Chapter 85

Chapter 88
Levy

I have been awake most of the night thinking about this whole damn shitshow of a situation. Harper is absolutely right. I need to tell her. After all, if I want a relationship with her that is long-term based on trust, openness and honesty, then Harper deserves to know everything about me and what happened back then.

Hell, I’ve carried the guilt and burden of this on me for eighteen years and I need to tell Dylan. My insides churn and I am not a man who suffers easily with a churning stomach. But all of a sudden, I feel like I have way too much to lose.

Throwing the rest of the dregs of the black coffee down the sink, I swill out the mug and leave it on the side for later. I’ve got an early start to go meet up with the guys but first I need to drop in and see Harper before she goes off with Taylor to pick up her mother.

Dammit, I missed her warm body in bed with me last night. I love the way she snores lightly; it’s like she blows bubbles in her sleep. When she is with me at night, I know for a fact that woman is having a good sleep. She has often told me that when she’s alone at home she still feels unsafe. Even though we have a couple of days around the property and fully working cameras up.

That shit that happened to her, is going to take a long time to ease off. Maybe she will never get over it, the cunt I could tear his fucking head off. Then there is the fact that her mother is coming home today. I know the girls are wildly excited to have her back. Harper, however, is the one who has spent hours upon hours worrying that her mother will go back off the rails, and that some junkie, dealing asshole will be right back at their doorstep.

Not over my dead body. Lex’s guys are on strict instructions that nobody comes or goes without them checking with Harper first. Will her mother feel like a prisoner in her own home? It’s not like we are going to keep her locked up, but we will be preventing fuck-ups getting to her.

“Hey, Dad,” Dylan says catching me by surprise.

“Son, I thought you were over at Lacey’s last night?”

“I was but I came back early as I’ve got practice and have some college work to catch up on first. Besides, Lacey has violin practice this morning. But what are you doing here? Thought you would be staying over with Harper since her mother comes out today.”

I scrub the back of my neck with my left hand, “er we had a bit of a falling out,” I tell him meekly not making direct eye contact. Dylan pulls out a stool at the counter and takes a seat.

“Coffee?” I ask him. He nods.

“Why did you guys’ fight?”

“It wasn’t so much of a fight; I just didn’t want to go into why I left the other day the way that I did.”

“Yeah, about that. You owe both of us an explanation, Dad.”

Fuck, I knew this was coming at some point. And they are both adults, I need to respect that too.

“She has a lot on her mind with her mother coming out, you know it’s going to be touch on the girls. They’ll be worried her mother will think she has a free reign to back to her old ways.”

“I hope she doesn’t. We’re all worried, right?” he says. I nod and cross one ankle in front of the other leaning back against the sink. I hand him the coffee I poured.

“Thanks,” he says and takes a sip. “Jeez-us, how strong is this?”

“I couldn’t sleep all night because of my fight with Harper. You want some cream and sugar?”

“Nah, I’m good thanks. Besides, I could do with waking up.” Good job he stops there because I do not want to know about his evening with Lacey. Some things a son should keep from his father.

“So, Dad, are you going to tell me what the hell is going on? Are you head off again today? Your kit is by the door.”

I scrub my hands over my face. “Listen, Son. I think it’s best that I wait to tell both you and Harper together. For now, you guys have absolutely nothing to worry about. You are both safe. It’s just something that has come up from my past, when I was about your age. Some crazy motherfucker seems to have it in for me. Even though I have paid enough time in my mind guilt tripping for the last eighteen years.” I let out a long breath.

Dylan eyes me with concern. “What the fuck did you do, Dad?” The million-dollar question is right there.

“Can you trust me on this one, Dylan please? I want to tell both you and Harper the back story when we can all sit down together. Let’s give her the time to be with her mother for a few days. Tomorrow, I am taking the girls out for a ride into Clairsville. They can mooch around the shops and then we will all have a nice lunch before I bring them back. You want to join us?”

He shakes his head; I didn’t expect him to want to come out. I owe it to Harper to help her with her mother – besides, I want to. I would do anything for my woman and if it means taking her mother out for the day all together and having lunch with them, then that is what I will do

“I’ll give it a miss. Practice in any case. Coach has us on a nuts schedule right now.”

“Have you thought more about your football career?” I ask him still standing leaning against the sink with my back to it. Dylan is good enough to get into NFL, I am so darn proud of him.

“Yeah some, but I don’t know, Dad. It’s a major undertaking. It’s not all about the status and the money. I kind of like my quiet, simple life.”

He’s a good kid. Most kids his age would be chomping at the bit to go into the NFL. With an arm like Dylan’s, he would make a team proud.

“Life only comes once, Dylan. You gotta do what you want and make the choices you can live without regretting. You know I am behind you whatever you decide to do. I’m proud of you, Son no matter what you do. Your mother would be too. She loved you with all her heart. I think she’d be happy to see what a find man you have grown into.”

Tears sit in Dylan’s eyes. It fucking cuts me to the quick knowing Lilly can’t be here to see how well he is doing. Two years since she has been gone feels like an eternity.

“Thanks, Dad. I know she would be. Fuck, I miss her. Still.” I go to him and sling an arm around his shoulder. He rests his head on my chest like he did as a kid.

“Yeah, me too, Dylan. Me too.”

We stay like that for a few seconds before I release him. He will always be my boy. My heart swells with love and pride for the man he has become.

“So, Dad you promise to let us know what the hell is going on?”

“I promise, Dylan. If you can make it day after tomorrow, I am free all day. I’ll call Harper to come over for an hour or two and explain what happened. I’d rather you guys heard it from me than anyone else.”

He nods.

“Catch you later, Dad. I gotta shoot out of here.”

“You’ve not eaten yet.”

“No time,” he says giving me a wave and runs up the stairs two at a time for his kit back and to change.

He never has stopped being a whirlwind since he was a young boy.

My phone vibrates on the side, it’s a message from Harper.

I am nervous!!!!

That goes without saying. I can only imagine what is going through her mind right now.

You want me to come over? I can delay what I am doing. I want to be there for you.

Would you? It would mean the world to me.

Okay np, I will be there in twenty minutes. I need to get showered.

Oo, what are you wearing.

Joggers.

How about I come to you and we can get a quickie in before I have to get ready. It might ease off all my stress.

Harper, you are killing me.

Good. See you in five minutes xoxo

A smile breaks out all over my face and my dick has received the memo as it begins to rise in my pants. Fuck, I can’t have Dylan see me with a growing cock. Thankfully, he bowls down the stairs, shouts out a goodbye, opens and closes the door and is gone. Was that a mini tornado?

My balls begin to tingle with anticipation of Harper coming over all sassy this morning. There’s something hot about make up sex!