Fight For Me by Claudia Burgoa

Chapter Twenty-Six

Harrison

Scott and Hazelleave the Keys the following day. They have other plans, and won’t be back in New York until Sunday morning. Luna and I stay until the following Monday. I discovered that Luna doesn’t believe in lounging. We swim, water ski, snorkel, and at night we go dancing. I couldn’t believe it was the first time she was on vacation.

When I asked why she’s never gone anywhere, I was shut down. Luna trusts me, but only so much. I hate that I’ve shared everything about myself with her and yet there are still parts of her that she keeps for herself.

On Tuesday morning, Scott wakes me up. “We have a board meeting.”

“It’s too early,” I complain, covering my head with my pillow.

Thank fuck they decided to hold it at home, or I would’ve said no. I’m not putting on business casual clothes. When I enter the home office, I spot a basket with pastries, a bowl of fresh fruit, coffee, and a quiche. I look around the table to where my three brothers and Hazel sit.

“We’re having breakfast too, how fancy,” I remark, taking a seat between Hunter and Scott. Hazel sits next to him.

“The prodigal child is back.” Hazel stares at me from her seat. “You were gone for almost a week.”

“You’re mad?” I arch an eyebrow.

“I worked my ass off to get you the perfect dates, and you didn’t go to any of them.” She pushes a yellow envelope across the table. “You owe me. They would have been my treat if you had done them.”

I look at my brothers and then look at her. “Can someone explain why she is part of this board meeting?”

“Scotty promised to make me breakfast, and I never say no to homemade food,” she jokes, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“She’s my right hand,” Scott reminds me, ignoring Hazel’s response. “Neither one of you gives a fuck about this company. Hazel at least pretends to care because she likes to boss me around.”

“I do love to boss him around,” she nods, feeding him a piece of a chocolate croissant. “But that’s not the reason. I handle the Everhart boys’ investments. Having a say in the company is part of my job.”

“We’re not boys,” Hunter protests, then looks at Scott and Hazel. “But I do need your help. Which one of you two is going to set up the baby’s trust fund?”

Hazel raises her hand. “Me, pick me.”

“You can have that,” Scott concedes, preparing a plate of fruit for her. “Can we start the meeting now?”

“After he tells me all about Luna.” She bats her eyelashes at me and then lets out a long, exaggerated sigh. “And how much he loves her.”

“I appreciate the family reunion. But if that’s all we’re here for, I have other things to do.” I glare at Hazel. “Don’t you have a company to run?”

“This meeting is a little more pressing than my other job. But first, tell me how your weekend was.”

“We are here to discuss Everhart Enterprises, not how you like to meddle in my love life.” I glare at Hunter, who isn’t paying attention. He’s just texting with Willow. “You should’ve stayed home if that’s all you’re going to do.”

Hazel claps. “Ooh, our boy is in love and pissy from the drought he’s going through.” She winks at me.

“Stop,” I warn her. I had a great time in the Keys, but fuck, Luna was wearing tiny bikinis the whole time, and I couldn’t even touch her. “Do you have any idea how torturous it was? And it was all your idea.” I glare at Hazel.

“I suggested it, and it’s working,” she grins, looking up and licking her lips dramatically. “If I were into her, I’d be all over her. She’s so hot, I can’t believe you haven’t seen her naked yet. It’s a sight to see.”

“When did you see her naked?” I ask.

Hazel grins, thumping her hand on the table. “Never, but you should’ve seen your face. Priceless. Now tell me what happened.”

I exhale forcefully, staring at Scott. “What is it—sugar, coffee? She’s already wired up and driving me insane.”

“Sex,” Fitz responds. “She’s getting some. I just don’t know who the poor bastard is.”

“Poor bastard?” Scott frowns.

“Yeah, I have the feeling that this one is like that bunny in the commercials—what’s it called?” Fitz snaps his fingers shaking his head. “The Energizer Bunny.”

Scott’s face is stern, but I can see the smugness in his eyes. Yep, the bastard got a lot of action over the past few days while I just watched Luna from afar and salivated.

“Can we focus on the meeting?” Hunter redirects the conversation. “Willow wants to remind you guys that tomorrow we have a dinner party at our house. And I’ll be gone for the next couple of months, as we have some traveling to do before the baby arrives.”

“Dress formally for the dinner party,” Hazel adds.

“Willow asked for Luna’s number.” Hunter’s attention swings back to me. “I’m sure she sent her a text, but I assume she’ll be joining us regardless, won’t she?”

I nod and take the opportunity to make an announcement. “I’m moving out of the penthouse. There’s no date set, but I’m starting to search for a place.”

They all look at me but no one says a word. After a long silence, Hazel hands me a business card. “Our realtors have years of experience in the Tri-State area. We mostly do commercial, but for you I’d do residential too. If you want, we can also set up an appointment to discuss your prenuptial agreement and future investments.” She uses a business-like voice.

Then she glares at me. “You make her sign a prenup, and I swear I’m castrating you before you say I do.”

“Aw, aren’t you adorable.” I wave the business card. “I might give your people a call…and no prenuptial will be signed.”

