Chapter 46 Harper
Two months. It had been two months since I ended things with Ryan, and I wasn’t letting myself regret the decision.
I couldn’t–not when my trust in him had shattered so completely.
Letting Connor keep him in his life was different; Ryan was someone my son admired, someone he still lit up around, and denying him that connection would’ve only punished Connor for something he didn’t deserve.
That didn’t change the truth between Ryan and me, though.
He’d lied, and no matter how much I wanted to forget it, no matter how much my heart twisted when I saw them together, I couldn’t build a future on broken trust.
I parked in front of our house, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the street. The day at work had drained me, and all I wanted was to scoop up Connor from Mrs. Knox, head home, and maybe sneak in a nap before dinner.
Mrs. Knox’s door was slightly ajar, the warm hum of laughter and playful shouting drifting from the backyard. Stepping onto the porch, I knocked lightly on the doorframe, the wooden boards still holding the day’s lingering heat beneath my feet.
The door swung open almost immediately, and Mrs. Knox greeted me with her ever-present warm smile, the kind that made me feel like I was stepping into a sanctuary.
“Evening, dear,” she said, stepping aside to let me in. “Come on in. The boys are having the time of their lives out back.”
“Thanks,” I said, slipping off my shoes as I stepped inside. “How’s he been?”
“Oh, Connor’s been an angel,” she said, waving a dismissive hand as if she’d expect nothing less. “He and the grandkids are running around like wild things. I think they’ve formed some kind of pirate crew.”
I chuckled, already picturing Connor with a makeshift eyepatch and a stick for a sword. “Sounds about right. I’ll go get him.”
“Actually,” Mrs. Knox said, stopping me with a gentle hand on my arm, “I was going to suggest something.”
I tilted my head, curious.
“The boys are having so much fun, I hate to break it up,” she began, her voice as warm as ever. “Why don’t you let him stay the night? Liam’s welcome too, if Nina’s okay with it. I’ll keep them all here, and you…” She gave me a pointed look, her eyes twinkling. “You take a night for yourself.”
“Oh, I don’t know…” I started, instinctively hesitating.
Mrs. Knox shook her head, her voice soft but firm. “Harper, you’ve been carrying a lot on your shoulders lately. You need to let yourself breathe, even if just for one night. Grab Nina, go have some fun. Stop overthinking and just… be in the moment.”
I hesitated, guilt warring with the sudden appeal of the idea. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not, dear. I love having Connor here. He and my grandkids get along like peas in a pod. Honestly, you’d be doing me a favour by letting them wear each other out,” she said with a wink.
A small laugh escaped me, and I nodded, finally giving in. “Okay. Thank you, Mrs. Knox. I really appreciate it.”
“Think nothing of it. Now go on, tell Connor goodnight and leave the rest to me.”
I stepped into the backyard, where Connor and Mrs. Knox’s grandkids were racing around, plastic swords waving wildly in the air. Connor spotted me and grinned ear to ear.
“Mom! Look! I’m Captain Connor, the fiercest pirate on the seas!”
“You sure are,” I said, smiling. “Listen, bud, Mrs. Knox said you can stay here tonight for a sleepover with the boys. How does that sound?”
His face lit up instantly. “Really? I can stay?”
“Really,” I confirmed.
“Yes!” he pumped a fist in the air before spinning back to his friends. “Guys! I get to stay the night!”
I reached for him, pulling him in for a quick hug and smoothing his sweaty hair back. “Okay, you behave, all right? And don’t forget to brush your teeth.”
“I will, Mom,” he said, already half-distracted, shifting on his feet like he couldn’t wait to get back to the game.
With a final goodbye to Mrs. Knox and a wave to the kids, I headed back across the driveway, pulling out my phone as I walked.
Harper: Hey, Mrs. Knox is keeping Connor for the night. She invited Liam too, if you’re good with that? Thought we could have a girls’ night?
The reply came almost instantly.
Nina: YES. Say no more. I’ll be over in an hour. Drinks and bad decisions incoming.
I laughed, already feeling a little lighter. Nina was exactly what I needed tonight.
Not even an hour later, she breezed into my house, her face lit up with excitement as she tossed her bag onto the couch. “Liam’s all set up at Mrs. Knox’s. Seriously, what an absolute angel that woman is. We should nominate her for sainthood or something.”
I laughed, nodding in agreement. “She really is the best. Honestly, she’s probably my favourite person in this town.” I paused, then added with a small smile, “Maybe in the whole world.”
Nina gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. “Excuse me? I thought I was your favourite person!”
“Sorry,” I teased, pulling a pair of heels from my closet. “You’re a close second, though.”
