Admire Me (Rough Edges 2)

Chapter 29

Liam

When we arrive at thehotel, and get to our room, Harper immediately wants to take a shower. It gives me time to process how she knew Keith.

My phone starts to go off, and it’s Aiden.

“What’s going on? Is she okay? There are cops at your house.”

“We are at a hotel. They found him, and he’s dead.”

The line is silent for a second. “Who was it?”

It’s not my place to tell Harper’s business, especially since it directly links to her parents’ death. “A man named Keith. Scott’s partner, no less.”

Even that leaves me with questions, but answers some at the same time. Scott has been a great ally during this whole investigation, so I doubt he had any idea that Keith was behind this. Did Keith ever show any special interest around him? How long was he on the force? Has he been planning this all along?

“Tell Harper I’m glad she’s okay. We are here for her if she needs anything. Damon said to call him tomorrow. Tessa is worried sick, but I’ll update him,” Aiden says, then hangs up.

It’s amazing how much my family has come together in the last six months, and it really shows in times like these when my brothers are there for me.

“Who was that?” Harper asks, a towel wrapped around her midsection, and then using another to dry off her hair.

“Just Aiden. Checking in.”

She still seems jumpy, but there is no need for that anymore. “Why don’t you hurry up so you can get some rest. It’s been a traumatic day for you.”

Her eyes pierce through me. “Please don’t treat me like a victim. It’s over and that’s all I care about. Things can finally go back to normal and hopefully they will let me go back to work. All this unnecessary sitting around is going to drive me nuts.”

Things haven’t been easy for her since coming home from the hospital, the constant watching over her shoulder, and being stuck in the house. Maybe she is right. Work can be a good outlet for her, and help get back in routine for more memories to start coming back.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to raise my voice, just it’s too much. I don’t deserve to be stuck in the house anymore. He’s dead. I just wanna get my life back.”

I get up from the bed, and throw my arms around her, bringing her close to my body. “Baby, I want nothing more than to help you. Tell me what I can do.”

My shoulder gets wet and I try to console her but it’s no use. All the emotions have been building up, and it’s finally come to a head. So, I just remain there for her, for as long as she needs.

I can understand her frustration. Why the school won’t let her come back is beyond me. It’s only adding to the stress at this point, and working can be a stress reliever for her. Plus, it would help to get back to her full normal routine.

Her head lands on my chest, and my fingers stroking through her hair. “It’s going to get easier. Better even..”

“How do they expect me to sit around and do nothing for months? I’ll see a therapist if I need to, but work is what I need right now.”

Tomorrow we will tackle the school situation, but her breathing has shifted, and that means she has drifted off to dreamland which is where I’m headed.

“I love you, Harper,” I say, kissing her head before my eyes close too.

***

First thing in themorning, before I’ve even had coffee, Harper is up and on the phone with the school administration to see what she can do about coming back early. This seems very important to her, which means I’ll support her.

It’s not even been a full twenty-four hours since Keith’s death and she is like a new person. It makes sense since she doesn’t need to be afraid anymore. She can put all of this behind her and get a fresh start. No matter if she gets the memories back or not, I still love her.

She doesn’t seem happy storming back in. “They won’t let me back until I get signed off by a therapist saying it’s okay for me to go back to work due to the severity of the trauma. This is ridiculous.”

“You gonna reach out to Dr. Newman again? Or my brother might know one. Let me ask.”

I text him and ask for his therapist’s name. He started seeing her a couple times a year after Carol passed away from cancer.