Stealing Harper (Taking Chances #1.5)(27)
Harper’s cheeks turned red suddenly, and now I had no idea what we were even talking about. Wasn’t she just mad at me? What was the embarrassment for? She blinked her eyes rapidly a few times and narrowed her eyes at me. I almost laughed. My fierce little princess was back.
“Whatever. I’m done trying to figure you out. If you want to be an *, go right ahead. But don’t keep acting like there’s nothing wrong between us on Sundays.”
Oh my God, really? This wasn’t about me being an *, it was about the way I thought she was acting with every other guy! “We’re back to this now?”
“It’s a freaking miracle. He speaks.”
“You think I’m confusing? God, Harper, that’s rich. This coming from the girl who repeatedly told me to stay away, but fell into my arms at the first sign of trouble with her boyfriend? Do you want me to back off, or don’t you?” I took a step toward her, and another when she stepped back. I leaned in close and whispered softly in her ear, the way I did when I wanted her to sway toward me; and I wasn’t disappointed this time either. “Why keep fighting the inevitable, baby? You want me. Even now, your body is shaking because you’re trying to keep yourself from touching me.” I brushed my fingers across her hand and watched her arms instantly get covered in goose bumps. “One touch from me, and you’re covered in goose bumps. Tell me now that you want me to go away.”
“You’re such an ass. I just don’t understand why we can’t be friends all the time. I don’t want to be your friend on Sunday and the girl you don’t acknowledge every other day of the week. I want the same thing every day. So you decide what that is and let me know.”
She tried to move past me, but I slammed my palm against the wall, blocking her from leaving the hallway. “I’ll tell you, if you tell me.”
“Tell you what?”
“I feel like I’m just one in a group of Harper’s many guys, but I’m not getting the benefits. So tell me, if I act like your friend, will I get to f*ck you, too?”
One second I was trying not to laugh from the thought of her actually getting a punch in, the next my back was slammed against the wall, and Brandon was directly in my face, his forearm pressed against my throat.
“What the hell did you just say to her?” His face was getting red, and he shoved into me harder. Once again, I couldn’t speak, so I spit in his face.
The pressure was gone from my throat, but before I could breathe deep enough, his fist went into my stomach; I swung my right arm, but the dumb-ass moved directly into the path of my left hook, like he always did.
“Oh my God, stop!” Harper’s worried voice was probably the only thing that could break through at a time like this, but the confrontation was long overdue.
Brandon’s leg came up, but before he could plant it in my stomach, I swiped his other leg out from under him. I only got in one more hit that wasn’t blocked before Brandon’s fist met my jaw, and my mouth filled with blood. I spit it onto his face and pulled my arm back, but was grabbed from behind before I could follow through with the crack to his temple. My arms were suddenly pinned behind my back, and I was pulled off Brandon at the same time Derek used his body weight to keep Brandon from getting up.
I struggled against Brad and Zach as they walked me to the other side of the living room. “Calm the f*ck down, Chase. Seriously, I am so sick of this shit.” Brad huffed and pulled me back another few feet until the three of us were in the master bedroom. “You have got to cut this shit out! He didn’t do anything to you, and you’re ruining your friendship with him over a girl who doesn’t want you.”
“Like hell she doesn’t; you don’t see her when she’s with me.”
“Whoa, wait.” Zach blurted out, his eyes wide. “What?”
Brad pushed him out of the room before slamming the door shut. “I don’t care if this is your house, Chase, you’re done with this. Leave Harper and Brandon alone. They’re good together, and you know that.”
“No, I don’t f*cking know that! She was a virgin, and not even a month and a half into their relationship, she’s not? He’s supposed to take care of her and he’s not!” I opened the door to leave, and he planted both hands on it and slammed it again.
“Like you wouldn’t do the same given a chance with her? I doubt you two would have even lasted this long, and you probably wouldn’t be half as decent about it! Brandon doesn’t let any of the guys talk about her like that, and he never talks about what they do. Whether they’re screwing or not is between them, and he’s keeping it that way. You should at least be thankful for that. He’s not making her out to be some whore; he’s protecting her still despite what they’re doing! You’re the king of talking about all your conquests. I can’t see you being tight-lipped about someone like Harper.”
I shoved him away from the door and pointed in his face. “You don’t know anything about her or what she is to me. You got that? I’m not giving up until she’s mine.”
“You’re ruining any chance with her by trying to fight her boyfriend almost every day!”
I heard Brandon, Derek, and Drew all yelling from the other side of the house and flung the door open, stomped down the hall, and pushed against Zach when he tried to stop me from getting out in the living room. Derek and Drew were doing the same with Brandon, and he looked pissed. Good.