It was getting closer for them all to part ways and Christon had to get ready for her concert. She had sent everyone VIP passes through email. James walked Harlow to the sidewalk out of the park.
"Want me to catch a cab for you?" he asked.
"No, I'm not that far away. I'll go ahead and walk," Harlow said, playing on her phone and walking towards her apartment.
James stepped in front of her, causing them to collide into each other. "Will you be my date to the concert?"
Harlow looked at him and tilted her head. "James, we're all going as a group."
James nodded and shoved his hands in his pockets and smiled. "True. But I'd really love it if you'd be my date."
"Is this because of what you said to Kendall at the park about dibs? I'm not looking to date anyone, James. And I'm not interested in you in that way," Harlow said, crossing her arms to show how serious she was.
"I know," James said, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm just taking it a step at a time until you fall in love with me."
Harlow couldn't help but chuckle at that comment. "You're going to wait for something that's not going to happen? You're brave Maslow. Don't waste your time on someone like me."
"There's no one else like you, Harley. That's why I've fallen for you over the years," James admitted, avoiding eye contact.
Harlow stared at him and blinked. She had no idea that's how he felt towards her. Or was it just a game he was playing since he had a whole bunch of girls falling at his feet through the years? She shook her head and let out a chuckle and nudged him.
"You're comical, James," she said, shaking her head. "Almost had me fooled for a second."
James stopped walking and stared at her. "I'm not joking. I'm in love with you Harlow Abram. From the very first time I met you a long time ago to this very moment. Being away from you and losing contact was hard for me. I couldn't stop thinking about you and when I saw you for the first time in a while at the restaurant, my heart wouldn't stop beating out of my chest."
Harlow grew silent. Every word he was saying seemed genuine, but her head told her that he probably had a girlfriend already.
James grasped her by the arm. "Do you really think so low of me as being a player?"
She bit her lip and looked at her feet. Guilt seeped through as he released her arm and sighed.
"I understand why you'd think that. After all, I am pretty good looking," he chuckled to hide the hurt in his voice.
Harlow awkwardly chuckled with him. "You know, if you want to, you can crash at my place again if you want."
"Why the sudden change of heart? Miss me that much?" he winked.
"Sure," she joked and shook her head. "You keep telling yourself that. I've had a change of heart because of what you said before about not wanting to be alone. I've been alone for a while and I might enjoy your company."
James held back a smile and just nodded, silently following her up the stairs to her apartment.
"Do you have things to pick up at your hotel?" Harlow asked, unlocking the door.
"Yes… how about you come to the hotel with me instead?" James asked, closing the door.
She turned suddenly, ramming her face into his chest. "Say what now?"
"Calm down," James laughed. "I'm not meaning that in a dirty way. I mean for you to come stay at the hotel for a while, get out of the apartment and have a change in scenery."
"But what about my cat?" she asked, pointing to the lazy feline on the sofa. "I can't leave the cat alone."
"Bring him," James said, patting the cat on the head. "You'll be travelling with Christon anyway so you might as well start packing."
"You're still going to keep your promise right?" Harlow asked, fiddling with a pillow on the chair next to the sofa.
"Of course," he said, putting his hands on her shoulders. "If he tries anything, I'll put my foot where it doesn't go."
Harlow smiled and nodded. "Just don't get sued."
James laughed and just stared at her. He realized his hands were still on her shoulder as he felt her body shaking under his touch. He ignored it and rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.
"Are you sure there's a part of you that can't fall in love with me?" he whispered, his eyes still closed.
Harlow took a deep breath and stepped back with a shrug. "James…"
He smiled. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything. Let me just live in my fantasy."
Harlow rubbed his arm in an apology. "I'm sorry James. If I could make up for it I would."
A smirk crossed his face again and he tilted his head to one side with a flirty wink and a bite of his bottom lip. Harlow didn't read the facial expression, as she was turning around to head to her room. She felt his hands slide around her waist as he embraced her in a hug from behind. James buried his face in her hair and squeezed slightly.
"Being near you makes up for it," James whispered in her ear.
Harlow felt her heart begin to race. She was confused as to why. Was it from his touch or nerves from her past getting the better of her? She gently pushed his hands off of her and turned to give him a small smile with a nod.
"I'll be in my room if you need me," she said, patting him on the arm awkwardly.
As Harlow closed her door she pressed her back against it and threw her hand to her chest. She thought about how her ex used to grab her from behind and put his hands around her neck to get her to submit to his abuse. She closed her eyes, the image of her ex flashing across her mind. Harlow jumped when there was a knock on her door.
"Hey, I hope I didn't scare you again," James said, through the door. "I really don't want you to be afraid of me."
Harlow opened the door and met James' sad light brown eyes. "I'm okay… The behind hug frightened me a little. I don't understand why you'd fall for someone like me."
"You're special, Harley," James smiled softly. "Sometimes a person can't control who they fall for. It just happens. I'm glad it was you I've fallen for."
Harlow shook her head. "I'm messed up mentally and I wouldn't be able to give you the love and affection you deserve. Move on, James, and forget about what you feel for me. I cannot return those feelings."
James lowered his gaze but met her eyes with a child-like grin and chuckled. "I can be patient. I'll be here for you whenever you're ready to open up and fall in love."
She blinked as he walked off and sat on the sofa with a confident smirk on his face. Harlow shook her head in disbelief. No matter what she said to him, she couldn't get through. Perhaps she should just give up trying to talk him out of what he thinks he feels for her or maybe find a way to show him that she's not interested.
"Hey, when is the concert again?" James asked.
"Tomorrow night I believe. I have some packing to do," Harlow said, turning to go back into her room.
She had a feeling in the bottom of her stomach that things were about to go down once she's on the road. Harlow felt nervous about meeting with Christon's manager again after the last encounter didn't go too well. She shuttered thinking about it as she shoved random clothes in a large suitcase.
"Have you thought about staying with me at the hotel?" James asked, spooking Harlow as she was in deep thought.
"I don't think that would be a good idea," she said, sitting on the foot of her bed. "I don't want to bring the cat. And after the concert, I can come back here and pick him up."
James nodded and knelt in front of her, resting his arms in her lap. He didn't say a word, just knelt there staring at her. Harlow could feel the heat rising up yet again as his eyes burned a hole to her soul. James took his right hand and placed it gently on her cheek. His eyes were soft as he looked at her, studying every feature on her face. From her plush pink lips to her green eyes that held a hint of curiosity yet caution.
"James…" she began, but he put his thumb over her lips.
"Let me take this in, please," he said, quietly. "I might be able to have alone time with you again once we're on the road."
James inched closer to her face, his hand still resting on her red cheeks as his warm breath kissed her lips. Harlow held her breath when she felt his warm lips touched hers in a soft kiss. He pulled away and stood, leaving her to her racing thoughts and unfinished packing. She just sat there trying to process what had just happened. James had been trying to kiss her all day and now that he had, she wasn't sure how she felt at this moment. His words of her falling for him played on repeat in her mind.
"Stop…" she whispered to herself. "Not James… It can't be James."
Harlow shook the thought of the kiss from her mind and continued to pack her suitcase a bit aggressively. Why did he have to go and kiss her like that? She wasn't sure if she was mad at him kissing her, or mad at him for walking away after kissing her. She found herself expecting more than that.