Harley's Fall

by G. Bailey

  "Harley, no need to ruin all the fun," he says, and the few guys in the room laugh at my father’s poor joke. No part of this is fun, it’s just messed up. Arthur smirks at me as he sits at the bar watching, and I pull my gaze away from him back to my father.

  "Come, sit," he commands, nodding his head to the empty seat next to him. I tighten my fists and sit next to him on the sofa like he asks because I know he will just get Elliot back if I don’t. My father is dressed in a shirt that's open, showing off how much of a big guy he is. Luckily for me, I follow our father in that trait. I'm nearly as big as he is with all the training. The fights are few and far between and much more for my father's sick pleasure than the money I earn. The minute I sit down, the slut that was flung over Elliot sits on my lap with her wandering hands. The smell of stale cigarettes and cheap perfume fills my nose, making me want to be sick. When I look up, seeing her dazed eyes and the injection marks scattered all down her arms, I feel sicker.

  "Tell me, how is that pretty girlfriend of yours?" Arthur asks with a smirk as his hand travels up the short skirt of the woman he is with. She has similar marks on her arms, and I bet my father is the one that gives her all the drugs she wants.

  "Fine," I grit my teeth, hating that he even knows what she looks like.

  "Pamela, baby, take my boy and teach him how to look after that sweet girlfriend of his," dad says stroking the arm of Pamela on my lap. Sickness fills me when I process his words.

  "No," I push away from the sofa to stand up, making Pamela jump off my lap, and my father stands, too. There’s a strange silence in the room, just the music playing, but no one says a word. I know better than to show him up like this, but I don’t want to fuck whoever he wants, anymore. I can’t and keep dating Hazel. It’s not fair to her. He comes close to my face as he grins in a cocky way.

  "You'll fuck her, or I’ll get your brothers to,” he says, knowing that I will protect them no matter what.

  “When you’re done, I have someone for you to fight. I don’t want him walking after, so be ready." He squeezes my shoulder with a warning in his eyes, and I know he would beat the shit out of me if I say no. I look over the stupid woman who must be ten years older than me, and I don't want to do this. I don't want to cheat on Hazel. I don't have any choice. But, there is one choice I have, and that’s breaking up with Hazel tomorrow and then never having a relationship again.

  I don’t deserve that kind of happiness, and my brothers need me.

  I wake up in a hot sweat as the memories of that fucking night wash over me, making me feel sick. What the fuck is causing me to remember this shit? It takes me a few times of rubbing my face to remind myself I’m in a better place. That I’m not a kid anymore, but the resolve of staying away from women and anything serious has never left me. I avoid girls my own age in case I fall for them, in case I like them too much. Older women are just easy, and means I can walk away in the morning. No matter how shit that makes me. I do tell them that it’s never more than one night and usually, they want the same thing.

  I roll out of bed and head to the shower and turn it on hot to wash away the thoughts of anything I remember. I dress in a suit and try to think of today, and then realise that I'm taking Tilly to my work today. Why the fuck am I nervous? I haven't been able to get that kiss out of my head since Saturday, but all Sunday I couldn't get her alone to talk because Izzy was there.

  I brush my long hair back into a knot at the back of my head, and I finish straightening my tie. I have two Skype meetings today and three other meetings about new classes to join the gym. It's going to be a long ass-day. I look at myself in the mirror noticing all the changes since I was seventeen years old, these days I don't look like my twenty-four-year-old age, I look in my thirties. That's why I have no fucking clue why someone as hot as Tilly would kiss me when she should be with someone her own age. Fuck, I know four years isn't a big age difference, but to me, it feels like it.

  I come out of my room at the same time Tilly does. I flash her a smile as I check out her outfit. Fuck me, she looks like a sexy librarian. She is wearing tight, little, black slacks and a fitted, white shirt. Hell, she even has these black glasses on. Shit, all I'm going to be thinking about today is fucking her over my desk with just those glasses on. Maybe she could keep the heels on too.

