A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings

Author:Mazey Eddings
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

CHAPTER 19

HARPER

Harper felt lighter. Freer.

Dan now held a piece of her, and instead of feeling tethered and crushed, she felt something like joy at the release of the burden.

He led her from the bathroom, guiding her along the outskirts of the party toward the door. His warm hand splayed across her back anchored her focus, keeping her calm. The night was a disaster, but maybe it could be salvaged.

As they maneuvered around the last clumps of bodies, a blond head bobbed in front of them, blocking their escape.

Or the night could get a million times worse.

Jeffery Giles leaned against the wall, a smirk curling at his lizard-thin lips.

“Harper, what a surprise to see you in the real world. I almost didn’t recognize you without a textbook glued to your nose,” he said, eyes flicking up and down her body, “What dragged you out of your hole?”

“Oh, I get it,” Harper said, slapping a hand to her forehead. As exhausted as she felt, she dug into her energy reserves to muster up some sarcasm. “You’re making fun of me for studying so much. How disarmingly original. I’m shocked it came from you.”

“Harper, sweetheart, I would never make fun of you. I think it’s adorable how hard you try to keep pace and come in second. I guess learning just doesn’t come as naturally to some.”

Dan tensed behind her. “You can’t talk to her like that,” he said, his voice filled with warning. He slid an arm across Harper’s collarbones, holding her close against his chest. “Why don’t you step aside. We’re trying to leave.”

“And who are you?” Jeff said.

“That’s Dan Craige,” Travis chimed in, squeezing through a circle of people to clap a hand on his brother’s shoulder. They shared a weighted look, and a slimy sense of understanding crossed Jeff’s features, making Harper’s stomach curdle. She didn’t know what knowledge passed between them, but anything that gave Jeff such gross satisfaction couldn’t be good.

Harper looked around, trying to figure out the best way to push through the interested crowd eyeing them.

“Dan,” Jeff said, drawing out the name. “I’ve been waiting to meet Callowhill’s biggest letdown. So sorry about your dad, by the way. Always sad to lose a modern-day hero.” He turned his greasy grin back to Harper. “What hypocritical company you keep, Harper. I thought you got off trashing legacies like us.”

Uneasiness trickled down Harper’s spine and she looked at Dan for understanding. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she shot at the brothers, trying to keep her tone even.

“Come on, Harper, let’s get out of here.” Dan laced his hand through hers and tugged her toward the door.

“Oh, how hilarious, she didn’t know. Guess I gave the whiny bitch something else to complain about.” Jeff’s voice was lowered and directed to Travis, but it caught right in that rare pause between songs and conversation, where a single noise becomes a room’s focus.

Harper’s body tensed as Jeff’s words slapped her skin.

Bitch.

It ricocheted across the room, splattering against the walls and dripping into puddles on the floor.

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