Chapter 18 #2
Harper quickly let herself through the gate of the black wrought iron fence that kept the parking lot of the restaurant separate from Riley and Maia’s house.
Her tears were uncontrollable, and the last thing she wanted was Clay to see them and know that she was hurting.
He’d never, ever know that she was hurting.
She’d be damned if she ever let that happen.
The only thing she could think of was to get away from everyone.
Even from Summer, because it was evident when she took a quick glance behind herself that Summer hadn’t followed her out.
She was probably still inside the restaurant.
And knowing Summer, she was telling everybody off.
“I don’t even care,” Harper whispered to herself as she choked back a sob and hurried into the back yard of Maia and Riley’s house.
Harper darted past the pool, then past the back porch, and took shelter in a thick flower bed of giant Canna Lillies and Tropical Hibiscus knowing they’d never see her in there.
She sank down in the middle of them and finally let her tears flow freely.
The sobs, though. No, not going to happen because someone might hear them and she didn’t want to be found by anyone.
Maia was sitting inside at her kitchen table, had heard the chime on the side gate go off, and saw movement dart across the yard.
She focused just as Harper stepped into the flower bed with the twenty foot lillies in it.
Maia got up, her brows bunching in confusion as she went out onto her porch. “Harper? Honey, what’s going on?”
Harper didn’t answer.
“Harper! I saw you run into my flower bed. Are you okay?”
Harper thought about it and knew she couldn’t defy her Reigna. She slowly stood up and moved the flower stalks in front of her aside as she looked up at Maia still standing on her back porch. “I’m hiding.”
“From?”
“Everybody,” Harper said, her lips starting to tremble again.
“Oh, honey. Come on, come inside.”
“I don’t want them to find me,” she confessed. “I don’t want Clay to see me crying. We were at the restaurant and I didn’t know where else to go that was nearby.”
“There’s a lesser chance of them finding you in here than out there. Come on,” Maia said, returning to her back door and opening it wide before looking back at Harper.
Harper nodded and followed Maia inside.
Maia rubbed her back as she went past. “Let’s go into the office. They can’t see you from outside if we’re in the front office.”
Harper nodded and allowed Maia to escort her into the office at the front of the house.
“Okay. Now, have a seat and tell me what’s going on,” Maia said.
“I feel so stupid.”
“We’ve all been there. Why do you feel stupid? And before you tell me, I have no doubt that I could outdo you with some of the things I’ve done.”
Harper, still struggling to control her tears, just looked at Maia.
“Come on, tell me.”
Harper took a deep breath, then let it all out at once without pausing between sentences.
“He’s my mate. In fact, I think we’re already mated.
I went to tell him, and I was so excited to tell him I love him.
I ran in the restaurant when I saw his car parked outside because I thought he was still at school.
He said he would let me know when he got home, but I hadn’t gotten a call yet.
But I was happy that he came back early and I could finally tell him. But he was in there with someone else.”
“Oh, Harper, I’m so sorry. Maybe she’s just a friend.”
Harper shook her head. “You don’t understand.
He said he’d met someone he thought might be his mate.
But we both felt a pull, I know we did. We spent some time together, even with me knowing that he might actually choose this other person, though he denied there was anybody.
Somehow we managed to actually finalize the mating bond even though there was no biting. ”
“Blood exchange,” Maia said.
“Unintentional, but yes. I didn’t say anything to him about it.
He’s had finals and I didn’t want to mess them up for him if he didn’t already know.
But while he’s been gone, I realized that it’s getting harder and harder to be away from him.
And wanting him wasn’t just a choice. I belong to him and I was so sure that he would feel the same.
But then when I got inside, he introduced me to Erica. ”
“What did he say when he introduced her?” Maia asked.
“It’s almost like he was afraid to introduce her. Like he knew he couldn’t tell me who she was. I felt the tears start to sting and ran. And it makes me so angry.”
“Of course it does. You're his mate.”
“No, that part hurts, but it’s my reaction.
I’m so angry. And with everything that is going on with my father lately and I was so proud of myself for being strong despite being limited on what I could do.
