27. Harper
27
HARPER
A fter the gala, things between Felix and me changed, especially after he asked for us to be exclusive for the summer, although it’s not like either one of us had been going out wanting to meet anyone else. We got into a domesticated routine, he would run around Central Park in the morning with my brother and Nate, then come home and shower before waking me up with his cock inside me. He would then shower again and make breakfast for me before walking me to work. And like I told him the night of the gala, he is the highlight of my day, seeing his smiling face waiting for me when I step out of my office which seems to be earlier and earlier since he’s been picking me up. My workaholic tendencies seem to vanish because all I want him to do is take me home and fuck me, which he does after he’s cooked me dinner without his shirt on. It is some of the best porn I’ve ever seen, all that glistening, toned muscle straining as he is chopping or flipping or whatever it is you do when you cook. I’m not a chef.
“Harper,” Kimberly calls out my name.
“What?”
“You are so screwed.” She giggles.
Huh. “Sorry, what did you say?” I turn and look at her.
“You were staring at Felix, practically drooling while I called out your name for the past couple of seconds,” she tells me.
“Really?”
“Oh my god, you’re blushing, you were having dirty thoughts about him while we were in the middle of a conversation,” Kimberly whispers.
“No, I wasn’t.” I try to defend myself.
“You were. Anyway, what I was saying was it will be good to see Camryn again,” Kimberly repeats herself. We are currently on our private jet to France for Axel and Olivia’s wedding. Felix is sitting with Sam, and Nate left earlier, but I think that was due to stressing out about seeing Camryn again. “She sounds happy, more like herself than she has in months.”
“That’s good. Hope she can find it in her heart to give Nate another chance,” I say.
“She will. They just needed some healing,” Kimmy states. “And what about you? Looks like Felix has been healing you real good. I haven’t seen you in weeks, you never leave the house. To be fair, I wouldn’t if that man was waiting for me at home cooking me dinner,” she teases. I raise a brow at her. “There’s nothing wrong with it, I’m jealous.”
“It’s kind of hard to leave the house when he gives me so many incentives to stay,” I say, bursting out laughing.
“I’m not jealous at all.” Kimmy smirks.
“It’s only for the summer. We’re having fun,” I remind her.
“You think you’re going to be able to give that up when summer ends?” She nods in Felix’s direction.
“I have to. There’s no future between us,” I tell her honestly.
“You don’t see a future with him?” Kimmy asks.
“I can’t.”
Kimmy frowns. “Just because you agreed to it being for the summer doesn’t mean you can’t want more.”
“I’ve been helping him find an apartment. He’s already planning his life after the summer,” I tell her.
“Property is a great investment. He doesn’t have to move into it,” Kimmy states.
“It’s for the best. I’m in a different place in my life than him. I even booked in for that ovarian reserve testing when I get back from Europe,” I tell her.
“Are you seriously considering having a baby?” Kimmy asks. I shrug. “There’s no way in the world I’m ready enough for one.”
“Not yet, but we aren’t getting any younger. I’d like to know if I should be looking at options. Don’t you think it would be sad if you finally find the one, and then it takes you years to work out something is wrong, and by then, you’re forty?” I tell her.
“This isn’t you.” Kimmy looks at me as if I’ve lost my mind.
“I know, but Mom keeps asking about grandkids, and then I read shit on social media where people are telling me I’m too old because I’m dating a younger guy. I kind of wish I was seven years younger and could have met Felix then.” As soon as those words are out of my mouth, I realize what I’ve said.
“Oh. You like him.” Kimmy grins.
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t turn back the clock, so it is what it is between us.”
“Are you saying if you were seven years younger, you would give him a chance?” Kimmy asks.
“Yes.”
“If Felix makes you happy then why not see where things go?” Kimmy argues with me.
“I can’t. I’m not going to do that to myself. There is only one direction this will end, and it’s heartbreak. Mine. I’m going to enjoy our summer together and then let him go, it’s only fair,” I explain to her.
“He’s not a fish. I want you to be happy, and for me, it feels like Felix makes you happy,” Kimmy says.
“He does, but I’m being realistic, Kim. I’d rather have a great summer with him than continue and find him a year down the track with a puck bunny. I might not recover if I did.” Kimmy reaches out and holds my hand.
“I get it,” she assures me.
We’ve arrive in Paris, where we will have the bachelor and bachelorette parties for Axel and Olivia. I’m so looking forward to catching up with everyone, we have a group dinner tonight on top of the Eiffel Tower. I’m a little nervous as it’s the first time I’ve taken Felix public other than with my family stuff, I just hope my friends like him. Also, Felix has never been to Paris before, and I can’t wait to show him around one of my favorite cities.
“Oh my god, that’s the Eiffel Tower.” Felix gasps as he pushes his face against the window. “Wow.”
“Wait till you see it at night with the lights twinkling, I never get sick of looking at it.”
Felix reaches out and entwines his fingers with mine and gives me the biggest, goofiest smile. “I can’t wait to explore the city with you.” It’s so adorable how excited he is and it’s hot listening to him speak in French, too. Our driver pulls up out the front of my apartment and helps us with our luggage.
“This is yours?” He looks at me, admiring the older building.
“It’s my sanctuary away from New York. No one bothers me here, the photographers leave me alone most of the time. It’s freeing.” We hold hands and enter the building. The foyer is marble with iron ornate handrails and red carpet running up the spiral staircase. “There’s only a small elevator that is mainly for luggage or groceries, otherwise, we have to walk up the three flights of stairs to the penthouse,” I explain to him, while the driver loads up our luggage into the antique elevator. I forget how much of a workout it is when you are here, but we make it to the top. Felix opens the elevator and pulls out our luggage while I open the door to my apartment. “It’s not very big, only three bedrooms, but the views are to die for,” I explain as I push open the door and walk in. We are greeted by polished wooden chevron floors and white walls with chandeliers. I tried to keep a modern, romantic Parisian feel to it with linens, dusty pink velvet lounges, gold gilding, and crystal. It’s very feminine and girly because this is my safe space. I excitedly pull him through the apartment and show him the light filled windows that look over the Seine and Eiffel Tower.
“No way, this is your view.” He gasps as he stares at the iconic building.
“It gets better.” I grin, grabbing his hand again and taking him to another spiral staircase as I haul him up to the rooftop balcony.
“Holy shit,” he curses as he stands on top of the roof, spins around, and takes in every aspect of Paris. The gorgeous grey zinc roofs, the white sandstone buildings, even the honking of the horns, and city noise are not as aggressive as it is back home.
“I love it here.” I smile as I watch him awe-struck by everything.
“I get it. It reminds me of Quebec but different, I can’t explain it.”
“If Quebec looks like this then I need to go.”
Felix looks down and smiles. “You do, maybe we could when we get back. I’d really love to show you my home.” I can hear the sincerity in his voice.
“I’d like that,” I tell him as I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him on top of a roof, in Paris, overlooking the Eiffel Tower. I don’t think you can get any more romantic than that.