Fight For Me by Claudia Burgoa

Chapter Eleven

Harrison

The next morning,I wake up at my usual time, five in the morning. I go out for a run, head to the gym, and make my way home. As I enter the kitchen, I spot Hazel in front of the espresso machine while Scott mans the stove.

“Good morning?” I greet them.

“Morning, Harrison. Do you want some coffee?” She asks with her usual chirpy voice.

“I wasn’t expecting to see you this early, and dressed.” I stare at her mini dress and sandals. I saw her sleeping in the media room, wearing pajamas, only a few hours ago. “Where are you going, the beach?”

Her shoulders slump. “That sounds better than Vermont.” She smacks her lips as she pours the frothed milk in the two mugs she has in front of her. “We are going antique shopping. I want to redecorate Scott’s office.”

She sets one on the breakfast table, then hands me the other one. “It doesn’t have any sugar or flavored syrup,” Hazel warns me and goes back to the cupboard for another mug.

This is the first time since we’re back home that she seems like her old self. Also, the first time Luna isn’t around so I decide to bring up a tricky subject. “We haven’t discussed your parents.”

“There’s nothing much to say, Harry.” Her voice is steady, but her body tenses. “Mom decided to call it off. Dad is brokenhearted.”

Scott shakes his head, giving me a death glare.

She sets the gallon of milk back on the counter, taking a few deep breaths. “There’s more, but I have to process it, slowly.”

Hazel turns around. Her eyes are slightly red. “Dad blames me for Mom’s behavior. He said that if I hadn’t been so insistent on trying to change her, she wouldn’t have jumped off the balcony.”

“It wasn’t you.” Scott’s voice is gentle.

“I know, but that doesn’t make it hurt less.” She drinks some of her coffee and stares at the pancakes on the table. “We should buy maple syrup. Vermont is as good as Canadian syrup. I should get my passport in case we decide to cross the border.”

“Can we plan a trip to Canada for October?” Scott redirects her attention. “You already have the month of September booked.”

“Sorry,” she whispers.

“You don’t have to apologize. I’ve wanted to travel like this for a long time, actually. I welcome the opportunity.”

“You do like to travel,” I agree with him. “That was part of the plan until—”

“I have a list for you.” Hazel interrupts me, snapping her fingers, chasing away the thick, gloomy atmosphere we were creating.

She grabs her phone and starts firing messages. “I gathered some likes and dislikes from Luna. Things I know you won’t find out soon enough but are imperative to know. Study it. It’ll help you.”

She finally takes a seat and grabs a couple of pancakes. “Now tell me, how was last night?”

“You abandoned me.” I fake hurt, but I’m secretly glad they left me alone with Luna.

“We didn’t want to be your third wheel, plus we were starving. Scotty treated me to fish and chips since it was Friday,” she informs me. “We went to O’Leary’s.”

“And came back to watch a Harry Potter marathon,” I finish her adventure.

Hazel frowns.

“Scott was still watching it when I came back, but you were already asleep.”

“Yeah, poor guy, he slept all night on the couch because of me. For your information, I think he’s starting to sneak into the top spot of my favorite Everhart.” She shrugs. “Just in case you want to up your game.”

“Nah, I think I’m good for now. Having that position for the past ten years has been hard, I’m glad he started working his ass off to win the number one spot.”

“Speaking of which, you should head to my house and check on Luna,” she says suddenly before taking a bite of pancake. “Do something fun with her.”

“I don’t understand why I’m actually dating her.” I bring it up casually, it doesn’t bother me, but Hazel is pushing the envelope a little too far.

“Visibility and transparency are key during this operation,” she corrects me. “Follow my lead, I know what I’m doing. In exchange, you can have so much fun together!”

She finishes her coffee, holds her mug, and smiles at me. “The woman is amazing, enjoy your time with her.”

“You like her?” I narrow my gaze, studying Hazel.

She has never liked any woman I’ve gone out with. Not even when she knows they’ll be gone the next morning. I wonder if she likes Luna genuinely or…

“Are you sure?” I cross my arms. “You’ve never liked any of the women that my brothers or I have dated. Why this one?”

“I do like her,” she says, honestly. “As for the other women, they were…passing. No one has ever brought home a Luna. Every other woman was…trying to score an Everhart.”

I grin smugly and say, “Do you think we need a Luna for Scott?”

She turns to Scott. “He’s content right now. I don’t think he needs a woman. Do you, Scotty?”

