I’m too tired for any of this, so I fall on top of my bed, considering how much effort I would need to expend to switch out my clothes to my pajamas, take off my makeup, and brush my teeth. Even thinking about it is too much. Therefore, I fall asleep where I am, shoes still on, hair up in a ponytail, which is guaranteed to give me a headache by morning, and nightmares of all the stories I heard tonight.
***
“Harvey is here,” I nervously announce the next day, standing by the front window, watching as Harvey pulls up to the curb.
When he steps out of his car, I notice he’s in a fitted, long-sleeved shirt and dark sweats. They seem to be his standard walking clothes. I recall being a little awestruck the first time I saw him. For someone who doesn’t appear to care outwardly about his appearance, he can’t seem to pull off looking anything less than hot. However, I also wasn’t lying to Sasha last night. Harvey isn’t my type, though I do still get a little tongue-tied over how good-looking he is, which is happening less and less.
I think I’m slowly becoming immune to Harvey.
Joey grunts, something I haven’t heard him do before. I actually turn and glance back at him, wondering if he realizes how much of a Harvey response that is.
We haven’t interacted at all this morning, but that is possibly because I slept in late. Three coffees and one long, hot shower later, I feel mostly human.
“Tell him to come in. I want a word.” His tone sounds ominous.
“O … kay,” I mumble, moving to the front door to invite Harvey in.
Karma bounds up to him, allowing Harvey to showcase his strength when he isn’t knocked over by her boisterous enthusiasm.
“Hey.” Harvey nods in greeting at Joey when he’s finally able to look up.
“What are your intentions here?” Joey instantly demands, getting right into Harvey’s personal space. No greeting. No easing into the interrogation.
“Joey!” I snap, mortified.
Harvey looks to me before he settles back on Joey. “I’m not sure I understand what you—”
“Teagan is not someone you mess around with. I want to know if you’re serious, and what the fuck makes you think you’re good enough for her.” Joey actually shoves Harvey.
Karma stills by their feet, watching them both keenly. This must feel a little like her parents are fighting.
My mouth drops open by Joey’s weird father act. I don’t know whether to laugh at the ridiculousness of it, or rant in anger that he just shoved Harvey.
“Man, I think you have this wrong. I like Teagan as a friend,” Harvey says in a tone meant to appease. He even has his hands held up in front of him, appearing as innocent as he genuinely is.
“Man,” Joey growls, apparently not buying Harvey’s demeanor, “I think you have this wrong. I know how things go. I might not be a fan of this method, but I know guys use it. Become their friend, lower their defenses, and then go in for the easy lay.”
Wait, what did he just say?
“That’s disgusting!” I slap Joey’s arm, not that he seems to notice. “How can you even say something that gross? And to Harvey?”
When Harvey holds his hand up, I bite back on the words bubbling in my mouth.
“Listen, I know I’m not an open book, but I didn’t realize this wasn’t known about me …” he begins, shifting uncomfortably from side to side. “I’m gay, Joey. My interests in Teagan are purely friendship because I’m into men.”
Joey’s shock is almost comical. He is rendered speechless, his jaw hanging somewhere along the floor.
“How about you attempt to pick up that jaw of yours while Harvey and I go on our walk?” I suggest testily. “I’ll try not to be all smitten that he wants to be my friend and throw my easy ass at him, especially since it will get me nowhere.” I storm out the front door, waiting a few moments before Harvey and Karma follow.
“I can’t believe him,” I rant as we walk down the street, stopping intermittently as Karma finds interest in a new smell.
“Seriously?” he asks, giving me a look of disbelief. “You’re going to act like his reaction is a surprise to you?”
I angrily shrug, my tense shoulders aching from the action. “I figured out last night that no one knew which way you swing, but I didn’t expect him to accuse you of running a game on me, and that I would be too stupid to realize if you were.”
Joey’s previous comment of me being oblivious comes back to me. Is that how Joey thinks I am? Oblivious when it comes to most topics?
“I find men can act irrational when they realize they like someone,” Harvey carefully explains.
“How would you know? You never like anyone, remember?”
“True, but I’ve had plenty of men go a little crazy when I’ve tried to back off,” he explains, which I don’t doubt. I even witnessed it firsthand.
“Fine, but I’m still allowed to be insulted,” I gripe, already feeling my steam evaporating.
“Okay, but maybe take it easy on him.”
“Why do you care? From the way everyone acted last night after we said hello to each other, you’d think you were allergic to speaking. Why are you so shut off from them?”
“I don’t …” He frowns, focusing on Karma. “When I took the job at J.P.I., I didn’t expect to stay long.”
“How long is not long?” I ask, recalling he has only worked there under a year. “Are you leaving?”
“I … I don’t know. I didn’t apply for the job thinking it would be a long-term thing. To be honest, I think I only accepted because Karma attacked me in the hallway and drooled all over me.”
My mouth drops wide open at his confession. “Are you serious? You accepted the job because of Karma?”
He gazes thoughtfully over the park we are finally approaching. “I like dogs. My apartment doesn’t allow pets, but I’ve always thought of getting one when I finally move into a house.”
