Wright Kind of Love, page 12
“I wanted for him to meet her.”
“Did he want to meet her?”
“Well, he didn’t know who I was dating.”
Annie’s mouth popped open. “You ambushed your father with your Wright girlfriend?”
“It wasn’t an ambush,” I grumbled.
She held her hand up. “Wait, wait, wait, what did you think your dad was going to do when you showed up with a Wright? Because I can tell you what I think probably happened.”
“What do you think happened?”
“That he blew a gasket, Chase. Of course he did. He was humiliated by Wrights at a public event and lost the favor of the mayor. He doesn’t even work with us anymore because of all of it. He hates us.”
“Us,” he muttered.
She shrugged. “Hate to break it to you, but I’m a Wright, too.”
“I know,” he said. “Jordan wouldn’t let me forget.”
“Anyway, did he blow up?”
“Yeah.”
“Is Harley okay? I’m sure he wasn’t kind.”
I frowned and downed the rest of the whiskey. “She’s upset with me.”
“To put it mildly?”
“She walked out.”
Annie sighed heavily. Then, she reached back for the bottle of whiskey and refilled my glass. “You probably need that. I can’t imagine it’s easy to see her hurting.”
Jordan cleared his throat behind us. I jumped. I hadn’t been paying attention to him. I’d figured he’d left us alone. Fuck.
“Did you say Harley is hurting?”
“Jordan,” Annie warned.
“That’s not what happened,” I told him.
“You do remember me telling you that I’d kill you if you hurt her, right?”
“Jordan!” Annie cried.
Jordan shrugged. “Bold of you to come to my house after hurting my sister.”
“She’s the one who walked out,” I said, holding my hands up.
Jordan laughed. “Well, that’s the smartest thing she’s done in a while.”
“Ha-ha,” I said with an eye roll. “Just what I needed—to be kicked when I’m down.”
“I can try harder,” he offered.
“Ignore him,” Annie said. “Why did she leave anyway? What did your dad say?”
“He compared her to Owen.”
Jordan flinched. “Ah. Yeah, she’s not going to be happy about that.”
“She wasn’t, but then my dad and I got into it. And he said I couldn’t work at the company while dating a Wright. So, I quit.”
Annie and Jordan both stared at me in stunned silence. I drained the rest of my glass. Yeah, that was what I’d thought, too. That I’d done the right thing. I wasn’t going to give in to his bullshit. And yet Harley had acted like I was destroying our relationship by making that decision.
“You can’t quit,” Annie said.
“That’s not enforceable,” Jordan said at the same time.
They glanced at each other and laughed.
“Look at Jordan defending you,” Annie muttered.
“I wasn’t defending him,” Jordan said, sliding his arm around her middle. “But I grew up with Owen. I know these sorts of games. He can’t fire you. Not while you’re the public face of the company. The board would have to do it. If you quit, you’re giving him what he wants.”
“No, what he wants is me and Harley not together.”
“And you’re currently not,” Annie pointed out.
I jerked back at those words. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck. Were we broken up? No, it hadn’t been like that. She wanted to give me some space. Fuck, was it space? I didn’t want space. Not like that. No, she wanted me to figure this out. I’d given her all the space that she needed to make her decision about Harvard. If I was going to make one about the company, then I should probably make it with more thought than rising to my father’s bait.
Fuck, was she right?
“I don’t want to encourage you to right things with my sister,” Jordan said. “She can do better.”
“Thanks,” I grumbled.
“But she’s fucking smart, and Owen trained her up well. She probably saw that you were getting played before you did. If she’s miffed about this shit, then you should probably listen to her.”
“He’s right,” Annie said. She smiled up at her husband, clearly pleased that she’d gotten him on board. “Basically, you’re being a fucking idiot.”
“So glad that’s the general consensus.”
“Just think for a second. Do you still want to work for the company? Can you still work with your father? Do you think things will change once you all calm down?”
“That’s what Harley wanted me to think about.”
Annie nodded. “And she’s right.”
“She thinks I’ll resent her if I quit because of the bullshit with my dad.”
“Wouldn’t you?”
I opened my mouth to deny it. I never could resent or regret her. Not a second. But instead, I let the anger go, and I really thought about it. I loved my job. My father aside, the job was great. It was what I’d always wanted. If I quit because I was with Harley, would I put that back on her? I wanted to say no, but I didn’t know. Hadn’t we spent all of that time apart just so that she could be sure? Didn’t I owe it to her to be sure here too?
“Fuck.”
Annie patted my arm. “Figured it out?”
“I fucked up.”
Jordan shook his head. “You can say that again.”
“What am I going to do?”
“Figure the stuff out with work before you go back to her. I bet she needs the time to collect herself anyway,” Annie said with a sad smile. “I’ve been on the other end of this idiot doing stupid shit without talking to me. You need to get it together.”
“Hey!” Jordan said.
“Yeah,” I said, putting my head in my hands. “Fucking fuck.”
“Just have another drink. Figure it out in the morning.”
She poured more whiskey into my cup.
“If I drink much more, I won’t be able to drive.”
“Crash in the guest room,” she told me.
