30. Friendly Nations
Friendly Nations
Harper
My cheeks are hot as we’re getting ready to leave Jack’s room in the morning. I’ve showered and dressed. We must have fallen asleep with me on top of him with his cock still inside me. And I woke to him thrusting and me on the way to an orgasm that I wasn’t that quiet about.
“No one heard,” Jack says for the hundredth time. “I’m on the other side of the house from their bedrooms. The kitchen is on that side of the house too. You have nothing to worry about.”
Except this is Jack’s house, and his little sister lives here. And my mom would have been home and might have been awake and checking on us.
“Can we just stay home sick?” I lift my gaze to Jack’s.
The smile he gives me warms my heart, but he shakes his head. “Come on. This won’t be the worst thing you face this week. If someone comments, just say you had a charley horse.”
I roll my eyes. Like anyone’s going to believe that. Jack chuckles at my expression and takes my hand to drag me out of his bedroom. I follow him, wishing I’d put on jeans instead of a skirt. My ponytail bounces behind me.
“Good morning.” Robert is standing next to the stove cooking pancakes. I wish my face would cool down.
My stomach growls at the wonderful scent. Please don’t say anything about working up an appetite.
“Coffee is to the left, sweetie.” Mom’s voice draws my attention. She’s sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee. My heart calms at seeing her. She’s still in her scrubs from her shift at the hospital, but she’s here.
She’s here. It feels like I can breathe again. She’s my home.
I grin like a fool and head for the coffee. It’s hard to imagine a life without my mom in it. Just like I can’t imagine life with a dad. She’s been the only parent for me over the years. She’s all I needed.
When Jack hands me a coffee mug, I pour myself a cup and fill his cup too.
My eyes meet his, and he smiles softly at my excitement at seeing my mom.
Some of the darkness has faded under his eyes.
Not sure how he slept with me on top of him, but he looks more rested than I’ve seen him.
A few more nights of good sleep and maybe he won’t need caffeine at all.
The day feels brighter already. I take my cup and sit next to Mom.
“Good morning,” I chirp. Fuck, it feels good to have her here.
“Harper. Jack. I hope you slept well last night.” She arches an eyebrow, and my face heats. Fuck. I’d almost forgotten about that.
“Never better.” Jack grabs a plate of pancakes and puts it in front of me.
I don’t think my face can get any redder. If they didn’t know before, I probably just outed us.
“Daddy!” Lucy comes running into the kitchen and latches onto her father’s leg. “You made my favorite.”
I’ve never been more grateful for a distraction.
“I always do. Get your juice and sit at the table. I’ll bring you a plate.” Robert’s smile is soft for his daughter as he smooths her hair back from her face. Her devotion to him is obvious.
“I got you, Lucy.” Jack sets down a plate of pancakes for Lucy across from Mom and me.
“Thank you, Jacky.” Lucy grabs a juice box out of the refrigerator and sits across from me. “Do you like pancakes, Harper?”
“I do. What do you like on yours?” I give her a smile.
“Chocolate chips and whipped cream, but that’s only on weekends.” She pouts.
“I like powdered sugar and butter, but only on the weekends.” I give her a wink.
She smiles and grabs for the bowl of fruit on the table. Berries and bananas cover her pancakes, just like mine.
“What’s the plan for after school?” Mom asks.
I look up with my mouth full as Jack sits down next to me. He has a can of whipped cream and sprays some on Lucy’s and my pancakes with a wink. Lucy giggles.
“She’s been driving Nico home and staying there until we’re done with practice.” Jack grabs the bowl of fruit to top his pancakes before adding whipped cream.
“I didn’t see Harper’s car.” Mom looks toward the driveway like she can see through walls.
“It’s still at home.” I use my napkin to wipe my mouth. “Do you want me to come here instead?”
I’m so ready to be parented again.
“You can if you want. I’m sure you’re safe at Nico’s too.” Mom leans back in her chair and looks at Robert. Her gaze is narrowed on him like she’s still trying to figure him out.
Does she suspect he’s the reason my dad is gone? That he set my father up? Or does she know more that she hasn’t told us?
It’s frustrating knowing I can’t even ask her here. Or anywhere.
Speaking of secrets.
“Umm, Mom?” I take a sip of my coffee.
She lifts her brow at me. “Yes, Harper?”
“You remember our friend?” I glance toward Robert who isn’t paying attention. At least not watching us.
She tips her head and says, “Yes?”
“Do you think they’d be willing to help me with a special project?” I glance at Robert again before widening my eyes at my mom. “It’s a very special project that I need someone who won’t mess it up.”
Mom sits back and thinks as she drinks her coffee. “Depending on the project, I’m sure they would be able to help you. On another topic, we need to change the word. Too many people have it.”
I nod. I’ve been thinking of coming up with one for the guys and me.
There are too many people who we only trust a little and some who we probably trust too much.
With some of the situations I might find myself in, it’d be better to have a code word that verifies that person.
Though we may already have one since I have a safe word.
“Remember what I gave you for your birthday?” Mom asks.
The motorcycle and the college fund. “Yes.”
Her eyes meet mine. “You get it, kid?”