  "Morning, I like the glasses," I say in a deeper voice than I usually talk in, as my palms start itching for me to touch her.

  "Morning to you, too. Thanks, I only wear them when I work." She blushes, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear as the rest is up in a tight bun.

  I step a little closer, just so I smell her sweet, fruity smell and whisper, "You should always wear them, they make you more spectacular than usual."

  "Oh," she whispers back as we stare at each other.

  The door down the hall bangs open as Luke comes out of his room, and I step back.

  "Good morning," he shouts in a way too cheerful voice for first thing in the morning.

  "We’re leaving in an hour," I say to Tilly, but I leave before I do something stupid like press her against the wall and kiss her. I have to adjust myself in this tight suit, and Luke notices with a laugh before he walks down the stairs. I'm lucky he doesn't say anything. I hear Tilly following us, but I force myself not to look back. I need to get as far away from her as possible. I head straight to the espresso machine and turn it on, sliding a cup underneath it.

  "Do you want one?" I ask Tilly as she hovers in the doorway.

  "Nope. I can buy my own food later," she says as she nervously looks around.

  "You can eat with us, the cleaners are paid to do a weekly shop, and we never eat it all," I tell her.

  "Are you sure?" she asks, and I nod.

  "So, coffee?" I ask again.

  "No, I’ll just have some juice and toast. I don’t like coffee," she says.

  “Who doesn’t like coffee?” I chuckle, making her smile.

  “Seriously, I couldn’t live without the stuff,” Luke says, taking the cup from the espresso machine as I glare at him.

  “Dude, I’m in a rush today,” he shrugs and starts drinking. I hope the coffee burns his mouth, the fucker.

  "Help yourself, Tilly." I wave my hand at the kitchen.

  "Sorry, guys I have to go. I've overslept and have an early class," Luke says, grabbing an apple and downing his coffee.

  "Bye," I say, as I get a bottle of juice from the fridge and hand it to Tilly as she puts her toast in the toaster. I eat a few grapes and an apple as she eats her toast in silence. An awkward kind of silence that I don't like. After I make myself a new coffee, I know I need to say something. I don’t want it to be like this between us.

  "So . . . today I’ll show you how to work everything. Basically, I just need you to answer the phones and answer any questions people might have," I explain. My other secretary does all the paperwork, so I don’t need her to fill in there.

  "Alright, I can do that," she replies.

  "I have a few meetings today, so I can’t be interrupted unless it's important," I tell her, and she nods.

  "So, family only?" she asks as she eats her toast. I want to offer her butter, but she doesn't seem to care.

  "Yeah, Sebastian, my brother who you haven't met, is my business partner, and he will be there today," I say and drink some more coffee.

  "Izzy told me about him. Elliot's twin, right?"

  "Yes." I nod.

  "Is he the married one?" she asks as she finishes her food.

  "Yeah, Maisy is his wife, and Jake is their son. They have another one on the way that I can’t wait to meet," I respond.

  "How far along is she?" she asks, entirely looking at me now as that seems to catch her attention for some reason.

  "About four months I believe," I answer and then drink the rest of my coffee and look back at Tilly, who is staring out the window in thought. She is so beautiful and not in a fake way. Unlike most girls I meet, who wear a lot of makeup, dye their hair, and try their
hardest to look perfect, Tilly just does.

  "Ready to go?" I ask, clearing my throat.

  "Sure," she snaps out of whatever thought she had and smiles at me, as she clears her plate and follows me to my car.

  "So, do you drive?" I ask as I wait for her to put her seatbelt on.

  "Yes, but my car is with my family in France," she says with a sigh. Why would she have left so quickly and without her car? She only had one suitcase when she turned up here, and it's clear she hasn’t planned any of this. Something else is going on.

  "You could ask one of your family to drive it here," I respond, watching her carefully for her reaction. My siren is hiding something, and every lie she tells me is going to help me figure it out. I could ask a friend I know to look her up, and I could have every detail of her life sent to me tomorrow, but it feels wrong to do that. I want her to trust me, and it bothers me that I even care that much. She is digging her way into my life without even trying, and I’m just handing her the shovel.

