The car slowed as the Hudson's house came into view. It was a welcoming sight, familiar and exactly what Harper needed after an emotionally exhausting day. She was no stranger to an emotional rollercoaster, but that day's constant battle of having to defend herself while being torn down by her friends was something she hadn't expected to happen.
That feeling of a peaceful night shifted the moment she spotted a familiar car parked by the curb. Hawk leaned against the car, and he looked up when Demetri's headlights bathed him in the warm glow. Her veins filled with ice knowing that she'd have to face yet another battle that she wasn't ready for. Her fingers tightened around her bracelet, the thin chain almost protesting against her death grip.
Hawk stood outside her house, waiting for her so they could talk. As if that could actually fix anything.
Demetri parked the car, his hand hovering over the key. "Do you, you know, want me to wait around? I won't really be helpful in a fight but I can be there for moral support," he suggested.
Harper sighed. What she wanted most was to tell Demetri to keep driving until they reached somewhere far away from here. She was being a coward, but rightfully so. The fire in her had gone out, and she had no more fight left in her. She was done with fighting. Done with making decisions that only backfired, with choosing her heart over her head only to be knocked down the moment her choices were made.
But she had to face this. Face him.
Because she needed answers. She needed him to tell her that this was just a big misunderstanding and that everything Nate had accused him of was wrong.
But Harper wasn't naive enough to believe that. Not with the way he avoided her gaze and fidgeted like someone carrying the weight of a guilty conscience. That usual confidence he carried around like armor was subdued — replaced with something that looked a lot like nerves and guilt. Like he knew that he'd screwed up. She could see it in the way he drummed his fingers against the roof of the car in a rhythm that was too erratic to be casual.
"Thanks, but I got this." Harper tried to hide the way her hands shook as she unbuckled her seatbelt. "I kinda need to deal with this on my own."
"But you're not alone, you know that, right?" Demetri asked, the sincerity in his voice making her pause. He had every right to hate Hawk and to be against her decision to be with him, yet he still stood by her side.
Harper swallowed and nodded. "Thanks," she said with a smile, squeezing his hand. "And thanks for what you did earlier. When you stepped in with Sam. You really didn't have to take my side, you know."
"No, but I kinda did. I mean, you've had my back since the first day we met. It's about time I stood up for you, too," he told her and looked out the window to where Hawk continued to wait, shifting from one foot to the other and looking more uncertain by the second. "You sure you don't want me to stick around? I'm pretty great at yelling 'You got this!' from a safe distance. It would really add to the drama, you know."
A small smile tugged at her lips before she shook her head. "No, but I'll be okay. I'll let you know how it goes," Harper said.
With another sigh, she put up that same wall Hawk had torn down just hours ago. It was duct taped and barely holding up but it was there — ready to shield her from the world. Again.
Harper pushed the door open, a cool blast of air hitting her in the face. Even the night air was thick and heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. Her heart pounded in her chest as she forced her feet to carry her forward into another battle she wasn't ready to have. Each step felt like she was walking through sand like a collapse waiting to happen.
She only took a few steps forward before Hawk pushed off of the car, blocking the sidewalk as if sensing that she wanted nothing more than to brush past him. His hands slipped into his jacket pockets in an attempt to look casual, but the stiffness in his shoulders and the way he couldn't look her in the eye betrayed him.
For a moment, they just stared at each other — a silent exchange that spoke volumes.
Harper felt the bite of her nails digging into her palms, the small pressure grounding her enough to take another step forward. Everything she wanted to say whirled in her mind, but before she could even settle on one thought, Hawk beat her to it.
"Let me explain," Hawk said slowly.
"Explain what?" Harper snapped, her voice sharp as the words sliced through the otherwise peaceful night. "How you proved everyone right?"
Hawk shifted his weight as the bravado in his eyes flickered like a dying flame. For a moment, he looked as lost as she felt.
