“Uh-oh. You’re in trouble, bro.” He pointed at me. “If you’re going to continue with your plan, you better hurry up and make things right.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She’s pissed off at you. Not only did you turn her down when she asked you to go shopping, you can’t go to the ultrasound, and you didn’t tell her you loved her back. When women start thinking about shit, watch out.”
“I told her. I said, ‘Me too’. What’s wrong with that?”
He sighed as he rolled his eyes at me.
“Are you kidding me? ‘me too’ doesn’t mean shit. It’s not the same thing. It’s like you’re agreeing with her that you love yourself.”
“See.” I pointed at him. “This is the shit I don’t need in my life.”
“Well, you’re stuck now until you get your company. I would advise you to take control of the situation ASAP. It’s supposed to be a gorgeous day on Sunday. Surprise her with a picnic lunch in Central Park. Get those little finger sandwiches, a couple of different salads, some different cheeses and crackers and dessert. I’d say a bottle of wine, but she can’t drink, so water will do. But make it the sparkling kind.”
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“No. I’m not. Trust me. I’ve done it with Yasmin. Works like a charm. You pull off a romantic afternoon picnic, all will be forgiven and forgotten.”
I sighed as I finished my drink and asked the waitress for another one.
When I returned to the office, I asked Christine to step inside.
“Have a seat.” I gestured. “I need you to do me a huge favor.”
“Of course. What do you need?” she asked.
“I need you to go to the store. I don’t care where you go, but I need a large picnic basket and a blanket.”
“Okay. May I ask why?”
“I’m taking Harper on a picnic Sunday. Also, where can I get little finger sandwiches and picnic type of food?”
“There’s this cute little French bakery in Greenwich village that does stuff like that. I can go there today and place an order. I think they deliver.”
“You’re a lifesaver, Christine. Thank you. I’ll have Damon pick you up and take you.”
A couple of hours later, Christine walked into my office.
“The basket and blanket are with Damon. I got them both at Pottery Barn. As for the lunch, I placed an order with the bakery, and they will deliver it to your home on Sunday at eleven a.m.”
“Excellent. Thank you, Christine. I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome.” She smiled.
I looked at my watch and it was six o’clock. Picking up my phone from my desk, I gave Harper a call with the hopes she’d changed her mind about me coming over.
“Hello.”
“Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling? Any better?”
“A little bit.”
“Enough for me to bring you some dinner?”
“I already ate, and I’m exhausted so I’m going to bed early.”
“Alright. I’ll miss you tonight.”
“Me too. Talk to you soon.”
She ended the call before I could even say goodbye. What the fuck? I didn’t need this shit. Julius had plans tonight with his parents, so I called a couple other friends of mine and met them at Randolph’s bar and lounge at the Warwick Hotel. As we were sitting on the barstools drinking and talking, this beautiful woman with long fiery red hair sat down next to me.
“Hi, handsome. How about buying me a drink?” The corners of her mouth curved upward.
“I’d love too.” I smiled.
We talked for a while and I could tell she wanted to fuck me.
“Listen, I’m leaving New York tomorrow to fly back home. I have a room upstairs if you’d like to come up and have a nightcap.” She flirtatiously smiled.
“Let’s go.”
I said goodbye to my friends, placed my hand on the small of her back and took the elevator up to her room. The moment we stepped inside, we kissed. My hands roamed up and down her body, and as she reached for the button on my pants, I grabbed her hands and stopped her.
“I’m sorry. I can’t do this,” I said.
“Why? Are you married?”
“No. I’m not. I just can’t.” I walked out of her room and headed home.
The only thing I saw in my mind when I kissed that woman was Harper. Shit. Why the fuck did I feel so guilty?
Chapter 33
Harper
I awoke the next morning to a text message from Grayson that he’d sent at midnight.
“I’m sure you’re sleeping so I just wanted to say goodnight and I hope you’re feeling better. I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Sweet dreams, sweetheart.”
I was still mad and hurt so I didn’t bother messaging him back. I got up, showered and put on some makeup before Laurel came over. Charlotte would meet up with us after she was done with her client.
“Let’s stop at Starbucks for a coffee before we shop,” she said. “What’s wrong? I can tell you’re off.”
I sighed as we walked into Starbucks and stood in line.
“It’s Grayson.”
“What’s going on? Are you two fighting?”
“Tell me if I’m being hormonal or if I have a right to be upset.”
We ordered our coffee and waited to the side for them to be made.
“I asked him to go with me today, and he suggested I call you and Charlotte. Then I reminded him about the ultrasound appointment on Monday, which I told him about two weeks ago and he said he’d go. But now, he forgot and scheduled this big contractor meeting.”
“Wow. Really? I’m sorry, Harper.”
They called our names for our coffee, so we grabbed them, walked out and headed down the street.
“If you want my honest opinion, I don’t think you’re being hormonal. You’re a woman in love and you want your boyfriend at the ultrasound with you. It’s perfectly natural to be angry with him now that he can’t go even though he said he would. It’s an important time, you know?”
“There’s something else. I told him the other night that I loved him for the first time.”
“Wow. What did he say?” She smiled.
“He said ‘me too.’”
“What?” Her face twisted. He didn’t say I love you back.”
“No. So I got up the next morning and went home before he woke up. I told him I wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t see him at all yesterday. He wanted to come and bring me dinner after work, and I told him no. I’m really mad at him, Laurel, and I don’t want to see him right now.”
She hooked her arm around me. “I don’t blame you one bit. But you will have to eventually talk to him.”
“I know.” I sighed.
“Cheer up, buttercup. We have some serious shopping to do.” She grinned.
As I was in the fitting room trying on some clothes, my phone rang, and Grayson was calling.
“Hello.”