Page 116 of Bullet

“Yeah, but why should you when my lap is available?” I quip, making her smile.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Harlee,” Tara says as she and Natalie sit down next to us.

I watch as my girl falls into conversation with the old ladies easily, and I can’t help but smile.

My girl has come a long way over the last few months, and honestly, at one point I never thought we would end up here. I thought being with Harlee was a pipe dream and that she was on a one-way path to her grave, but she turned her life around.

I’m so fucking proud of her.

Harlee leans back into me, resting against my chest. My skin crawls, telling me someone is staring at us. I look up and see Honk staring at us from the other side of the fire pit. He looks at us with acceptance and longing.

He told me one night not long ago that sometimes it’s hard looking at Harlee because she looks like Eleanor. I had never noticed their resemblance until he mentioned it. I can’t imagine what that feels like, and I hope I never find out.

“Hey, are you okay?” Harlee asks as she brushes my hair away from my face.

I pull my eyes away from her dad and smile at her.

“I’m great.”

Then End.