57. Felix #2
Tyler’s face pales. He looks sick with remorse. The fucking bastard deserves to suffer for what he’s done.
“The story about the hit and run was never part of the plan,” he urges.
“The Fergusons made that announcement, but it’s not how the cops told them Paul died.
The Fergusons are lying and I don’t know why.
I don’t know how much of the truth they’re aware of, if any.
But I’ve been sick with fear that they’re suspicious of Paul’s death. ”
He leans toward Harper, desperately trying to make his point. She steps back from him again.
“Harper, I couldn’t risk you reporting Paul with a conflicting story that would spark an investigation from the Fergusons.
An investigation that would send Felix to jail for murder, along with me and Dad for our involvement.
My dad can’t pay off every cop. I tried to keep you out of everything so you’d be safe.
But now you know the truth, you’ll have to lie if you’re questioned.
That’s a crime, Harper. You’ll be guilty by association. We’re covering up a murder?—”
“Our father was the one who covered up the murder,” I cut in. “ He was the one at risk. He was covering his ass by scaring you into keeping the truth from Harper, and you fell for his shit because you’re always so caught up in having his approval.”
“That’s not true?— ”
“How could you think I would keep up the lies once I got back from Westbridge? That I would happily go along with letting Harper believe I left her?”
“I hoped you would see reason if I just had the chance to speak with you and explain everything rationally.”
“There’s nothing rational about any of this, Tyler,” I shout. Heat rises up my neck and my hands flex at my sides, agitated and furious. “Harper needed the truth. Now you’re getting married. Where the fuck has this marriage come from? What happened to it being the three of us?”
“You and Harper are the most important people to me,” he insists, sounding so goddamn desperate. “You have to believe me, Felix. When I proposed to Harper, it wasn’t my intention to push you away. I thought we could all still?—”
“You thought we could all still be together?” I laugh, bitter and breathless. “You think I’m going to be the side man who secretly fucks your wife while you get to be with her publicly?”
“Give me a chance to talk. I was trying to do the right thing?—”
“Bullshit. The right thing. How the fuck does that lead you to marrying my girlfriend?” I yell.
“The whole time I was away, I trusted you to take care of Harper. But you’ve turned her against me.
She doesn’t want anything to do with me.
You’ve stolen the most precious thing in this world to me.
You’re not my brother. You’re a piece of shit and we’re through.
You don’t ever fucking talk to me again, do you hear me? ”
I grab Harper’s hand, pulling her to my side. I’m furious with her too, for believing I would leave her. For so easily committing the rest of her life to Tyler. It’s insanity after everything we’ve been through together. I wasn’t even gone that long. How could she have moved on so quickly ?
“You and I need to talk in private,” I tell her.
Tyler steps in front of me, blocking my path. “I know you’re angry, but we haven’t finished talking. I need to explain. I wasn’t trying to take Harper from you.”
Harper shakes her head. “Let me talk to Felix alone.”
The way he looks at her is so protective. He doesn’t want me alone with Harper because he knows our connection is strong and I’ll change her mind about this engagement.
After a long moment of hesitation, Tyler steps aside. “Call me if you need me. I’ll come straight to you. Again, I’m so sorry, Harper.”
“I’ll be fine,” she murmurs, eyes on the ground.
I lead Harper away from the pool house, through the gardens, and into the maze, to the one place that feels sacred between us. I turn corner after corner, ducking under tangled vines, navigating our way through the labyrinth until finding our spot. The last place we made love.
“Remember this spot? Remember the connection we shared?” I grasp her shoulders, furious. “How could you think for even one second I would willingly leave you?”
“I didn’t want to believe it at first. I was adamant you wouldn’t leave me. But as time went on and I never heard from you…” She sniffles. “Felix, I missed you so much. I didn’t understand why you couldn’t contact me. Not a phone call or a text. I heard nothing from you.”