"Okay, that's not fair," he started, a weak attempt at a defense forming, but Harper's glare silenced him.
"I defended you, you know that?" She asked, wincing at how her voice cracked, but didn't let that stop her. "I defended us when Sam said this" — she gestured between them — "was a mistake. When she said you were nothing but a Cobra Kai bully. And now I just feel like an idiot because you're exactly what they said you were."
The quiet hum of a passing car filled the silence, but it did nothing to soften the tension between them. It rarely rained in California, but the dark storm clouds that gathered in her eyes were a warning — not just of her anger but of the crushing pain of betrayal because she'd trusted him. Believed in him.
Hawk tilted his head with a weak attempt at the signature smirk he wore like a second skin. He hesitated for a second, his confident mask slipping before taking a step closer. "Come on, foster, you know me," he said, his voice lighter than the moment called for.
Harper took a sharp step back, crossing her arms across her chest like a shield. "I thought I did," she said with a shrug, but the words tasted bitter. She'd trusted him with more than just her feelings, believing he could be better when everyone else said he wasn't worth it. "But you just… how could you steal that money, Hawk?"
"You're making it sound as if I robbed the bank or something," Hawk said with a forced laugh that landed flat.
"You might as well have," Harper said. "Because you didn't just steal from the fundraiser or Miguel. You stole from me."
Hawk winced, his usual bravado shrinking under the weight of her words. "That's not what I was trying to do."
"Yeah, well, you did. I worked that fundraiser all freaking day, and I dealt with assholes like Matt and Jordan just so our friend could pay for a surgery he needs. And you just… you ruined it," she said, her voice cracking.
"I'm…," Hawk started but let out a frustrated sigh. "Miguel's not Miyagi-Do, okay? He's Cobra Kai, and they had no right using him as their poster child after what they did to him — after Robby put him in the hospital. It's not fair."
"So that's what this is about?" Harper asked, a humorless laugh escaping her lips. "You guys got your egos bruised because someone else was doing something decent to help? Cobra Kai could've done something, too! I mean, you guys have this weird cult following and Miguel would've had more than enough money for his surgery. But no — you had to make it about proving who's tougher because apparently, kindness is a sign of weakness. And now no one has that money so I hope you're happy."
"Miguel's still getting that money!" He promised, rubbing the back of his neck. "He'll just… he'll think it's from Cobra Kai instead. What's the difference?"
Harper blinked, her lips parting in disbelief. "What's the difference?" She repeated, her voice rising. "The difference is that you lied, Hawk! You stole from people who were trying to help your best friend. You turned it into some power move just to prove how badass you are."
"What was I supposed to do? Say no to them?" He shot back, his voice sharp.
"You could've done better. I know you can do better but… it's like you don't even want to try," Harper said as her vision blurred with the tears she was desperately trying to hold back. She wiped them away, the motion sharp and angry. "You're just too busy hiding behind them to see what you're doing and who you're turning into."
"Do you have any idea what that would mean for me? You really think they'd just let me walk away from that without a scratch?" Hawk alert, his voice rising in frustration.
"I get it, Hawk. I really do. But that doesn't make it right, and you know that," Harper shot back. "You're so scared of what they'll do to you that you've convinced yourself that it's okay to hurt people just to keep them happy."
"It's not like that, okay? And I'm not scared of them, they're my friends."
"Right. Friends," Harper said with a scoff. "You know, Kreese is trying to turn you into a good little soldier, and you're letting him. The Hawk I knew wouldn't have let fear turn him into someone he's not."
"It's not that simple, okay? I'm already on thin ice with them, foster," he said, his voice quieter now, as if begging her to understand. "Ever since I stood up for you outside the dojo — when I told Mitch and Trey to back off — they've had their eye on me. And after today? After I chose you in front of everyone? If I step out of line one more time, I'm done. They'll turn on me faster than you can say 'traitor'."
"They don't exactly sound like friends," she said.
