Page 31 of Forever my Love

“I won’t move in here officially until after Fred is locked up,” Harper said against her hair.

Hailey nodded. “I’m staying put until that man is behind bars. Reece says I can stay in his guest room for however long that takes. He’s invited me to go with him to Vegas to see his fight,” she admitted, suddenly feeling heated.

Harper leaned back and smiled. “You should go. We liked Vegas, remember?”

Hailey nodded as the short time that they had spent in the city replayed in her head. “Are you okay?” She brushed a strand of Harper’s hair away from her face and could see happiness in her eyes.

Harper suddenly burst out crying and everything that had happened to her a few hours earlier flowed from her in almost one very long sentence. Hailey had to concentrate to understand most of her words. Harper never cried. The sound of it almost undid her.

It was obvious how scared she’d been, being held under the water. She could only imagine how terrifying it must have been. Neither of them had ever gone swimming before. They used to wade in the shallow creek to catch fish or crawdads, but they had never jumped in for fear of drowning.

She pulled Harper into her arms and settled in the bed.

“We haven’t had the best past, have we?” She brushed her fingers through Harper’s hair, avoiding the bandage the doctor had replaced on Harper’s head.

“I should have taken you away long before,” Harper said softly.

“I was so caught up in self-pity and was afraid of the unknown,” Hailey admitted.

“Unknown?” Harper glanced up at her.

“Our mother taught us one thing well—fear. We were so afraid of what was out there beyond our little hut that we didn’t even consider leaving. We didn’t think to tell anyone or ask for help,” Hailey added.

Harper nodded and rested her head back on Hailey’s shoulder. “I wonder a lot what would have happened to us if we’d been taken from her. If we would have been separated. That was the number one fear. The number one reason I kept my mouth shut.”

“I never knew what Fred was doing to you. Not until after that last night,” Hailey confessed.

“You were young. No one ever talked to us about those sorts of things,” Harper said.

Hailey shook her head. “How can you be with Nick now and not”—tears rolled down Hailey’s cheeks—“and not think back?”

She thought of the fear that ate at her each time she felt Reece’s body against her own.

Harper hugged Hailey tight.

“It’s different. Sex with someone you like or love is magical. It’s like night and day. Do you like Reece?” Harper asked. Hailey nodded her head quickly. “Have you kissed yet?” Hailey nodded again. “How did it feel?”

Hailey was quiet for a moment as she thought of the feeling of Reece’s lips against her own. “Magical,” she admitted softly.

“Trust him. Trust yourself. The rest will be just as special,” Harper said.

Hailey rolled her eyes as she felt her face heat. “It’s sort of embarrassing.” They had never had the sex talk. Their mother had never had any talk with them, actually.

“Life is embarrassing if you make it. Embrace yourself, sex, Reece, whatever comes next. Being with Nick has opened my eyes to all that was taken from us. The more I’m with him, the more I realize just how much we lost. And at this point, I want it all. Everything I never knew to dream about.”

That sounded wonderful. Having the life she had always dreamed about. Being free to just… be. To live, laugh, explore, travel, have a career, to love.

Hailey hugged her sister tight. “I love you.”

“I love you.” Harper laughed as tears rolled down both of their cheeks.

Nick knocked on the door and opened it. Reece and Lucy were with him. Lucy jumped up on the bed and rushed to lay against Harper’s side.

Hailey stood up and tried to hide the fact that she was wiping tears from her eyes.

“How are you feeling?” Reece asked Harper, but Hailey understood he was really asking her.

Harper hinted that she was tired, and she and Reece decided to head home.

As they left the room, Harper said to Reece, “Thanks for taking care of my sister. If you hurt her, I’ll slap on my boxing gloves and kick your butt.”

Reece smiled and nodded. Then he wrapped an arm around Hailey’s shoulders and walked out.