Chapter 13
Harper
Lying in bed, I scroll through my phone. As I flip through Facebook, I realize I no longer dread seeing posts about Kenzie and Asher. In fact, it’s time to unfriend them. Make it official.
Just as I’m about to take that step, a notification catches my eye. “Kenzie tagged me in a post?” I click on it and groan. “Can’t wait for my bridal shower tomorrow! Hoping my best friend since third grade, HARPER WALLACE, will show up. Everyone, help convince her to be a good friend and come!”
Fortunately, the only like on her post is from her grandma, but I can’t believe how far she’s willing to go. I dash down the stairs and plop onto the couch beside Gina. “Tell me you need me to do something tomorrow that will take all day.”
Gina laughs and asks, “Why?” I hold out my phone to show her Kenzie’s post, and she snarls. “What a bitch.”
“Gina! Language,” Mom scolds from the kitchen. “Who’s a bitch?”
Hearing Mom curse feels odd—not funny like a little kid swearing, but it’s hard to take her seriously. I show her the post, and she rolls her eyes. “See? I need a distraction tomorrow.”
“I think you should go, Harper.”
My jaw drops. “What?”
“I wouldn’t go,” Eric chimes in from the other side of the couch, shrugging.
Gina points at our little brother. “I agree with him. My God, I never thought I’d say that. What is happening?”
“I was invited to Asher’s bachelor party, and I told him where he can shove it,” he replies.
“Eric!” Mom scolds again, but her tone lacks conviction. Not like it does with Gina.
“What? He thinks I’m going to play nice with the guy who broke my sister’s heart. Yeah, right.”
I laugh. “He probably thinks you see him as a brother, just like he thinks Gina sees Kenzie as a sister.”
“Well, that confirms it,” he says, grabbing a slice of pizza from the box on the coffee table.
Mom never allows us to eat in the living room, yet she seems unbothered by Eric munching away. Maybe Gina was right about favorites.
“Confirms what, exactly?” Gina asks.
“He’s a moron. I always figured he couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time without his brain short-circuiting.”
“Now, Eric, that’s not nice…” Mom begins, but her voice trails off as she walks away.
Gina stares, mouth agape. “I would’ve been scolded for that.”
“I don’t have to worry about it. I’m the favorite.”
“I knew it!”
“Everyone knows,” Eric smirks.
Snagging a piece of pizza, I bite into it before Eric can stop me. “I don’t really have a reason not to go, do I?”
“You mean, besides the fact she’s marrying the man you were supposed to marry on the day you were going to marry him? No reason at all…” Gina rolls her eyes. “She’s just trying to get attention. She was annoyed she didn’t get hounded for weeks after everything went down.”
“And you coming home overshadowed her engagement. She has to try to reclaim the spotlight,” Eric adds. “Which just proves how much people like you and dislike her.”
I glance between them. “Was it always like this?”
“Yes,” they respond in unison.
Sighing, I lean back and chew. “I’m blind.”
“Pretty much. Speaking of being blind,” Eric says, snatching the last piece before Gina can grab it, “you’ve been spending a lot of time with Asher’s best friend lately.”
I frown. “How does that relate to being blind?”
“Because he’s been in love with you forever, and you pretend not to notice.”
“Oh, she’s not pretending,” Gina interjects. “She genuinely has blinders on and can’t see it.”
“Hey! Why are we ganging up on me?” I protest. “We just keep running into each other. It’s all a series of coincidences.”
“Yeah, those kisses are just coincidences.”
“What kisses?” Eric asks, his brow furrowing.
I shoot a glare at Gina. If she weren’t pregnant, I might actually consider smacking her. Maybe. Probably not.
“Did you just say Harper has kissed Ford?” Mom calls out as she walks into the room.
There’s always been speculation that Mom and Dad eavesdrop on our conversations from the kitchen, but this confirms it. The last thing I need is everyone knowing I’ve kissed Ford. Twice.
“Thanks, Gina,” I say through clenched teeth.
She grimaces, clearly regretting her slip, and mouths an apology as Mom settles onto the coffee table, pushing the empty pizza box aside.
“He’s a good kisser, isn’t he? He seems like he would be.”
The three of us stare in horror. Mom has thought about how good of a kisser Ford is?
“Don’t look at me like that! I don’t want to kiss him, but I think he’d be a good match for you.”
“Well, the first kiss was drunken, and the second one was… well, I think he just feels sorry for me or something,” I attempt to explain.
Eric chuckles. “It’s almost Christmas, Harp. Don’t start lying now. Santa doesn’t like it.”
“I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I came down here for help with Kenzie’s ridiculous invitation.”
“I think you should go. Show everyone you’re not still pining for Asher or holding a grudge,” Mom suggests.
“But I am still holding a grudge.”
My siblings exchange a knowing glance, and Gina grins. “But you’re not pining anymore?”
“For Asher? I’m pretty sure he used the money I paid for the venue to fund his wedding with Kenzie. I can’t prove it, but it feels… suspicious. Plus, I had to book the Starlight Manor nearly a year in advance. I doubt they just happened to have an opening when they got engaged a week ago.”
“He took your money?” Eric asks, his voice edged with disbelief.
I glance at Gina, who looks equally shocked. “Not that I can prove.”
“I can,” he states firmly as he stands. “Brandon handles all the scheduling for the Starlight Manor.”
As he strides past us toward his room, I point toward the hallway. “He seems oddly protective, doesn’t he?”
“I was just thinking that,” Gina replies.
“He may be your little brother, but he’s always looked out for you two. Dad had to talk him out of going after Asher when everything went down this summer,” Mom adds. “He may not say it, but he loves you both.”
“Color me stunned,” Gina remarks. “But not stunned silent. That’ll probably never happen.”
I laugh and cross my arms as we wait for Eric to speak with his childhood friend about the wedding venue. It surprised no one when Brandon began managing events across town.
Brandon has a strong feminine side and excels at planning and decorating. He possesses a vision that most men lack, and he genuinely enjoys the details—something I imagine his pregnant wife appreciates too.
“Well, good news and bad news,” Eric announces as he returns. “The bad news is that you definitely paid for the manor. The good news is that you don’t have to get Kenzie a present since you contributed to part of her wedding.”
Mom’s jaw drops, and Gina giggles. I shake my head in disbelief and ask, “You really think I should go now?”
“Absolutely, and make sure you eat five of everything she serves at her little shindig,” Mom insists.
We all chuckle, but a wave of dread washes over me. I really don’t want to go, but I know how it’ll look if I don’t have a solid excuse. For some reason, not wanting to celebrate my ex’s wedding won’t sit well with the town.
“Don’t look so glum. Ford’s coming over with his brother soon to help with some of the bigger things Dad can’t assist Lance with,” Gina reassures me.
Depression fades away, replaced by a flutter of anxiety and excitement.