< : > : Chapter Twenty - Eight : < : >

Harlow | Phoenix | Other people

Walking over to me I immediately opened my arms to her wrapping them around her waist.

“Of course I would.” Opening my eyes as she pulled away to say hello to my family two pairs of brown eyes were watching me.

Both men were of the same skin tone as Harlow. The taller man with glasses and a full beard smiled at me as the shorter man - but still taller than me, leaned on the counter raisinh his brow at me.

“Dad, Papa.” Harlow stood next to me slipping her fingers in between mine. “This is my boyfriend Phoenix, his Aunt Justine, and his cousin Dylan.”

The man wearing glass walked towards me with his hand outstretched. “Hello Phoenix, Mrs. Derman, Dylan.” Shaking each of our hands he continued his introductions. “I’m Kendall and this is my husband Gavin.”

Mr. Gavin walked over while Mr. Kendall shook Dylan’s hand and stared at me. “So you’re the boyfriend?”

“Dad.”

“Yes Sir.” Releasing Harlow’s hand I put mine out for him to shake. “I’m the boyfriend, Phoenix Derman.”

“A Marine, hm?”

“Yes Sir, six years.”

Shaking my hand firmly I returned it with my own firmness letting him know that I wasn’t weak nor intimidated. My nerves were gone once Harlow stepped into my arms.

“Treat my baby girl right, you hear?”

“Dad.”

“Of course Sir.”

“Then we’ll get along just fine.” Letting go of my hand I felt Harlow’s slide back in mine. “Call me Gavin.”

“Of course Si- Gavin.”

“Well then.” Harlow cut in looking up to me. “I was just telling Timara, Dad, and Papa about you bringing me breakfast yesterday.”

“From Sharron!” Timara said from the counter stirring a bowl of what looked like sauce. “I’m so jealous.”

Taking out my phone I looked my notifications seeing a new text message. Leaning over I whispered in Harlow’s ear, “I have another guest outside. Do you mind if I go get him?”

“Go ahead.” She kissed me on the cheek letting me go.

Looking back to Timara as she stirred the sauce I exited the kitchen back to the front door opening it just as Prichett raised his hand to knock.

“What’s up man.”

“‘Sup Derman.” We shook each other’s hand before giving a quick hug.

“I appreciate you flying out here to come get me.”

“Little do you know I had already requested leave during deployment. It just so happened that you’re here. Plus I get to check in on the house -”

“And Timara.”

Corey smirked rubbing down the top of his low cut hair. “Yeah, her too.”

Knowing the way Prichett was feeling all too well I stepped aside letting him in closing the door quietly behind me. “She doesn’t know you’re coming so I hope you two are on good terms.”

Corey didn’t say anything only nodding his head before following behind me. Stepping back into the kitchen I cleared my throat for Mr. Kendall and Gavin’s attention.

“I hope it’s alright that I invited one more person.” I moved to the left letting Corey in the kitchen. “This is my best friend Corey Prichett.”

Corey eyes were on Timara first before moving to Harlow’s parents. “Mister and Mister Booker.” Corey nodded. “Harlow. Mrs. Justine.” He knocked arms with my cousin. “Dylan. Timara.”

Everyone said hello in response except for Timara who seemed frozen in time. All eyes started to move between Prichett and Timara when Harlow spoke up.

“Phoenix, I never told you that Papa thought about joining the military a few times, did I?”

“Nope, you didn’t.”

Mr. Kendall chuckled going into his story breaking the awkward silence. Walking back over to Harlow out of the corner of my eye I saw Corey nod to the hallway but Timara shook her head making him mouth please in return. Seeing her walk out quietly keeping her distance as she passed him Prichett looked back around the room nodding to me before following after her. Whatever problem they were having I just hoped that it would get figured out before dinner or at least before we left tomorrow morning.

Bringing my attention back to Mr. Kendall as he talked about the third time he met with an Air Force recruiter Gavin finished preparing the waffles. As he finished the story Gavin announced that dinner was ready reminding us to wash our hands. Mr. Kendall washed his hands in the kitchen sink as Aunt Justine and Dylan moved to the bathroom on the first floor while Harlow pulled me away.

Following her without a word she lead me upstairs to the dark second floor and into a dark room that I wasn’t sure was a bathroom or bedroom. Closing the door behind me not so quietly I was pushed against the door when her lips brushed mine.

“I’ve missed you.” She breathed pulling away for air.

“I’ve missed you too. Can I take you out tonight?”

“You don’t have to ask Phoenix. You’re leaving tomorrow. I want to be with you all night.”

“We can definitely make that happen.” I leaned down kissing her neck. "That is, if you want to.”

“I do.” Harlow moaned running her hands across the back of my neck pulling me closer. “But . . . but we have to not - we can’t,” She tried to find the right words as I raised her chin up so I could kiss her lips again. “no sex.”

Lifting Harlow up tired of leaning down she wrapped her legs around my waist. “Okay.”

“Phoenix, I’m serious.”

Letting her drop back down I reached out to both sides of the wall finally hitting a switch brightening the room. Harlow’s lips were a little red, her pupils were dilated and her chest rose and fell heavily.

“I’m know you are and I respect that.”

“I just don’t want you to think that I don’t care about you because I do care about you -”

“Harlow! Our guest are hungry! Come on!”

Stepping aside to wash my hands I turned on both the hot and cold water putting soap in my hands when Harlow called my name. “Yes?”

“I love you.”

There I stood looking at a tan wooden door with the bathroom’s water running and a large amount of hand soap in my palm, stuck ans stunned.

She had told me she loves me. Harlow had actually said she loves me awake,  alert, and in her right mind. She had said she loves and walked away - thankfully not out of my life but out of the room leaving me no chance to give her a response.

I wanted to tell her that I love her too. I wanted us to smile at each other afterwards and kiss as two lovers do but . . . she just . . . walked away.

Washing my hands I walked back down to the kitchen eyes wandering around the room until I found Harlow talking in the corner with Timara.

Corey walked in stopping next to me. Seeing Timara and Harlow in the corner he shook his head. “I’m going to grab some food.”

Harlow turned smiling at me sheepishly. “Yeah, I’m coming too.”

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A/N: Soooo, initially I didn't have them kissing but as my playlist changed over to Rocket by Beyoncé, the scene took a turn lol. I was going to go back and change it but it flowed nicely enough 👍