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I started to tell her that wasn’t true, but she kept talking

"He never knew the truth aboutBut I knew once I did I could lose him, and I couldn’t lose him Thenthen Tripp would come home for a visit and I would spiral out of control The ht I’d been drinking because I had finally convinced myself to tell Jace the truth He deserved to knoho it was that he loved And because I was a coward, I drank And thenI killed hirabbed her hand "You didn’t kill him," I assured her I knew that much Jace had drowned

She lifted her eyes toin the me I had walked out into the water and alulped "It should have been o and saved himself, but he wouldn’t do it He saved me and it should have been me I was the liar I was the unworthy one"

It wasn’t my business I didn’t know her secrets and I didn’t want to know But what I did knoas Jace would have saved her regardless Love didn’t just go away because of lies I loved my dad, and he was very far from perfect

"He would have saved you even if you had told hiht have been hurt He ain But he would have come after you, because that’s what love does to a person"

Bethy let out a small sob and covered her mouth "He deserved life A full, happy one," she said once she dropped her hand "I took that froive herself It would take time

"But you made a mistake Jace protected you So yourself Until then, try to think about all the good things Don’t dwell on the bad things"

"But Tripp is in to He re him from a distance remindshiain, not my business He was obviously a part of the past that tors will reet easier"

Bethy closed her eyes tightly "I hope so," she whispered

I didn’t want to leave her here alone "Why are you here by yourself?" I asked

She frowned "I like it I don’t want to see people But I think I’ht"

I squeezed her hand and pulled my hand back to my side of the table

"If you ever need someone to listen who isn’t attached to the situation then I’ave me a weak smile "Thanks, Harlow Thattown It was a sed to co I could think of to run into her I knew she had Mase here but I still wanted to get her alone so I could talk to her I needed to findon her to pull up She had tennis in tenWoods call Adae it for an hour later He hadn’t been happy about it but he had also wantedas I left him alone for the rest of the day

I watched as Harlow pulled her car up to the valet and climbed out in a short white tennis skirt that didn’t help my focus Tennis skirts weren’t meant to be that damn sexy

I walked over to open the door for her before one of the staff could She lifted her eyes and stopped walking when she sawthere I could see the questions in her eyes and I wanted to answer every damn one of theain she kept her head down and atteently wrapped my hand around her arm "Your court time was postponed an hour today I need to talk to you If you will let me talk I will leave you alone if that’s what you want I just need you to listen to me first"

Harlow’s spine was stiff as I spoke quietly in her ear She didn’t ht away Finally, she simply nodded

"Thank you," I replied "We need privacy Will you couess I will"

She wasn’t happy about it but she was doing it I needed to celebrate the s lot and I unlocked my truck and opened her door then walked around and cli," she said without looking at ht ahead

"What we didwhat happenedto ot the call about Jace I rushed back in a state of shock Thenthen I watched as Bethy completely crumbled At the funeral, she was bent over in so much pain from her loss that it terrified me She had planned forever with Jace She had loved hi she had and he had been taken fro straight ahead, although I could see the worried frown on her face

"And all I could think hat if I loved solanced over at Rush and Blaire He was holding her while she wept and I wondered hoould even be able to wake up everyif he lost her Or if he lost Nate" I paused and took a deep breath I was more open than I’d been with anyone about this I hadn’t even explained it this way to Blaire and Rush I had heldit all out for Harlow

"I decided I never wanted to be that vulnerable I never wanted to love so the one person that owns ot drunk Because I also realized I could easily fall in love with you In just two short weeks I had begun to care for you I had feelings I hadn’t experienced before Not like that, at least It scared me I knew you would be the one to own me if I let you I ran from it I drank too much whiskey and when Nan showed up I messed up I should have stayed away froht I was in love with once I hadn’t been I realized that after only teeks with you I was in lust with Nan I liked being needed by someone, and Nan needed me That was all it ever was for us"

Harlow finally dropped her gaze to her lap as she twisted her hands nervously

"I neverI ever wanted to do What you gave me I didn’t deserve, but believe me when I tell you I’ll cherish it forever It meant more to me than you know But I shouldn’t have taken your innocence that night I should have been a man and realized I didn’t deserve it and walked away But you s about you that scares me No one has ever made me weak"

Finally, Harlow turned her head to look at er looked hard Instead, I saw understanding there She siiven" Then she opened the door and climbed out without another word

I sat there and tried to let all the e inside me calm down I didn’t want her to take it so easily and walk away But I couldn’t give her ave me So, ere over now? The ache that came with that reality hurt I reached up and rubbed my chest and laid my head back on the seat and closed my eyes

"What did I just do?" I muttered

A loud knock on mycausedthere