Free Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams

some burgers in a bit. So why don’t you stay until you gotta go in to work? I don’t know why you’ve been gone so much, but whatever it is, we all miss having you around here. C’mon, we’re all gonna be outside swimming and hanging out until later.”
    A shriek that was distinctly Harper sounded from the backyard, and I took off for the door in time to watch her get thrown in the pool.
    “They’re just throwing the girls in the pool, calm down.”
    “I know, I just . . .” Just what? Didn’t want anyone touching her? Freaked the hell out when I heard her just then?
    “Oh shit, man. Please don’t tell me—”
    “Don’t worry about it, Brad. And yeah, I’ll stay.”
    He sighed but didn’t say anything else; I just shrugged out of my shirt and pulled a chair up to where the towels I’d just given Harper were spread out. I had to grip the arms of the chair when Zach threw Harper into the pool again not thirty minutes later, but other than that, just sat around with everyone and tried not to make it obvious I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. Bree and I were talking about this new prick she had with her and how she wanted to use my room again tonight, when Brandon ran up behind Harper and picked her up. I almost laughed when she kicked at him, but then he kissed her, and the laugh died.
    He asked something too low for me to hear, but I definitely heard her response. “Not at all, I’m yours for the next three days.” I watched as he walked them into the house and caught sight of Brad watching me and shaking his head slightly before looking back to the grill.
    Bree was still asking for my room as I stood up quickly. “Whatever, Bree, I’ll leave it unlocked.”
    I stalked back toward the house, and Brad stopped me with a hand to my chest, “Bro, you should really think about what this could do to you and Brandon before you go startin’ shit.”
    I shrugged off his hand and gave him a warning glare. “Maybe you should shut the fuck up and mind your own business.”
    Before he could say anything else I went into my room and pulled out my sketchpad for a while before getting in the shower and getting ready for work. I hopped in my truck and wasn’t even out of the neighborhood before I saw her. I had to do a double take, but I’d know that girl anywhere. I rolled down my window and slowed as I came up next to her and studied her hunched-over posture. “Harper?”
    She didn’t look up and didn’t stop walking. What the hell was she doing? Why was she out here?
    I threw my truck in park and jumped out before quickly rounding the front and going right to her. “Harper what are you—are you crying? What’s wrong?”
    She sniffed and wiped at her face roughly as she tried to walk around me. “Please leave me alone.”
    Hell no! “What happened?” Who the hell made her cry? Because I sure as shit didn’t; and why is she alone? I grabbed her arms gently, making sure that I would not be able to bruise her again, and hunched down low to try to look in her eyes; she just turned her head away. My hands started to flex, and I forced them to relax. Brandon, who the hell else? That’s it, I’m going to kill him for real this time.
    “Nothing happened, Chase, so just let me go.”
    “Like hell. You’re crying and walking through a dark neighborhood. Talk to me.”
    “Why are you even out here?”
    I wanted to ask her the same thing. “I’m going in to work. Now tell me what he did.”
    “Don’t act like you don’t know. You tried to warn me; you knew he would do this.” Her phone rang, and after ignoring the call, she shoved it back in her pocket.
    “Princess, I promise you I have no idea what you’re talking about, but I’ll kill him for hurting you. Please tell me what happened.” I let go of her arms, only to wrap one around her, bringing her closer to me, and with the other I tilted her chin up so I could look into her heartbroken gray eyes. Oh my God, Harper, what did he do to you?
    A