My eyes lifted to Jordan. I certainly never would have thought that Jordan Wright would welcome me into his home. Not like that.
But he just nodded. “Not going to endanger my sister’s boyfriend.”
Annie snorted. “Right.”
“Well, not any more than I already have.”
“Thanks,” I said and meant it.
“Fuck off,” he said with a smile.
I laughed as Jordan pulled Annie into the kitchen to grab her some dinner. She apparently hadn’t had a break to eat at the hospital. Watching them together made me realize just how much I wanted this with Harley. And how stupid I’d been to jump to conclusions and let my father bait me.
I’d fix this.
I’d fucking fix this.
18
Harley
Waiting was torture.
Whitt and Eve were happy to see me lounging on their couch when they came home from their date. It immediately shifted to concern when it was clear it was not a leisurely visit. Keeping Whitt from hunting Chase down was an effort in civility. Eve and Bailey pitched in.
Especially because Chase hadn’t really hurt me. Not the way Whitt was thinking. But we were still on the rocks. Which made my stomach hurt.
I went to bed, restless and feeling sick, and woke up feeling worse. I could just text or call him and see where his head was at, but I also couldn’t do that. He needed the time.
I had a new appreciation for how hard it must have been for Chase to wait and see with me. Knowing that he’d wanted me the whole time and that he also needed to give me space. He’d been right then, and I was right now.
Bailey cooked me a fancy breakfast, and we watched more ’80s rom-coms. It was a pleasant distraction while my stomach was rumbling uncertainly. I didn’t know how long I’d have to stay here. Luckily, I could fit into Bailey’s clothes even though she was taller than me, but I wouldn’t be able to do that for work on Monday. I’d have to find time to go home and get clothes. Should I send Bailey on a reconnaissance mission for me?
Ugh!
The idea of being here another whole day, let alone having to sneak back into my house to get clothes to go to work, was depressing. I was going to break before then. I could feel it. Even though Bailey insisted that I wouldn’t. I’d never done it before. But this was Chase.
Bailey popped into the shower while I was doomscrolling on my phone after lunch when the text came through.
Meet me at the lake? Our spot?
My heart leaped. Chase.
Radio silence for nearly twenty-four hours, and now, he wanted me to meet him at the lake? That was pretty ballsy of him. I didn’t even have a change of clothes. I wasn’t going to just pretend nothing had happened. Even if I’d thought about it all night.
For what?
To talk.
Why can’t we talk at home?
Harley, please, our spot. I’ll meet you there.
I wanted to shoot back that I didn’t have a change of clothes. That I didn’t want to drive twenty minutes out of Lubbock to have this conversation. I wanted to know where his head was at right now. But that was just my own impatience.
I’d meet him.
Of course I’d fucking meet him.
I rapped on the bathroom door in Bailey’s room. She opened it, wrapped in a towel. “What’s up?”
“Heard from Chase. I’m going to go meet him to talk.”
She broke into a smile. “Good! I knew he’d come around. What did he say?”
“Nothing really, just that we should meet at the lake to talk.”
Her brow furrowed. “Why the lake?”
“I don’t know. It’s our spot. I asked if we could talk at home, but he insisted.”
“Well, this is good, right?” Bailey sounded hopeful. “I’m sure this is good.”
“Can I borrow a change of clothes?” I gestured to her grungy sweats I was wearing.
“Raid my closet. I’m sure there’s something black in there.”
I rolled my eyes at her, but did just that. In fact, I found one of my own dresses in there. I held the ruffled-sleeve black dress up and arched an eyebrow at her. “Stealing my shit?”
Bailey laughed. “It’s too long on you!”
“No, it isn’t! You thief,” I said with a laugh.
Suddenly, everything felt lighter at the prospect of seeing Chase. I didn’t even know what he was going to say, but at least we were going to figure it out. I couldn’t sit around another day and wait. How had he gone months, waiting for me?
I threw the dress over my head. Despite Bailey’s insistence, the dress fit perfect. Maybe better than the last time I’d remembered wearing it. My finger went to the H pendant necklace around my neck. I’d considered taking it off last night, but I’d just tucked it into my shirt. Now, I pulled it back out, on display.
Then I hugged Bailey, thanked her for the girl time, and then headed out of the house to see my man.
The dirt road to our spot at Buffalo Springs Lake was dry and dusty. We were in a drought, as per usual in the summer, but it seemed even dustier than normal. Chase’s Subaru was parked in the dirt nearby. He’d laid out a blanket on the shoreline. No Bowie in sight.
My heart beat furiously at the sight of him staring off at the water. His hands in the pockets of his khakis. A white Polo completing what was a dressed-down look for him. At least he’d kicked off his boat shoes and was standing barefoot, his eyes hidden behind Ray-Bans.
When he heard the engine coming down the hill, a smile graced his features. I parked next to his car and hopped out of the driver’s side. It took real effort not to rush to him, throwing my arms around him and forgiving everything. It was all I wanted to do after all. But I needed to hear him out. Bailey’s words ran continuously through my mind. What would happen if this didn’t go how I wanted?
I swallowed and approached him, the wind whipping my blonde hair around my face. “Hey.”
“Hey,” he said.
