Unexpected Rush (Play-By-Play #11)(93)

She hadn’t yet gotten past her anger.

“Hey,” she said.

He had the decency to look crestfallen. “Hey yourself, baby sis. Okay if I come in?”

“I guess.” She stepped aside and led him into the living room.

Drake surveyed the living room wall, then looked over at her. “Doin’ some painting?”

“A little. What brings you here, Drake?”

He turned to face her. “I’m here to apologize for acting like such an ass around you for so long. I guess I have to realize you’ve grown up, and I haven’t come to terms with that. I was wrong to attack Barrett, but more importantly, I’ve been wrong about you for a lot of years now. I need to let go and let you live the life you choose.”

Big admission coming from Drake. “I appreciate that. But words only mean so much to me, Drake. It’s actions that’ll mean more. Which means that you need to step back, let me make mistakes, let me make choices that might hurt me. Because I need to own my life.”

“I know that. And I’ll work on it, I promise. But you know that if you need me, if you’re ever in trouble, I’ll always be here for you.”

She realized then that he was afraid for her, just as he’d been afraid for her when she was a little girl and she’d crawled into his lap and cried when she’d fallen down and bloodied her elbow. He loved her and he always would.

She walked into his arms and hugged him. “I love you, Drake.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, too, Harmony.”

Tears pricked her eyes. She really did love her brother. And when he squeezed her tight, she realized how much he loved her, too.

She pulled back and he smiled at her.

“We’ll always be the devilish duo, like Mama used to call us.”

He laughed, and she saw tears in his eyes. “Hell yeah.”

“Did you and Barrett talk?”

He nodded. “Yeah. We’re good.”

“I’m glad.”

“He come talk to you yet?”

“No. I’m not sure that can be fixed.”

He reached out and took her hand. “Sure it can. Give it some time, and when he calls, listen.”

She shrugged. “We’ll see.”

“Well, I gotta go. Got a hot date tonight.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you always?”

He grinned as she walked him to the door. “Got a rep to maintain, ya know.”

They hugged again at the door and she closed and locked it.

Okay, she felt marginally better now that she and Drake had straightened things out.

She went back and picked up the roller, attacking the wall again. Not twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang again.

What the hell now? She laid the roller down, grabbed the rag to wipe her hands and went to the door, looking out to find Barrett there.

She wasn’t sure she wanted to answer it. She’d had enough emotional upheaval already tonight.

But finally, she pulled the door open. “What are you doing here?”

“I’d like to talk to you.”

“I’m busy.”

He arched a brow. “You have paint all over you.”

“Aren’t you the observant one. I said I was busy.”

He looked around her. “Painting the living room?”

“I’m painting a wall. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to get back to it.”

“Are you painting because of me?”

“Of course not.”

He arched a brow.

She lifted her chin. “I’m giving the living room a pop of color.”

“Sure you are.”

“Is there something else you need, Barrett, or are we done now?”

“I could help you paint.”

“I don’t want your help.”

“Oh, come on. Painting is fun.”

Before she could shut the door in his face, he was inside.

“Barrett.” She followed him into the living room, where he was examining the wall color.

“This is . . . interesting. Purple? Really, Harmony?”

Okay, so it had been a rash decision. “It’s not purple. It’s called Plentiful Plum.”

“Looks purple to me.”

She was about to shred the rag in her hands. “Why are you here?”

He pulled his attention from the wall and onto her. “I want to talk to you.”

“I think we’ve said enough to each other.”

“No, we haven’t.” He took the paint rag from her hand and took her hands in his. “I haven’t told you how badly I messed everything up between us. I haven’t told you how I should have told your mother and your brother from the very beginning that you and I were seeing each other. That was my mistake. I should have put you first, because you’ve been the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning, and the last thing I think about before I go to sleep at night. Your eyes are my sunset and your smile is my sun. You make my heart beat faster every time I lay eyes on you. Having you sleep next to me is like having the other half of me feel like a whole.

“I didn’t even know anything was missing in my life until you came into it. You’re in my heart, Harmony Evans. I’m in love with you and I’m so afraid of losing you that I can’t even take a deep breath. I don’t deserve your forgiveness for screwing this all up, but I hope like hell that you’ll offer it.”