A Day of Ruin

Chapter 13

Dex

Iopenedthedoor to greet Finn as he arrived.

“Hey man,” I said, reaching my hand out for a shake.

Finn shook my hand as he strolled in, a 4 pack of beers under his arm.

“How’s it going?” he asked, his eyes darting around the living room. It looked like he was searching for something and part of me wondered if it was Harlow.

A fraction of jealousy coursed through me but I brushed it aside. I couldn’t be jealous, it was just Harlow. The other night was a mistake. She had caught me in a vulnerable state. I was drinking after a stressful night at the restaurant. The last four days of the week were always busy but Friday was just a disaster. One other chef called in sick, the other couldn’t do anything correct to save his life. The kitchen staff hadn’t prepped enough food and the customers were assholes all evening.

By the time I had gotten home, I needed to blow off steam. I had wanted to go to the gym and take some rounds out on a boxing bag but it was late. So when Harlow rocked up, dressed up in that goddamn black dress I was close to breaking. But it was when she spoke, her old sassiness and fire making an unusual appearance that I cracked and lost all self-control.

But you’re still the asshole for bringing Candice here.

I sighed, tilting my head for Finn to sit with me. I sat down on the lounge, running a frustrated hand through my hair.

“I’ve had better weeks, man.”

“Oh?” Finn asked, handing me a beer.

“Cheers,” I said, taking it from him and twisting the top off. “It’s just been a tough one. Work has been nuts and you know how it is.”

Finn nodded, unscrewing his own drink. “I know. Clients have kept me busy this week. This time of the year everyone starts panicking about their fitness but no one wants to put in the work and turn up to their PT sessions. Or if they do, half of them just try to flirt with me and their form goes bad.”

I let out a half-laugh, the beer going down like a lead balloon. “It will be good to get this venture off the ground. I know Richard is keen to have you on board.”

He nodded, leaning back lazily in his spot. “Sounds good. Not long ’til kick off. It will be good to see the numbers this week.” He looked around the room, his eyes stopping suspiciously longer on Harlow’s closed bedroom door.

Annoyance flooded through me. “Are you looking for someone?”

Finn looked at me, surprised coated on his face. “Who would I be looking for?”

I shrugged, forcing myself to take another drink to cool my temper. “Harlow, perhaps?” I asked, matter-of-factly.

He went quiet, mulling over his drink and that sense of jealousy appeared again. He looked at me cautiously.

“I was just curious. I haven’t seen her in so long. It’s just so strange that of all the roommates she could have been living with, it turned out to be the guy I am going into business with.”

He was right. It was natural curiosity. I needed to back the fuck down.

I didn’t like this strange hold she had over me. I hated her.

But I also didn’t.

I wanted to let her fall.

But also be the one to catch her.

And it was fucking with my head.

Clearing my throat, I casually took a moment to ease my voice, removing all tones of possessiveness.

“Yeah, man. I don’t know. She’s been around I think. We don’t talk much. She’s probably in there. Though I haven’t seen her pop out for her food deliveries so maybe she’s out.”

Finn nodded, his hard gaze on the door still. “Yeah, fair enough. What’s the deal though? Some old friends warned me to keep away from her. Apparently she’s ‘bad news’.”

It was weird having an outsider here. And I envied him. He didn’t hate her as much as the rest of us. And he hadn’t seen her in so long that he didn’t have a rage of confusing feelings battling for dominance.

I finished the rest of my beer, putting the empty glass on the coffee table. “She put Charles Maxwell in prison. Huge set up apparently.”

He raised his eyebrow in confusion. “A set up? To send someone to jail? Honestly doesn’t sound like the Harlow I knew. She hated confrontation.”

I shifted uncomfortably, that weird gut poking doubt rearing its head again. “It’s just what we heard from the police. I don’t know the full story. Just that it was her statements and testimony that sent him to prison. He was innocent though.”

Finn reached for the two remaining beers, handing me one. “If he was innocent, then wouldn’t that have come out in the trial?”

Fuck – I wasn’t prepared for all these questions. And each one made me feel even more sick than the last.

“I don’t know. Like I said, it’s been under wraps. Anyways...” I droned off, feeling uneasy.

Finn put his new beer on the coffee table. “You don’t mind if I take a quick peak at her room, do you? Curiosity. I won’t go in – just want to open the door. She used to have these funny little habits about where she placed things. I ... want to see if she still does them.”

“Uh...” I looked at him, bewilderment and more confusion taking me back. “I suppose so?”

He nodded, standing up and stretching. I could see his face was impassive, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he approached the door. He was nervous. Fuck, so was I. This felt wrong but I also couldn’t fight the curiosity.

I stayed in my place on the couch, watching as he slowly opened the door a few inches and poked his head in.

There was a brief moment of silence before he yelled, the door swinging open wildly as he thrusted it with his open palm.

I jumped up from the lounge, my feet automatically moving on their own to investigate.

“What is it?” I asked, my voice slightly raised.

Finn moved into the room and I took his place in the doorframe, looking around wildly. My mouth dropped and my breath caught as I spotted Harlow on the floor.

“What the fuck? Harlow!” I dove on the other side of her, Finn already kneeling as he felt her pulse.

He frowned, his hand feeling her wrist too before sweeping hair out of her face. “She’s alive. Passed out I think. Harlow – can you hear me?”

Harlow’s face stayed the same - an almost peaceful, serene expression. If it wasn’t for the fact she looked clammy and pale, I’d guess she was sleeping. Albeit on the floor, awkwardly.

Finn looked at me, his face tight. “When did you last see her?”