Chapter 18
“Um, Harper?” Summer said as she pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot and slowly made her way through all the cars looking for an empty spot.
“Yeah?” Harper said, resting her head on her hand, her eyes closed as she tried to get rid of the headache she’d had since they’d talked about her father in the pool. Lately the idea of dealing with him always brought one on.
“Remember you said that as soon as Clay came home from school, you were going to tell him that he’s your mate and that you’re pretty sure that you’re actually mated to him already, and that you’re in love with him?”
“Mmhmm. And I am.”
“You sure about that?” Summer asked.
Harper dropped her hand and sat up straight in the passenger seat. “Why? What’s happening?” she asked, as her eyes scanned the cars parked in the lot.
“He’s here. His car was up front parked by the store.”
“Nooooo!”
“Yesssss,” Summer said. “It’s now or never, babe!
“But he’s not supposed to be here! His finals didn’t end until today. He should still be at school.”
“I have no answers for you. But he’s here. And you said you were going to do it. So, are you, or are you going to chicken out?”
“I do not chicken out. Never have. But why didn’t he let me know he was coming home?”
Summer pulled into a parking space and put the car in park. “Well, maybe he still thinks he’s in the friend zone. But, I have a feeling that’s about to change. I’ll see you in there.”
Harper grinned at Summer.
Summer grinned at Harper.
Harper opened the passenger door, hopped out and started running.
The idea of telling Clay how she felt and that she believed that they were already mated and him being as overjoyed as she was all she could see.
She ran toward the restaurant’s front doors, then burst through them, hesitating as she figured out where he was sitting.
She heard his laugh and zeroed in on the booth at the far rear right side of the restaurant.
She focused on it and hurried that way. She couldn’t see anything because Richie was standing there talking to Clay, but she knew Clay’s voice and his laughter, so she had no doubt that Clay was sitting in that booth.
“Clay!” she exclaimed. “Clay!”
Clay leaned out to look past his father.
Richie turned around and beamed a huge smile at her. “Harper, we were just talking about you!”
“Oh, yeah? What did I do now?” she joked.
“Nothing, not a thing. Just saying how you and Clay have been friends for forever.”
“True, that is true,” Harper said as she hesitated long enough to hug Richie.
“But, I think we need to talk about that,” she said, finally turning toward the booth and getting a good look for the first time.
Her smile fell, her heart dropped and she wished that she could fall through the floor and disappear once she saw the beautiful, professional woman sitting with Clay.
“I… I”m sorry. I didn’t know Clay had company. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“It’s no interruption. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m happy to finally put a face with the name,” the woman said.
Harper tried to smile, but didn’t quite achieve it.
“As I’m sure you’ve already figured out, this is Harper,” Clay said. “And this is… well, this is Erica.”
“Erica,” Harper repeated, the name barely a whisper before finding her voice again.
“I’m glad to finally meet you.” Harper didn’t meet Clay’s eyes, or even Richie’s.
She was looking frantically at the walls and everything that hung on them, desperately trying not to let them see the devastation in her own eyes.
“I have to go. We’re just picking up lunch.
I’m sure I’ll see you both again soon.” She started backing away from the table.
“Or maybe not too soon, but soon enough,” she rambled.
“Harper?” Clay said as he slowly stood, concern on his face.
“I’m good, I’m good! Sit back down and finish your meals! I have to go, Summer’s waiting.” She turned to run quickly through the dining room and literally bounced right off Summer, who having just picked up their to go order, was making her way over to the table.
“Hey!” Summer exclaimed, trying to catch Harper and not drop the bags of food that she held.
Harper looked at Summer.
Summer took note of the trembling lips. The tears already beginning to course down Harper’s face and her eyes turned steely.
Harper shook her head furiously, then sidestepped Summer and rushed out of the restaurant.
“Harper!” Clay exclaimed one more time before she made it out of the door.
“What did you do?!” Summer demanded angrily.
“Nothing! We were just having lunch and I introduced Harper to Erica. She got all weird and starting making excuses of why she had to go,” Clay said.
“What did she say?!” Summer demanded.
“Nothing really,” Clay said.
Summer glared at the woman sitting with Clay, then at Clay. “You’re a jerk!” Summer said angrily before she turned and ran after Harper.
