18. Harper
18
HARPER
“ H arper!”
I hear someone calling my name as I push open my eyes. My head hurts, I may have drunk a couple of tequilas before bed to settle my nerves after that run-in with Josh yesterday. My mouth is as dry as the Sahara.
“Harper, are you okay? You haven’t been answering your damn phone,” the voice calls out again.
Huh. Why is Kimmy in my home? I look down at my clock and it’s past ten in the morning. Then the door to my bedroom busts open, and in walks Kimmy, Issy, and Meadow.
“What the hell?” I squeal, surprised to see my friends in my bedroom.
“We’ve been trying to call you,” Meadow says.
I pick up my phone and see the missed calls. “What’s happened?” I sit up in my bed.
“You haven’t seen it?” Issy asks.
“Seen what?” My friends all look at each other and I can see they are contemplating who is going to be the person to deliver the news to me. “Guys, you’re scaring me.”
“You’re dating Felix St. Pierre? Why the hell didn’t you tell me? I love that guy,” Sam says, barging into my bedroom. I scream.
“Where the hell did you come from?” Kimmy asks my brother.
“Um, from down the street,” he says, shaking his head. “You weren’t answering your phone.” He looks at me.
What the hell is going on? This has to be a dream because this seriously can’t be happening. I pinch my arm. “Ow” No. It’s not a dream. This is really happening.
“Page Six dropped another news article about you, with photos of Felix St. Pierre, kissing you on your front doorstep,” Meadow explains. The color drains from my face. “They said there was an altercation between Josh and Felix.”
“He didn’t touch you, did he? I’ll fucking kill him.” Sam sneers.
“No, he didn’t,” I answer my brother, who starts pacing the room angrily.
Meadow continues, “There are pictures of you both walking off your plane, looking happy, and getting into the same car together. They say you were both on a secret holiday, nursing each other’s broken hearts.” Shit. They caught all that. How could I have been so stupid? I let my guard down.
“You were there with Felix? I thought you were alone,” Sam asks.
“They just ran into each other. I didn’t realize when I booked Felix there that they would be arriving together,” Issy explains to Sam.
“So, you’re not dating Felix?” my brother asks.
“Of course, she isn’t. When would she have time? She only broke up with Josh last week,” Kimmy tells my brother.
“But he’s kissing you?” Sam says.
“It wasn’t romantic, more in a comforting kind of way to stop me from shaking,” I answer quietly. All this noise is making my head ache. “This is bad, isn’t it?” I ask, looking at my friends.
Meadow shrugs. “The comments are nice.”
“They are?” I ask, surprised.
“More for Felix, than you. But a lot of people didn’t agree with Josh trying to ambush you at your home and screaming at you when he was the one cheating on you,” Meadow explains.
“How’s Felix, does he know?” I ask Issy.
She shakes her head. “He was still asleep when I left.”
“Shit. This is the last thing he needs. He’s already on thin ice with the board over the blow job incident.”
“Dad’s not going to let anything happen to Felix. He saved you from a crazed ex,” my brother assures me.
“You think?” I ask.
“I’m sure if anyone on the board has a problem, he will deal with them. There is no way in hell he would let Felix take the fall for Josh,” Sam adds.
I look over at Issy. “I’m sorry.”
“What are you sorry for, babe?” she asks.
“Getting your client embroiled in another scandal.”
Issy comes over and sits beside me on the bed. “This isn’t your fault. And like I told him last night, I was so glad he was there when Josh turned up.”
“You should go to the police,” Sam says.
“They won’t do anything, Sam. Remember what happened with Camryn and Harris? He hasn’t broken any laws,” Kimmy tells him.
“Harassment and stalking?” Sam pipes up.
“It’s hard to prove,” I tell my brother. I love that he is trying to protect me.
“Move your new boyfriend in with you. I’m sure that will keep Josh away,” Meadow jokes.
“New boyfriend?”
“Yeah, Felix. The world thinks you’re now dating, as per Page Six.” She smirks
“What? No!”
“I think that’s a great idea.” Felix’s deep voice breathes through the chaos. “Especially as your front door was left ajar. Anyone could have walked in,” he says angrily.
“Felix?” I gasp, seeing him standing there.
“Shit, sorry, that was me,” Sam says sheepishly. “Hi, I’m Sam Rose, Harper’s brother. Thank you so much for saving her from that asshole,” my brother says, holding out his hand to Felix, whose molten hazel eyes move from me to my brother as he shakes his hand.
“Someone had to teach him a lesson,” he tells him.
“Well, thank you. I’ll never forget what you did for my sister,” Sam says still shaking his hand.
“I have sisters, too. I get it,” Felix says, giving my brother a friendly smile.
“Probably not the right time, but I’m so glad you’ve joined The Mavericks this season,” my brother states.
“Me too.” Felix smiles as if this is a normal conversation we should be having right at this moment.
Nope. I’m not doing this. “Everyone out,” I scream. The room looks at me as if I have lost my mind, and maybe I have. “Out. I need a shower. A coffee. And five fucking minutes to myself.”
“Right, guys, you heard her,” Kimmy says, ushering everyone out of my room. “Let’s give her a moment. You know Harper isn’t fun before coffee.” I flip her off, which makes her blow a kiss at me.
What the hell is going on?
Fifteen minutes later, I’ve had a shower and I make my way downstairs to the living room where everyone is happily sitting and chatting away as if this is normal. Not that they’ve invaded my home with their twenty questions.
“Right, okay, now that I feel semi-human again. What the hell is going on?” I say, entering the living room.
“We’ve been discussing things,” Sam says.
“Things?” I question my brother.
“Felix told us that he’s threatening you over intimate photos he has of you.”
