60. Harper
CHAPTER SIXTY
HARPER
Tyler turns the light off and crawls into his bed with me, holding me close.
This is my third night living in the Blackwood penthouse with him since the fight with my father.
It doesn’t feel like home. Not with Felix gone.
Not with the resentment I hold toward Tyler for lying to me. It’s awkward being around Josh.
But I have nowhere else to go. No one to turn to.
I tell myself things will improve between me and Tyler and to stop harboring anger toward him for trying to protect me. He did the right thing. I know he did. But that doesn’t make me feel better.
I just want Felix back.
I don’t know where he is. No one has seen or heard from him since he left the beach house.
He’s gone for good this time.
“Tomorrow should be fun.” Tyler’s breath tickles my ear as he speaks. “We get to pick where we’ll live.”
He’s trying to be positive. But nothing is fun anymore.
“Yeah, should be fun,” I mutter.
Josh has a handful of investment properties in Manhattan. Tomorrow, he’s letting Tyler and me pick which apartment we want to move into.
Tyler hears the distance in my voice and holds me closer. “I’m sorry, Harper.”
“I know. Please stop apologizing.”
“I’m going to spend every day for the rest of our lives making it up to you. I promise.” He kisses my neck. At my silence, he switches the topic. “Have you spoken with your dad?”
I shake my head. My father has called multiple times over the last three days. I haven’t answered him.
“Maybe he wants to apologize.”
“He doesn’t want to apologize. He wants to control me.”
I thought I knew what my dad was capable of.
Over these last few days, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect.
Perhaps everything Paul said about my father was true.
Considering the way Dad has behaved, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did promise my hand in marriage for a promotion.
He was always pushing me toward Paul and “joking” about marriage.
I sigh, trying to free my mind. Whatever the truth is, I don’t want to hear it. There’s no reconciling our relationship.
“Things will get better with time, Harp. Try to relax and sleep.”
I close my eyes and snuggle into Tyler’s arms. Despite my resentment, his embrace is comforting. I suppose a little part of the Blackwood penthouse does feel like home, being in Tyler’s arms. Now, more than ever, he feels like all I have left in this world.
Tyler is a good person even if he’s made mistakes.
I can appreciate he was placed in a difficult position.
Everything Tyler has done these last few months has been to protect Felix and me and to nurture my needs.
He chose to support me over Felix, which can’t have been easy for him.
He’s supported me through every step of my entire life because he’s always been so in love with me.
With that realization, I do feel the resentment start to fade.
My lips find his in the dark and I kiss him softly. It’s the first time we’ve properly kissed since I discovered the truth. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me. I love you so much. I understand the hard choices you had to make, and I’m sorry for all that you’ve lost.”
His breath shudders as we kiss. He doesn’t say anything in response but I can feel the pain in him.
Tyler holds me close, cherishing me, then tucks me beneath his chin. A stray tear falls down my cheek. It feels like all I’ve done for the last year is cry, and I’m tired of it. So tired of life.
I must be more exhausted than I realize, because the next thing I know, the bedside lamp is on, shining in my eyes, and Tyler is gently shaking me.
“Harper, wake up.”
“What? Why?” I croak, my voice thick with sleep.
“There’s blood.”
My eyes snap wide awake and I sit up, seeing blood between my thighs, on the bedsheets and mattress. Even on Tyler.
“Oh my God, Tyler.” My vision blurs. My lungs are constricting. I can’t get enough oxygen.
“It’s okay, Harper. Breathe.” Tyler strokes my hair. “I’m going to call a doctor. I’ll take good care of you.”
His words barely register with me. All I can think about is the blood.
So much blood.