She huffed in mock offence before laughing. “Fine, fine. Mrs. Knox can have the top spot–for now. But only because she’s letting me have a kid-free night. Let’s make it worth it.”
The next hour was a whirlwind of trying on outfits, clothes flying into a growing pile on the bed as we debated what to wear. Nina finally settled on a sleek black jumpsuit that hugged her curves, while I stuck with my go-to: a simple yet flattering wrap dress paired with ankle boots.
As she applied a final coat of mascara, she glanced over at me. “So, what’s the plan? Pub first, then karaoke?”
I nodded, slipping on my boots. “Yeah, dinner and a drink to warm up, then we’ll hit the karaoke bar. But don’t even think about signing me up for anything.”
“Oh, come on!” Nina grinned mischievously. “You have the perfect voice for karaoke.”
“No way,” I said firmly, smoothing down my dress. “I’ll cheer you on, but that’s as far as it goes.”
“Your loss,” she quipped, grabbing her purse. “Let’s go.”
We arrived at the pub just as the early evening crowd was settling in, the low hum of conversation and clinking glasses filling the space. Warm lighting cast a cozy glow over the wooden booths and bar tops, and the scent of beer and fried food hung in the air.
As soon as we stepped inside, my eyes instinctively scanned the room. My stomach tightened when I spotted Shane in a booth near the back, leaning forward, talking animatedly to someone whose back was to me.
For a second, I held my breath, my pulse quickening. Was it–?
The man shifted slightly, and I exhaled, relief washing over me. Not Ryan.
Still, my gaze flickered across the pub–the bar, the corner tables, the group by the dartboard. I told myself I was just surveying the crowd, but I knew better. My chest tightened when I realized he wasn’t here.
“Looking for someone?” Nina asked, her tone teasing.
“No,” I said too quickly, shaking my head. “Just… checking out the crowd.”
Nina smirked knowingly, but before she could press further, Shane spotted us and waved us over. “Harper! Nina!”
“Oh great,” Nina muttered under her breath, shooting me a look as we walked toward the booth. “Brace yourself for the Shane Show.”
I stifled a laugh, grateful for her humour as we reached the table.
Shane greeted us with his signature smirk, looking far too pleased with himself. “If it isn’t my favourite critic and her charming sidekick.”
Nina snorted, flipping her hair dramatically. “I prefer ‘queen of sass,’ but I’ll let you have that one.” She crossed her arms, eyeing him. “So, Shane, who’s your victim tonight?”
Shane gestured to the man sitting across from him. “Ladies, meet Kyle.”
The man turned to face us, and my heart stopped.
Kyle. This was Kyle.
My eyes flicked down, taking in the wheelchair, the strong set of his shoulders, and the easy confidence in his posture. When I met his gaze, his deep green eyes were kind but sharp, studying me with quiet curiosity.
“You’re Ryan’s Harper?” he asked.
The way he said it–like the title meant something–made my breath catch.
“Oh yeah,” Shane grinned, like he’d just dropped some kind of bombshell. “That’s her.”
Kyle extended a hand toward me, and I shook it automatically, my mind scrambling to keep up. “I’ve heard a lot about you. And Connor,” he added, his smile widening.
I forced a weak one of my own. “Probably not the best things lately.”
Kyle chuckled, picking up his beer. “Ryan would never say a bad word about you. Ever.”
The certainty in his voice made my stomach twist. I opened my mouth, unsure what to say, but Shane cut in, gesturing toward the booth. “Sit down. Join us. Drinks are on me–well, actually on Kyle, since he’s the high roller here.”
Kyle rolled his eyes, clearly used to Shane’s antics. Nina shot me a quick look before sliding into the booth across from him, and after a brief hesitation I followed, settling in beside her.
A waitress appeared to take our orders. I asked for a glass of wine, suddenly feeling like I needed something to steady myself.
“So,” Nina said, resting her elbow on the table as she turned to Kyle. “What brings you to our little corner of the world?”
Kyle glanced at me briefly before answering. “Planning with Ryan. Helping him get things packed.”
My stomach lurched. Packed?
Beside me, Nina’s posture stiffened. I barely registered the way her fingers brushed against my arm–like, questioning, like she was silently asking What the fuck? My throat tightened, but I kept my eyes on Kyle, even as I felt Shane shift uncomfortably across the table.
I tried to keep my expression neutral, though my voice wavered slightly. “Packed? What for?”
Kyle and Shane exchanged a look–one of those silent conversations that spoke volumes. Shane glanced down at his drink, suddenly fascinated by the condensation on the glass, deliberately avoiding my gaze. My pulse pounded in my ears.