Uh… so is it the motorcycle keys, the college fund, or the actual motorcycle.
She pats my knee and smiles. “You’ll figure it out when you hear it.”
“We should head to school, Harper.” Jack takes my plate and his and loads them in the dishwasher. “See you, Dad. Lucy.”
Lucy jumps out of her chair and runs over to hug Jack’s legs. “Have a great day!”
“You too!” He hugs her back before taking my hand.
“I’ll see you later, Mom.”
She raises her coffee mug to me. “Love you.”
I pull away from Jack and wrap my arms around my mom’s shoulders from behind her chair. I breathe in her coconut scent. Just knowing she’s right here makes me feel so much better and safer.
“I love you, Mom.”
She pats my hand. “I’ll see you later.”
I’m grinning as I release her and walk outside with Jack.
“Fuck, now I don’t want to go to school because it will probably ruin your mood.” Jack draws me into his arms and kisses my smiling lips.
“I hope not.” I run my hand through his hair and study his eyes. “Did you sleep well?”
He chuckles and pulls me to his car. “Like a fucking log, buried inside you all night.”
I glance back at the house, but there’s no one else out here.
“We should do that every night, sweetheart.” He opens the door for me, and I slide into his car. My cheeks are hot again, thinking of everything we did last night. He plays some alt rock station. Those easy feelings from breakfast dissipate the closer we get to the school.
What new hell will be waiting for me today?
Eli
The whole school seems to be holding its breath.
Waiting for something epic to happen. Whether it’s the fall of the horsemen or our takedown of whoever’s rising up against us.
I don’t think many students care which way it goes.
They just want something to liven up the day-to-day that can become stale.
Though maybe not with Homecoming week. It must be crazy hair day because half of the students in the hallway look like they didn’t bother to brush their hair. A few could win some points for originality.
“Did you hear everything you needed last night?” Ashley falls against the locker beside me. She doesn’t look my way, and I don’t look hers.
I have a foot up against the baseboard as the students hurry off to classes.
“He didn’t say much we didn’t know.” I shrug.
She scoffs. “Like he’s going to monologue. At least Sidney thinks I’m on her side. Maybe she’ll give me some info in the locker room.”
“If he tries to take her at the game, can I have your word you’ll help her?” I turn and look down at her.
A few expressions cross her face too quickly for me to sus out. Her dark eyes lift to mine.
“You want me to help your girlfriend?” Her eyes narrow.
“We can use all the help we can get.” I run my hand through my hair. “It’s not like we’re enemies. You and I had a thing. I was angry, and you needed—”
“Fuck.” Ashley tilts her head like she can’t believe what she’s seeing. “You’re gone on her, aren’t you?”
“There’s a reason she’s my girlfriend.” I don’t let her see the truth. That Harper truly is my vulnerability. “I don’t want her hurt.”
“Huh.” Ashley turns to face straight ahead again. “I’ll do what I can. I can’t make you any promises though. You’ve got football, but I have cheerleading. So if he makes off with her during the game, we’re all out of luck.”
“You still good about the arrangement?” I look at her out of the corner of my eye.
Her lips purse, and she blows out a breath. “Things are so fucking tense at home. What you always gave me was better than the therapist they had me see. So if this guy can deliver, then yes, I’m all in.” Her dark eyes meet mine. “Are you getting what you need?”
The question is like a friend asking a friend, not as a bitter ex-lover. I lean my head back against the locker and picture Harper. Her soft smile. The way she bends to my will. That gentleness I didn’t think I needed.
Ashley has hard edges. It made playing with her easy because she needed it as much as I did. But Harper... fuck, she just wants to make me happy. And she does.
I almost rub the lightness in my chest. “Yeah, I am.”
“If this guy does something wrong, I’m expecting you to fix it.” Ashley steps away and puts her hands on her hips.
“I’m not fucking y—”
“No, asshole. I’m not someone you cheat with, so fuck that noise. But I want your protection if something goes wrong.” There’s a vulnerability in Ashley’s eyes as she shows me that pain that she can’t shake.
I draw in a breath. “You’ll always have my protection, Ash.”
She nods and closes her eyes. When they open, the pain is gone and only that hard shell she wears is there. “I’ll see if I can find out more, and I’ll watch your girl when I can.”
She taps her fist against my shoulder before wandering down the hallway.
I’ve done what I can to make sure she has a safe experience, but I’ll double-check with Wilder to make sure he knows if anything happens to her or if she tells me anything went wrong, we’ll make him pay.
I pull out my phone and text him just that. The warning bell rings. Fuck high school. I’m ready to be done with these four walls.
When I walk into second period, Harper looks up and smiles when she notices me. Ashley’s right. I am gone for this girl, but that just makes me more dangerous.
Now, I have something I want to keep and protect at all costs.
I sit in front of her and capture the back of her neck. My lips take hers, and she softens, releasing a little mewl of need. She gets under my skin, and I like it.
When I release her, her dark eyes meet mine and she lets out a breath. I want to capture this moment forever. See that love shining in her eyes every day for the rest of my life. This girl is mine. And no one will take what’s mine.