Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
TYLER
“Thanks for hosting dinner, bro,” Killian says as the valet of my apartment building delivers him his Bentley. “Didn’t know you were such a good cook.”
Ahead of us, Dan and Ally are climbing into their Aston Martin. I had the three of them over for dinner and it was great. The night would have been perfect if Felix were here, all my siblings under one roof, but I didn’t bother extending an invitation to him, knowing the timing isn’t right.
One week has passed since the engagement party.
One week since I’ve let go of Harper. I assume she’s been with Felix every moment.
I haven’t attempted to contact either of them, wanting to give them uninterrupted time together.
I’ve been busy enough as is, arranging a place to live in the city.
Luckily for me, the lease on one of my investment properties on the Upper West Side recently ended and I’ve been able to move in.
Throwing a housewarming dinner wasn’t a priority. This apartment won’t ever feel like home without Harper and Felix. But I wanted an excuse to spend time with my siblings.
“All right. I’m heading back to the Hamptons.” Killian climbs into the driver’s seat.
He reaches to close the door, but I hold it open.
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to tell you—about Dan and Ally’s wedding—if you need to switch your bridesmaid partner, I have no issue with you taking Harper.
We’re not getting back together. I’ll partner up with Zara to help you out of a tricky situation. ”
He rubs the back of his neck, hesitating. “Oh. Ah… About that… I was overreacting. I’ll stay with Zara. But thanks for the offer.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah. It’ll be fine. See you later.” Killian closes the door and quickly starts the engine, driving off before I can mention it’s probably best we swap partners, given that Harper and Felix are now a couple.
Though, I’m unsure if Killian knows about their relationship. They were a topic of conversation I avoided tonight. Killian would have had questions for me. My brother and my ex-girlfriend dating. I can only imagine the PR disaster their relationship will cause Forever Families when they go public.
Whatever. That’s not my issue.
My attention switches to Dan and Ally. They wave goodbye from within their car. I should call it a night, but there’s a niggling in my chest, an emptiness telling me this is the right moment to speak with Felix.
Dinner with my brothers and Ally was one of the best nights I’ve had in a while. We didn’t do anything fancy, just talked and laughed as siblings are supposed to. Yet without Felix, our group didn’t feel complete.
He needs to hear this from me.
I knock on Dan’s window, speaking when he winds it down. “You’re driving near Felix’s building, right? Do you mind dropping me off there? I need to talk with him.”
They both share a look of uncertainty, but Dan nods. “Yeah, sure.”
I climb in the backseat, sitting in the center as Dan pulls into traffic. For the first time all night, there’s an awkward silence between us. I know it’s because they have knowledge of Felix and Harper’s relationship I’m not aware of.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to place either of you in the middle of anything with Felix.”
Ally peers back at me. “I’m nervous for you. I want you three to work this out but I don’t think Felix is ready.”
“You really don’t need to say anything. Let’s focus on happier news. Honeymooning in Europe. Sounds romantic. What are the plans?”
“We’ll be traveling all around. Italy. France. Germany.”
Dan laughs, spreading an arm over Ally’s shoulders as he drives. “You and goddamn Germany.”
“What’s the issue with Germany?” I ask.
“Ally hasn’t stopped talking about this ridiculous performance she wants to see.”
“It’s not ridiculous,” Ally laughs. “It’s history in the making. There’s an organ performance happening right now that won’t finish until the year 2640. I’m not joking. It’s called As Slow as Possible.”
“I might have to side with Dan on this one. How does that even work?”
“Sandbags hold down the keys,” Ally explains.
She speaks with her hands, her face animated and her voice excited.
“The performance started years ago, with the instructions of seventeen months of silence. There’ll be a note change during our honeymoon.
People gathered to witness the last note change. ”
“That’s not music,” Dan teases.
“It’s avant-garde and we’re traveling to Germany for it.”
“I know, baby. Any passion of yours is automatically important to me.”
I don’t doubt my brother for a second. During dinner, every time Ally spoke about her studies at Juilliard, Dan listened intently. He raved about her performances. I didn’t know this about him, but he has decent piano skills too, all for the sake of taking an interest in Ally’s passion.
The three of us chat about the wedding for the remainder of the drive. With the wedding less than two months away and Ally new to her studies, they say the honeymoon will be delayed until Christmas.
Before I know it, the car pulls up in front of Felix’s cocktail lounge.
Dan glances back at me. “I’m not sure you’ve thought this plan through. You think you can gain access to the speakeasy? Felix only lets you enter on Mom’s anniversary when we’re all together.”
Shit. He’s right. I didn’t think this through at all.
Ally clears her throat. “I know I shouldn’t interfere, but Harper told me they’ve been spending a lot of time in the penthouse.”
“Another dead end,” I groan. “The doorman has been given orders to deny my entrance.”
“I can try calling Felix to meet us out front.”
Before I can discard that option, Ally has her phone pressed to her ear.
After a long pause, she tucks her phone away.
“No answer.” She chews her bottom lip, looking back and forth at me and Dan, concocting another plan.
“You and Dan look very similar. If you approach the building with me, perhaps the doorman will mistake you for Dan.”
