Page 82 of On the Double

“I came back to check on Harper.”

“She doesn’t need you looking after her. In fact, she doesn’t need you at all in her life, so walk away.”

“Do you really think she needs permission from her brother to fuck someone?”

A stab of pain shot through me at his words.

“I think she needs someone looking out for her and making sure she doesn’t get used by some guy who sticks his dick in half the town. You know, if you had just treated her right, I wouldn’t have said a thing.”

“Oliver,” I gasped, hating that I had even told him what happened that night between Edu and myself.

“No,” Oliver snapped. “He doesn’t get to treat you like garbage and then demand to be in your life. It doesn’t work that way.”

I was beyond mortified. I had to end this, but I wasn’t sure how. I didn’t want to continue to talk about this with Oliver, but I also didn’t want him to give Edu the wrong idea.

“We’ll talk about this later.”

Oliver shot me a disbelieving look. “Why do I not believe you?” His gaze was too penetrating. I could feel his need to understand growing by the day. And part of me really wanted to tell him, but the part of me that believed all those hateful things my mother had said told me that it would only ruin what we shared.

I took a step away from him and then another. I just wanted to get away from him and those eyes that begged me to tell him the truth. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Harper!” Oliver shouted, but I was already rushing through the door.

I didn’t even think as I climbed up into Edu’s truck. I didn’t have any of my things with me.

“Harper—”

“Just drive,” I whispered, feeling the tears spill down my cheeks.

With a heavy sigh, he shifted into drive and took off down the road.I glanced out the window at the last moment and saw my brother standing on the porch stoop, watching me leave. The sadness on his face was nearly my undoing.

By the time we reached Edu’s place, I had dried my tears, but the anger was driving deeper into my heart. I got out and marched into his house, tearing at my clothes, leaving a trail to his room. I got on all fours on the bed, waiting for Edu to come into the room.

“Harper—” He sucked in a breath when he saw me waiting for him. “What are you doing?”

“This is what you wanted, right? A deal’s a deal. Come take what you want.”

I could hear the pad of his footsteps on the carpet as he came closer. His hand brushed across my ass, and I relished the thought of getting lost in his touch. Anything to take away the hurt swelling in my chest.

But just as quickly as his hand slid over my skin, it was gone. Something soft draped over my body, and then Edu was pulling me down onto the bed with him.

“What are you doing?” I asked, pushing at his body.

“Taking a fucking nap.”

“No, we had a deal.”

His gaze snapped to mine and anger replaced the sleepy look on his face. “Call me crazy, but I don’t want to fuck you when you’re clearly hurting.”

I shoved at his body as my temper flared. “This is what I want. Stop trying to tell me what I need!”

“I’m not telling you what you need. I’m telling you that I don’t want to fuck you like this.”

I scoffed in his face. “What’s wrong? Am I not good enough for you now? You can’t fuck a crying woman?”

“Not enjoyably,” he muttered. “Now, go to sleep.”

I shoved myself away from him and stalked over to the wall. “If you won’t give me what I need, I’ll give it to myself.”