His eyes dart to mine, a slight furrow pulling between his brows as he studies me a moment, and I capture something in his gaze, something that makes my stomach twist with an emotion I’ve never felt before. Raking his teeth over his bottom lip, he finally nods, shrugging his left shoulder.

“It’s okay, Harley. Don’t worry about it.” I shake my head, looking down at my clasped hands a moment to consider my words. “We can just pretend it never happened.” I cast a nervous glance at him, meeting his eyes with a hopefulness I hadn’t been expecting until now as the thought of truly losing him for good crosses my mind. “Can’t we?”

And I realize something in that moment. As much as I’ve tried to deny it, as much as I didn’t want to believe it or admit the truth, as much as it pains me to admit how truly lonely I am, Harley Shaw really is all I have in this town. He’s not only my best friend, he’s my all. I can’t possibly lose him; the thought alone terrifies me.

A heavy sigh falls from his lips, and a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he nods once again. “Sure, Murph. We can forget all about it.”

This time it’s me sighing as I release the breath I’ve been holding, but I try and hide my relief as best as I can, not wanting to give myself away too easily. It’s not that pretending as if last night didn’t happen doesn’t sting worse than I ever could have been prepared for, but losing Harley would hurt a hell of a lot more. So, pushing my pride aside, I’d much rather have him as my friend than nothing at all.

“I should get back to the bar.”

I offer the most convincing smile I can, watching as he turns and reaches for the door. But then he pauses, looking at me over his shoulder. I raise my brows, waiting for whatever it is he has left to say, wondering just how much worse this whole thing can get.

“This thing you made up about you and me,” he begins, looking me in the eye questioningly. “Our fake relationship,” he adds so quietly I almost miss it.

Reluctantly I nod.

He hesitates a moment. “It wasn’t all a lie, was it, Murph?”

My heart drops deep into my belly as I stare into his knowing eyes and all the air in my lungs seems to escape me. My cheeks heat and the skin at the back of neck pricks as my heart thunders in my chest. I have no words. No words that won’t make me look like a total fool. So, I remain silent, momentarily looking down at my hands once again as I consider the fact that I really do have nothing left, and therefore, nothing left to lose. With a deep, shuddering breath, I meet his penetrating gaze, and all I can offer is a pathetic shrug of my shoulders and the semblance of a sheepish smile.