“Ally…” I hesitate, smoothing my hair. “I appreciate your willingness, but you shouldn’t get involved.”
“Agreed,” Dan tells her.
“I want to help,” she urges. “Felix can get angry at me if he wants. I don’t care.”
I’m not pleased about involving Ally, but I run through my options, not seeing any other path of success. “Okay. Let’s give this a try.”
Dan sighs. “My word of advice? Don’t do this. Either of you. It will backfire.”
“We’ll be fine.” Ally kisses him on the cheek and steps out of the car.
I follow her to the sidewalk, knowing Dan is most certainly right and there will be repercussions. But unlike other times, I’m not here to discuss Harper and the three of us reuniting.
Ally and I bypass the cocktail lounge on the first floor, arriving on the level above where a doorman monitors the residence entrance to the high-rise.
Acting as a couple, Ally links arms with me, pretending to laugh as we approach the doorman. “Hi, I’m here to see my brother, Felix Blackwood. I know it’s late, but can you let him know Ally and Dan are here. We need to discuss something important with him.”
“Of course,” the man says, opening the door for us. “Step inside please. Make yourself comfortable while I contact the penthouse.”
Ally squeezes my hand with excitement as soon as we pass the doorman. I’m shocked her plan worked. Now all that’s left to do is wait and hope Felix meets with us.
The lobby is quiet at this time of night. Ally lets go of my arm and we stand by the elevators.
Within a minute, the doorman calls to us, “Mr. Blackwood will be down in one moment.”
With my hands stuffed in my jacket pockets and my heart pounding like I’ve sprinted a race, I watch the elevator dial lower as Felix travels down the building.
“Thanks for getting me this far, but you should go now,” I tell Ally. “I meant what I said about not wanting to involve you in this mess.”
“If you’re sure. Good luck.”
She disappears right as the elevator doors slide open. Felix steps out. The buttons of his shirt are half undone and the collar has lipstick stains. His hair is messy. No doubt he has Harper naked upstairs.
Felix halts at the sight of me. “For fuck’s sake. Dan and Ally? Really? Pathetic. Get out of here, Tyler.”
Keeping my hands in my pockets, I shrug, maintaining my calm. I’m tired of fighting with my brother and won’t let this encounter turn into an argument. “I needed some way to get you to talk to me.”
“To beg for my forgiveness again?” he drones.
“No. I had Killian, Dan, and Ally at my place for dinner tonight. It felt wrong without you there.”
He brushes a piece of lint off his shoulder, bored by my statement. “That’s what you came here to say?”
“Yes. Listen, I’m not here to fuck anything up between you and Harper.
I’m not here to talk about her at all. I came to say I miss you, man.
I’m not asking for things to go back to how they were.
I’m just asking that you stop hating me because…
” I sigh and speak the god’s honest truth.
“I need you in my life, okay? As my brother.”
His boredom doesn’t shift. He watches me like my presence is a hindrance.
I really hate this side of Felix and groan with frustration. I didn’t come here to fight, but of course that’s exactly what we’re doing. “You want to be angry at me. You want to make me suffer. Trust me, I’ve been suffering for eight fucking years.”
“Oh, really?” His words are amused and condescending.
“You’ve had Harper to yourself all that time.
The way I see it, you’ve had things pretty fucking good.
Now, it’s my time with her. She’s mine and you won’t ever fucking touch her again.
You think you’ve been suffering? Your suffering hasn’t started until now.
It’s your turn to watch me be the one who makes Harper happy.
You’ll get to watch her be pregnant with my child.
” He laughs beneath his breath, the tone vicious.
“If I’m feeling nice, maybe I’ll let you watch me fuck her pregnant. I know you’re into that shit.”
“Fuck you.”
“We’re done here.” Felix presses the elevator button.
“I told you I didn’t come here to talk about Harper. But since you made this about her, I’ll say one thing. You’re delusional if you think the two of you will be happy in the long run. Give it time. You’ll soon realize no combination works unless it’s the three of us.”
He laughs again. “You couldn’t make a relationship work with Harper. I won’t make the same mistakes with her you did.”
“She might be happy with you for a while, but deep down, you know she’ll never truly be satisfied without both of us. We fulfill different needs of hers. I was never happy without you.”
Felix steps into the elevator. “Almost a decade has passed. We were different people back then. I will fulfill any need Harper has.”
The door slides shut but I stick my arm out, forcing the elevator to remain open.
He wants to play dirty? I can play right back.
“Harper’s heart will never change. But it’s not just her heart that needs satisfying, and you know it.
The only time Harper was ever truly satisfied was when she was working up a sweat, bouncing on both of our cocks at once.
I know how much you enjoyed those moments.
You acted like I was the sick fuck, but I never saw you enjoy yourself more than when we fucked her together.
So, go ahead and live in delusion. I know it’s only a matter of time before I’m filling her pussy while you fuck her ass. ”
His jaw twitches as his eyes throw daggers at me. “Get your arm out of my fucking elevator.”
I step back, knowing I’ve gotten under his skin. As much as Felix tries to hide behind anger, he likes what I described. But as the elevator slides closed, I’m left staring at my reflection in the steel doors, wondering if I’ve made everything one hundred times worse between us.