Page 17 of All In

“You ready to go?” I ask, turning my attention to Harlow.

He shoots me a blinding smile. “Yep.” Glancing at Josh, he sets his mouth in a flat line. “I’ll be back next week. Gray and I will come get the rest of my stuff then.”

“I’m serious about you staying here,” Josh says. “Take as long as you need.”

“There is no need,” I say quickly.

“What he said.” Harlow points at me. “I’m moving in with Gray. Thanks, though.”

Harlow turns on his heel, making his way to me, and I meet him halfway, taking his massive suitcase from him.

“See ya next week,” Harlow calls over his shoulder before he walks right out the door.

I follow him without sparing Josh another glance and close it behind me.

As soon as the door’s shut, Harlow looks at me. “What even was that? Why was he acting like a kicked puppy?”

I shrug. “Hell if I know. Fucking weirdo.”

“You’d think I left him at the altar and not the other way around.”

Well, he’s not wrong.

“You ready to go?” I ask, opening the trunk and tossing Harlow’s suitcase inside.

“Sure am.” He smiles at me for a second before it melts away. “Never did get my hair shit from Mom.”

After walking around the side of the car and opening Harlow’s door for him to climb in, I shrug. “We can run by there before we go, or you can just not worry about it.”

He laughs. “Yeah, being in Vegas with my hair like this.” He points to the messy curls. “I’m sure you’d just love to be seen with me out in public like this.”

I frown. “I love your curls. Especially when they’re like this.” I reach out, and Harlow’s eyes track the motion of my hand as it gets closer. Halfway through, I realize what I’m doing and drop it. “We can get them if you want, but it doesn’t bother me either way.”

Harlow’s throat bobs as he swallows. “Okay. Let’s just get to the airport, then.”

I can’t help the little thrill that shoots through me. A whole week with just Harlow? No fiancé, no work, no responsibilities? It feels too good to be true. Maybe I am a shitty friend.

“Harlow Young.”

The woman at the reception desk types Harlow’s name into the computer, reading over something on her screen before smiling at us. “Congratulations! Let me get you checked in and get your room key.”

Harlow drums his fingers on the counter, practically bouncing on his toes. He’s far more excited than I thought he would be given everything that’s happened in the last twenty-four hours.

The woman—Rebecca, according to her name tag—hands Harlow a key card.

“Thank you!”

He turns to me with a smile. “You ready?”

“You know it.”

I pull our suitcases behind us as we walk across the marble floor toward the expansive elevators. It’s a nice hotel. Probably not the nicest in the city by any means, but I think it’ll be fine for us to spend a week hanging out together.

Harlow presses the button for the elevator, and the door opens almost immediately.

Our room is near the top, and I stare at Harlow as the elevator climbs the floors. He’s so fucking gorgeous, and even after the flight, I can’t drag my eyes away from him. His cheeks are flushed, the smattering of freckles across his nose and cheeks even more pronounced than usual, and his eyes are shining and bright. My heart gives a dull throb in my chest.

And this is why I didn’t wish for Harlow to not get married. It would have done nothing for me.