My brother’s words are like a sucker punch as I look over at where Felix is standing, leaning against the wall. “You told them?”
“I thought they needed to know,” he argues.
Tears of shame and embarrassment well in my eyes. I thought I could trust Felix, that he might be different. I was so fucking wrong. He’s just like every fucking guy, a liar. I shake my head as a single tear falls down my cheek. “I told you in confidence.”
Felix’s face falls as he sees the hurt he’s caused me. “Harper …” He walks over to me.
“No,” I tell him, holding up my hand, “you betrayed me.” Felix’s face pales at my words.
“Harper,” Kimmy says my name softly, “he was trying to protect you.”
“I don’t need his protection. I want nothing to do with him,” I say angrily.
“Too bad because we all agree that we think Felix should stay here and make sure you’re safe until things settle down with Josh,” my brother explains.
“What?” I gasp as I look around the room at my closest friends, who look slightly uncomfortable as I glare at them. “No,” I say, shaking my head.
“Yes,” Felix says.
“Fuck you.” I point at him. “What the hell, guys?” I ask, placing my hands on my hips. “I’m a fully functioning adult, I don’t need a babysitter, and especially not him.”
“What if Josh comes back?” Kimmy argues.
“I was going to call Jackson and talk to him about upgrading my security,” I tell her.
“Already done. I just got off the phone with him,” my brother states. I stare at him, surprised by this.
“You can’t be okay with this?” I turn and ask Issy, who winces at my question.
“I kind of think it’s a good idea.” She scrunches up her face. “Everyone already thinks the two of you are a couple. Why not let the world keep thinking that if it means you are safe?” I stare at her blankly, she can’t be serious.
“Kimmy?”
“I agree. I’ll do anything to keep you safe, especially after what happened to Camryn,” she states firmly, and I can see the emotion in her eyes.
That’s not fair. The two situations are not the same. Do you believe that? He’s threatening you. Maybe not physically but mentally. Josh won’t release the photos. Plus, he sent me stuff, too. I’ll release them if I have to, be damned for the consequences. “Do I get a say in my own life?”
“You both need this,” Meadow pipes in. “You’ve taken a hit publicly, both of you. You know, I think all that misogynistic rhetoric that you’re the problem because men can’t keep their dicks in their pants is bullshit. People like this pairing. The fact that Felix saved you from a disgruntled ex, defending your honor while you helped mend his broken heart after his ex was caught screwing his teammate, the public is lapping this up. We have already had brands enquire about you taking them on as clients.”
I stare at her as if she has grown a second head. “No.” I shake my head. “This is wrong. We aren’t dating. We are not a couple and never will be. I’m not going to fake it, not even for my own business.”
“We have Mom’s gala coming up. And you know the Fairfax’s are some of the biggest donors,” Sam reminds me. “Do you seriously think Josh isn’t going to show up to that?”
“He wouldn’t,” I say, shaking my head.
“Pretty sure he would,” Sam states firmly.
“Don’t you think it would be a ‘fuck you’ to Josh showing up with Felix on your arm?” Kimmy adds. I glare at my bestie who ignores me. “We will all be there, so you just need to fake it for the red carpet and until you run into Josh. Because you know he is going to make sure he runs into you.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he brings someone to try to make you jealous,” Issy adds. Why are my girls ganging up on me?
“You think Mom and Dad are going to be pleased about this?” I ask, folding my arms across my chest.
“I think you taking a respectable date to the event will ease Mom’s fears,” Sam adds.
“And you think he’s respectable?” I point at Felix.
“Hey,” he argues, offended by my comment.
“Um, Dad loves him,” Sam adds.
“As a player not as his daughter’s date,” I argue back.
“Parents love me,” Felix adds.
I roll my eyes at him. “This doesn’t include you,” I bark at Felix.
“Kind of does,” he argues back.
“Fuck you all. I’m not doing this,” I yell at all of them.
“Harper, stop being so fucking stubborn. You’re going to need a date for Mom’s gala, you might as well take Felix. At least we know he can protect you.” Screw you, Sam. “All of New York society is going to be there, and you know what they are like. This will shut up the gossips.” I glare at him.
“Felix told me you two had fun together as friends on the island, just think of it as an extension of that,” Issy adds. My mouth falls open at her comment, and Felix sniggers in the corner.
“That was then, this is now. Felix betrayed me and I will not have anything to do with him,” I declare to the room angrily. “Have you all lost your minds?”
“Harper,” my brother yells at me.
“I think everyone needs to get out,” I yell at them.
“We’re looking out for you,” Sam argues.
“Come on, guys,” Kimmy says, dragging everyone out of my home.
As soon as I hear the door click shut, I can breathe again. My friends and brother have lost their minds. This is bullshit. I do not need a babysitter, let alone a fake boyfriend, especially not Felix St. Pierre.
“Harper.” I whirl around and see Felix standing there.
“Get the hell out of my home,” I scream at him.
“Not until you listen to me.”
“No,” I argue.
“Yes.”
“You betrayed me,” I say as I start to pace around the room, trying to stem my tears.
“I know and I’m sorry,” he states, which surprises me, making me stop.
“I told you things that I never told people before. You promised me I could trust you. I can’t.”
“I was trying to protect you,” he argues.
“Like I’ve said, I don’t need your protection, Felix. I’m not yours to protect,” I yell at him.
“Maybe I want you to be,” he says softly.
His confession hits me like a train. “I think it’s best that you leave.”
“Harper … I …”
“Please leave.”
Felix’s shoulders slump as he lets out a deep sigh. “I was trying to help,” he says as he reaches the door. I don’t respond. He reluctantly opens the door and slams it behind him.