Hawk's jaw clenched, his hands curling into fists at his side. "They're not perfect, okay? But they gave me a chance to prove I'm not the loser everyone used to think I am."
"And what exactly are they giving you know? Because it sure as hell isn't respect," Harper said.
Hawk let out a bitter laugh. "You really don't get it, do you?" He snapped, the frustration practically radiating off of him. "You've always had this whole tough, badass vibe. No one messed with you because you never let the mess with you. You stood up for yourself all the time. But I had to become this to stop being invisible."
Harper blinked, his words hitting her harder than she expected, but she didn't let her guard drop. "I know it hasn't been easy for you," Harper said quietly. "But that doesn't mean you get to hurt people just to stay on their good side. You don't get to stand there and laugh while your friends beat up someone who couldn't even fight back."
With a quiet sigh, he looked away, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I don't know, maybe you're right. Maybe I actually screwed up tonight," he muttered as if admitting that physically hurt him.
"You think?" Harper asked, her voice low but sharp as she shook her head. "Look, I just… I don't want to be with the bad guy."
Hawk smirked, though it seemed forced. "Come on, foster, you love the bad guy. Admit it," he teased, but there was a quiet edge to it as if he didn't believe it himself.
"Not when the bad guy screws me over!" She snapped.
The forced confidence drained from his face. He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll do better," Hawk said, his voice quieter now, as if trying to convince himself as much as her.
"Yeah, well, I hope so," Harper said. "Because I can't keep doing this with you. This whole back-and-forth every time you decide to go all Cobra Kai and justify it with some sugar-coated explanation. I lost my best friend tonight because I stood up for you, and I… I can't keep doing that, Hawk. I can't. I don't want to defend someone who's not worth it."
As if sensing that she was ready to storm off, Hawk caught her wrist gently, pulling her back. "You're not actually going to walk away from this, right?"
"I should," she said, her voice shaky as she dropped her gaze. "I should walk away before this whole thing backfires on us. Again."
"I'm sorry, okay? I messed up, I know that," he said, his voice low. His grip on her wrist tightened, as if letting go wasn't an option. "I didn't want to lose everyone — Cobra Kai, Miguel, you. It just felt like I didn't have a choice."
"There's always a choice."
Hawk let out a breath, his jaw tightening. "Yeah, well, I'm trying, okay? Even if I do a lot of dumb shit."
Harper let out a humorless laugh while a bitter smile crossed her face. "Yeah, you're kinda an expert at that."
He hesitated, his usual confidence slipping like sand through his fingers. "I'm not good at this, foster. The whole… being better thing," he admitted before looking at her. "But I promise I'll try because I don't want to — I can't lose this. I can't lose you."
Harper pulled her arm free but didn't step away. "I'm not walking away. Not yet. But if this happens again… I won't stick around," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She hated how weak and vulnerable she sounded. How it betrayed the knot of anger and hurt twisting in her chest. And she hated how, despite everything, she still wanted to believe in him.
Despite everything — Sam's warning and the voice in her head screaming at her to walk away — Harper stayed. Because walking away felt like admitting defeat. She'd fought too hard, cared too much, to give up now. Her heart was already too tangled in this mess they called a relationship, in him, to leave now. But how many more chances could she give him before there was nothing left to save?
• •
Harper moved the menu around the table absentmindedly, the laminated edges dragging against the wood with a rhythmic scrape. Across from her, Ryan dove headfirst into a recap of the past week and proudly stated that he hadn't set anything on fire. Yet.
"That's a win, right?" He said with a lopsided grin as he leaned back in the chair. He was relaxed as ever, as if the weight of the world was as light as a feather and not a boulder that Harper was trying to carry on her own.
Still, Harper was glad to hear the house was still standing, and she even managed a small smile, though it came a beat too late. Her mind was a million miles away and getting further every second.
