Too Hard (Too 1)

Owen throws an arm around my shoulder like we’re buddies and I guess maybe we are. “There was an update on one of the maps last night. You see it yet?”

The world could have exploded last night and I would have missed it. Crap, I should probably text Nellie and let her know I’m okay. One night with Butch and already I’m consumed.

Chapter Fourteen

Butch

I wake up and reach for Harlow, but the only thing I grasp are the cold sheets beside me. I sit up in bed and blink a few times, trying to get my eyes to adjust. It’s dark, but I’ve got blackout curtains so it could be the middle of the day for all I know.

We went at it hard last night so I slept like the dead. I feel anxious as I look around and don’t see any of her things. I didn’t pay attention to where they went last night when I took them off of her, so I can’t really say they’re missing. I grab a pair of loose lounge pants from my dresser and pull them on as I peek in my bathroom and see the light off. I look around for my phone thinking maybe she sent me a text or something, but she wouldn’t just leave like that. Would she?

I open the door to my room and I pause when I hear her laughter. I walk down the hall and to the end of the stairs where I see the lights on.

“Shit.” I look over and see the boys’ doors are open and I realize she must be down there with them.

I wasn’t ready for this kind of conversation, but there’s no time like the present. After the things Harlow and I shared last night, I have no intentions of giving her up, so I guess in a way it’s better to rip the Band-Aid off.

I make my way down the stairs and walk into the family room. I pause as I take in the sight of all three of them playing video games and eating pizza. Owen and Elijah are on one side of the room on the big couch with their headphones on and empty plates in front of them. Harlow is in my recliner wrapped in my blanket with headphones on. I like seeing her in my spot with her hair messed up like I fucked her all night. I have to take a breath and get myself under control because I can’t pop wood in front of the boys.

“Morning,” I say as I walk into the room and all three of them turn to look at me. I go straight for Harlow and put my hands on either side of the recliner as I bend down and give her a quick kiss. “You disappeared on me.”

She blushes and bites her lip as she looks over to the boys. “I got lost looking for the bathroom and then they lured me away with pizza and a video game update.”

“Up.” She stands up from the recliner and looks at me with confusion. I take her place and then pull her down on my lap. She pulls the blanket over both of us. “It’s too early for pizza.”

“Some people argue that pizza for breakfast is a good source of nutrition,” Owen chimes in without taking his eyes off the screen.

“Some people are full of shit.” He glances over at me and shrugs.

Harlow lies back against my bare chest and I feel her tug my shirt up under the covers. When I slide my hand down her hip I feel that she doesn’t have anything on under it. I lean in close and put my lips to her ear.

“Next time you wake me up before you get out of bed.” I slide my fingers around her waist and between her wet folds. She gasps but then disguises it with a cough as she nods.

I don’t do anything other than keep my fingers there, just petting her every now and then while she plays her game. The sun is coming up and the boys have practice in a few hours so I’m just relaxing until they have to go get ready.

“So, are we going to discuss the fact that Harlow is here and you were banging her all night?” Elijah says after she kills him and he’s taken out of the game.

“Watch your mouth.” I look over at him and he has the decency to look contrite.

“Am I wrong?” he asks as he gets up and clears the dishes and what’s left of the pizza.

“I didn’t know this was going to happen so I didn’t have a plan on how to do this the right way. If there even is a right way. But yeah, Harlow is here this morning and I think you can figure out as to why.” I look to Elijah and Owen. “You boys are old enough to understand how things work, but I want you to know that I’m not taking this lightly or doing it on a whim. Harlow means a lot to me and she’s going to be around from now on.”