Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

BANKS

T he best thing about swimming isn’t how cut my muscles get or how healthy it makes me. It’s all the time I have to think, especially during practices focused on long races. While I swim a fifteen-hundred-meter session, it’s just me and the black line at the bottom of the pool.

Harper hasn’t spoken much to me over the past week. It’s understandable, I put a lot out there for her to digest. Especially when she’s been so sheltered most of her life. It was a hard realization for me to come to, and it has to be even harder for her .

I just couldn’t stomach any more of the sadness in her eyes when I’d brush off any physical contact beyond hugs and chaste kisses. I could feel the rejection she felt mirrored back at me in her eyes. She deserves to process this in the way that is best for her.

But fuck, I miss her. Not seeing her face every day is killing me. I miss her laugh and the way she makes everything worth living for.

I hope she can figure out a way to wrap her mind around my suggestion. It’s not that unusual to have a polyamorous relationship. I know I can’t be everything she needs in the way she’s all that I need. She deserves to feel physically wanted and desired. I can share as long as I don’t have to give her up.

My muscles are burning as I finish my laps and pull my goggles off, dropping them on the pool deck as I dunk myself under the water one more time. Coach bends down to talk me through his observations on my stroke and speed. After he finishes and walks away, I look over my shoulder to the stands and notice Declan sitting there waiting.

I pull my swim cap off and lift myself out of the water. He glances down at his watch as if he’s annoyed about having to wait for me. Seeing his irritation only makes me go slower, so I take my time drying off and wrapping my towel around my neck.

The scowl on his face as I approach makes it all worth it.

“About time,” he drawls when I come to a stop in front of him.

“What do you want?”

“To talk about Harper.”

That sobers me up. “Is she okay?”

“Yes, she’s fine. I need help understanding her.”

“What do you mean?”

“She argues with me on everything. Even things meant to keep her safe.”

“Let me get this straight. You drove hours to come ask me how to talk to Harper?”

“I flew my plane. It was only an hour.”

“Right.” I forgot that he’s a pilot on top of everything else. Part of me wants to tell him to fuck off because he’s clearly approaching her all wrong. The only thing that makes me want to help him is that I know he’s doing his best to protect her. “I’m not sure how you’re talking to her, but in my experience she’s always approachable and rarely argues. In fact, I can count on one hand the amount of times we’ve argued. ”

“I knew this was a waste of time.” He stands to walk away.

“Wait.” If this is truly about her safety, I want to help in anyway, even if it means working with this asshole. “What exactly is causing the most tension right now? Have there been more letters?”

“No. She wants to get a part-time job, but my schedule, along with Emerson’s, is packed already. Taking her to and from the stables where Annie’s at will be challenging to work out.”

“She found Annie?” Happiness for Harper swells within me. She loves that horse so much and was more devastated about giving her up than she was about her dad going to prison.

“I did. I bought her at auction to give back to Harper.”

Of fucking course he did.

“I’d let her get a job.”

“I can’t protect her if she’s working somewhere.”

I grab the railing and look down at the floor while I try to think of a compromise. “I’m sure she wants to start making money on her own because of how Scott would use money against her. Anytime she wanted something he would find a way to bend her to his will on something else. It was just another way for him to exploit control over her. ”

He deflates. “Fucking asshole. I thought it was just about not wanting to use my family’s money, like a pride thing for her.”

“No.” I shake my head. “It is so much deeper than pride.”

At least he and I can agree on two things. Hatred for Scott being one. Wanting to protect Harper being the second.

“Thanks for the insight.” He begins to walk away.

“Wait,” I say quickly. “How has she been this week? We haven’t spoken as much as usual.”

He looks at me while he weighs how much to tell me. “She seems kind of sad. Confused too, maybe. She explained a bit of what happened, I think she’s just processing the news. She’s not too upset to fight with me, though, so that has to be a good sign.”

“Yeah. I hope so.”

He turns and walks out of the natatorium. My teammates are long gone, as are the coaches. I consider jumping back in to punish myself with another hour of hard laps but need to get back to the dorm instead. I have a test coming up to study for.

I’m shocked to see Declan standing outside by the curb when I walk out to my car. “Why are you still here? ”

“My Uber canceled. I’m waiting on another one.”

“Cancel the ride. I’ll take you.”

He regards me with curiosity for a second but eventually agrees and follows me to my Challenger. We make small talk about the car until he gets a phone call from his father. After murmuring a string of curses, he answers. I can barely make out some of the conversation, but it sounds like his dad is going off about him flying here. They go back and forth a few times before Declan says goodbye and hangs up.

I don’t ask what that was about, and he doesn’t offer. Neither of us talk anymore as I drive him out to the small airstrip he flew his Cessna into.

“Can I ask a favor?” I say before he gets out.

“Sure.”

“Keep me updated about Harper. Just about how she’s doing and especially if she gets any more letters.”

“I can do that.”

I watch him walk through a gate and over to his plane before driving off. At least he was willing to hear me out about figuring out a way to let Harper earn some of her own money. That’s the most important thing. Time will tell if he keeps me in the loop on anything else.