The scent of grilled burgers and sweet desserts wafted through the air as waitresses brought food to the other tables around them. The faint scraping of silverware mingled with the music that flowed through the speakers was overshadowed by the conversations and laughter around them.
But none of it grounded her.
Ryan didn't take her silence as anything other than her keen interest and carried on to a different topic — a vintage Chevrolet he had his eye on though it would require some mechanic work. But he was dying to make the purchase official and get a head start on this latest project. Harper tried to keep up, nodding at the right moments, but her thoughts kept slipping away to the wreckage of the last few days.
The fundraiser. Her friends. Hawk.
Harper had foolishly hoped that things might settle, but it felt like every step she took only pushed her backward. Save for Demetri, her friends — if that's even what they were anymore — had yet to forgive her. The air between them was stiff, arctic cold when she passed them in the hallways. And if looks could freeze, she'd be encased in an iceberg.
Harper had tried to explain herself over and over again. Hoping that some of what she said would chip away at their anger. But it hadn't. They didn't care that it had never been about choosing Hawk over them because Sam's words were as cold as they were final:
"You made your choice the second you crossed the line with him."
Sam was determined to make her feel the weight of that choice every second of every day. It was in the looks she threw her way, in the snide comments that she made sure would reach her.
Any progress Harper had made with Sam over the last couple of weeks had been erased. Sam had crossed her off — possibly for good this time. And there was nothing she could do to fix this.
It wasn't fair. None of it was.
But there was a small voice that whispered that maybe Sam wasn't entirely wrong about Harper and her so-called choice. Maybe she'd made a mistake that she should be paying for.
"Harper," Ryan said, his voice breaking through her thoughts. Her gaze snapped up to find him watching her with a raised brow. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"
"What? No, I was —" She fumbled to remember what he'd been talking about but realized that she couldn't. A sigh escaped her lips accompanied by a guilty smile. "Sorry. I guess I'm just a little distracted."
"You think?" Ryan laughed without a trace of the bitterness she expected about her zoning out. "Kid, there could've been a horde of zombies walking by and you wouldn't have noticed."
Harper rolled her eyes but couldn't deny that he wasn't right. She tugged at her bracelet, twirling it around her wrist as if it would calm her thoughts.
"So what's going on? Maybe I won't be able to fix whatever it is, but I'll give it a shot," Ryan said.
"It's nothing. Seriously, I'm… fine," she told him, though she didn't sound convinced. It wasn't that she didn't want to talk to him, but where would she even start? There weren't enough hours in the day for her to fill him in on everything.
Ryan tilted his head, clearly unconvinced, but he didn't push. "Fine," he echoed with a snort. "I swear, you're just like your mom. Nora was a terrible liar and had the worst poker face, like, ever. Her face gave her away every single time."
She smiled but said nothing, though she tucked that little piece of information away. Over the last few weeks, she'd learned more about her mom than she ever thought possible — her favorite foods, little quirks that she had amongst other things that wouldn't seem important to anyone else but were priceless to her.
Harper glanced towards the entrance and watched as strangers passed by on the sidewalk. Each one was absorbed in their own conversations, in problems that felt bigger than life. It brought a sort of morbid relief to know that she wasn't the only one dealing with something.
Her fingers gripped the thin rose gold chain, a wave of unease flaring beneath her skin. Not for the first time, she was unable to shake the feeling that something — or someone — was about to derail her night.
"I know I'm still new at this whole 'parent' thing but you can talk to me. You know that, right?" Ryan asked, his easygoing grin slipping into something more serious.
Harper looked towards him and nodded, thankful that he was leaving the door open if she needed it. Needed him. "I know. Thanks."
"Okay, good," he said as he glanced down at the menu. "So any idea what—" The sound of his phone ringing broke through his sentence, and he glanced down at the screen with a frustrated sigh. "I gotta take this, kid. Sorry. It'll just be a few minutes," he promised, running a hand through his hair as he answered the call before stepping out onto the sidewalk.
