by M. A. Foster
Alex and I make our way over to my Tahoe where my friends are hovering. I give them a slight shake of my head, silently telling them “not now” as I reach for my door.
“Good luck with that,” I say to Alex with a laugh. “Your girlfriend is a bitch on a good day.”
Alex chuckles and shakes his head, but says nothing because he knows it’s true.
“AHPEE GOTTA BOO-BOO.” Willow points to the bandage on the underside of Harper’s chin.
Harper snorts, hugging Willow to her chest and kissing the top of her head. “I’ll be okay, sweet girl. The doctor made it all better.”
Before Harper, Ashton was the only girl I ever brought around Willow. However, Ashton never stayed long enough for Willow to know her, much less like her. Willow loves Harper, and it’s obvious that Harper loves Willow, too.
An uncomfortable feeling settles in my chest and the pulsing sound of my own heartbeat floods my ears.
“I need to get her home,” I say, pulling Willow from her arms. “Come on, Willow.”
Harper blinks, a confused expression on her face. “Are you coming back?”
“I don’t know. I’ll call you,” I toss over my shoulder as I walk out of her room.
WELL THAT WAS weird.
I grab my phone and reply to Mia’s dozen or so texts asking me what the hell happened and am I okay. I shoot her a quick text letting her know I’m fine and I’ll fill her in later.
Rolling out of bed, I make my way down to Jay’s room, where I find her and Zach curled up on the daybed in front of the small fireplace on the balcony.
Zach sees me first. “Hey, how’s your chin?”
“Numb.”
Jay pats an empty spot on the daybed, beckoning me to sit down. I’m not curling up with her and Zach. That’s just weird. And Cole would hate that.
I give her a look as I drop into the opposite chair and kick my feet up on the ottoman.
“How’s your hand?”
“It hurts.” She scowls. “Where’s Cole?”
“Your cousin just blew out of here like his ass was on fire,” I tell her.
Zach and Jay wear matching confused expressions. “Did something happen?” she asks.
I shrug. “Not that I know of. One minute Willow was in my lap talking about my boo-boo”—I point to my chin—“and the next minute he was walking out the door, telling me he’d call me later. It’s like he flipped a switch or something.”
Zach smirks and Jay smiles.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I turn my head to stare out at the crystal-blue lake, wondering if this is what he did to Claire. If he’s leaving me. I’m slightly panicked, and my chest tightens.
“Harper, you have nothing to worry about. I know you’re probably feeling a bit exposed because Cole can be a difficult asshole sometimes, but he’s loyal.”
“I know.” I sigh. “Sometimes I feel like it was easier just being a wallflower.”
BRAD SITS DOWN with his tray and Cherry takes a seat beside him. “How’s Jay?” he asks, passing Cherry her lunch. Normally I’d make some snarky remark about him being whipped, but since I’m kind of in the same ‘love’ boat, I keep my mouth shut. It’s good to see Brad happy and with someone who likes his goofy ass.
“We both tried to get in touch with her last night but she didn’t answer,” Cherry adds.
“She was knocked out from the pain medication,” Zach informs them. “Em turned her phone off.”
“I can’t believe Jay got in-school suspension and Hannah didn’t get expelled,” Olivia says.
Zach chuckles. “The in-school suspension was Em’s idea. She wanted Jay to be punished for fighting.”
“Damn.” Carter laughs. “Emerson’s hardcore.”
“Where’s Harper?” Evan asks.
“Right here,” she says as she approaches the table. I push my chair back and pat my thigh, and Harper perches on my lap.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, I prop my chin on her shoulder. “Where’s your lunch?” I ask.
Harper shrugs. “I’m not hungry.”
“You gotta eat something.” I nudge the little paper container of french fries toward her. “Have some of my fries.”
Someone chokes. I turn my head to see Carter pounding his fist to his chest. “Dude.” He coughs. “Did you just offer to share your food?” He shakes his head and points at Harper. “That’s true love right there.”
Harper tenses in my arms. What the hell?
“Shut up, dickhead.” I pick up a fry and chuck it at him.
Harper and I haven’t exchanged “I love yous” yet, but last night I realized that uncomfortable feeling in my chest… is love.
I’m in love with Harper.
