“It’s too far to walk, especially in your heels and at night.”
Ted pulls beside us and parks. He gets out and opens the door.
I motion to the car. “Get in.”
Her face hardens, but she slides in.
I tell Ted the address and join her.
An uncomfortable silence ensues.
Why do you always have to screw everything up?
“I’ve hurt you and—”
“We’re good.”
“How are we good right now?”
“Sometimes, it’s best to drop things. I would think after our conversation at dinner, you of all people would understand that.” She turns to the window.
My insides flip, and I’m not sure how to get back in her good graces.
Just shut your mouth so you don’t make it worse. She’s made it clear she’s done talking.
Her hand trembles, and I put mine over it.
She takes a deep breath and closes her eyes.
The car stops, and Ted opens the door. She gets out, and I follow.
“Thanks for the ride. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I open the door to the lobby and follow her.
“Anytime. I... I had fun...with you.”
She puts her thumb on the security scanner and pushes past the metal rail. I do the same.
“I did, too. Thanks.” She pushes the button for the elevator and we step in.
“Did you need to talk to Quinn or Jamison?”
I push the P for the Penthouse and punch in the code.
“No. I’m making sure you get inside okay.”
“The door opens into the apartment. I’ve got it from here.”
I stay silent as we move up then blurt out, “Harper.”
She finally meets my gaze, and I curse myself. In her eyes is pain and anger, and I put it there. But I still don’t know what I did.
The elevator doors open, and she smiles, but I can tell it’s forced. “Thanks again. Have a nice night.” She spins and walks down the hall.
Once again, I’ve blown it. All night I stay up, trying to figure out what I did to hurt her, but I am no closer to the answer when morning comes. When I see her the next day, she lights up the room and looks so happy, until she lays eyes on me.
Her face falls and turns red. She quickly spins and grabs Hope, avoiding me at all costs.
I shouldn’t care so much she wants nothing to do with me. She’s leaving in a week. There’s nothing between us that could last. All I would have done is hurt her more. But knowing she now can’t stand to be in the same room as me tugs at my heart. And it’s a feeling I’ve never had before.
5
Harper
What was I thinking?
Stay away from him today.
You shouldn’t have gone drinking with him.
He couldn’t have been that intoxicated. As soon as he realized what was happening, he made it clear he didn’t want any part of you.
You couldn’t keep your husband, and now you can’t even keep a guy interested when you’re grinding on his cock and he’s had a ton of shots.
He’s “Mr. I Have It Together.” You have nothing he would be interested in, except a night of sex.
He’s not even interested in that.
I step into the emerald-green cocktail dress I bought at the thrift store and hope it looks new to everyone else. When I saw it, I thought it might never have been worn before, but my judgment about everything these days seems to be off.
I only have a pair of diamond stud earrings. They were on my lobes when I got my divorce papers, and they’ve stayed put since—every other piece of jewelry I owned, I’ve pawned for cash.
And now you have nothing to show for it.
I pull my wedding rings out of the zippered pouch and stare at them.
After these are gone, there’s nothing left.
You’re going to have to settle and go back to practicing law.
I throw the rings back into the pocket and put on my heels. I leave the bedroom and go into Quinn’s.
“Oh...wow.” I tear up.
She wears a white formfitting wedding gown and a long veil over her strawberry-blonde hair, which hangs in loose curls.
Piper, Charlotte, Vivian, and her mom are in the room.
“Doesn’t she look amazing?” Charlotte beams.
I hug her. “You look beautiful.”
Happiness radiates from her. “So do you. I love your dress.”
“Yes, it’s gorgeous,” Vivian says. The other women agree.
“Thank you. You all look great, too.”
Cathy enters the room with Hope and my other sisters Laurie and Tonya.
“Aww. Look how cute she is,” Quinn squeals. Hope has a white lace dress on and white ballet flats.
Cathy hands Hope to Quinn.
“Hey, sweet girl,” she says and kisses her.
There’s a knock, and I spin.
Holy...oh Lord, help me.
Steven is in a black tux. It fits his body as if it was custom-made.
Heat rises to my face, and the air in my lungs thickens. My heart races so fast, I wonder if I’m having a heart attack.
His blue eyes lock on mine. His deep voice only makes my body ache further. “You ladies look gorgeous.”
I quickly turn to Quinn, smile, and softly clap my hands. “Come here, sweet girl.”
Hope smiles, coos, and reaches for me.
At least Hope always wants me.
She hugs me tight, and I use it to try and regulate my breathing.
“You look beautiful, Quinn,” Steven tells her, and I continue to avoid him. “We better go, or you’ll be late.”
One by one, everyone leaves the room. I finally turn, and Steven is the only one left.
“You’re stunning.”
Flutters erupt in my belly, but I remind myself he’s only being polite.
Don’t be nasty to him. You have to deal with him this next week while watching Hope.
I make myself smile. “Thanks. You look nice, too.”
That’s the biggest understatement I’ve ever made.
He doesn’t speak and continues looking at me with his neutral expression I can’t seem to figure out, but like the previous night, it sends my hormones in overdrive.
“Should we go?”
He finally nods and motions for me to go first.
Two limos are waiting on the curb. Since I was the last to leave, there’s only room in the one Quinn and Steven are taking. He puts his hand on my back to get in, and zings rush through my body.
I slide into the seat with Hope. Steven sits next to me, his leather, roasted almonds, and hint of lavender scent turn my insides to Jell-O. His muscular quads press against my thigh. Quinn and their mom, Beth, sit across from us.
Hope reaches for Steven. “Can I hold her a minute?”
“Of course.” I hand her to him, and her face lights up.
“Hey, baby girl. Don’t you look pretty?”
She holds both his cheeks and giggles.
He kisses her then hands her back to me to put in the car seat. “Are you nervous, Quinn?”
“Nope.”
“That’s good. Guess I won’t have to keep the car running?”
I elbow him.
“Hey.” He laughs. “I was only joking.”
“Jamie would be devastated.”