Harper watched him pace back and forth with his phone glued to his ear. He talked animatedly as if hoping that the more energy he put into his words, the quicker the call would end. But the tightness in his shoulders hinted that the call wasn't exactly casual, and she felt her own anxiety rise to the surface. His voice was too low for her to make out the words, but she offered him a smile when he glanced her way apologetically.
Resting her head in her hand, a sigh of her own escaped her lips. It sounded heavier than she expected, weighed down by everything she didn't want to face. Just a few short months ago, she'd been the foster kid whose only job was to survive. She'd fought so hard to keep people at arm's length for years — had made it a rule to never get comfortable or attached too fast. And all those rules had been broken the second she came to Van Nuys.
She didn't just find family here but a friend group that she'd fiercely defend no matter what or who she went up against. But it felt as if her heart was on a constant battlefield because that attachment came with a price — one she wasn't sure she could keep paying.
Harper felt restless as her mind switched tabs faster than she could process them. What she needed was a distraction. Reaching for the menu, she looked towards the spot where Ryan stood with his phone still pressed to his ear in a conversation he clearly didn't want to be in the middle of. She caught a brief glimpse of someone moving past the restaurant's entrance, their profile barely registering in her mind as she was too focused on her dad.
But the sound of a chair scraping against the ground pulled her attention forward, and her stomach twisted with irritation. Of course, he'd show up uninvited, acting like he had every right to be here. A frown crossed her face just as Hawk settled into the seat across from her with that teasing smirk that only seemed to be reserved for her.
"What do you want?" Harper asked, her tone clipped.
Hawk leaned back in the chair, stretching out like he owned the place. "Relax, foster. Can't I just stop by and say hi?"
"Hi," she said flatly, flipping the menu shut with a snap. "Now go away."
But Hawk just leaned forward, resting his arms on the table while his gaze locked onto hers. "Wow. You're in a mood."
"I wonder why," Harper muttered as her grip tightened around the edges of the menu like it was the only thing stopping her from throwing it at him.
"Let me guess," he said, tilting his head like he was solving a puzzle. "You're still mad at me, aren't you?"
"Maybe. Or maybe I'm just allergic to idiots," Harper said, rolling her eyes. "So can you go away before I regret not throwing you into traffic when I had the chance?"
"Shit, foster. That's cold, even for you," Hawk said as his smirk widened.
"Deal with it," Harper told him.
"Oh, come on," Hawk said, slumping back in his seat with a dramatic sigh. "You've been ignoring me for days. How long are you gonna keep this up? You know I hate this whole silent treatment thing. And the death glares? Those are just mean."
"Yeah, well, you'd know something about being mean, wouldn't you?" Harper snapped, leaning forward. "Maybe next time, I don't know, don't beat someone up and steal money from a fundraiser that was meant to help your friend. You can't just act like an ass and expect me to forgive you!"
Hawk flinched at her words, though he quickly masked it with his signature grin. "Okay, yeah. I messed up, I know that," he admitted, holding up his hands as if surrendering. "But Miguel got that money, and I even told him it was from you, too. I mean, that's gotta count for something right?"
Harper blinked slowly as she registered his words. Her expression shifted from disbelief to outright exasperation. "Are you serious right now? You actually think lying to Miguel somehow makes any of this better?"
"Well, yeah." Hawk shrugged as if the answer were obvious. "He got the money. You got the credit… well, partial credit since he thinks it's from Cobra Kai. But, yeah. Problem solved."
"No. Problem not solved," Harper said, her voice rose and gained the attention of some of the people sitting at nearby tables. "Seriously, Hawk. What the hell is wrong with you? You don't get to just sweep this under the rug and pretend everything's fine. That's now how trust works."
"You're really not making this whole apology thing any easier, you know," Hawk muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "But, hey, I'm not giving up, foster. I'm stubborn like that."
