Chapter 44
CHAPTER
FORTY-FOUR
HARPER
Julian picks me up bright and early for our flight to Charlotte. I’m excited about this getaway, but it’s our public debut as a couple, and the butterflies are fluttering. Well, public to the people that mean the most to him, anyway.
We submitted our final draft of the book last night, and my emotions are all over the map. I’m excited we finished the project with a great story. After reading my last chapter, he agreed mine was the better ending, so we submitted it. If we weren’t under a tight deadline, there may have been more collaboration and compromise. His approach to their love story was all in. Mine was a little more cautious. Gavin leads with his heart, Charlotte with her head. Life imitating art, perhaps?
We get to the airport with no time to spare thanks to New York gridlock, and once we board, I can exhale. I hate being late and want time to relax for a few minutes once I get to the airport. Julian slides in with seconds to spare. He took a few years off my life when we ran through the airport.
He still won’t tell me where we’re going next week after the wedding. My only clue was to pack warm clothes, and if I don’t have what I need, he’ll buy it for me. That rules out a tropical island. His spontaneity is exciting but also nerve-racking for a planner like me.
“Juice or coffee?” the flight attendant asks Julian as we take our seats. The last passengers walk past, going further into the plane. I’ll never tire of flying first class.
“Coffee for me, cream and sugar,” Julian says. “A mimosa for my girlfriend, please.”
At the use of the title, I turn and look at him and quirk my eyebrow. We haven’t put labels on anything, even though I assume we’re exclusive.
He leans over and nibbles on my earlobe. “Have I told you how much I enjoy your surprised looks? They’re my reason for living.”
“Is that what I am?” I can’t hide my pleasure at the title.
“No, Harper, you’re so much more.”
Our conversation never lags on the two-hour flight, and my bottomless mimosas keep me giggling. When we arrive and get our luggage, the nerves hit with the reality of our soft launch, as he calls it.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to use the restroom before we leave.” I’m not sure how far we have to drive and if we need to wait for an Uber. I need a minute to compose myself because of my nerves. Or maybe it’s the champagne?
A little pep talk in the mirror, some fresh lipstick, and I’m good to go. That is until I see our Uber driver chatting with Julian.
“The groom is on airport duty?” I interrupt their conversation. Cole holds his hand out to shake mine and introduce himself when he does a double take.
“Harper?” His eyebrows shoot up, and he’s genuinely surprised.
Julian holds his hand out and pulls me to his side.
“Harper’s my date for this little soirée you’re throwing, and she has promised to keep me from yelling ‘I object’ to save my sister from a lifetime of baseball and smelly socks,” Julian teases.
“Well, in that case, she’s my favorite guest here!” Cole laughs. “Because I won’t let anyone stand in my way of marrying Leigh, and I’d hate to hurt her brother on such a joyous occasion.” I adore that Cole still calls her Leigh, the name she went by when he fell in love with her.
“I promise to do my best.” These goofballs make me laugh.
“The girls will be thrilled to see you. And no one wins the pool on who your date is, so that means it goes to the honeymoon fund.” Cole takes my bags, and we go to the pickup area, where Matt, his best man, is waiting by the idling car.
“Do I want to know the guesses?” I ask.
“Probably not,” Cole says.
“Definitely not,” Julian laughs. “But I’m the winner, however you cut it.”
“Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is this Harper Cartwright? Fucking Awesome.” Matt says when I get to the car. His excited greeting makes me optimistic about this soft launch. He hugs me, picks me up, and my feet dangle off the ground.
“The one and only.” All this fuss from these guys is so embarrassing.
“Darcy is going to be stoked to see you.” He puts me down, and Julian puts his arm around me, giving me balance again.
“Your brother isn’t coming, is he?” Matt asks as he looks around for Lawson. The jovial atmosphere is settling my anxiety.
On the drive home, the guys are chatting and catching up, and I’m getting a glimpse of another side of Julian. Friend and mentor. These two young baseball players are part of the exclusive client list that he personally manages.
Cole Davidson, his future brother-in-law, plays for the New York Liberties organization on their AAA team in Nashville. During his offseason, he’s excelling as a breakout songwriter in the music industry. He met Ashleigh two years ago when she was an intern for the Savannah Pajamas, and she had assumed another identity, not wanting anyone to know she was Ashleigh Decker, daughter of the MLB team owner.
Matt Hartman is Cole’s best friend and dating Cole’s sister, Darcy. Matt plays for the Carolina Reapers, and they live in Charlotte now. Darcy and I became friends when she was working things out with Matt. I’d like to take some credit in their happily ever after, but Julian says his Team True Love made it happen. Whatever.
“When can we expect wedding bells for you and Darcy?” I ask.
Matt turns red and cuts his eyes at Cole.
“Um, we’re happy where we are right now. We’re good. Darcy is busy with remodeling our house, her design business is thriving, and I just wrapped up my first professional baseball season. We don’t need another big thing right now.” Matt and Darcy’s story is a happily for now, and it doesn’t sound so bad.
“That’s smart,” Julian adds. “But make sure she knows what she means to you and keep telling her. She’s a special girl.”
“That she is,” Cole adds.
“Am I witnessing a Team True Love meeting?” I ask. Julian and Chance consider themselves love gurus and pull a team together when someone needs some love guidance. They call their group Team True Love and, from what I’ve been told, they have a one-hundred percent success rate.
They all laugh at the ridiculous assumption. “Gorgeous, I do the best I can with these guys, but I’m focusing all my energies on you.” He puts his arm around my shoulders and kisses me on the temple. Excuse me, is it getting hot in here?
Matt and Cole deliver us to the apartment Julian keeps in Charlotte. It’s more glass and high-rise than his New York home, but when I notice it’s next door to Reaper Stadium, I understand.
Julian insists I relax while he gets us settled. I’m looking out over the city when his arms wrap around me, and I lean into his embrace. “Welcome to my family’s business. It’s peaceful in the offseason.”
“It’s nice to be back in the South.” I take another sip of my Chick-fil-a tea. We stopped for a quick bite of nuggets and tea to hold us over for dinner.
“Are you ready for our debut tonight?”
“I’m a little nervous. I don’t want to take one second of attention off Ashleigh. This is her weekend.”
“Don’t worry about that at all. This weekend is a celebration of love, and baby, I haven’t said those words yet, but you need to know, I love you.” He leans over my shoulder and kisses my cheek. “And I scored another one of your surprised looks. I’m on a roll.” He chuckles at his own comment and gives himself a fist pump in the air.
He loves me. He said those sacred, three little words. He loves me. I’m slightly shocked, but I need to pause and remind myself that I shouldn’t be. Is this new information? Not really. His actions scream love while his words whisper deep into my soul.
What do I say to that? I love you too. Seems too reflexive, reactive. No, I want to tell him in my way, in my time. But make no mistake. I love this man with every fiber of my being. I love his kind heart, caring spirit, and fun-loving outlook on life. And I absolutely adore his body. But it’s the inside of Julian that makes him so damn irresistible. He’s a good man, through and through.
“I need to take a shower and get ready.” His smile falters, revealing his disappointment. Probably because he’s waiting for a response. Oh, he’ll get one. Just not what he’s prepared for. “Joining me?”
His smile returns. “You don’t have to ask me twice. I’m feeling very dirty. Yep, definitely need a shower.” He takes me by the hand and tugs me toward the bedroom. Now I can check shower sex off my bucket list.