Page 26 of Stopping Short

“No one cares what your grades are.” Mason rolls his eyes. “Have you never heard of ‘C’s get degrees’?”

“Well, I'm so sorry I want to be better than mediocre.” I roll my eyes back at him, making him chuckle.

“We’ll figure it out, but you’re coming home with Jackson,” Dad says firmly and I know it’s useless to argue. When he uses this tone with me, I never win. This is his ‘don’t mess with me, Harper’ tone. “You’re leaving your car there too.”

“What? Why?”

“Tracking,” Mason singsongs. “Have you learned nothing from us?”

“Oh my gosh! Evan isn’t tracking me! That’s crazy.” I throw my hands up in the air at their ridiculousness.

“We’re not taking a chance, Harper,” Jackson says softly.

“Exactly! Listen to Romeo.” Mason motions to Jackson.

“Seriously? You’re still calling me that?” Jackson groans.

“What time do you need to leave, Jacks?” Dad ignores Mason’s comment and tries to refocus everyone.

“I have about two hours before I have to be on the road.”

“Ok. Do you have your SUV?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Harper, I want you to pack as many of your things as you can and get them into Jackson’s SUV.”

“What?” I stare at him like he’s crazy, because he has to be… right?

“Listen to me. I know you’re not happy about this and you’re terrified right now, but you need to pay attention. Based on what Jackson’s told us, Evan will be back. He’s not going to stop until you take him back. When you don’t answer the door, he’ll most likely break into your house. I want as little there as possible, got it? If it’s important to you, it needs to go with you. He knows Jackson can’t stay much longer and he’s going to use that to his advantage. I’d say for the next two hours you’re safe, after that, I wouldn’t count on it. Get out of there before you end up like your mom.” His voice catches when he talks about Mom and my eyes fill with tears all over again.

“Ok. Will you come back and pack up the rest of my things?”

“I’ll drive there sometime this week and get a moving company to pack everything up. We’ll have you moved out before the end of next week. I have a friend who works in the police department out there. I’ll give him a call and see if he can keep an eye on your place until we empty it. Your lease is over at the end of the month, correct?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t worry about anything. Just get home and I’ll deal with everything else.”

“What about my car?”

“Have Jackson move it into the garage. There’s not much more we can do with it right now. I love you, sweetheart. Go pack and text me when you leave.”

“I love you too.”

“Jackson, while she packs, I want to talk to you.”

Chapter 18

Jackson

I wait while Harper disappears down the hallway. I'm shocked she didn’t put up a fight when Maddox told her to go pack while he talked to me, but I think she’s terrified and is willing to do whatever keeps her safe at this point.

“She’s gone,” I say softly.

“What am I really dealing with here?” Maddox cuts the crap and goes straight into police mode. He walked away from the force years ago, but once a cop always a cop.

“Evan was off when I met him two days ago. I didn’t even know he existed before he walked into the bar. He made sure to make a big show about being with Harper, yet he went off and was kissing another woman a few minutes later. I don’t understand it. He doesn’t seem like he wants to be with her… it’s almost like he has to be with her. Like he has no choice.”