"Stupid is more like it," she shot back, though her voice lacked its usual edge. The ghost of a smile tugged at her lips, and she immediately pressed her lips together, cursing herself for letting her guard down.
Hawk's eyes lit up as his smirk grew. "You just smiled."
"No, I didn't," she said quickly, shaking her head.
"Oh, you so did," Hawk said, his tone light and teasing as he flicked the edge of her menu. "You're just mad because I'm right, and you hate that."
"You're not right, just delusional," she said, crossing her arms over her chest, though her cheeks flushed faintly. "And I'm still mad at you, you know."
"Hey, I'll take what I can get," he said with a shrug, clearly unfazed. "But you're not as immune to me as you think you are."
"That's because I had the anti-idiot vaccine a long time ago," Harper said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why else would I even put up with you?"
"Because deep down, you know you love this," Hawk said, gesturing between them.
Harper looked at him skeptically before rolling her eyes. "You mean you annoying me to death? Yeah, that's debatable."
"Admit it, foster. You can't resist my charm," he said. His tone was light, but his eyes held that glint of mischief that always got under her skin.
Harper could feel the faint flush on her cheeks and looked away, annoyed at how easily he could chip away at her defenses when all she wanted was to stay mad at him. But when her eyes landed on the spot Ryan had been pacing just a moment ago, her stomach twisted and a flicker of unease settled in her chest. He wasn't there. She scanned the sidewalk, her pulse quickening, but there was no sign of him anywhere.
"Sorry, that took forever, kid. Your grandfather just gave me a lecture on… something. Honestly, I stopped listening halfway through," Ryan said before his gaze landed on Hawk. "Look who decided to crash dinner. What, you've got a radar for these things now?"
Hawk straightened in his seat, his grin faltering as he glanced between Ryan and Harper. "Oh, hey. Sorry, I didn't know this was a family thing," he said, quickly standing up as his usual confidence dimmed just a bit. "I can head out —"
"Don't worry about it," Ryan said with a casual shrug, pulling out his chair. "You're welcome to join us. Unless you're planning on hovering awkwardly the whole time, which, to be honest, would be pretty entertaining."
Hawk hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "No, sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt or anything."
Ryan smirked, his tone was casual but observant. "You're not interrupting. Sit. I mean, it's not like this is the first time I've had to deal with you showing up unannounced. It's kinda starting to feel like a pattern."
"Or maybe it's just really good timing," Hawk said, claiming the seat next to Harper as his smirk flickered back into place.
"Is that what you're calling it?" Ryan raised an eyebrow. "I guess it's better than the midnight drop-offs"
"Uh, yeah. Sorry. I guess I learned my lesson," Hawk said, his confidence faltering once more.
"What lesson?" Harper snorted, rolling her eyes. "You got caught. We both did."
"Hey, at least he wasn't climbing out the window," Ryan said, chuckling.
"Don't tempt me," Hawk said, his smirk growing.
"This is already a disaster," Harper muttered, slumping back in her seat before looking at Hawk. "You're not actually staying, are you?"
"Why not? I got invited," Hawk said with a shrug.
Harper's face paled. She opened her mouth to protest, but her mind raced too fast for the words to form. She tried to find a valid reason to kick Hawk out without making it obvious she was flustered, but every excuse sounded weaker than the last.
"Well, yeah, but you said you had to leave. Before. That you can't stay," she blurted out, stumbling over her words.
"Uh, no I didn't," Hawk shot back, completely unfazed. He draped his arm on the back of her chair with a grin that said try me.
Harper shot him a look sharp enough to cut through steel. "Yeah, you did. Remember, you had that thing you had to get to?" She gestured vaguely, her voice dripping with forced enthusiasm.
"Nope." Hawk crossed his arms, completely at ease. "Pretty sure I don't have anywhere else I need to be."
