Chapter 36 Harper #2
“If you’re sure.” I rarely have long nails either, due to ballet. But a wedding is a special occasion. “Zara, your turn next.” I take Zara’s hand in mine and wince at the state of her nails too. They’re no better than Ally’s. “Let me guess, no fake nails for you either?”
“Unless you want me to play terribly at the reception, no.” Zara gives an awkward laugh, tossing her black hair behind her shoulders.
“Gosh, I’m nervous. I hope I do Mozart proud.
I’ve been practicing the concerto like mad.
I have the Andante perfected. Maybe I shouldn’t play the other two movements. ”
“Of course you should,” Ally says. “I’ve heard you play them and you’re great. The Allegro maestoso is my favorite.”
There the two of them go again, chatting away about classical music. It’s cute, seeing this friendship they’ve formed.
I don’t know a whole lot about Zara. Apparently, she’s just moved here from out of state. She’s eighteen and in her senior year of high school. Zara boards at Sacred Heart during the week and lives with Violet each weekend. I don’t know where their parents are, nor does it seem appropriate to ask.
While Zara and Ally are good friends, I get the impression Zara is very much like a little sister.
They met a few years ago when Violet asked Ally if she could give Zara online piano lessons.
Each time Zara came to town to visit her sister, she met up with Ally for in-person lessons. I suppose the rest is history.
Zara brings a pink macaron to her lips. “I can’t wait for the look on Dan’s face when he sees you in your wedding dress.”
I switch to painting Zara’s other hand and laugh. “It most definitely won’t be appropriate for an audience. Ally, the way that man looks at you should be illegal.”
“Girl, please.” Ally giggles, sipping her champagne. “Have you seen the way Felix and Tyler look at you? I feel like I’m intruding every time I’m in the room with you three. I’m so happy everything has worked out.”
“Wait a second.” Violet holds up both hands. “I need details about the three of you. Like, holy fuck, you are living a dream, Harper.”
I bite my bottom lip and smile. “It is a dream. We grew up together. I’ve been in love with them my entire life. They feel like they’re part of my soul.”
Violet shakes her head. “That’s sweet, honey, but you know I was asking for details about the sex, right?”
Ally and Zara burst out laughing.
I roll my eyes, laughing with them. “Fine. The sex is mind-blowing.”
“How do the logistics work? I mean, they’re brothers. Do you take turns with them one at a time or…”
“They share me at the same time. We all sleep in the same bed. Satisfied?”
The three of them are squealing. I’m smiling, realizing how much I’m enjoying my night with these girls, all of us laughing, talking about guys and sex.
Girlhood is something I’ve often found missing in my life. Tyler was always my closest friend. Growing up in ballet school, everyone was so competitive, it was hard to form genuine friendships.
The one girl I thought was my friend… Even to this day, her betrayal burns beneath my skin when I think about her. Fuck Cindy.
But karma is a bitch. One year after Cindy stole my lead role, she took a tumble on stage and broke an ankle.
Her ballet career was over before it started.
She tried reaching out to me shortly after.
I didn’t give her the time of day and instead let her watch my career shine.
The best revenge is to live a happy and successful life, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
“Maybe this is a dumb question,” Zara adds with shy curiosity. “But what are the sleeping arrangements for Felix and Tyler when you’re not around, like tonight? Do they sleep in the same bed without you?”
We’re laughing again. I grab a pillow and swat Zara across the arm with it. “No. They have their own space. Enough about me. Violet, do you have any love stories brewing?”
“My love life is nonexistent.”
Ally snorts. “Are you sure about that? You and Killian…”
“There’s nothing between us. We’re just good friends.”
“Friends who have a ridiculous amount of chemistry?”
Violet is hot in the face. “We’re colleagues and have always kept things professional.”
“You want to be more than friends. I can tell.”
With a sigh, Violet collapses back against the headboard. “Fine. Yes. He’s incredible. Killian is smart, funny, and kind. And oh my god, he’s handsome. But it’s complicated. Sacred Heart has a strict no-dating policy between staff. We’d lose our jobs.”
I don’t know much about Sacred Heart, other than they fired Ally due to the controversy of her relationship with Dan. It doesn’t surprise me the school has an issue with staff members dating.
“You could get a different job,” I suggest.
“I don’t want a different job. I like Sacred Heart.” Violet groans into a pillow.
Though the mood is still lighthearted, the laughter and squealing has stopped.
Zara, who has been talking non-stop through the evening, is suddenly quiet.
Up until now, she’s had questions about Ally’s love life, even mine, but hasn’t spoken a word since the topic of Violet and Killian began.
Her head is down and she’s picking at her nails, removed from the conversation.
I toss a pillow at her. “You’re quiet over there. Stop ruining your nails.”
“What? Oh.” She blinks, flustered. “It’s weird hearing my sister talk about her love life. Especially when the guy is my teacher.”
“Fair point. Are there any guys you’re crushing on?”
“Definitely not.”
Violet removes the pillow from her face and laughs. “No need to lie, sis. Zara is in love.”
Zara flashes red. “What?”
“Wait,” Ally gasps, instantly invested. “Zara, you never told me this. Who is it?”
“Violet doesn’t know what she’s talking about. I’m not in love.”
“Oh, come on,” Violet teases. “You’ve been moody for months, then suddenly you’re all smiles and singing while you complete housework. There’s a guy. Admit it.”
“What, I’m not allowed to sing and smile?”
“I heard you sneak him into your bedroom one night.”
Zara’s eyes pop wide. Her jaw hangs open until finally she gives in, frustrated with her sister. “Fine. There’s a guy from school. That’s all I’m saying.”
Ally laughs. “I’ll get the details out of you when Violet isn’t around.”
“There aren’t any details. Can we get back to the important topic—you and Dan.”
“Agreed,” I say, helping Zara out of a topic she clearly wants to be free of. “Let’s run through the schedule for tomorrow one last time.”
The night continues with more laughter, nail polish, and food. Within the hour, the lights are off and the four of us are snuggled up in Ally’s bed, watching a movie. Violet is the first one to nod off, followed by Ally.
I drift to sleep holding my stomach, smiling and full of love, envisioning myself carrying Felix and Tyler’s child.
The same movie is still playing when I wake to the sound of something hitting the window. Something tiny and not overly loud, but enough to disturb me. I can’t have been asleep for long.
I rub my eyes, disoriented in the dark room. For a second, I think I imagined the sound until hearing it again. I glance around, finding Ally poking her head out the window.
“Dan?” she whisper-shouts. “What are you doing?”
From my spot in bed, I can just make out his hushed voice from the garden below. “Sneak out with me. Climb out the window.”
“We’re not supposed to see each other until the wedding.”
“When have we ever been traditional? Come on, baby, I need to be alone with you.”
She laughs, then swings one leg over the window ledge and climbs out of the room.
I can’t stop smiling. This is so Ally and Dan—reckless and romantic and completely in love.
I roll over, ready to fall back asleep, but realize Violet is the only other person in bed with me.
Zara has vanished. But to where?
I laugh to myself. She probably snuck off to be with that mystery guy from her school.
I thought this was supposed to be a girls’ night, but if Ally and Zara aren’t sleeping in here, why should I?
As quietly as possible, I slip out of the room, careful not to wake Violet. I make it ten steps down the hall before two sets of arms wrap around my waist and kisses claim either side of my face.
“Princess.”
“Had the same thought as us?” Felix whispers.
I nod. “Let’s get out of here.”