“If her soul is fractured, I need you to remember that love is infinite. Her love for you will never dim or become less just because she needs to also be with someone else.”
I feel the tears building up in my eyes as I look at him. I can feel the truth in his words, and it brings me comfort. I know that if I ever have to share her affection, it will be okay. If there is one thing dad knows, it’s love.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I have to go, but I need to say something that I should have said a long time ago. I’m proud of you. I have always been proud of you, but I have never shown it and for that, I’m sorry.” He gives my shoulder one last squeeze before we say our goodbyes.
I take a deep breath before turning and going back into my room.
Harleigh is fast asleep on the couch. I cover her with a blanket and take a seat in the chair Dad was sitting in, and just watch her sleep while my mind goes over everything that just happened and everything we’ve learned.
When she wakes up, I know she’s going to have questions. I just hope to hell I can answer them.
6
Harleigh
When I wake up, I start to panic because I’m surrounded by darkness and am most definitely not in my bed. I lay frozen in fear, listening to the sounds around me while the memories of today flood my mind.
Remembering I’m in Brian’s room helps me relax. I can hear the subtle sounds of his breathing not too far away, and it makes me feel better knowing he didn’t leave me over here alone.
I slowly sit myself up, reaching for my phone on the table. Checking the time, I also turn the flashlight on to get my bearings about me.
It’s two in the morning and Bry is sleeping on the chair across from me that his father had sat in earlier.
Was that real? It had to be, because if it had just been a dream I wouldn’t be in Bry’s room in the middle of the night wearing Yesterdays’ clothes.
I debate for a moment on whether or not to leave Bry asleep where he is and make my way back to my room, but I decide against it.
I make my way over to him and lightly shake his shoulder. “Bry, Bry wake up,” I say softly.
The last thing I want to do is freak him out.
He slowly starts to shift around, moaning and still somewhat asleep, so I repeat it over again a couple times until he opens his eyes to look at me.
Shock is there for a split second before he gives me a soft, loving smile.
“Hey, beautiful.” His voice is a bit slurred with sleep. “What time is it?”
“Two.” He groans, and I can’t help but chuckle. “Do you want me to head back to my room? I didn’t want to leave you sleeping on an uncomfortable chair all night.”
“No, stay. I can sleep on the couch and you can have the bed.”
I contemplate this for a moment, but honestly, after the day I’ve had, I just want to be close to him. He’s the one thing that is constant right now. I can’t share any of this with my parents or Addy, and he promised to be here for me. So I decide to take a chance.
“Actually, do you think you could lay with me? I’m confused and emotional, and not exactly sure how I feel, but right now I know that you’re here with me and you told me you loved me.”
He looks unsure, which leads me to my next words. “Please Bry?”
“Yeah, of course, Harleigh, but you don’t have to if it’s too much with everything that you’ve learned. I just don’t want to put anymore pressure on you than you’re already feeling, or confuse you further.”
I let out a breath I didn’t even know I was holding.
“Bry, of all the things going on in my brain and my world right now, you are the only thing I’m not confused about. I need you close.”
His smile lights up his face as he stands up to embrace me in a tight hug.
“I’m glad you trust me, beautiful. I was afraid you would possibly hate me after today.” I don’t think there is a world where I could ever hate Brian. Not in the true sense of the word. He means too much to me.
He leads me to the bed and I take off my jeans, maneuvering out of my bra without taking my t-shirt off.
When I’m done, I climb under the covers and into his arms as he wraps himself around me. He makes me feel safe and happy, and I can feel myself already falling back asleep when he whispers into my ear. “I love you, Harleigh Roe.”
I sigh contently. “Love you too, Bry.”
*Beep Beep Beep Beep*
I groan at the sound of the alarm going off.
Feeling like I haven’t slept at all, I would rather throw my phone at the wall than get up and go to class.
In the end, I decide that makeup and looking put together just isn’t worth losing sleep over, and I reset the alarm for an hour from now.
Setting my phone back on the nightstand, I roll over and see Bry still fast asleep on his pillow looking like a perfect angel.
Shit, Bry is an angel! Holy hell!!