And now this. I just ran. I cried and I ran because I refuse to let Clay see that he made me cry. It was all just too much.”
Maia leaned over and hugged her tightly. “Did you leave your car over there?”
Harper shook her head. “I rode with Summer. We were picking up a to-go order for our moms and ourselves.”
“Did Summer know you were coming over here?”
“No.”
“At least call Summer so she knows you're safe. Then we’ll figure out what to do next.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t take anymore and I lost it.
I’ve been holding it all in and trying to be so strong,” Harper said, as she patted her pockets looking for her phone.
“I don’t have my phone!” She closed her eyes and raised her head to the ceiling. “I must have left it in her car.”
“I’ll call her, and then we’re going to have a talk about what it is that you’ve been holding in that contributed to you falling apart today.”
“No, it’s…”
Maia shot her a look that said, ‘did you really just tell me no?’.
“Yes, ma’am,” Harper said as she watched Maia walk over to her desk and take her phone and several tissues from a box of tissues before walking back over to her. She handed the tissues to Harper, patted her on the back, and dialed Summer’s number.
“Harper!?” Summer screamed into her phone without looking at the screen.
“No, and you will not give any indication of who I am either. It’s Maia.”
Summer, ever quick to catch on, replied immediately. “I know, Dad! But I’m not leaving here until I know that Harper is alright.”
“She’s here with me and she’s distraught but fine. Don’t let them know where she is. Send them elsewhere. Make something up.”
“Don’t worry, we’ll keep looking. Oh! I wonder if she shifted and went running across the highway?! Oh no, I bet she’s all alone over there.”
“Good girl,” Maia said and ended the call. She went over and pulled her desk chair up in front of the overstuffed recliner that Harper sat in, shaking and still sniffling. “Want something to drink?”
“No, thank you,” Harper said. “I just want quiet. I want to crawl into a hole and pull the hole in after me. I don’t want to talk.
I don’t want to feel. I don’t want anything but silence.
I’m so tired of having to do the right thing for everybody but me.
I’m tired of my father. So tired of the pressure from him, the lack of understanding.
And I thought that now that I realized Clay is my mate, I’d have such a sense of peace, and I did for a few days.
Only he’s found someone else, and again, I had to hold my tongue because it’s not fair for me to cause trouble for them.
” Harper sighed and slouched down in the chair, almost folding in on herself before she looked up at Maia again. “I’m just so tired, Maia.”
“Shhh, it’s okay. You don’t have to hold your tongue or do a single thing. It’s fine. I promise it’s going to be fine. Now, tell me what your father has been doing.”
Harper shook her head. “My mother already handled him. But it was still so… wrong. It’s like as long as everybody does what he wants, it’s okay.
And the moment you dare to want something for yourself, you’re ungrateful and a complete disappointment.
And then his business associate trying to coerse me into a relationship with him and threatening to cut off my dad if I didn’t.
And then my dad not believing me and welcoming him into the house.
It was just too much, I couldn’t take anymore.
I left and I’ve been staying at Summer’s house.
After I left, my mom had it out with him then she left, too.
She slept at Summer’s house, too, Sunday and last night.
She said she was going home tomorrow, and that’s fine for her, but I just don’t want to see him. ”
“The business guy, did he put his hands on you? Because if he did…”
“No, ma’am. Not like you’re thinking. Just constant little touches on my arm, or my shoulder, and arms around my waist, and shoulders.
Making me feel like I was property and couldn’t say anything until I finally did.
And my dad not believing me and telling me that I should just be more tolerant and I could do worse than this guy. ”
“The hell is wrong with your father?! The fucker should have been dealt with and you should be able to defend yourself no matter who he is! I’ll send Riley to handle his ass.
Or better yet, I’ll do it my damn self!” Maia snapped, standing up and beginning to prepare to leave her house almost immediately.
“It’s okay, Aunt Maia! According to my mom, he’s gone. Mom said that after we both left dad told him that if he didn’t leave immediately they’d never find his body because he would feed it to his friends.”
Maia smirked. “And there’s the Travis I know. About damned time!”