Harm, p.2
Harm, page 2
“And your friend?” I asked.
“All good,” he said. “He goes by Aero now, and we’re good. It took a while, but he’s with a good woman out in Colorado and we keep in touch.”
I smiled. “I’m really sorry that happened.”
“Thanks,” he said, sipping his beer.
Our food came, which gave us a few minutes of reprieve from the heavy subject.
“So, that’s it for my skeletons,” Harm said, once the server left. “Feel like opening your closet?”
“Wow, you really want to know?”
“Hell, yeah, I want to know.”
I rolled my eyes. “Married my high school sweetheart at twenty. At the time he was a pastor of a brand-new church, which is now huge. I was a nurse until I had Briggs. I was able to keep working when I had Baylor, but with two little ones, daycare was too expensive, so I decided to stay home for a few years.”
“Your man wasn’t willin’ to stay home?”
I cocked my head. “What do you mean?”
“I can only assume you made more money, right? And he was probably home during the week anyway. It would make sense to me that he’d stay home with the kids so you could work outside the home.”
“Lordy, where the hell were you when he and I were having this exact same knock-down, drag out fight at two in the morning while I was breastfeeding Briggs?” I retorted.
He reared back like he’d been hit. “The man fuckin’ raised his voice at you while you were breastfeedin’ your kid?”
I nearly burst into tears.
“Shit, Bryn, I’m sorry,” he rushed to say. “Didn’t mean to—”
“Don’t apologize,” I rasped. “Look, the short story is this. Bryce is the senior pastor of a mega church. He had been sleeping with his secretary for six years, six years, and I had no idea because I was overworked and quite frankly, undersexed. The powers that be worked overtime to keep his transgressions from me, but my best friend knew something was up and she’s a fucking bulldog and went digging. That was four years ago. I’m two years past my divorce now. My kids are good. I’m good. I’m probably still working too much, but because Bryce’s money isn’t taxable, I’m pretty sure he was able to hide a lot of it, so I have to work. My dad left me some money so I was able to buy a nice house after my divorce was final, and it was something Bryce couldn’t touch, but I still have to pay the mortgage. Briggs leaves for school in a few weeks, Baylor’s already gone, so I will be totally alone in my giant house, and I’m freaking out a little bit.” I took a deep breath. “I plan to work a little extra, spend more time with my mom, and lunch like a fucking desperate housewife if it kills me.”
“All your names start with ‘B’?”
“Yeah.” I blinked at him. “Bryce’s idea.”
“Not to insult your kids or anything, but Bryce’s a fuckin’ douche.”
I suddenly burst into giggles, probably brought on by the wine. “Bryce is absolutely a douche.”
Our server arrived. “Can I refill your drinks?”
“Yes,” Harm said.
“I better not,” I countered. “I have to drive home.”
“I’ll get you home,” he offered.
“My car’s here.”
“Got that covered,” he said, nodding to the server who walked away.
“What do you mean, you have that covered?” I asked.
“Texted a couple of my brothers. They’ll follow us back to your place, so you can drink,” he said. “Unless you don’t feel comfortable with me knowin’ where you live.”
I bit my lip. “Let’s see how the night goes. I’ll call Avery if I need a ride. She’s my best friend.”
“Fair enough.”
The server returned with another glass of wine, and I decided it was too good to waste.
CHAPTER THREE
Brynley
Three hours and two more glasses of wine later (maybe it was three), I decided I better get home. I wasn’t going to tell Harm this, but Bryce had been blowing up my phone for the last hour, and I’d ignored him for as long as I could. I needed to get home and find out what the hell was so urgent.
“I’ll wait for you to call your friend,” Harm offered.
Maybe it was the wine talking, but I just wasn’t ready to say goodnight. “Actually, if that offer’s still on the table to drive me home...?”
“Yeah, of course it is.” He grinned.
He paid the bill and we headed outside.
“Don’t we need to wait for your friends?” I asked.
“They’re already here.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, I took a chance just in case. Figured I’d be prepared either way.”
I rolled my eyes. “Regular Boy Scout, huh?”
“Sure, we’ll go with that.” He held out his hand. “Keys.”
I handed him my keys and we walked out to the parking lot. Two bikers stood beside a white panel van and smiled wide as we approached.
“Bryn, this is Razor and Cheese,” Harm said. “Razor’ll drive your car—”
“Why’s he drivin’?” Cheese asked.
“Because he’s a better driver,” Harm replied.
“That’s bullshit,” Cheese hissed.
Razor pointed to the dent in the side of the van and cocked his head. “Is it?”
Cheese muttered something under his breath as he climbed into the van, and I bit back a smile. It was obvious these men were close, and it seemed Cheese wasn’t really upset. He was grinning the whole time he was complaining.
“We’ll follow you back, then get outta your hair,” Razor said, after Harm gave him my keys.
I nodded. “Okay, thank you.”
Harm held his truck door open and waited for me to climb into the cab. Even in my tipsy state, it wasn’t lost on me that Bryce never once did this.
