Devon, who was sweeping the floor, said, “Give me two seconds.”
Phone to her ear, Khloë raised her forefinger at Harper as she spoke to whoever was on the other end of the call. “I can assure you that your tattoo is not washing off. It’s just a little excess ink. Some will wash or flake out as your body heals. Try your hardest not to pick at the scabs. If after the tattoo is fully healed it still seems to have breaks in the lines, come back and we’ll patch it right up.”
The doorbell chimed, and Harper tensed as Kellen walked inside. His shoulders were hunched and his gaze was wary as he scanned the studio until he spotted her. He offered a sheepish smile that made her chest twinge.
Tanner, who’d followed him inside, raised a questioning brow at Harper. He says he wants to talk to you. I can throw him out if you want.
I’ll talk to him. She was interested to hear what he had to say. Tanner nodded but didn’t leave, eyes boring into Kellen’s back.
Harper slowly made her way to him, unsurprised when Raini and Devon followed. Harper waited until her cousin ended her call before she said, “Hey.”
Rubbing the back of his nape, Kellen spoke. “Harper…” His face was a mask of regret.
She took pity on the kid. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” Kellen insisted, his expression downcast. “But I didn’t know what to do.”
She tilted her head. “About what? Why did you think I wouldn’t want to see you?”
He licked his lips. “Roan… it was my fault he yelled at you.”
Harper blinked at the unexpected answer. “How could it be your fault?”
“He found out that I meet with you sometimes. I don’t know how; he wouldn’t tell me. Anyway, he was really pissed…” He trailed off, cheeks reddening.
“It’s okay, you can use bad words,” she told him with a smile. “So he was upset with you?”
“He said I was betraying Mom by seeing you. He told me if I didn’t swear to stay away from you, I’d be sorry. I told him it was my life and my decision. Then he… I really am sorry. I didn’t think he’d stay bad stuff about you to the lair and then yell at you, I thought he’d yell at me. Then when he got punished by Knox, Dad was really mad at me. He said I should have just left well enough alone.”
“Why would Bray blame you for what Roan did?” asked Devon, folding her arms. “That’s shitty.”
“Roan flies into rages sometimes,” said Kellen. “I get blamed for ‘setting him off.’” His eyes cut to Harper. “I wasn’t sure if you’d blame me too.”
Harper exhaled heavily. “Roan did what he did because he’s an ass, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. I do not blame you. Got me?”
Swallowing, he nodded curtly. “Yeah. Bray and Roan won’t like that I’ve come here, but I heard that Mom spoke to you. I figured if she could, I should be able to, right?” He jutted out his chin.
“Right,” said Harper, “so come tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself lately.”
Tanner then returned outside so Khloë could lock the front door and flip the sign to “Closed for Lunch.”
Harper led Kellen into the back room, where all five of them took a seat at the table and dug into the deli takeout. As they ate, he and Harper caught up on what had been happening in their lives. She hadn’t realized how much she’d liked their little talks until he stopped answering her calls. Over the years, she’d seen Roan and Kellen from afar. Had wondered what they were like. Roan might be an ass, but Kellen was a sweet kid who didn’t bother with swagger to try to fit in. He just was who he was, and she respected that.
It was shortly after they had finished lunch that there was a knock at the front door.
“I’ll get it,” announced Devon, disappearing out of the room. She returned moments later with Knox, who looked as hot and tempting as ever.
Harper smiled at him, and her demon practically rubbed its hands with glee. “Hey there.”
Knox stroked a hand over her hair and nodded at her brother, surprised to see him. “Kellen. I trust you won’t shut Harper out like that again.” It was a pressing suggestion that carried a threat.
Kellen swallowed nervously. “I won’t.”
“Good.” Knox suspected the teenager didn’t realize how much it had hurt Harper when he cut contact with her, but Knox knew. And he had no intention of allowing it to happen again. Turning back to Harper, Knox asked, “How long before you’re done here?”
Rising from her seat, Harper started clearing the table. “We’re closing at two today so we can go to the BBQ, remember. You’re invited too.”
“Ah, yes,” said Knox. He’d forgotten about that, what with all that was going on. “I’m afraid you won’t be going to the BBQ.”
She slowly lifted a brow. “I won’t.”
“No, because I need you to come with me somewhere.”
“Yeah? Where?” she asked, intrigued and wary at the same time. He just gave a crooked, enigmatic smile.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like it.”
“So this is a surprise for her?” Raini asked Knox, looking excited on Harper’s behalf.
“Yes,” replied Knox, amused to see that his mate was looking at him suspiciously. He wondered if she’d ever like surprises. He doubted it. “Meet me at my office after you’re done here.”