” He turns to Harlow and whispers something to her before looking back at Lennon and I.

I start to open my mouth but Harlow cuts me off. “Enjoy the night, you two.”

They turn and walk away, leaving me with a wave of nausea.

“I guess that wasn’t terrible?” Lennon lets go of my arm and moves in front of me.

I’m still looking over her head at the beautiful blonde being whisked away.

“HELLO?” Lennon bobs her head up into my line of sight.

“Yeah, sure.” I start to walk after Harlow when Lennon grabs my arm.

“Don’t. You’ll ruin the night before it even starts.” She smooths down her dress and scans the crowd herself.

“Looking for someone other than my best friend? Because if so…” I start.

Lennon flushes before cocking her hip out and crossing her arms. “No, thank you very much. I’m looking to see if any other girls from swimming are here. I’ll have you know that, between us girls?—”

I roll my eyes.

“Your best friend is the only person I’m interested in. Currently. At the moment. Right now…” She nibbles on her lip and then sighs. “Don’t say anything to him.”

I raise an eyebrow before shaking my head. “I don’t even have the energy to try and act like I want to know what’s going on. But I will say this, he’s my best friend. I’m always going to have his back.”

Lennon’s mouth drops slightly then she pushes a finger into my chest. “And Harlow is my best friend. So don’t ever forget that. ”

“Fair point.”

“Let’s go mingle,” she says before sauntering off into the crowd.

I go to follow after Lennon but I catch sight of her again.

God, she’s perfect.

I’ve never seen Harlow dressed like this and, more importantly, in something that isn’t a dark color. The soft yellow is the perfect compliment to her golden skin and hair. The realization that her dress is my favorite color has me chuckling. I’m not entirely sure if it’s on purpose, but I have a feeling Lennon had something to do with that. There’s a twinge of pain in my stomach though when I see the open back. Flashes of the bruises that were left there a few weeks ago fill my mind and it makes my chest ache.

I need to find another moment with her to be alone. Having her in my arms for that brief second wasn’t enough, but I have a feeling I’ll never get enough of Harlow.

After staring at her for probably too long, I find Lennon with some of the swim team and my fraternity brothers. We make small talk while I keep my eyes on the lookout for my angel girl.

A few more minutes go by and I’m getting restless. I tell Lennon I’m going to take a walk and head towards the hall that connects to the outside.

This side of the house is where there’s yard space for throwing a football and other frat stuff. It’s decorated with lights and there are a few tables set up for people to talk at just like the date party. I walk over to one of the high tops and think about the car ride here when Harlow called me. I was shocked, but also pleasantly surprised.

It wasn’t too long of a phone call because the restaurant isn’t that far from where she lives, but I soaked up every minute of it.

I asked her if she’d be willing to tell me more about meeting with Robin. She gave me some smaller details and I listened intently.

I didn’t want to push her too far, but I asked her a question that I knew was bold. My curiosity was eating at me.

“So you’re starting to feel differently about Beckett…well, what about me?”

In true Harlow fashion, she shot back, “And what about you?”

I laughed it off, then she surprised me yet again by quietly saying, “Yeah, Shep. I’m starting to feel differently about you too.”

Thinking about it causes a visceral heat to flood me. Now I just have to make sure that I don’t get ahead of myself and bombard Harlow with my feelings. As if my thoughts conjured her up, she suddenly peaks out of the side door and smiles when she spots me.

She glances over her shoulder, then waves for me to come towards her. I look around just to make sure she’s actually motioning for me. Reading my mind, she mouths, “Yes, you. Come here .”

Following a few paces behind her, she turns off into a bathroom and I hesitate. This could end so badly, but nobody is around. My feet carry me into the small space and I shut the door behind me.

“We need to talk,” Harlow says through her reflection in the mirror. She’s fixing her hair when I notice one of the pearl straps is hanging off of her shoulder.

“What about?” I ask coyly, stepping towards her until her back is flush with my front. She sharply inhales. Taking the pearl strap in my hand, I slowly drag it back up to her shoulder. Her skin erupts in chills.

Not wanting to push her but feeling absolutely lost in the moment, I take my other hand and move her hair off her back and over her shoulder. I lean forward, my breath fanning on the back of her neck. “You look breathtaking,” I whisper out.

I’m not sure if it’s on purpose but she arches her back some which only presses her more against me. With her green eyes locked on mine in the mirror, I study her face to make sure she isn’t uncomfortable. Her eyes look like they’re pleading with me but for what, I’m not entirely sure.

I move slightly to the side of her face and press a soft kiss on the skin behind her ear. “Did you wear this just for me?” I purr in her ear.

“Shep,” she chokes out.

I run my hands down her back until I get near her lower back and stop. My fingertips hover over the place where his hands were. As much as I’m craving Harlow right now, my resolve to do good by her kicks in and I realize I need to slow down. I pull my hands back and step away, then reach for her hand to turn her in my direction.

“What do you want to talk about?” I ask softly, running my thumb over her knuckles.

“I don’t think I remember now,” she says with a flustered look on her face. Her cheeks are the rosiest I’ve ever seen them.

“Maybe I can give you something else then? Maybe some insight as to why I’m here with Lennon…” I trail off.

She lets go of my hand then straightens up and crosses her arms. “Actually yes,” she huffs out. “That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.”

I run a hand through my hair, messing it up some before letting out a large sigh. “It was my idea, so don’t get upset with Lennon. Not to mention, I had to basically ask Wes for his permission to bring her.”

Harlow’s eyes go wide and her mouth drops a little. “So those two are something then?” she asks.

“It would definitely seem that way.” I laugh softly.

“So then why come together? What aren’t you telling me?” She takes a step towards me and the nearness of her causes me to lose my train of thought.

“Harlow, I love that you want to be close to me, but I’m really trying to be the good guy here, and anytime you’re as close to me as you are right now, I feel myself losing my resolve.”

Her breath catches and I see a wicked gleam in her eye. “Oh, like this?” she taunts, before taking another step towards me. “Or how about this?” Her voice is quiet as she drapes her arms over my shoulders.

“You know, I was worried that the fire I’d seen in you a few weeks ago at the rec had been put out. Glad to see it’s still there, but certainly not working in my favor.” I look up at the ceiling avoiding her gaze.

“I’m waiting for you to tell me why you’re here with my best friend,” she whispers, her lips now just a few inches away from mine.

I force myself to look at her and give her the truth even though I know it will ruin this moment. “I told Lennon we needed to keep an eye on you tonight with Beckett.”

Her face drops and she quickly pulls her hands off my shoulders.

“Baby, wait.” The words spill out of me almost as fast as I reach for her hands.

“What did you tell Lennon?” She wiggles her fingers out of mine and my chest aches.

“I’m sorry, Harlow. Please.” I begin to plead with her.

“No. You didn’t.” The words come out strangled and I can tell I’m losing her. She puts more space between us. “Shep, tell me you didn’t share any more about my bruises. Tell me you didn’t tell her about Beckett.”

The betrayal in her eyes cuts deep into me and I’m trying to remind myself that I had her best interest at heart. I know that I did the right thing.

“All I told her was I think Beckett is hurting you and I’m worried.” I reach for her again, but she puts her hands up.

“I can’t do this. Don’t follow me.” She turns quickly and opens the door, rushing out.

I’m about two seconds from going after her when I hear what sounds like two people bumping into each other. My stomach sinks the moment her voice echoes down the hall.

“Oh, Beckett. There you are. Let’s go.”

Fuck me.