No, that wasn’t entirely true. He did a couple of times when congregants were watching, but if we were alone? Never.
“You good?” Harm asked, once he started the truck.
“Yeah. You?”
He chuckled. “I’m not the one who drank a bottle of wine.”
“A bottle?” I wrinkled my nose. “Was it a bottle?”
“Pretty close, yeah.”
“Oh my god, seriously? I must look like a lush.”
He grinned and nodded. “You feelin’ good?”
“So, so good.”
“Then you probably needed it.” He glanced at the door. “Need you to put your seatbelt on.”
“Oh!” I squeaked. “Right. Safety first.”
Heading out of the parking lot, I directed him to my home. It wasn’t far, so all too soon, we pulled into my driveway, and I let out a quiet curse.
“Everything okay?” Harm asked.
“Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sorry. That’s my ex-husband’s car,” I said, nodding to the Cadillac parked on the street directly in front of my house. “I have no idea what he’s doing here, and honestly, I don’t really want to deal with him.”
“Right. Give me a second. Don’t move,” Harm said, sliding out of the truck.
He and Razor had a conversation out of earshot, then Harm came around to my side of the truck and opened the door.
“I’m gonna walk you in, if you’re okay with that,” he said, handing me my keys.
“You don’t have to do that, Harm.”
He met my eyes. “If you don’t feel comfortable, I won’t.”
“Oh, I feel totally comfortable with you,” I rushed to say. “It’s not that.”
“Okay, then, I’m gonna walk you in.”
I nodded and we made our way up the steps to my front door. After missing the lock twice, I handed Harm the keys. “I may need your help.”
He smiled, sliding the key into the lock on the first try and pushing open the door for me. I walked inside with Harm following to find Bryce stalking toward me... from my kitchen. I instinctively stepped back, and Harm’s arm came around my waist.
“What are you doing in my house?” I breathed out.
“I have been texting and calling you for over an hour. I was worried sick,” he said.
“That doesn’t explain what you’re doing in my house,” I hissed. “Did Briggs let you in? Briggs!” I called.
“He’s not here, honey.”
“Do not call me ‘honey,’” I snapped. “How did you get in, Bryce?”
“Man, you need to answer her question, or I’m gonna throw you outta her goddamn house,” Harm warned.
“Who are you?”
“He’s my friend,” I said. “Please answer the question.”
“I happen to have a key.”
My body locked and I forced myself not to throw myself at him and claw his eyes out. “How the hell did you get a key?”
“I made one in case there was an emergency. From Briggs’s,” he admitted.
“You swore you’d keep the boundaries I set up.”
“Please don’t get angry with me for worrying about you, Brynley. It was just a small white lie.”
“A lie’s a lie, Bryce. You seem to forget the teachings of the Bible you preach from.”
“I can’t help worrying about you,” he said. “You’re my wife.”
“Ex-wife.”
“I truly believe God will restore us, Brynley.”
I let out a frustrated groan. “You’re literally married to someone else, Bryce.”
“Well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Miffy and I are over. She didn’t fully understand the sacrifices that one has to make in order to run a successful ministry.”
“So, in other words, she caught you fucking a younger version of her?”
He threw his hands in the air. “See, I’m weak without you.”
“You were weak with me, that’s why I divorced you.”
“Miffy and I were doomed from the start. You know I have a sex addiction,” he whined. “But if you come back, I know, like David, I can be restored. And if you come back, I’ll cover all of the boys’ tuition expenses.”
“Wait, you said the reason you weren’t covering them was because you couldn’t,” I said.
“We can talk about all that when you come back. You’re the only one who can make me whole and holy again, in the eyes of our Lord.”
I turned and faced Harm, leaning heavily against him. “I might murder him,” I whispered.
Harm slid his hand to my neck and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Right, time for you, the Lord, King David, and whoever the hell else you’re fuckin’ to get the hell outta here,” Harm said.
Bryce jabbed a finger in his face. “I take orders from no man, only the Lord has the authority to guide my steps.”
Harm caught his arm, twisted it behind his back, simultaneously grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, so he had to bend at the waist, and pushed him toward the door. “Then, how about you go in the name of the Lord before I get all Old Testament on your ass?”
Harm opened the door, and shoved him out, booting him in the ass as he did, causing Bryce to fall flat on his face. He let out a few non swear curses getting to his knees.
“Hey, look at that, he’s already on his knees, repenting in prayer,” Harm said.
I heard the sprinklers sputter on and chuckled. “The Lord must have heard you, Bryce. He’s sent holy water.”
I slammed the door closed, locking it behind me before bursting into both tears and laughter. “Promise me you will never, and I mean, never, call me Brynley.”
“You got it,” he promised.
CHAPTER FOUR
Brynley
“How long were you married to that asshole?” Harm asked.
“Eighteen years,” I said, sniffing. “Oh my god, he stole the key off my child’s keyring and made one for himself.” I started to shake.
“Jesus.” He crossed his arms and studied me. “What can I do?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, I’m havin’ a real hard time not wrappin’ my arms around you, but considerin’ we just met, I don’t wanna freak you the fuck out.”