She smiles and goes back to her breakfast. Yep, she’s a little off today.

“The brownstone next to ours is for sale,” Hunter discloses, then looks up to me and smirks. “You’re in love, aren’t you?”

All eyes are on me. This meeting wasn’t supposed to be about Luna or how I feel about her, but I have the sudden urge to share with them. My brothers and my sister.

“I’m falling—”I pause looking at my brothers and Hazel—“Hard.”

“She’s not your type,” Fitz notes. “But I can see you with her. She’s the yin to your yang.”

“You’re right,” I agree. “She’s not the type of woman I’d have chosen to date. Or consider… marrying.”

“Marry?” Hazel’s eyes are wide, and she is staring at me in disbelief. “Wow, miracles do happen.”

“They do, babe.” Fitz pats her hand. “Now you just need to find a man for me, and then find a drone for Scotty.”

Hazel presses her lips together for a brief moment, and then plasters a smile on her face and nods.

“Yeah, I’ll find them. An excellent guy for you, and…” She clears her throat. “A woman for Scott.” Her tone is flat, and I hope she knows what the hell she’s doing.

Luna and I have to figure out what’s going on between us. Or, more like I have to convince her that we are possible. Maybe she’s not what I used to have in mind for my life partner, but she’s what I want now.

The woman is noisy, but fuck, I like that about her. I like when she turns on her music and sings off-tune to some Latin song that I don’t understand, or she decides to play an old ballad by Christopher Cross, and she grabs whatever is at her disposal, pretending it’s a microphone.

She’s quirky.

Those fucking horoscopes she reads religiously drive me crazy. She believes that her hand holds her future. I’ve never known someone as superstitious, and I find it adorable.

She believes in justice and she fights for those who can’t fight for themselves.

She’s ruthless, fearless, and stronger than any person I’ve ever met. But God, she can also be so sweet and passionate. It’s hard not to fall in love with someone as extraordinary as her. Though, convincing her that she can fall, and that I’ll catch her, is going to be hard. So fucking hard. But I want her to be part of my life. I want her forever.

“Being with her reminds me of what Mom and Dad had when they were with us,” I say out loud.

Hunter smiles, looking at his phone. Probably expecting a text from Willow. I never thought I’d see him so happy, calm, and fulfilled. Scott glances toward Hazel. Is Hazel the woman who could make him happy?

“I imagine your parents had the perfect marriage,” Hazel says dreamily.

I stare at Hazel and then look at Scott. We know how messy their marriage was. There were times where I expected them to say, it’s over. I don’t deny that they loved each other but their relationship wasn’t what everyone thinks.

“Actually, it was pretty imperfect and very messy. But they loved each other.” I give her just enough because I don’t want to talk about them. Sometimes discussing them with my brothers is like opening Pandora’s box. You don’t know which memory will trigger each one of us and what will happen afterward.

“But it was magical when they were together,” Scott adds.

I nod in agreement. “Dad loved to give her presents on a daily basis. He tried to hang the moon for her, and he promised her the stars.”

“He always delivered,” Scott continued. “Mom said that when they met, she just knew they belonged together. They fell in love slowly, but it was inevitable that they would.”

“That,” Hazel sighs. “I want that.”

I look at my brother and then at her. Can he be what she wants? Hazel’s life has been a clusterfuck since day one. Her parents pretty much abandoned her when she was young. Her first love screwed her up. All she wants is love and everyone around her rejects her. I’m at a loss for words. What do I tell her? Stay away from my brother, he’s an insensitive asshole? But what if he’s not with her. Dad could be ruthless but he worshiped Mom.

“One day you’ll have it,” Fitz assures her. “You always say it—love is real, it actually happens. You just have to wait for the right guy.”

“What if I had the right guy? But we were too young and careless with what we had? I might die alone.” She stares at her hands for a couple of beats. I pray that she’s not thinking about the asshole who broke her heart. Then, she looks up and smiles. “Tell me more about your parents. I need to hear about those blissful moments they shared. Were they happy?”

Scott and I witnessed the entire relationship. It was heaven when they were happy. But somewhere along the line, joy became apathy, and eventually distaste. It was a cycle.

“It was hard to imagine how one would survive without the other when you saw them kiss,” I say, moving my gaze to the family picture that hangs on the wall.

“And…they left together,” Scott adds with a voice filled with sorrow. “They loved each other so much that you can still feel that love around us.”

“That’s the kind of love Luna makes me want to have,” I tell them. “I want to wake up next to her for the rest of my life, and then when I die, I want to wait for her in heaven so we can be together forever.”

“But?” Hazel gives me an inquisitive gaze. “What’s wrong?”

“I have to work hard to convince her that we can be together.”

“Just show her how amazing you can be.” She gives me her vote of confidence.

She makes it sound simple. Maybe it is. I don’t know. There are a few things that I am doing to show her that she can trust me. That I love her and I would do anything for her.

I tap the table a couple of times. “If you don’t mind. I have things to do. Whatever you decide to do within the company, you have my vote,” I say, standing up and leaving the office.