Ryan's gaze flicked between the two of them, his grin widening slightly. He didn't say anything, but the twinkle in his eyes made her hyper-aware that he was silently taking notes – and thoroughly enjoying himself. "This is gonna be fun," he said under his breath, just loud enough for her to catch.
She slumped back in her seat, a defeated sigh escaping her lips as she accepted her fate. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't make this weird, okay?"
"What are you talking about? I don't make things weird," Hawk said with mock innocence.
Harper narrowed her eyes. "No, but you definitely do."
"Come on, you know you'd be bored without me," Hawk said and poked her in the side, laughing when she swatted his hand away.
"Trust me, I think I'd survive," Harper shot back.
"You sure about that? I'm pretty entertaining," Hawk said, his grin growing.
"Well, your definition of entertaining is just being super annoying," Harper countered, rolling her eyes.
"But you still let me hang around," Hawk pointed out with a smile. "Weird, right?"
Ryan chuckled, clearly enjoying the back and forth. "Are you two always like this?"
"Like what?" Harper asked though she wasn't sure if she actually wanted an answer. She braced herself for whatever ridiculous observation Ryan was about to throw her way.
"You know… this." Ryan gestured between them with an exaggerated wave of his hand. "You two argue like you're trying to win a prize, but it's obvious you're not actually mad at each other. It feels like I'm watching a tennis match but with insults. It's honestly kind of impressive. Exhausting, but impressive."
Harper rolled her eyes, but she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks. "What? No! We're not —"
"— that bad," Hawk cut in smoothly, his smirk growing. "Right?"
"No, but… you kinda are," Ryan replied, leaning forward slightly as if sharing a secret. "You two got this… vibe. You throw something at him, he throws it right back, and, I don't know, somehow it works. I mean, it's weird, but it works."
"See, foster? We got a vibe," Hawk said with a grin that bordered on smug. "Guess that means you're stuck with me, huh?"
"You wish," she shot back, crossing her arms.
"Oh, come on. You'd miss me," Hawk said, leaning in a little closer with a grin that was sharp and teasing.
Harper snorted, refusing to look at him. "Trust me, I'd be just fine."
Ryan watched the exchange with a growing grin, his gaze bouncing between them like he was catching every unspoken word. "Well, if nothing else, you two are entertaining. But seriously, Hawk." The humor in his voice faded, replaced with something steadier. "All joking aside, there's one thing you need to know if you're gonna stick around."
"What?" Hawk asked.
"Don't screw it up," Ryan said, his voice steady but not unkind. "Harper's been through a lot, and she doesn't need any more reasons to doubt the people in her life."
"Are you… Seriously?" Harper asked, her face heating up as she looked from one to the other. She half-expected Hawk to laugh it off, but he didn't. His smirk faltered just enough to make her chest tighten. "Please don't do this right now. Or, you know, ever."
"I'm not doing this to embarrass you, kid," Ryan said, his gaze flicking to her momentarily.
Harper groaned, wishing for the ground to open up and swallow her whole. She'd seen him stand up for her before — like at the family dinner with her grandparents — but this was different. It wasn't the quiet support between closed doors; it was public, undeniable, and impossible to ignore.
"Okay, but, you really don't have to do this. Like, at all. I can take care of myself," she mumbled.
"I know you can, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna let him off the hook." He turned back to Hawk, his grin fading. "So like I said, if you hurt her, we're gonna have a problem."
Hawk shifted in his seat, glancing down for a second before meeting Ryan's eyes. "I'm not gonna hurt her," he said, his voice quieter than usual.
Ryan leaned back slightly, his expression thoughtful. "I'm glad to hear that, but Harper doesn't need anymore empty promises. She needs people who won't abandon her."
"You think I don't know that? Trust me, I know what she's been through," Hawk said. "Probably more than you think because I know her better than anyone. Like, that she's stubborn as hell and always has to have the last word. It's kinda annoying, honestly… but it's also one of the best things about her. She doesn't let anyone push her around. Even when everything's falling apart, she acts like she's got it all handled. It's frustrating. Like, who the hell does that?"