“No,” he groans. “I’m happy with my life. Leave me alone.”

“Hunter has Willow. My best match so far.”

“But you like Luna.” And fuck, why am I so relieved to know that they are getting along?

“If I were into women, I’d be snatching her away from you. She’s witty, fun, smart. And have you seen her practice yoga? She’s very…bendy.” She smirks. “I want to be like her. Actually, I’m going to practice yoga every day. My next man is going to love my elasticity.”

“Time for me to go,” I declare, then turn to Scott. “Good luck. You have your hands full this weekend. She’s going to tell you all about her ‘yoga poses.’”

I leave, laughing at the fact that my brother will be fighting a hard-on while he’s next to who I suspect is the love of his life. He should man up and just tell her how he feels.

As Hazel suggested,I head toward her place where Luna is currently living. She’s stepping out of the building as I arrive. I could get used to seeing her beautiful face every day. And that smile she uses to greet everyone around her is contagious. Luna waves at Carl as she exits the building, shooting happiness and sunshine around her. Suddenly, she halts. Her precious face becomes an ugly scowl the moment she spots me.

“What, I don’t get to see that beautiful smile?” I hand her a cold matcha green latte, her favorite drink for the summer according to Hazel. Hot cocoa during the fall, peppermint chocolate during the winter, and hot tea after New Year’s Day. The little micromanager emailed me a list of helpful tips. Favorite flowers, drinks, food, music, and hobbies. Based on Luna’s preferred sports, she suggested the shooting range or a boxing ring for one of our dates. She loves her family and spends time with them every Saturday.

Since Hazel is a great matchmaker, I trust her judgment. Though, there’s also the possibility that she’d enjoy watching me die slowly in the hands of her new best friend.

“What do you want, Everhart?” Luna narrows her gaze at the large cup of iced tea in her hand.

“Did I do something to you that I don’t remember?”

“No, I just don’t trust you.” She takes a few sips of the drink; her eyes never leave mine. “Thank you for the drink though. You shouldn’t have.”

“You’re welcome?” I stare at her, feeling like we’re on a chessboard, waiting for the other’s next move. “But you have to stop telling me what I should or shouldn’t do. I enjoy spoiling you.”

“Why are you here?”

“You have trust issues,” I observe, not understanding what exactly is going on between us. The plan was simple. I bring her a drink, we take a walk around Central Park, and maybe if things work out, we can go to the shooting range. I was going to let her borrow Clarice, my gun.

Does she have plans or something? “Where were you going so early?”

“Why are you here so early?” she counters, then shows me the large bag she’s carrying with her. “I am heading to work.”

“Work?” I repeat with confusion.

“That physical or mental activity that one does in exchange for monetary remuneration,” she sasses me.

“But it’s Saturday,” I highlight. “At seven in the f—” I stop when a couple of children holding their mother’s hands stare at me. “F-reaking morning.”

She glances at me, giving me an exasperated look. “Why are you here, on Saturday, at. Seven. In. The. Freaking. Morning, Harrison Everhart?”

“Everyone woke up early at home,” I say, ignoring her sass. We’ll leave the bantering for later. “Hazel and Scott are going to Vermont. Fitz left for the gym…I hoped you’d want to hang out with me.”

“Another time.” She lifts the cup, biting the straw. “See you around.”

Luna waves, giving me a smug smile and walks away from me. I can’t help but stare at her sweet, round ass. Those yoga pants always make my mouth water. But I snap out of the trance as she turns to the right and I lose sight of her. If she thinks we are done for the day, she’s wrong. I’ll just wait for her outside of her work. Wait, what does she do again?

Oh, right, she’s a yoga instructor. A very bendy yoga instructor.

I jog to catch up with her, stopping when I see her pull out a bag and hand it to a homeless man sitting with his back to the building wall. When she continues her walk, I stop in front of him and stare at the bag. It has water, a protein bar, and money. I pull out my wallet and hand him a twenty-dollar bill. For the next seven blocks, she hands a total of ten bags out.

Harrison: Do you know about the Ziploc bags?

Hazel: Yeah. She’s pretty amazing. You should date a girl like her.

Harrison: I’m watching you, Beesley.

Hazel: Can’t read more texts. We’re losing connection. There’s a tunnel ahead.

Then she sends a gif with white noise. She’s ridiculous. I continue following Luna until she arrives at the yoga studio. I should go home, but what if I try this yoga thing? It can’t be that hard.