  "No, I will just figure it out," she mutters looking out the window as I drive out of the driveway.

  "Well, my old Range Rover is in the garage. It's just a spare, so no one would miss it if you wanted to borrow it," I tell her.

  "Really?" she asks a little taken back.

  "Really," I smirk at her as she smiles.

  "Thanks, I mean you don't have to be so, well, nice to me," she says quietly, and I glance over at her.

  "I don't, but I know when someone has had a hard a time and needs someone to be nice for once," I say looking away as I drive the rest of the way to work in silence. I watch Tilly as she looks around the gym as I open all the doors. I can’t take my eyes off the way her red hair shines from the morning sun and little bits of stray hair move with the light wind. The way her bright eyes seem to understand me with one look as she smiles at me. Tilly is something to be stared at, she is so beautiful.

  "Here is where you will be and right down that corridor, at the end is my office." I point it out to her before leading her around the desk.

  I quickly show her how to work the computer and show her the diary. I show her how to log people in as that’s the only complicated part.

  "If anyone new joins, just call my office, and I’ll sort them out if you have any issues." She nods at me. I turn to say hello to some of the early regulars coming in the gym and nearly growl when a guy winks at Tilly making her smile. Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

  "I'm going to my office," I mutter to Tilly who gives me a small smile before I turn to leave.

  Chapter 6

  Tilly

  “Can you tell Harley that I need to see him?” a woman asks as she leans over the counter and smiles at me. She is older than I am, I would guess her in her mid-thirties, and she is stunning with light-blonde hair and a body that shows she uses the gym a lot. She has a small crop top on that her large breasts are nearly falling out of, and I bet they would if she attempted to run on a treadmill.

  “He said no one other than family is allowed to interrupt him today, sorry,” I explain, and she narrows her eyes at me. “I can take a note,” I say.

  “He will want to see me, don’t worry about it,” she says and then walks off down the corridor towards Harley’s office. I get up and go to follow her, when I suddenly feel sick. Instead of walking any further, I open the door to the bathroom near me and run to the nearest toilet. I don’t know how long I’m puking before I feel a warm hand running on my back and pulling stray bits of hair away from my face.

  “Here,” I hear Harley say to me before he passes me some tissue, and I wipe my mouth as I stand up. Harley surprises me by taking my hand and nodding his head towards the bathroom door. He walks us out and straight to his office, before opening it for me. I walk in and look around at the massive, wooden desk and the big chair behind it, there is a bookcase and filing cabinet in the room. This is an impressive office. Harley walks over to the mini fridge on top of the filing cabinet after shutting the office door and gets out a bottle of water for me.

  “Here,” he offers it to me, and I nod, accepting the drink as he pulls out the chair by the desk.

  “Please sit, Tilly,” he says, and I do, only as I still feel like crap. Harley sits on the end of the desk and watches me closely, his mind no doubt figuring things out as I drink the water slowly.

  “I think–”

  “Don’t. Please don’t say anything you think you know or say it out loud. I just can’t–” I mutter, interrupting him. I look down at the ground and stay still as silence fills the room.

  “Why are you running, Tilly?” he asks me gently.

  “Because I don’t want to remember,” I answer quietly, lifting my head to meet his gaze.

  “I understand that.”

  “How can you? How can you be so scared of your past that you can’t even say the words out loud? That you can’t even think about it without shaking and wanting to run,” I end up snapping out, and he tilts his head to the side as we stare at each other.

  “Because my past keeps me up at night, too,” he tells me, shocking me into silence as I see the truth in his eyes.

  “Hey, bro,” a voice shouts as the office door is slammed open, and I turn to see a man walking in. This must be Sebastian as he looks so much like Elliot but less wild. Sebastian has a suit on and short-cut hair, and a shaved jaw. He gives us both a cheeky smile.

  “And, you must be Tilly. Izzy has been telling me about you and your unexpected arrival,” he says.

