Chapter 21
Harper
It’s been two days since the tree lighting, and even with Gina keeping me busy with wedding preparations, Ford hasn’t left my thoughts for long. Our scorching kiss lingered in my mind, the one that made me forget the biting cold of the snow beneath us.
He knows how to kiss, and I can’t help but wonder what else he could do with that strong, assertive tongue. My neck flushes at the thought while I wait in The Cozy Crumb for Greta to make her way over.
I haven’t felt this way about anyone—Asher included—in such a long time. It’s refreshing, especially since I’m pretty sure Ford wants me, too. It’s been ages since I’ve felt desired by a man.
“Harper Wallace!” Greta beams as she approaches. “How are you, my girl?”
“I’m good, Greta. I need to place the order for Gina’s wedding. It’s not too late, is it?”
She scrunches her nose and shakes her head. “For my Wallace girls? Never. What has she decided on?”
“She wants bold. Red velvet. A three-tier cake with cream cheese frosting and four dozen cupcakes for the guests. No frills. Simple and clean.”
“That is a perfect Gina cake.”
I frown. “It is?”
“It fits her personality.”
“I suppose it does.” I’d never considered how a cake could reflect someone’s character.
“You are a surprise. Like funfetti. The outside looks unassuming, but once you take a bite, it’s a party.”
Laughing, I nod. “I do love funfetti.”
“Do you want me to throw in a funfetti cupcake for you with her order? No charge. I want to make sure you have something to enjoy at her wedding, too.”
Am I that obvious about my dislike for red velvet? “That’s okay. It’s Gina’s day.”
“But you should have something to eat with everyone else, dear.”
“Okay, that would be great. Thank you, Greta.”
The elderly woman has always been one of my favorites. During a brief baking phase, she welcomed me into the back to show me the ropes, never getting angry when I messed up a large batch of batter. Photography is where I truly shine, not in the kitchen.
Suddenly, Asher appears as if from thin air, cornering me. “We need to talk. Now.”
We step outside, and I frown at him. “Is this a better location for you?”
“What do you think you’re doing?”
“You’ll need to give me a bit more context, Asher. I was just ordering Gina’s cake.”
“With Ford. I’ve seen you together.”
Has he seen us kiss? We’ve shared more kisses than I ever anticipated, but not nearly enough. “What are you talking about?”
“I know you’re just trying to get back at me. You want to screw my best friend out of retaliation.”
“Anything I do or don’t do has nothing to do with you. In fact, I go out of my way to avoid anything involving you at all.”
“Then why did you go to Kenzie’s bridal shower?”
Is he serious? Does he not realize who he’s marrying? “Because, like you’re doing now, I got cornered and basically blackmailed into making an appearance. I had no real excuse not to go.”
“Likely story.”
“If you want me out of the picture, you should talk to your bride-to-be. She keeps shoving invitations down my throat in public to make me look bad if I refuse.” He scoffs. “Like you aren’t dying to see what she has planned.”
“I don’t want to go and celebrate the loss of my best friend any more than I want to think about the man who cheated on me and then used my money to pay for his wedding venue after stealing all of my wedding plans.”
“You were never Kenzie’s friend. Don’t lie.”
“I was Kenzie’s friend. She was never mine. But the truth is, Asher, we live in a small town. We’re kind of stuck together.”
“Why him, Harper?” Asher sounds hurt.
Asher never sounds hurt. Now I can’t figure out his angle. Everything between him and Kenzie feels like a game, but is he trying to guilt me? Or is he attempting to show real feelings?
“Do you want to hurt me? Because it won’t. To hurt me, I’d have to care.”
And just like that, he’s back.
“And I stopped caring the moment I had the best sex of my life with Kenzie while you wore my ring,” Asher says.
As much as I hate to admit it, that one stings. Asher was never interested in sex, and now I can’t help but feel responsible. I’m the reason he didn’t want me.
Ford appears out of nowhere, just like Asher did, and I realize I need to start paying better attention. I’m setting myself up for a heart attack if I don’t.
“Harper doesn’t need you accosting her outside the bakery. And we both know Kenzie won’t like it when the gossip gets around that you were talking to your ex on Main Street,” Ford says, stepping between us.
Asher opens his mouth, but his phone rings. I know it’s Kenzie, and I want to laugh as he walks away, but his words still linger like a bruise.
“Are you okay?” Ford asks.
I blink away tears and force a smile. “Yeah.”
“Come on,” he says, guiding me into his shop a few doors down. “What did he say?”
“You’re not just taking pity on me, right?”
“What?”
I hate the tears, and I can’t meet Ford’s gaze. “He basically said it was my fault he cheated. I suspected for a while that he didn’t want me anymore, but now it feels like it might be me.”
He wraps his arms around me, and I hug him gratefully. “It’s not you, Harper. There’s no pity from me. Asher’s dumb and blind.”
“He really does know how to hit where it hurts, huh?” I say with a dry laugh.
“It’s not you,” he whispers, kissing the top of my head. “Trust me, it’s not you.”
I want to believe him, but it seems my relationship with Kenzie isn’t the only one that wasn’t what I thought. Now I have to dissect my relationship with Asher to uncover the truth behind the facade. Happy Holidays to me.