Falling into Place - Forbidden Heart Series

18| Old Dogs, New Tricks

Sometimes there were moments in life where things seemed impossible.

Like there was no way in hell that a certain situation could happen.

Sometimes people were who they were and they didn't ever change. It's kind of like that saying: you can't teach and old dog new tricks.

Damian Hale has always been considered an old dog. Okay. . . maybe he's always been more shark than dog. But if the saying fits. . .

"I don't believe you," Harper said with wide eyes. "This has to be a lie or a ploy. Maybe reverse psychology. Something! But it's not the truth."

I sat up in my chair and reached for my Dragon Fruit Refresher from Starbucks. "Harper, I'm telling you the truth. It's all real. Ryan is sure of it."

Harper looked from me to Lanie. "Are you buying this?" Her eyes went to Jamie and Karma next. "Any of you? I know Damian Hale, okay, and he is not this man."

Lanie spoke softly, as if trying not to make Harper more upset. "Maybe it is true, Harp. Some of it kinda adds up. I mean you said yourself Everly was pretty vague with some of the details when she she told you that story of when they met."

"Well, du! She barely knew me at the time. And she was sick."

Karma spoke next. "Harper, could you be having a hard time accepting this because of Jackson?"

I kept my mouth shut and sipped my ice cold drink. I loved Harper to death, but the woman had a temper -- especially when It came to protecting the man she loved.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Harper snapped. "Please, Karma, explain it to me."

Karma wasn't phased by her best friends attitude in the least. She stayed calm, cool, and collected during their spat. "Fine, I will. I think it's hard for you to except because it means that Damian was being cruel to Jackson on purpose. And the fact that he went back to Ryan's mom instead of choosing Everly. And you can't help think about how much Jackson's life would have been different if that was the case."

When Harper didn't say anything Jamie added softly, "Damian really hurt Jackson, Harper. It's understandable that you be more upset about this. Jackson didn't deserve what his father did to him."

Harper leaned back in her chair with a defeated sigh. Poor thing. She was trying so hard to keep it together. I didn't blame her either for how she felt. When Ryan first told me this revelation, I was furious. Damian had been so jealous of Ryan choosing me and marrying me that he treated us badly. I didn't care about my feelings; but he hurt the man I loved. That was not okay.

"Does Jackson know yet?" Lanie asked me.

I exhaled a deep breath. "Ryan's telling him now."

Harper groaned at my words. "He isn't going to take this well. Oh, God. Poor Jackson."

"I kinda feel bad for Damian too," Lanie murmured. When Harper's eyes snapped to hers, Lanie added in a low voice, "I'm not saying what he did was okay, Harper. And he should accept the consequences. But he also lost the only woman he really loved. He even flew there to say goodbye." Lanie shrugged one shoulder. "I don't know. It's just. . . sad. All of it is."

"Yeah it kind of is." Karma agreed.

I chanced a look at Harper. "He invited Ryan and me to dinner at his place this week."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. He said he wanted to make an effort to be in our lives and the baby's life."

Harper's eyes narrowed. "There's more, isn't there. Something you aren't telling me."

Damn. Lanie wasn't the only one who was perceptive. "Well, there is a little more. . ." Harper motioned for me to continue when I hesitated. "Ryan told him that the only way he would go was if he made things right with Jackson."