  “You’re Sebastian, right?” I ask, and he nods.

  “The good-looking brother,” he points a finger at his chest, making me laugh.

  “The brother who has his own office,” Harley points out, and Sebastian only grins.

  “Was I interrupting something?”

  “No, but Tilly isn’t feeling well, so I’m going to take her home,” Harley says.

  “I’m fine now,” I say, standing up and walking around the desk, but Harley catches my arm, stopping me.

  “You sure?” he asks, his thumb rubbing circles on my arm. It is comforting, and I find myself leaning into him a little.

  “Certain,” I reply, and he lets go after a second’s pause.

  “Nice to meet you, Sebastian,” I say as he opens the door for me and nods. I walk out of the office and go back to my desk. The rest of the day goes quickly, and before I know it, it’s time for us to close up.

  “Hey, Tilly, my wife, Maisy, is making dinner, and she invited Harley and you to come. She would love to meet you,” Sebastian says as he comes out of his office, just as I walk down the corridor towards Harley’s office.

  “I don’t know . . .,” I say as I watch Harley come out of his office and lock the door.

  “Come on, Maisy makes amazing food, and Jake loves to meet new people,” Sebastian says and tilts his head to the side as he looks at Harley and me.

  “I guess I can,” I say just as Harley gets to us, his eyes locked on mine.

  “How are you feeling?” he asks me straight away.

  “I’m good, now,” I tell him.

  “Was it just a morning thing?” Harley asks, making my heart pound when I know he is onto what is going on with me. I should just tell him, but I can’t seem to make the words come out of my mouth. Let alone, even think the words to say.

  “Yes,” I say, giving him the answer he wants without saying another word, and he nods, his eyes moving down my body. Thankfully, Sebastian starts talking, and I can look away from Harley’s luring, green eyes when they meet mine. The unspoken word just seems to burn between us.

  “Tilly said she is coming to dinner with us. I’m sure you won’t disagree with that,” Sebastian pats Harley’s arm and walks off.

  “Meet you two there,” Sebastian adds over his shoulder, and neither I nor Harley move. I don’t know what to say to him, or how to say anything. I feel like any chance of him liking me just went flying out the window, and I’m expecting to see a Harley-sized hole in the front door.


  “Come on,” he sighs after a second of me overthinking everything and shocks me again when he slides his hand into mine as he leads us out of the gym.

  “Why are you holding my hand?” I ask him.

  “Why are you not letting go?” he responds, and I choose not to answer that as I look away. I wait for him to lock the doors, and then we get into his car after he unlocks it. The drive out of town is quiet, and I don’t feel like saying anything as I just watch him drive. How can someone drive so sexily? Just watching the way he turns the wheel and the way his muscles in his arms flex as he changes gears is beyond hot. I’ve never noticed that about anyone before, but here I am, staring at a man driving. I’ve never had anyone walk into my life, and I feel safe around them, but I do feel that way around him. He makes me feel safe, he makes me feel like my past can’t haunt me. We eventually pull into a driveway not far out of town, and a barn conversion house appears at the end. The barn is lit by little solar lights under the windows, and there are two cars parked at the side, which Harley parks his next to. I get out of my side at the same time as Harley, who seems to just be watching me for something. I almost like that he doesn’t demand an answer from me.

  “Har-har,” is shouted from the door by a wriggling, little boy in the arms of Sebastian. The little boy has wavy, black hair and a cute, little face, he is dressed in jeans and a white top with a car on it. He is so sweet and loud. How can someone so small be shouting so loud?

  “Hey, Jake,” Harley says as he picks Jake up off Sebastian, and Jake wraps his little arms around Harley’s neck and hugs him. Jake rests his head on the side and looks at me, making me smile, and I stick my tongue out at him, which makes him giggle.

  “How old is he?” I ask Sebastian.

  “Ten months,” he tells me and waves a hand inside the house. “Come in, it’s cold out here.” I walk in and slide my heels off as Harley takes his shoes off.