Ryan didn't say anything, but he looked between the two of them like he was mentally calculating how much of Hawk's words he actually believed. His gaze flicked to Harper, as if silently asking her whether she believed it herself.
"But she's also way tougher than she looks, you know? Like, I've seen her take on people twice her size without even flinching." Hawk smirked faintly, though his tone stayed genuine. "And even when she's mad – like, seriously pissed – she's still the first one to step up for someone who needs her. It's just who she is. She'll be fighting with you one second, and the next she's fighting for you. I mean, it's insane."
Harper's chest tightened at his words – words that would've been easier to dismiss if they didn't hit so close to home. She wasn't used to hearing herself described like that — as if the walls she'd built to keep people out didn't exist. It was unsettling in the best way and left her unsure if she should thank him or push him away. Because she was mad at him or, at least, she was supposed to be.
As far as the girl who had a comeback to everything, she was at a loss for words. Instead, she smiled and reached for his hand under the table. His fingers brushed against her, and she squeezed his hand in the hopes that it would convey what she couldn't say.
"And yeah, I know I mess with her. A lot. But that's because I know she can handle it," Hawk continued. "She makes you want to step in, you know? Like, even when she's calling you out, you want to be better because of her. She doesn't take crap from anyone, but she doesn't deserve to deal with it either."
"That's a great speech, kid. But actions speak louder, don't they?" Ryan asked.
"I've got her back no matter what. And trust me, she knows that."
Ryan nodded, almost as if weighing his every word. "Good. Because she's been let down enough in her life. But, just so we're clear, I'll be watching."
"Yeah, I got it," Hawk said, and his grip on her hand tightened slightly, a subtle reminder that he wasn't backing down. His shoulders squared, his smirk sharpening into something more dangerous — not exactly defensive, but more daring. It was subtle, but Harper recognized it instantly. It was the Hawk who fought without hesitation, the one who didn't back down from anything. "But, you know, the same goes for you."
Ryan blinked, caught off guard. "Me?"
Hawk leaned forward, his smirk sharp and his eyes steady. "That's yours, right?" He asked, nodding toward the sleek sports car parked at the curb. "Because if you hurt her — if you walk away from her again — let's just say, your car might not have the best week."
The air seemed to still, and Harper's chest tightened as she glanced between them. "Hawk, what the hell? Why did – why would you even say that?" Her voice came out quieter, but neither of them looked her way.
Everything had spiraled so far out of control that she had no idea how they'd gotten here. Harper's heart was lodged somewhere in her throat. She couldn't move, couldn't speak though she wanted nothing more than to diffuse this situation before it exploded.
Ryan tilted his head, his expression unreadable as the weight of Hawk's words hung in the air. He quietly studied him like he couldn't decide if Hawk was gutsy or stupidly reckless. For a moment, Harper was sure he'd call him out, and her heart pounded painfully in her chest as she prepared for the worst. But then Ryan chuckled, shaking his head like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard. "You've got guts, kid, I'll give you that. Just make sure you back it up."
Harper gaped at the two of them, unsure how the conversation had gone from veiled threats to casual camaraderie in less than a minute. Her mind tripped to catch up as she sat there, mortified beyond belief, trying to decide if she should laugh, cry, or pretend she didn't know either of them.
"But I won't hurt her, I promise," Ryan said, glancing at Harper with a grin and a twinkle in his eyes. "That'd mean dealing with the both of you. And honestly? I like my car too much."
"You guys are crazy." A surprised laugh escaped her lips, more so at the situation than his reply. Her exasperation softened into something closer to acceptance. For all of their chaos, they both cared. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
≫ ──── ≪•◦ ❈ ◦•≫ ──── ≪
Hope everyone is having a great weekend so far!
Thanks so much for reading. I hope you guys liked this chapter. Definitely let me know what you think :)