“Did we have to drive all the way out here for this?”
“It’s a nice day. No reason to spend it inside.”
I furrowed my brow. It was nearly a hundred degrees at the end of July and boiling hot. The only way this would be enjoyable was if we stripped down and jumped in the lake. “It’s a Texas summer.”
“Assuredly.”
“Chase, what am I doing here?”
I was starting to get nervous. He wasn’t saying anything. Had I driven all the way out here for nothing?
“I had a rough night,” he said.
“I bet. Mine wasn’t exactly great either.”
“I talked to Annie and Jordan.”
“You talked to Jordan?” I gasped. I took a step toward him, inspecting his face. “You don’t look damaged.”
He grinned. “No, he promised to kill me, but thinks that you walking out was smart.”
I snorted. “That sounds like him.”
“Anyway, it’s not about them. Though they think you were right to do what you did.”
“I was…am,” I said even though it felt terrible.
“I know you are.”
I froze at those words. “You know I’m right?”
“Of course. I should have known right away.”
“Then, why did it take you so long to talk to me?”
He brushed a hand back through his messy blond hair. “I didn’t want to fuck this up. And I couldn’t get you back without making sure that I did the right thing.”
“Which was?”
“I called a few people on the board of the company. I wanted to make sure that they were aware of what had happened with my father.” He sighed heavily. “Apparently, my father had already reached out and told them that I quit. He’d insisted that he was going to take back over my duties. They were planning to meet next week to discuss what to do with me out of the position.”
“Oh fuck,” I whispered.
“But I informed them that wasn’t my intention. You were right. I don’t want to leave. They know I’m doing more than my father is at this point. And his reaction to who I’m dating just makes him look unstable.”
“They said that?” I asked hopefully. “I mean, he is unstable.”
“He is. I don’t know what decision they’re going to make, but they said they would be in touch on Monday after they convened. In the meantime, my job is secure.”
“That’s a relief.”
“And I’m sorry,” he said, taking a step toward me and reaching for my hand. “I’m so fucking sorry. I was not in my right mind when I spoke with my dad, and then I took that out on you. Watching you walk out that door was a kick in the face. I hated it, but I needed it to remember what I really wanted.”
A tear came to my eye, and I choked it back. “Well, I’m glad you came to your senses.”
“Harley, I waited three years for you, and I would have waited the three years you were at Harvard. I would wait forever for you. Do you understand? The very last thing I want in this world is to be without you. Can you forgive me for disregarding your feelings?”
His eyes were so fucking earnest. His heart on his sleeve. I wanted to lean into that. I wanted to give in with every fiber of my being. I loved his apology, but I didn’t just want an apology. I wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.
“What happens if this happens again?” I asked slowly.
“I can’t promise that I’ll always be levelheaded.” He laughed softly. “Unfortunately, I was raised by my father. Just like you were raised by Owen. They both have their claws in us more than either of us could ever know. I hate when I find how deep those hooks go. I hate every time I’m more like him.” His hand went to my cheek and tipped my face up to look at him. “But I can promise we can work it out together. That things might not be perfect, but as long as it’s you and me, we can work it out.”
I nodded. “Good. I want that.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do!” I said with a quivery laugh. “I hate how much I’m like Owen, too. I hate that I can twist any argument around and how much I have to win. I’ve been trying to rein it in, but it’s not easy to restructure who I am as a person. Maybe it’s best that we both accept that some parts of our personalities are going to be works in progress. We can hold each other accountable.”
“Anything for you. I want us to be a team.”
“I want that, too,” I said with a sniffle. “Now, kiss me, you dummy. I missed you so fucking much.”
He laughed, both dimples appearing in full, and drew me into him. His lips slanted against mine, light and tempting. I wanted to devour him, but my body was still too shaky. I’d had all this anticipatory anxiety over the fact that we might have walked into a scenario both of us were too stubborn to walk out of. Instead, we’d come out stronger on the other side.
“I missed you, too,” he said against my lips. “I love you.”
“I love you,” I said, pressing myself against him.
“But calling the board wasn’t the only reason that you had to wait.”
I pulled back just enough to arch an incredulous eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
Then, Chase put his hand back in his pocket and pulled out a small black box.
My brain couldn’t process what I was seeing. That he was sliding from my grasp and to one knee. That his smile was magnetic as he looked up at me. That he popped the top of the box.
That there was a ring inside of it.
Then, I caught up. I gasped, my hand going to my mouth in disbelief.
This wasn’t just some ring.
This was the ring.
My ring. I didn’t even know how he could have found something more me in the entire world. Who knew Lubbock, Texas, would even have something so unique and quintessentially me?
The center stone was a large black oval diamond, surrounded in a halo of smaller diamonds, on a gold band. It was delicate and badass, and if I’d ever wanted a wedding ring, this would have been the one.
“I spent the last twenty-four hours realizing that I never wanted to go a single day without you again. Not a single solitary day if I could help it. We had three years to make sure this was right, and I know it down to my bones that you’re it. You’re the one I love—mind, body, and soul. I can’t promise perfection. Only that I will always be here to work on it with you, that I will always cherish your brilliant opinion, and I will always love you.