I pushed off the door and walked into his arms, letting the warmth of his embrace help ease the grossness of what just happened.
“Are you workin’ tomorrow?” he asked.
“Yes,” I said. “Twelve hours.”
“I’ll be there as well for a few hours,” he said. “But I was thinkin’ I could swing by here when I’m done and change your locks.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I’m offering, Bryn,” he said, giving me a squeeze. “I can pick up everything and meet you here when you get home.”
I bit my lip. “Briggs’ll be here.”
“Right. Well, we can do it another time, but let’s do that sooner than later, okay?”
“Yeah,” I breathed out, pulling away from him. “You know what’s so fucked up?”
“What?”
“I’ve had a new front door and garage door lock for almost a year. I just haven’t had a chance to install it.”
“You didn’t want to get your kid to do it?”
I rolled my eyes. “I love my kids, don’t get me wrong, but Bryce did not teach them how to do manly things. I could have done it myself, but I just thought he should teach them, you know? I was going to hire a handyman to do it for me, I just haven’t had the time or the extra money.”
“Well, why don’t you tell Briggs you hired a handyman and I’ll come by tomorrow after your shift and take care of it?” he offered. “You don’t have to tell him anything else.”
“You’d be willing to do that for me?”
“Yeah, of course.”
I shook my head. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Why wouldn’t I be nice to you?”
“I’m just not used to people being open books with me. I spent my entire life in the church and then half of that in the medical field. All I know are people who outright lie or at the very least, divert the attention away from whatever they’re doing so they don’t get caught,” I admitted. “In the first ten minutes of talking to you, you told me what had to have been something really difficult to deal with, and not once did you try to blame anyone else. Then, you protected me from my ex, made me laugh, and are offering to shield my kid’s feelings. It’s remarkable.”
“Jesus, you make me sound like a saint.”
“Well, I’ve been told that bikers were sinners my whole life and that I should only trust those in the church, but I’m finding that the worst sinners are those who claim to be saints and the best of us are the ones the church deems the worst. I’m working my way out of my brainwashing.”
“Seems to me Jesus felt the same way.”
I met his eyes. “Church kid?”
He shook his head. “I’ve picked up things here and there. I’ve found wisdom in a lot of places. The Bible, Origin of the Species, A Brief History of Time, Mad Magazine... anywhere I can.”
I laughed. “That Alfred E. Neuman was a wise man.”
“Nice to meet a fellow scholar,” he retorted. “I never could get past some people trying to tell others how to live their lives. I’ve always had to live my life my own way.”
“Doesn’t your club have rules?” I asked. “Don’t you have orders to follow?”
“Yeah. But there’s nothing a club member would ask me to do that they haven’t already done themselves or would do for me in return. I can’t say I’ve ever seen much of that in religion,” he said. “Plus, I wear this patch because I choose to wear this patch, not because an invisible guy in the clouds told me to, or because I was brought up in it. To wear this patch means you understand the value of loyalty and free will.”
“Maybe you should start a church.”
He smirked.
I bit my lip.
“Whatya thinkin’?” he asked.
“That I really want you to hug me again,” I admitted. “Is that okay?”
He held his arms out. “You don’t ever have to ask for that, Bryn.”
I slid my arms around his waist and settled my cheek against his chest. “I have never felt so safe with anyone before. I’m sure it’s the wine.”
He cupped the back of my neck and massaged it gently. “It’s not the wine.”
“I don’t know if I can get past the age thing.”
“Sure you can.”
“I’m too old to have more kids,” I said.
“So?”
“You’re young, Harm. You should have kids of your own.”
“Jesus, we’re all the way to kids?” he teased.
I leaned back to see his expression. “I’m too old to waste time.”
“Baby, if you keep sayin’ you’re old, we’re gonna have our first fight.”
“Well, it’s true.”
“How about this,” he said, giving me a squeeze. “We start slow. Get to know each other and see where things go. If you’re ‘too old’ to have kids, then we got nothin’ to worry about, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“If this doesn’t work out, I can always spread my manyonaise on someone else’s buns well into my eighties if I want kids.”
“That’s not how that works, Harm.”
He shrugged. “Inject my love custard into someone else’s donut?”
“Oh my god, stop.” I burst out laughing. “Now I want a Bavarian cream chocolate donut.”
“That’s pretty specific,” he said.
“It’s my favorite.”
“I can get a recruit to run to the store.”
“You have that kind of power?”
“Yeah.”
I considered this for a few seconds before shaking my head. “I better not. Briggs’s going to be home soon, and I really need to get an early night. I have that twelve-hour shift tomorrow.”
“Give me your phone,” he said, and I dug it out of my purse and handed it to him. “I’m gonna put my contact information in there. If you run into any issues with the douche canoe, you text me.”
“I’m sure it’ll be fine,” I said.
“Oh, I know it will.” He handed my phone back. “I’m leaving a couple guys outside to watch your place in case he comes back.”
I gasped. “What? You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I’m doin’ it anyway.”
