I kept my eyes trained on Lindsey's boots, in perfect synchronization with Jess' sneakers a few feet ahead. My friend had her fingers intertwined with her girlfriend, smiling like a schoolgirl in love, complete with little birds flying in a halo around her head and heart eyes. Jess was a bit less obvious about her infatuation and love for Linds. She would occasionally cast a look in her direction as they chatted quietly, but a look of pure adoration lingered in her eyes long after Lindsey had lost her train of thought and wandered or veered off in the direction of a store she wanted to go into.

I straightened, ready to catch up to the girls, when I felt someone fall into step beside me. I was surprised when I turned quickly to find Chris with one of his hands buried in the pocket of his jeans and the other rubbing at the back of his neck. If it weren't already strange enough that he was beside me after never showing much interest in me, it was even more peculiar that he looked nervous.

"Hey." he slowly dropped his arm from his neck and sighed, deciding to get straight to the point. "Do you know where Ash is right now?"

I halted to a sudden stop opposite a sports equipment store. "Excuse me?"

When had they even met? As far as I was aware Ash didn't know much outside of what I told her about James, let alone what his roommate.

"She hasn't texted me back in three days." he whispered, sounding embarrassed. "I'm not used to being the one getting ghosted."

I processed his words for a moment before I responded. "I had no idea you two were even talking, but Ash just got back from California. She's at work."

He opened his mouth to answer, but his phone cut him off and we both looked to his phone to find my best friend's photo lighting his screen. He flashed me a crooked grin and wink before he fell back to take the call. I decided to let them have their conversation before I shot my best friend a text to ask what was going on between them, and more importantly, why she hadn't mentioned it to me.

"Are you avoiding me?" James' quiet voice pierced through the chaos that my thoughts had become. I snuck a quick glance to the spot to my right that his friend had occupied a few seconds prior. He was in a similar stance to Chris as well. Both of his hands were in his pockets, eyes trained on the store I'd watch Jess chase Lindsey in.

"I'm avoiding the world." I mumbled, honest. "My head is still killing me, these clothes are tighter than my work uniform, and I'm exhausted."

He tore his eyes from the store and caught my own before I had the chance to look away. I lost myself in the pool of blue for a while before his words shook me from the trance. "You need to breathe, Harley. I know everything is overwhelming right now, but you need to allow yourself a break."

"That's easier said than done."

He stopped walking and shifted his entire body in my direction. "I know."

"James, I—"

"What you did last night was irresponsible and solved absolutely nothing."

I flinched and averted my eyes to the toy store below us. "It made me forget for a while. I didn't feel have to feel anything."

"Do you feel better now?" he slowly crossed his arms, making a gesture with his right hand when I dropped my gaze again. "Didn't think so. Harley, you have someone relying on you to be an adult about the decisions you make."

"I don't understand why it concerns you so much what I decide to do with my life." I snapped. "I don't need another man in my life thinking he has a say over everything I do."

James reached up and ran a hand through his dark hair, eyes fluttering shut. "That's not what I'm trying to do, Harley."

"I know, I'm sorry." I breathed. "I know you're just trying to help and I appreciate it, James. But you need to understand that I need space to learn things about myself that I still don't know. I spent so many years under his command, unable to be myself. I don't even know who I am anymore."

His eyes opened again, but he didn't say anything. I took his silence as my cue to continue.

"I appreciate everything you've done, I do. I appreciate you wanting to befriend me and help me through this journey, but please let me make my own choices and decisions, even if you don't agree with them."

"I did last night and you're feeling it today."

I touched a palm to my chest. "Thank you for that. And thank you for being there."

He retreated from the conversation for a few minutes as we waited for our friends and Jess to return. It wasn't until we'd started to follow Lindsey to the food court that he sparked conversation again.

"When do you have Danni again?" he questioned.

I shot him a curious look. "Friday night, why?"

"Have you guys ever been to the aquarium?"

I connected the dots immediately. "My mom has taken her a couple times, but I haven't been with her. I don't typically have extra money to spend on stuff like that."

"Be ready at three Saturday afternoon."

I froze for a second. "What?"

"Make sure both of you are ready at three on Saturday afternoon." He repeated, slower this time. "I see you trying to figure out a way to deny the offer. Don't worry about the money. Don't ask any questions."

I wanted to do exactly that, but Chris decided to take the silence between us as his chance to push between the two of us and dropped an arm over my shoulder with a grin. "Ash said she's joining us for dinner."

"That's great." I eyed him. "What do you need from me?"

The grin that continued to grow was almost maniacal and I couldn't fight the smile that touched at my own lips seeing it.

"Everything."

*

I set the last plate at the end of the table, half my attention on Jess, Linds, and Scott in the middle of an intense shooting game, with Chris on the arm of the couch cheering his roommate on against the girls. The other half was on James to my back, slaving over the stove, so quiet I questioned if he'd lost himself in his head as I had.

A knock sounding at the front door startled both of us, but Jess beat everyone to the door and opened the door with a forced smile. I didn't have to wander over to know it was my best friend on the other side. She and Jess hadn't ever gotten along, I'd just have to hope that Ash kept it as civil as Jess was trying to.

Ash struts passed her, untying her hair from its messy bun so it fell in waves around her. Catching the men across the room watching, she caught their eyes. Scott instantly jerked his head in the other direction and stared at the TV, but Chris held her stare and smirked. My best friend cocked her head, the hmphed quietly to herself and finished her trek to me.

"Hey, babe." she greeted, then poked her head into the kitchen. "James."

"Hey." He lifted the spatula into the air in a half wave. "Dinner's just about done if you want to sit."

She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me as she sat down at the table. "He cooks too."

"Ash." I warned.

She rolled her eyes, but dropped the subject as I turned my back to her to help James with the dishes. He thanked me quietly as we handed off the food at the table. We were left to sit next to each other opposite Jess and Lindsey, but my eyes found Ash and I all but groaned when I saw the look she was sending Chris.

"She won't cave." I explained when James arched a brow my way. "Not for a while, at least. She likes being chased and she likes challenges. You might want to let Chris know."

James chuckled, took a bite of steak, then replied. "Chris doesn't back down."

I laughed. "I guess we should prepare for the worst then."

"I'd rather hope for the best."

We held one another's gaze a little too long to be friendly. The minute my brain comprehended the action, I turned so I was staring at Scott on my left, pushing any spark of emotions down until I couldn't feel them anymore. Maybe if I kept them down long enough, they'd cease to exist entirely.