I release her shoulders and groan, trying to figure out where my letters ended up. Did Tyler hide them from her? Was it my father? It had to be one of them if they were so determined to keep the truth from her.
Maybe I should have suspected something was wrong when I received no letters in return. But I thought the worst that could have happened was an issue with smuggling the letters back to me.
With a sigh, I lower my hands. “What the fuck are you doing with Tyler? End the engagement.”
“I can’t. I don’t want to.” Her hands rest on her stomach and more tears fall. “I’m pregnant.”
My blood runs cold. The world spins.
I stare at Harper in stunned silence, my mind reeling as I try to process her words.
Pregnant. With Tyler’s baby.
She’s not showing. She can’t be far along.
This is why they’re getting married? I don’t know how to handle the information. The three of us never discussed what would happen if a pregnancy occurred, but I assumed we would have worked through it together.
We could have worked through anything. Until Tyler went and fucked it all up.
He claims he was trying to keep her safe. He alluded to us continuing as a trio. But he has dealt with everything in a horrendous manner and this relationship is no longer about the three of us.
It’s about them.
Their baby.
Their marriage.
“I was upset after you left. Distraught,” Harper explains. “I must have forgotten to take the pill. I’m four months in. But it’s okay. This is the life I want.”
“Bullshit. The old Harper wanted this life. Not you. You wanted the three of us to be together.”
“It was a foolish desire. Being with two men, two brothers, is not something that would be accepted?—”
“I don’t give a fuck what anyone else thinks,” I shout .
She shudders at my anger. “It’s not only about that. Tyler has always been here for me. I can trust him?—”
“He fucking lied to you.”
“I know.” She frowns. “I’m not pleased about his lies but… Protecting me from covering up a murder? His explanation makes sense, even if I don’t like it. The point is, Tyler has always been by my side. He’s proven himself to me. I know I’ll always have him.”
“You’re justifying his actions because you’re pregnant and scared.”
“I am scared,” she murmurs. “I’ve lost everyone, Felix. Even ballet. My friends. My father is barely talking to me. I’m about to have a child. I need stability in my life?—”
“I’ve cleaned myself up. I’m not involved with eclipse or anything else illegal. I’m not going anywhere, Harper. What more can I do to prove this to you?”
“Your past is still following you, clearly. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been taken away.”
I groan, pulling at my hair as I pace back and forth, contemplating how I can speak some sense into this girl.
“Felix… I should go.”
“No.” I pull her close. My hands gently frame her jaw as I meet her pained eyes. “This isn’t you, Harper. You want to be dancing on stage. You’re supposed to be a star. Don’t let anyone force you into a life you don’t want. We’re supposed to grow old together.”
Tears leak down her cheeks. I can see in her eyes that I still haven’t won her over. I’m desperate. My voice is breaking. Trembling. I’m losing the only real thing in my life that matters to me.
“Harper, I know you think you need to have this baby, but you don’t. We’ll run away together, just the two of us.”
Her eyes shut tight as she breaks down sobbing. “ Please, stop. I love you, Felix. I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving you. But my life has changed since you’ve been gone and I can no longer be with you.”
She lowers my hands from her jaw. When she opens her eyes and looks at me, I realize this is it. There’s no changing her mind. This is the end of us.
I draw in a shaky breath, somehow finding my voice. “So, this is how everything ends.” A sour laugh slips from my lips. “And to think, you were always so convinced I was the one who would break your heart.”
“I’m sorry, Felix. I really am.”
I take in the sight of her, knowing it’s the last time I’ll see her for… I don’t know how long. I won’t stick around to watch Harper and my brother live their life together and be happy. I won’t watch them get married and have a child.
I don’t know where I’ll go. Somewhere. Anywhere. I’ll disappear for real this time.
All the nights I spent at Westbridge dreaming of the future I’d have with Harper, holding her in my arms, making her smile, loving her. It was all for nothing.
Everything was for fucking nothing.
I step back, finally letting her go. “Would have been a nice life together. Goodbye, Harper.”