Abbi Glines - Take a Chance

Why was I here? What was the fucking purpose? Had I gotten this bad? Really? In the past, Id been able to shake her loose and walk away. Nannette had been my go-to fuck for years, but then shed gotten needy. And Id liked it. Somehow, she had managed to get under my skin. I had wanted to be wantedI was that pathetic. My dad rarely called me; my mom had decided she preferred French models over me years ago.

I was screwed the hell up.

It was time I let this go. Nan had needed me for a time when she felt like she was losing Rush, her brother and safe place, to his new life with his wife and child. Not that Rush wouldnt welcome her with open armsit was just that she was such a bitch. All she had to do was accept Rushs wife, Blaire. That was it. But the stubborn woman wouldnt do it.

Mine had been the arms shed run into, and like a fool I had opened them up for her. Now, all I had was a lot of damn drama and a slightly damaged heart. She hadnt claimed it. Not completely. But she had touched a place no one else had. She had needed me. No one had ever needed me. It had made me weak.

To prove my point, here I sat in Nans fathers home, looking for her, waiting on her. She was running wild again, and Rush wasnt coming to the rescue. He had hung up his Superman cape and decided his days of coming to Nans side were over. I had wanted that. As sick as it was, I had wanted to be her hero. Damn, I was a pussy.

Drink, kid. Fuck knows you need it, Kiro, Nans father, said as he shoved a half-empty bottle of tequila into my hands. Kiro was the lead singer of the most legendary rock band in the world. Slacker Demon had been around for twenty years, and their songs still skyrocketed to number one whenever they released a new album.

I started to argue but changed my mind. He was right. I needed a drink. I didnt think about where the dudes mouth had been when I touched the rim of the bottle to my lips and tipped it back.

Youre a smart boy, Grant. What I cant figure is why the hell youre putting up with Nans shit, Kiro said as he sank down onto the white leather sofa across from me. He was in a pair of black skinny jeans and a silver shirt, unbuttoned and hanging open. Tattoos covered his chest and arms. Women still went crazy over him. It wasnt his looks. He was too damn skinny. A diet of alcohol and drugs would do that to you. But he was Kiro. That was all that mattered to them.

You gonna ignore me? Hell, shes my daughter and I cant put up with her. Damn crazy bitch, just like her momma, he drawled before taking a pull off a joint.

Thats enough, Daddy. The musical voice that was finding its way into my fantasies lately came from the doorway.

Theres my baby girl. Shes come out of her room to visit, Kiro said, grinning at the daughter he actually loved. The one he hadnt abandoned. Harlow Manning was breathtaking. She didnt look like a rock stars kid. She looked like an innocent, sweet country girl, with long, dark hair and eyes that made you forget your fucking name.

I was going to see if you planned on eating dinner at home tonight or if you were going out, she said. I watched as she stepped into the room and purposely ignored me. That only made me smile.

She didnt like me. I had met her at Rush and Blaires engagement party and then spoken to her at their wedding reception. Both times hadnt ended well.

I was thinkin of going out. I need to party a little. Ive stayed inside this house too damn long.

Oh. Okay, she said in that soft voice that I swear was intoxicating.

Kiro frowned. You lonely? Locking yourself away in that room with your books getting to you, baby girl?

I couldnt take my eyes off Harlow. She rarely came around when I was here. Nan wasnt exactly kind to her. I got why she didnt like Harlow. She was eaten up with jealousy where Harlow was concerned. Even if it wasnt Harlows fault that Kiro loved her and didnt seem to give a shit about Nan. Harlow lit up a room when she walked into it. There was a peacefulness about her that was hard to explain. It made you want to get close to her and see if you could soak it in. She made it easy for someone as selfish as Kiro to love her. Nan made it hard for normal people to love hermuch less someone like Kiro Manning.

No, Im fine. I was just going to wait and eat with you if you planned to eat here. If not, Ill just eat a sandwich in my room.

Kiro started shaking his head. I dont like that. Youre in there too much. I want you to stop reading for tonight. Grant is here and he needs some company. Hes a good guy. Talk to him. You can have dinner together while he waits for Nan to return.

Harlow stiffened and finally glanced my way, but only for a moment. I dont think so.

Come on, dont be a snob. Grants a family friend. Hes Rushs brother. Have dinner with him.

Harlows spine stiffened even straighter. She went back to not making eye contact with me. Hes not Rushs brother. If he were, it would be even more disgusting that hes sleeping with Nan.

Kiro grinned like Harlow was the funniest person in the world and he was proud of her spunk. My kitten has claws, and apparently only you bring them out. Sleeping with the evil sister has put you on my baby girls shit list. Now thats funny as hell. He looked extremely amused as he took another long draw from his joint.

I wasnt amused. I didnt like the fact Harlow hated me. I wasnt sure how the hell to fix it, though. Turning my back on Nan wasnt possible. She wouldnt be able to handle someone else dropping her. Even if her slutty ass deserved it. I wouldnt let myself think about the boy band she was currently sleeping with. Guess I was wrong about those guys. I thought for sure they were sleeping with each other. Instead, they were all sleeping with Nan.

Have a good night, Daddy, Harlow said, then turned and walked out of the room before Kiro could demand she stay with me.

Kiro laid his head back and closed his eyes. Shame she hates you. Shes special. Only known one other like her, and it was her mom. Woman stole my heart. I adored her. Worshipped the fucking ground she walked on. I would have thrown all this shit away for her. I had planned on it. I just wanted to wake up each morning and see her there beside me. I wanted to watch her with our baby girl and know that they were mine. But God wanted her more. Took her the fuck away from me. I wont ever get over it. Never.

This wasnt the first time I had heard him ramble on about Harlows mother. He did it whenever he got high. She was the first thing that came to his mind. I hadnt known that kind of love. Scared the shit out of me, though. I wasnt sure I ever wanted to know it. Kiro had never recovered. I had met the man when I was a kid and my dad had married Rushs mom. Rush had begged his dad, Dean Finlay, the drummer for Slacker Demon, to take me with them on one of his weekend visits.

I had been in awe. It had been the first of many weekends. And Kiro would always talk about her and curse God for taking her. It had fascinated me, even as a child. I had never witnessed that kind of devotion.

Even after my dads short marriage to Rushs mother, Georgianna, I had remained close to Rush. His dad still came to pick me up sometimes when he got Rush. I had grown up personally knowing the most legendary rock band in the world.

Nan hates her. Who the hell can hate Harlow? Shes too damn sweet to hate. Girl hasnt done anything to Nan, yet Nans mean as a goddamn snake. Poor Harlow stays away from her. I hate to see my baby girl so defenseless. She needs to toughen up. She needs a friend. Kiro set his joint down in an ashtray and turned his head to look at me. Be her friend, kid. She needs one.