Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
“At least your women aren’t bossing you around and telling you that you suck at your job,” Noah says with a shake of his head. “Imagine walking into your wife’s gorgeous office only to sit and have her tell you where you need to fix your game.”
Quinn and I laugh. Noah has a point. He probably has it worse than any of us. Elle was my boss, but she never told me I was wrong about anything I did. We worked well as a team, and I let something as stupid as a date get in the way.
There’s a knock on the door and Harrison peaks his head in. “Hey guys.”
“Wow, the red carpet has been rolled out for me,” I say as Harrison greets me with a hug. “Liam and JD here as well?”
“Oh God no,” Harrison says. “JD and nurses are never a good idea.” Harrison shakes his head. “And Liam’s in Las Vegas covering for me right now. I told Elle I’d take her new band on tour for her.” He doesn’t add while she babysits me, not that he would.
Quinn and Noah excuse themselves, and Harrison sits down. “Does the staff know you’re eating greasy burgers?” He motions toward the garbage can where Elle hasn’t hid the evidence well.
“The hospital food sucks. I don’t know how they expect people to get better on crap food. This morning my eggs were so hard I could’ve given myself a concussion with them.”
“Well, it’s a good thing Elle’s got you covered. How are you doing? Katelyn and I are really sorry you’re going through this and want you to know, the doors open. It’s always open, Ben. Regardless of what’s going on between you and Elle. We consider you to be a part of our family.”
“Thank you, that means a lot.”
“Honestly, I’m a bit saddened as to why you didn’t come to us.”
I shrug. “You’re Elle’s parents. Not mine. I don’t want her to think I’m using her.”
“Son, you’ve been hanging around our house from the moment you moved to Beaumont. Not once has it ever crossed our minds that you might be using Elle or Quinn. You are one of the most genuine men I have ever met, and you never gave me a reason to question you nor your integrity. Not then, and definitely not now.”
Harrison’s words stab me right in the heart. A couple tears fall before I wipe them away. To me, he’s always been the father I never had, and I’ve always looked up to him.
“I broke up with her.” My voice cracks. “At the time, I thought it was the right thing to do because I want to get married, and she wants to wait until everyone’s schedules are clear. I feel like she pushed my needs aside and when I asked her to elope, she got mad at me because she wants you to walk her down the aisle, which I’ll be honest, I’m not sure I understand.”
“I get it,” Harrison says. “You see things differently than she does. She was raised by a calendar, everything we did and continue to do, depends on others and when events are booked years in advance, asking for a change is hard. I think we could’ve worked something out, but she’s never asked before. It’s always been a ‘put it on the calendar and if I can be there, I’ll be there’ type of thing. While the kids were growing up, I missed my fair share of events, but the one thing I will not miss is their weddings and the birth of my grandchildren. Elle knows this, and I think in the back of her mind, she feels she needs to wait until the tours are over. She’s trying to juggle being a manager, a daughter, and a fiancée. But her most important job has always been as your friend. You’ve been friends longer than you’ve been a couple. You know she has a good heart and would never do anything to hurt you.”
“Deep down, I think I know this. I’m just mad.”
“At her?”
I nod. “And the world.”
“It’s not fair to compare her to the world. She’s only one person.”
“I know. I’m also jealous. She spends so much time with the bands.”
“And up until Christmas, I thought you were as well. Working together, especially in this business, it’s the best thing for couples. You’re together. You’re bonding and building, both personally and professionally. Why’d you quit?”
I shrug. “I was mad at her for choosing Christmas over me. I regretted it instantly but asking her for my job back seemed like a bad idea. Nothing would’ve been fixed between us, and I have a hard time seeing her and not being with her.”
Harrison chuckles. “I get it. I was there once with Katelyn.”
It hits me in this moment that I haven’t met Oliver yet. “Congratulations, by the way,” I tell him. “Can you let Mrs. KPJ know that it’s pretty awesome you guys are trying to adopt Oliver. I hope to meet him soon.”