“Okay, so you take the job, and then what? Decide talking to everyone isn’t worth your time?” I push, moving aside the fact that Karma is the cause for Harvey even being at J.P.I. in the first place.
“I don’t see the point in getting attached to people when you aren’t going to stay long.”
I consider his words, finding them sad. Harvey is a great guy, but the fact that he’s so closed off is concerning. It helps put in perspective my own plight, and how I was determined to keep anyone new at a distance just to ward off any potential pain or betrayal in the future. I’m probably the “Harvey” at my own job. That’s no way to live.
“You’ve gotten attached to me, though, right?” I confirm, my confidence waning. I’m certainly attached to having Harvey as a friend, but what if he doesn’t feel the same about me?
“Of course I have. I like you, Teagan. And I like working at J.P.I. And while I thought it was temporary, I don’t have any plans to leave.”
My shoulders sag in relief, whereas Harvey’s tense up as Karma attempts to leap at a passing puppy.
“Good, because I like you, and I already decided we are going to be best friends.”
“We are?” He freezes on the spot, pulling Karma up short. It takes me a few steps to realize he’s no longer next to me.
“Yes. And you saying you like me is your version of basically admitting that I am your favorite person. Or, at least,” I mutter, glancing over at Karma, “your favorite human person. So, I guess that means you don’t have any better choice than to accept.”
He snorts, shaking his head at me, but he doesn’t disagree. I take that as a good sign.
“Now that’s settled, I’m going to rant as much as I want to my best friend about how much of a dick Joey just was. And as any good best friend would do, you’ll let me, and agree with everything I say.”
He frowns, which I don’t take as a good sign. “What exactly does the fine print say on this best friend business? I’m not sure I can agree to it.”
“Well, the first thing written in the best friend handbook is to not sleep with
my husband, so please take note of that one.” I try to make a joke of it, but it falls flat even to my own ears. I’m not sure that will ever be something I can joke about.
“You’ll be happy to know I have zero sexual attraction to Joey, so rest easy,” he comments dryly, winking when I look his way.
“Why do you assume I’d marry Joey?”
“Because, I also believe, written in pretty big writing in the best friend handbook, it says I can be an annoying asshole and point out the obvious, even if you are in an oblivious bubble of your own making.”
My mouth gapes open. I’m pleased he’s using my own metaphor and going with it, but I’m not sure I like him bringing up me being oblivious. I’m starting to seriously dislike that word.
“Well, you have the annoying asshole part down. I can’t wait for someone to come along and make you fall so fucking head-over-heels in love with him. I’m going to enjoy every single second of your pain.”
“One, I seriously doubt that will ever happen. Two, I don’t believe reveling in my pain is written in the handbook. And three, just to reiterate, no fucking way is that ever happening to me.”
I smile sweetly at him, knowing it’s so totally going to happen. I just hope whoever Harvey eventually decides knocking down that wall around his heart for is worth it. Because it also says in the best friend handbook that I get final say on whoever he ends up with, so that man better be good enough. Or else.
Which also brings up that I believe that goes both ways.
“I’m sorry Joey shoved you before. That was out of line.”
Harvey shrugs, genuinely seeming unperturbed by it. “It’s fine.”
“It wasn’t. I’m still really angry over how he came at you.”
Harvey sighs, touching my arm with his free hand and pulling me up short. Luckily, Karma is on board with this and allows us a few moments to be still.
“I think we’ve covered that I like you, Teagan. And I want what is best for you. I don’t know that it’s Joey, but I like that he was quick to defend your honor or whatever. I like that he wasn’t afraid to confront me when he thought there might be a chance I didn’t have your best interest in mind. I like that he stood up for you. Trust me when I say I’m not mad at Joey for laying a finger on me. Not with the reasoning he had.”
I take in his words, a little pleased that he feels this way, even if I can’t completely agree with Joey’s actions.
“Okay. Can I ask …?” I trail off, not sure it’s my business, but I can’t keep the question in. “Did you keep the fact you’re gay hidden on purpose?” I hold my breath, not sure what answer I expect or want him to say.
“I like to keep my private life private. I never set out to keep it a secret, but I understand it might have also been kept under wraps due to how I am. At different periods in my life, I felt the need to keep being gay to myself, but I’ve never felt the need at J.P.I. if that’s what you’re concerned about.”
I nod, hating that he has ever felt the need to hide himself. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For opening yourself up to me. I don’t know if there is some hidden reason you are closed off, but I’m honored you have chosen me to open up to, even if it’s only because I come with Karma.”
He wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. “Karma’s approval of you may have helped lead the way, but I’m glad I have you for a friend.” He pauses, seeing my frown and reading it accurately before he corrects himself. “Best friend.”
I smile up at him, content for the moment, before Karma gets sick of waiting for us and charges forward, pulling Harvey away from me and into the fray of several dogs all getting to know each other through licks and sniffs, while owners stand around, waiting for them to grow bored with each other and scatter.
I stand back, laughing to myself as Harvey tries to untangle himself and Karma from the mess she’s made by turning every which way she can in hopes of smelling everything and everyone at once.
