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I know Josh is doing okay now, but he doesn’t have an extra twenty-five thousand dollars to drop on me. “Consider it an early wedding present.”
“That’s one very expensive present, but thanks. I guess all I have to do now is propose to my girl.”
“You didn’t propose?”
His shoulders sag and he shakes his head. “I’ve rearranged it for this weekend. But the good news is Lisa has no idea what I’m up to, so I can still surprise her.”
“I’m sure she’ll say yes.”
“Yeah. She’s wanted to get married for a long time.” He looks proud, but seconds later the haggard expression returns. “I have a huge favor to ask. One that I shouldn’t.”
That doesn’t sound good. The last time he asked me for a favor like that I ended up babysitting a fucking pig. It was our high school rival football team’s mascot. He and some of our other friends had stolen it. “What’s going on?”
“Harper’s timing for being rebellious couldn’t be worse. I thought she’d be in Europe for the next two months, then she’d live on campus at NYU. But she’s here now, my lease is up next week, and I just got confirmation of my new position. I’m being deployed on a submarine mission for the next nine months.”
“Nine months? Whoa.” That’s the longest he’s ever been away on a submarine mission.
“I know. But when I get back I’ll be in charge of a special unit in North Carolina, so I’ll be working at the base most of the time. I’ll still have to travel overseas, but not as often. It will be good for my marriage.”
“That’s a lot to digest, but good for you for getting a promotion.”
“Thank you.”
“Now, what’s the favor?” I straighten and give him a thin gaze.
“Harper. Could she stay with you for a few months? She got turned down for housing and there’s nothing near campus that won’t cost my entire month’s salary.”
I’m still stuck on the first words he said and I’m sure I look dumbfounded.
“Me? You want her to stay withme?”
“I promise it will only be for a few months. Just until she gets campus housing. I swear she won’t cause any trouble.”
I toss him a look filled with so much skepticism that he gives me a big grin.
“Okay. We both know my sisteristrouble. But I really need your help, Asher. The shit from last year with her ex really messed her up. And I swear she’s still not completely healed from the accident.”
At the mention of the accident guilt tugs on my insides, melting my resolve.
“I need her to stay with someone I can trust.” He keeps his gaze trained on me.
Trust. It’s strange he should say that. I remember a time when I wassurehe didn’t trust me around Harper. I understood why.
I was the ultimate playboy and Josh was my partner in crime. Having a firsthand view of what I was like with women, he knew me.
Years ago, I foolishly slipped up when Josh caught me looking at Harper.
What followed next was a scathing warning to stay away from her that I’llneverforget. The harsh words he spoke that day told me he would never approve of me being with her, much less trust me around her.
That was nearly six years ago. We never spoke about that incident again and as the years flew by it seemed he was satisfied that I was no longer a threat he needed to worry about.
“I need her to stay with someone who will look after her the way I would.” Worry fills Josh’s eyes and I realize he’s asking this favor because he’s desperate.
It’s clear he’s more worried than ever about Harper and is in a situation where he can’t help her without jeopardizing his job.
Any issues we might have had in the past no longer apply because it’s better to treat with the devil you know than the one you don’t. And my best friend knows that I’m the devil who will always have his back.
Allowing Harper to stay with me could be the worst idea ever. Not only because of the past or the fact that she and I will probably kill each other, but because there’s too much shit going on in my life.
