The Last Time I Cried Your Name novel Chapter 124

Hearing those obsessive words that day had sent chills right through him. Even now, thinking back on it made his heart pound in his chest.

He tried to talk some sense into Harris. “When has he ever said anything that harsh? Come on, just let it go. Find someone else to like.”

He reached for the ointment and dipped a cotton swab, ready to treat Harris’s cut, but Harris brushed his hand away.

“You think I’m like you? Just able to drop my feelings whenever I want, like it means nothing?”

“Hey, you can yell at Franco all you want, but don’t take it out on me,” Galen said, frowning as he pointed at Harris. “If I hadn’t stepped in, do you even realize how ugly things could’ve gotten today? Ever heard the saying, you don’t mess with your friend’s wife?”

He had actually heard the other version, the one that said a friend’s wife was fair game, but you’d never catch him saying that in front of Harris.

If Harris ever stopped holding back, things would get out of hand fast. If Harris went for it, Franco definitely wouldn’t sit back. At that point, who’d still care about being polite?

Harris looked down at his hand, a fresh cut standing out on his sharp, handsome face. “I’m not giving up on Petty. I waited three years for her to finally want out. If Franco won’t divorce her, I’ll make him.”

Galen sucked in a breath, stunned. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Forget Franco for a second. What about Petty? Does she even know how you feel? Would she ever accept you? What’s it going to cost you to force Franco to divorce her? And if she still doesn’t choose you after all that, is it really worth it?”

Harris went quiet for a moment. Galen thought maybe he had finally gotten through to him.

Then Harris looked up and asked, “Got a smoke?”

“You don’t even smoke,” Galen shot back, but he still dug in his pocket for a pack and handed one over with a lighter.

Harris lit up, the flame flickering in his eyes. “Whether it’s worth it or not is up to me. I’ll decide.”

For a second, Galen almost believed he’d finally come to his senses. Then those words hit him and his temper flared. He shot to his feet, pointing at Harris with a glare. “Aren’t you supposed to be a neurosurgeon? Maybe you should open up your own head tomorrow and see what’s wrong with your brain!”

Franco didn’t touch the food. He just sat at the table, flipping through his newspaper like he always did. Laura had known about this old-school habit of his for years. He always said reading the paper was better for his eyes than staring at a tablet.

As she sipped her soup, Laura tried to sound casual. “Is Petty really not coming back?”

Franco didn’t even look up. “Why bring her up?”

Laura went still, then quietly finished her soup without another word. The silence in the dining room dragged on, heavy and awkward.

After dinner, Laura glanced out the big windows. It was raining, and the courtyard lights looked hazy behind a curtain of misty rain. She let out a soft sigh. “It’s really coming down now.”

Finally, Franco glanced outside too. “Yeah. You should head back soon.”

Laura’s hands tightened in her lap. Did he really not understand what she was trying to say?