8. Harper
8
HARPER
“ W ho knew you could have fun on this island without sex.” Felix chuckles as we take a seat after playing tennis.
“For an athlete, you suck at tennis,” I tease him as I throw back my water.
“I play hockey. As in on frozen water, with a long stick and a flat round disc. Not spongey fake grass, with a waffle and an orange.” He moans.
“A waffle?” I ask, bursting out laughing.
“This doesn’t look like a waffle to you?” he asks, turning the racket over in his hand.
“Do you need glasses as well as tennis lessons?” I tease him. Which makes him reach out and start tickling me, making me squeal.
“Take it back.”
“Okay. Okay.” I squeal, pleading for mercy from him.
“I challenge you to a game of hockey when we get home. Then you will see who the real athlete is,” he says, pointing his racket at me.
“That’s unfair. It’s your job. I’m not a professional tennis player. Should be something different,” I tell him.
Felix mulls my request over. “Fair. How about a round of axe throwing then?”
“Axe throwing? You’re Canadian, that seems like it would be your national sport after hockey,” I tease him.
“Just like tennis is for a society girl from New York,” he bites back.
“Touché.” I grin, taking another sip of my water. “Fine. I’ll go axe throwing with you. Still think I’m in with a chance.”
“Probably are.” He grins, slamming back his bottle of water. I watch in slow motion the way his Adam’s apple bobs. Why is that sexy? He then sprays himself with the bottle and rubs his face with his hand to cool down.
“Um, I think I need to get going home and have a shower.”
“Me too.” He nods as we pack up our things and head back to our golf cart. “Got any plans for lunch?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I’m not that hungry. I was just going to chill, maybe have a nap before we head to dinner.”
“Good idea. I might order in some food and watch a game. It’s been a while since I’ve sat still,” he says, turning the key to start the cart.
We organize a time to meet for dinner and I head inside my bungalow. I take a quick shower, check the time back in New York, and make a call.
“Hey, how are you going? Feeling better?” Kimberly asks when she answers the phone.
“I’m feeling great as if this place was going to let me down.”
“Did you get a good host?” she asks.
“The best. He’s so hot and is a dream in bed,” I tell her.
“They always are,” she answers wistfully. “I’m surprised you called me, I thought I wouldn’t hear from you all week.”
“I have something for the vault,” I quickly tell her.
“For the vault?” she repeats, “I’m all ears.”
“Where the hell do I start?” I pace around the room.
“From the beginning.”
“Urgh. Issy is going to kill me.” I sigh in frustration.
“Why the hell would she kill you?” Kimberly asks.
“Because I slept with Felix St. Pierre, her client,” I blurt out.
Silence falls between us for a couple of moments.
“I hate to break it to you, Harps, but you’re at a sex resort, it’s what’s supposed to happen.” Kimberly chuckles.
“But I promised her I wouldn’t. He was on the transfer over to the island. She sent him here without fully explaining how all this works. I told her I would look after him,” I explain to her.
“Sounds like you did,” she teases.
“Kimmy,” I groan.
“I don’t see what the problem is.”
“He’s seven years younger than me,” I tell her.
“Good on you. Oh, that man is hot. Ew, about the public blow job though,” she mumbles.
“Yeah, that’s how he ended up here. His bosses weren’t too happy about it.”
“The boy did just find out his girlfriend had been screwing his best friend and teammate. We can all relate to post-breakup fuckery,” Kimberly says.
“Hence, the island.”
“Are you seriously worried about Issy?” Kimberly asks.
“She inferred that I shouldn’t sleep with him, and I wasn’t going to, and I didn’t the first night …”
Kimberly bursts out laughing. “But today …”
“Yeah. Without TMI. One thing led to another and here we are,” I tell her.
“You’re in Paradise. It’s what happens.” She chuckles.
“The thing is, we’ve kind of arranged to hang out when we get home.”
“Oh,” Kimberly adds.
“He’s heaps of fun.”
“And hot.” She giggles.
“Yes, he’s hot and way too young for me. And he has a sexy French-Canadian accent. He’s funny. Easy to talk to. I think I like hanging out with him.”
“Sounds like you like him,” she teases.
“Yeah, he’s a great guy but we’re just friends,” I tell her.
“Is that why you’ve called? To tell me about your new friend,” Kimberly teases.
“Yes ...” I answer slowly.
“Then good for you.”
“What does that mean?” I press her.
“That I’m happy he’s helping you get over your heartbreak,” Kimberly states.
“There are plenty of men here who can do that.”
“Except you’re only calling about him,” she adds.
True. “Fine. What do I do?”
“You’re seriously asking me what you should do?” Kimberly asks.
“Yes.”
“You keep having fun with him or someone else. Do not stress about the world outside that island. It’s also none of Issy’s business what you get up to on the island. When you’re off the island that’s a whole other situation,” she explains.
“Nothing is going to happen outside of the island,” I tell her.
“Seriously, Harps. Have fun. Get out of that head of yours and enjoy whatever that hot man is offering,” Kimberly says.
“I think I started to overthink things.”
“We can do that sometimes. I mean it, have fun. What happens on the island stays on the island,” she reminds me.
“Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“Have you heard from Cam?” I ask, changing the subject.
“Yeah. She’s good. I think she’s thinking of visiting Ivy and Olivia in London, finalizing wedding things,” Kimberly explains.
“What about Nate?”
“Your brother is keeping him occupied, I think they are off to check out an island in the Pacific next week.”
“Oh. That sounds like fun. Why didn’t he tell me about it?”
“He probably didn’t want to bother you while on the island.”
“I’ll text him and ask,” I tell her.
“Hey, Harper?” Kimberly asks.
“Yeah.”
“Get off the phone and go have fun with that hockey player, I know you want to. I’m giving you permission,” she teases.
“Love you.” I chuckle as we say our goodbyes. Kimberly’s right. Why should I feel bad about hooking up with Felix again? What happens if he’s occupied with Sunny? Then I give him a thumbs up and dial Dom. You’ve got this, Harper. I hate that fucking Josh is making me second-guess myself. Making me question my confidence. Each one of those cheating assholes has chipped away at me, and I guess I’m only discovering with this last asshole how much they have. Capturing a glimpse at myself in the mirror, I try not to pick myself to bits, but instead, I try to uplift the woman I see staring back at me. That hunky younger hockey player wants to sleep with you again. You. Why don’t you march over there like the bad bitch that you are and take what you want? Yes. I’m going to reclaim what Josh took from me and that man next door is my cure. I look over at my wardrobe and eye all my sexy dresses, wondering which one I should wear. Then my eyes fall on my silky black slip. You did tell him you were having a nap. I look over at the bedside table clock, I wouldn’t have been asleep for long. You’re overthinking it again, just go. I grab the sexy slip and get changed. I’ve gone for no underwear and don’t bother with heels. I pull my hair up into a high ponytail and slide some gloss on my lips. Taking one last look at myself, I think I look good. Heading out my front door, each step I take my heart thumps loudly in my chest. Why are you being so silly? You’ve got this. Then I straighten my shoulders and confidently stroll over to Felix’s bungalow and pray he is alone.