Epilogue Harper
Epilogue
Harper
Mid-July
Dear God—or whoever is up there listening.
It’s me. Again. Harper, the girl who hit you up in April about wanting a date for prom?
I made this simple request about making him semipopular and likeable?
And taller than me. And cute? You know I personally don’t believe looks are everything, but it was something I’d crossed my fingers about because, well—I’m only human.
Yup. It’s that Harper.
Just wanted to touch base with an update and tell you THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME. Seriously, yay, God!
For real. I wasn’t expecting a Cinderella situation to happen here, but let me just say, you really came in clutch in the most surprising way.
Dropping a guy on my lawn while I was reading a book?
?? Talk about a random way to find a date!
Easton isn’t the classic knight in shining armor—he’s better. He’s real.
Oh, and about the height thing? Well, you nailed that one. He’s the right amount of tall to make me feel cute in the best way. So thanks for that.
We’ve been spending a lot of time together since we graduated—more than I ever thought we would. It’s funny how life works: We were two people with lockers next to each other who BARELY spoke…and now we’re practically inseparable.
I can’t imagine my day without him.
Weird, huh?
Macy says it’s fate. Marcus says we have him to thank, because if Easton hadn’t had to ask Maddie Miller on a date, she never would have said no and he wouldn’t have pulled the senior prank; ergo, he wouldn’t have landed in my yard.
Honestly? I’m team Marcus LOL.
Don’t tell my bestie.
It’s like the world decided to slow down just for us, letting us soak up every moment of this summer before life pulls us in different directions. SIGH!
Easton leaves for college a few weeks before I do—you probably already know this, but he has a hockey scholarship, and athletes usually get to campus first. I’m bummed he’ll already be gone the week I leave for school, but our campuses are only an hour apart and I’ll have a car. Anything could happen!
Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for the assist. You really do know what you’re doing up there.
Sincerely,
Harper
I finish my send up to the Man Upstairs and glance at Easton, lying on a deck chair. His tan arm is slung over his eyes, squinting up at the sun because he forgot his sunglasses at home. Again.
Of course he did, because I forgot to remind him.
Truthfully, if you had told me a few months ago that we’d be lying here in the sun, in the middle of summer, holding hands at the community pool so his sister can play…I would have snorted.
Snore. Ted.
Lo and behold, here we sit with the sun beating down on us; it warms my skin, and I soak it in. I’d probably be able to take a midday nap if it weren’t for the water splashing, the kids yelling, and the lifeguards’ whistles constantly blowing. Still, it’s the perfect background noise on a hot day.
My eyes roam.
I try not to stare at Easton napping in his swim trunks, but it’s hard. I can’t stop sneaking peeks at the way his muscles shift and relax. Hockey has done his body good…
Meanwhile, Phoebe lies on the other side of me, fidgeting like she can’t sit still for more than a few minutes.
Still wearing her goggles from her earlier dip, she wants to swim—and she’s determined to drag her oldest brother into the pool with her, coughing dramatically and sighing in hopes he’ll spring out of his chair and cannonball into the water.
No such luck.
He’s lazy AF.
“We’ll swim soon,” I tell her, smiling as she digs through the cooler and pulls out a juice box.
“Promise?” Phoebe’s big puppy-dog eyes blink behind the hot pink goggles.
Easton lowers his arm, rolling toward his sister.
“We’ll go in, Phoebs. Just give me like five more minutes.”
We’re having a lazy day, but I have a feeling it won’t stay that way for long.
His sister pulls a pouty face. “You said that ten minutes ago.”
Crap. He did say that…
Nothing gets past Phoebe.
I pull out a juice box too and crack the straw out of its clear plastic wrapper.
What a blissful day; nothing feels rushed—no stress, no homework, high school in our rearview with college ahead of us.
These are our last weeks of freedom, and he wants to spend them with me when he’s not at the ice rink practicing?
Are you serious?!
Best summer ever!
I stab the straw into the container, sip some apple juice, and close my eyes.
Ahhh.
Phoebe shifts next to me. I can feel her puppy-dog eyes boring into my soul and know her mind is probably spinning—the child never stops talking or thinking about what she’ll say next.
She and I have spent a lot of time together, too, since prom, and we’ve developed a…sort of sisterly bond? If you can call it that. She’s as close as I’ve come to having a little sister and I’m the closest she’s come to a big sister, and, well, she loves tagging along with Easton and me.
“Harper?” she asks.
“Yeah?” I turn to her, squinting through the glare of the sun, straw between my lips.