I hope moments like this never stop. You often never take the time to notice what is going on around you and appreciate how good something is. But, right now, I make sure to appreciate spending time with Karma and Harvey.
I never realized our moments like this were growing shorter.
Chapter 10
A few days later, I’m reading in bed, engrossed in a novel, when my phone beeps from my bedside table. I open it up, already a smile touching my lips when I see Joey has sent me a message.
For a couple days, things were weird with Joey after the whole Harvey thing, but it soon settled back to how it always is between us.
Since Joey moved in, we text message most days, and not just a quick check-in, or sending a quirky meme. Instead, we talk on and off all day, usually spurting nonsense.
I can’t help grinning whenever I see a message waiting for me, even when I’m having a bad day and only one screaming baby away from a migraine.
Today, I know Joey is due home any minute. He told me he wouldn’t be late. I thought I would be happy to have the house to myself after a long day at work; instead, I feel a little lonely.
Joey is often not around when I am, due to his surveillance on Hart, but our hours line up a lot better these day. Often within an hour of being home, Joey makes an appearance for dinner before heading out to the club right when I’m getting ready for bed.
Everyone is putting in time on this case, though Joey has the lead and tends to put in the most hours. Not only do they want Gemma covered, but even on her nights off, they keep an eye on Hart.
Lately, though, Joey has been making more time to be home. Or, at least, that’s what Harvey, who’s been given more responsibility with the case, said. Since Zander has a wife and kid, and Declan claims he needs to keep an eye on Sasha, Joey and Harvey are the only two with less responsibilities at night. Therefore, they tend to get stuck with the night shifts.
Harvey says he’s happy to be taking on more responsibility. However, I can’t imagine anything more boring than sitting in a cramped car, or some other hiding place, and listening to a noisy club, trying to decipher bits of conversations or interpreting what’s happening on a dark video feed. Or, just as unappealing, being inside the club and having to do all that in person and without a volume button to mute.
I glance at Joey’s message to see it’s a photo of two bottles of wine, with a message asking: red or white?
There is a thrill knowing Joey is picking up wine for our pasta that I have simmering on the stove. I like how domestic it feels, or maybe I just like how I can picture this being how things would be if we ever went past the friendship stage.
I respond, telling him to grab both. You can never have too much wine. Plus, I prefer red and he prefers white. This way, we both win.
A few minutes later, I get another photo message from Joey. This time, he sends that same photo of me holding the sign, which he has changed to: Hi, my name is Teagan, and I’m a wino.
I immediately pull up my photo of Joey and add in: Hi, my name is Joey, and I’m a whine-o.
I laugh, happy with my hopefully witty response.
J: You’re hilarious.
T: I really am.
I’m still smiling when Joey makes it home, both bottles of wine in hand.
Our easy banter over dinner fills me up with giddiness. I have never had this with someone else. Not even my ex-husband. We were comfortable around each other, but it always felt still. It felt peaceful, calm. With Joey, I’m not sure if I want to jump out of my seat to hug him, kiss him, watch him laugh up close, or just straight up hump him.
Once our meal is over, we both make our way over to the couch, one glass of red and one glass of white in our hands. We place both glasses safely on the coffee table before collapsing on opposite ends of the couch.
Joey doesn’t even hesitate when he lifts my feet onto his lap, knocking off one of my slippers so he can give me a foot massage.
He’s kidding right now, right? What wo
man can resist a hot man giving her a foot massage?
“So, what’s happening tonight with work?” I squeak out, purely hoping to distract myself from his hands being on my body.
“Tonight, Harvey is on Gemma detail, and I’m keeping an eye on Clayton.”
“What usually happens when you’re on Gemma detail?”
“You just go into the club and keep an eye on things. Come to think of it, I used to think it was commendable how dedicated Harvey was to this. His eyes never strayed to the women dancing; his focus always solid. Now I know it’s partly because he has no interest in women.” Joey chuckles, shaking his head.
“Do you do Gemma detail much?” I hope I keep the jealousy out of my tone. I think I do an okay job, since I’m more or less squealing from his incredible massage. I’m going to be a puddle of nothing soon. I’m barely holding in my moans of appreciation as it is.
“Not really. Clayton knows me. I wanted to live across from him because it gave us an advantage being so close, but it also means I’m not invisible.”
“So, you moved across the street just so you could keep an eye on Hart?”
“Yeah.” He shrugs, as if uprooting your entire life and moving somewhere else just for a case isn’t a big deal. “The lease on my place was up, and since we had zeroed on Clayton, that house coming up for sale seemed perfect.”
“But, you said he doesn’t do much at his house.”
“No. Not that we confirmed that until I had easier access to him. Even without that information, it’s an easy way to conduct surveillance on his house without it being suspicious. We can park along his curb and not have it be obvious or suspicious.”
“Still, that seems rather extreme. Do you often move into houses close to the people you’re investigating?”
“No, never. This one just worked out that way. Most of our cases hardly take much time at all. This one is an anomaly.”
“So then, what happens when you finish up on it? Will you move again?”
“I don’t know. I sort of like this neighborhood. I actually live next to a hot neighbor,” he jokes, making me flush.
I Burned Down His House (Love at First Crime Book 3) Page 12