“Hang on, Summer! I didn’t do anything!”
“Exactly!” Summer shot back as she yanked the door open and quickly left the restaurant. Summer hurried straight to her car as quickly as she could. But there was no sign of Harper.
“Harper?!” Summer called out.
There was no answer.
“Harper! Where are you?!”
Still, there was no answer.
Summer put the food in her car, then took out her phone and called Libby.
“You forget what we wanted already?” Libby said jokingly into the phone.
“Harper’s gone!” Summer said.
“What? What do you mean gone?”
“Clay was here having lunch with some woman. Harper freaked and ran out of the restaurant. I was only a minute or two behind her because I stayed behind to deal with him, but now she’s gone. She’s not in my car, I don’t see her anywhere.”
“Hold on,” Libby said, taking her ear away from the phone and pulling up the tracking app they were all on. She signed into it, and tapped on Harper’s icon. She tapped at it and zoomed in a few times, then put her ear back to the phone. “It says she’s right there, Summer.”
Summer looked around the parking lot again. “Harper!” Summer screamed. “I’m not leaving without you!”
“Is her phone in your car?” Libby asked.
Summer leaned over and dug around the passenger side seat with one hand while holding the to-go order with her other hand. “Yes!” she shouted. “I have her phone. Noooo! I have her phone. How is she going to call us?”
“Summer! What is going on?” Clay asked, coming out of the building with Richie right behind him.
Summer spun to face him. “Are you Harper’s mate?” she demanded vehemently.
Clay took a step back like he’d been slapped. “Well, yes. But I haven’t told her that.”
“No. No you wouldn’t. Instead you’re sitting in there making all nice-nice with some woman like she’s the one you’re supposed to be with.
Ever consider how that might make Harper feel?
No, I’m sure you didn’t, because you probably haven’t even noticed that the two of you are already mated!
You made her bleed didn’t you? And she scratched your arms. Blood exchange, my friend!
You're mated. And she’s been suffering without you but wouldn’t call to even straighten it out because she didn’t want to screw up your precious finals.
I don’t have that problem. Screw you. Screw your girlfriend. I hope you both suck.”
“She’s not my girlfriend!” Clay said.
“Doesn’t really matter now. Harper is gone. Go back and play a while. I hope she gives you something penicillin won’t kill.”
“What do you mean she’s gone?” Clay demanded.
“Gone! As in not here. Missing. And I don’t know where she is. She ran because of you! So, thanks for that!” Summer bellowed at him as she turned her back to him and Richie and started moving through the parking lot looking for Harper. “Harper?!” she screamed over and over again.
“Summer!” Libby screamed into her phone for what must have been the dozenth time.
“What?!” Summer finally answered.
“I’m on my way. Don’t leave until I get there.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I find my friend!” Summer said.
“I’m going around back,” Clay said, starting out at a run.
“I’ll stay with Erica!” Richie called out.
Summer, who was ending the call with Libby, turned around with a snarl as she focused on Richie. “Yes, because his girlfriend is more important than Harper!”
Richie canted his head and walked slowly toward Summer. “What did you say?”
“I said his girlfriend doesn’t matter. Let her sit alone while you help find Harper. She’s heartbroken and hiding, and you’re worried about your son’s girlfriend.”
“Summer, Erica is not Clay’s girlfriend. She’s his attorney.”
Summer turned back to Richie, ready to snap at him again, but the words got stuck.
“His… well, you know what? It doesn’t matter.
Harper went in there to tell him she’s his mate and they’re mated.
She was so excited to finally let him know that she loves him.
And instead she left in tears because he’s sitting there with another woman. ”
“He knows,” Richie said.
“Then why did he come home early and not even bother to tell Harper? Why is he sitting here with someone else and not with her?”
“That’s not my business to tell, and you need to remember that I’m your uncle, and second in this Pride. I am not your equal. Watch the way you talk to me,” Richie warned.
Summer narrowed her eyes as she glared at Richie. “Sorry. Maybe you can pass a little of my attitude along to your son.” She stalked off, heading around the outside of the restaurant, not trusting Clay to check properly.
Richie shook his head, called for Harper a few times, but when he got no answer and heard both Summer and Clay calling her name, he went back inside to check on Erica.
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