Phoebe wiggles on the deck chair and watches me through her goggles before pulling them off her face and tossing them on the ground. Wet hair sticks to her cheeks as she studies me with an expression that’s a little too serious for a seven-year-old at the pool.
“Are you my brother’s girlfriend?”
My heart skips a beat. I freeze.
The straw slips from my mouth.
Phoebe stares, her question lingering in the air; I feel a wave of heat rising over my cheeks, neck, and forehead that has nothing to do with baking in the sun.
My mouth opens, but nothing comes out. What am I supposed to say? Are Easton and I a thing? He and I haven’t had a talk about making it official—let alone in front of his seven-year-old sister!
Am I his girlfriend?
I’ve never had the courage to ask him. I have not pushed. Soon he will be going his way and I will be going mine and—
Next to me, Easton shifts.
“Yes,” he announces, his deep voice confident. “She’s my girlfriend.”
His sister’s mouth drops open, too, and now we’re both gawking at him like a pair of guppies.
Phoebe jumps up out of her chair to stand next to his, pointing her little finger at him.
“You should’ve told me!” She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest like she’s been offended in the worst way.
Hey! I wasn’t in on the secret, either!
Easton chuckles, pleased with himself, settling back onto his towel.
“Well, now you know.”
Phoebe swings her eyes back to me, gloating. “So you are girlfriend and boyfriend! I knew it.”
She loves knowing things.
I blink, still processing what just happened.
“Uh…yeah. I guess we are.”
Phoebe beams, proud of herself for figuring it out.
“I knew it!” she repeats, and pumps her fist. “You guys were acting all weird and stuff—and I saw you kissing by the garage when you left yesterday.”
She sticks her tongue out at her brother like she’s disgusted by the idea of him being affectionate.
“Phoebs!” He feigns a gasp. “Were you spying on us?”
“Yes! Mom is boring. I’d rather watch you guys.”
Easton and I both laugh.
She’s a monster, but she’s innocent and adorable.
“Kissing is weird,” I agree, shaking off my shock at his declaration.
I lean across my deck chair and him. “A little heads-up would’ve been nice. Don’t people normally talk about this stuff?”
My boyfriend grins, turning his head toward me and squinting, his mischievous eyes twinkling.
“Why? You planning on saying no?”
I roll my eyes, but I can’t wipe the grin off my face. “You wish.”
“I wish you’d say no?”
I shake my head. “Wait. No. That’s not what I meant.”
Phoebe plops down back in her chair.
“Harper, I like you better than his other crushes.” She exhales loudly, glad to get that confession off her mind. “Plus, I told my friends I think my brother has a girlfriend, so this makes me look really smart.”
Easton groans, running a hand over his face. “Do you gossip with your little friends, Phoebe?”
His sister shrugs, unbothered. “Well, it’s true, so it’s not gossip.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Phoebs.”
She grins at me, looking pleased with herself. Crossing her teeny arms and hugging herself.
“All the other girls he liked were stupid,” she mutters to herself.
I stifle a laugh. “Hey now—we can’t go calling other girls stupid.”
Totally unbothered. “They are.”
“How do you know who his other crushes were?”
“She spies on me!” Easton stands, grabbing his little sister. “Now you’re in for it!”
Phoebe squeals, wriggling in his arms as Easton lifts her effortlessly.
“Nooo! Easton, no!” she shouts—but her laughter betrays her. His sister is delighted, kicking her legs in protest—but it’s too late. Easton is walking toward the pool, his smile roguish.
“Admit it, you were spying, you little weasel!” he teases, holding her next to the pool.
“I wasn’t! I wasn’t!” Phoebe giggles, her voice high-pitched as she squirms in a mock attempt to escape. “Okay. I was.”
I sit up, grinning, watching the two of them through my sunglasses, tossing my empty juice box into the cooler.
“Easton, let her go.” I wink, knowing he isn’t going to put her down. He’s enjoying this way too much.
“Too late! She’s done for now!” he announces theatrically.
Then.
With one giant step toward the edge, he jumps into the pool, holding Phoebe tight as they both splash down into the water.
Easton surfaces first, slicking his hair back and grinning like a kid.
Phoebe pops up a second later, wiping water from her face and shrieking with delight.
She clings to her brother, arms around his neck.
“You’re gonna pay for that!” Phoebe declares.
The sound of their laughter echoes throughout the concrete patio area, and I laugh along with them, shaking my head.
“I am?!”
His sister nods.
Easton looks up at me from the water, his hair wet and his smile still wide. “What about her?”
“Yeah, her, too!”
“Phoebe!” I yell. “Don’t you dare betray me, tiny Westermann!”