Epilogue
The ringing of Harper’s phone woke them the next morning. Blindly reaching for it, she answered groggily. “Hello?”
“Hey, Harper. You didn’t answer my texts. Are you guys going to be able to join us today?”
“Just a sec,” she murmured. Turning her head to look over her shoulder, she quietly asked Chase, “Do you think we’ll be able to leave today?”
“We’ll be there by lunch.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder.
“What the fuck, Connelly? Did you bone my sister?!”
Harper shrieked. “Why are you FaceTiming me? You never FaceTime!”
“Why are you in bed with Chase?” he asked in return.
“That’s none of your business. We’re both consenting adults,” she answered primly.
“Chase, I’m gonna kick your ass,” Jackson threatened.
Chase leaned over Harper’s shoulder. “No, you’re not, dude. You always threaten it but never do. Besides, I’m way bigger than you.”
Jackson sputtered before answering, “Yeah, well, I have righteous anger on my side.”
“Why?” Chase asked calmly.
“You took advantage of my sister.”
Harper growled. “He absolutely didn’t. If anything, I took advantage of Chase.”
Chase leaned in. “Listen, man. I wouldn’t have slept with Harper if I only wanted a one-and-done. This means something. We’re still figuring out what, but that’s for the two of us to determine, not you.”
Harper added. “Don’t worry about me, Jackson. I’m a big girl, and Chase is a good guy. You know that.”
Jackson grumbled something too quietly for them to hear.
“What was that?”
“I said, ‘Yeah, I know, but don’t expect me to be all jazzed that my best friend and my little sister are sleeping together.’”
“Aw, I’m your bestie?” teased Chase.
“You’re such a dick.” There was a moment of silence. “Drive safe. We’ll see you up here.” Then Jackson ended the call.
Harper waited for a moment, not daring to look at Chase. When he rolled her to her back and loomed above, he was grinning.
“Well, I guess your whole family’s going to know by the time we arrive,” he said.
“Yeaahhh,” she said. “How do you feel about that?”
“I feel fine.” His expression matched his words. “I figured they’d know soon, anyway.”
She flushed with delight. “Really?”
“Of course. I meant what I said. This means something, and I don’t mind your family knowing so. But now, we should probably check out road and weather conditions so we can give your family an ETA.”
“Unless…” Harper began.
Chase lifted his eyebrows. “Unless?”
“I hadn’t planned to wake up quite this early, even if it is Thanksgiving. But now that we’re awake, maybe we can postpone actually getting out of bed for a little longer.”
He nodded as if giving serious consideration. “Hmm, an interesting proposition. Any suggestions for what we can do before we get up?”
Harper wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “I’m sure we can come up with something.”