I believe Harper might even love me, too. I can see it in the way she looks at me. I feel it in every kiss and the way her body lights up against mine. And the sex is awesome. Bonus.
Our relationship isn’t all sunshine and butterflies like Zach and Jay’s. They’ve known each other since they were kids, and the familiarity made it easy for them to smooth out the kinks and pick up where they left off.
Harper and I got off to a rocky start because I didn’t know how to deal with the feelings I had for her, so I acted like an asshole.
Her previous relationship with a guy ten years older and more experienced bugs the shit out of me. But she’s never complained, and sometimes when I’m lying there breathless, a satisfied smile on my face, I consider sending the dude a thank-you note.
THE HOLIDAYS ARE always hard for me. Thanksgiving is about family and the things we’re thankful for. The last two Thanksgivings I spent with Mia’s family but it wasn’t the same. I was just a dinner guest. For the first time in two years, I have something to be thankful for. A family.
Grabbing my phone off my nightstand, I shoot a text to Jay. I know I’m in the next room, but Happy Thanksgiving. xoxo
Then I send Mia a text. Happy Thanksgiving. Xoxo
Happy Thanksgiving. What r ur plans today?
Dinner here with the Mackenzie fam. U?
Dinner with my parents. Is Liam there?
He’s supposed to be.
He stayed over last night ;)
I don’t even know how to respond to that. It’s common knowledge that Liam Mackenzie is a player, and not just on the field. Jay is always going on about him being a manwhore and that he’s screwing her much older therapist. Whenever he’s in town, he stays at Mia’s. I wonder if she knows about the therapist. I know Mia can’t be that dense to believe she’s the only woman he’s sleeping with.
Don’t let him break your heart, I reply.
The only thing he’s breaking is my bed.
Liar.
My bedroom door swings open. “Appy Fanksgivy,” Willow cheers at the same time Cole says, “Happy Thanksgiving.” My heart soars as I am reminded once again of all the things I have to be grateful for. Having Willow in my life is number one.
Sometimes I feel like this is all a dream and one day I’ll wake up never knowing what it’s like to have Willow’s love.
Cole sets Willow on my bed as he leans over to give me a chaste kiss before he perches on the edge. Willow crawls in my lap and mimics Cole with a kiss to my lips, followed by a hug.
“Happy Thanksgiving.” I kiss the top of her head. “Are you ready for turkey and pumpkin pie?”
“Mmm-hmm.” She jerks upright and nods, her head barely missing my chin.
Cole winces. “Willow, watch out for her boo-boo.”
Willow frowns and kisses my boo-boo before she hops off my lap and climbs on Cole’s back. “I go see JJ, Co.”
“Okay.” Cole stands and edges to the door, carrying Willow piggyback. “Hold on tight.” He turns in the doorway. “Get up or I’m coming back to give you something to be thankful for.” He wiggles his eyebrows and walks out the door.
“Cole!” I can’t believe he just said that in front of Willow. The kid repeats everything.
; Rolling out of bed, I make my way to the bathroom to brush my hair and twist it into a side braid.
I’m already dressed in light brown leggings and a cream-colored thin, oversized sweater with a tank underneath. Slipping into a pair of ankle boots, I make my way out the door and run smack into a hard, muscular chest.
“Oh!” I stumble back as two large hands grasp my shoulders. When I look up, it’s into the bright green eyes of Liam Mackenzie.
“Sorry.” He chuckles and takes a step forward.
“It’s okay. I wasn’t paying attention.” I take a step back.
“Harper, right?” Another step forward.
“Yes.” Another step back. “And you’re Liam. Good to see you again.” We’re now standing in my room, and I’m feeling uncomfortable.
Liam narrows his eyes. “You know, Tyge wouldn’t shut up about you that day at Mac’s. It was driving him nuts that he couldn’t figure out why you seemed familiar. But I knew the minute I saw you. I never forget a face.” He leans in. “At least not one as pretty as yours.”
I suck in a breath. “Please don’t say anything to Cole,” I plead. “I don’t work there anymore. Please don’t say anything. It’s complicated, but I promise Max and Emerson know the truth.”
He shakes his head, nostrils flared. “I’m sick to death of all these fuckin’ secrets. Don’t say another word. I don’t want any part of it.” Liam points at me, and in a low voice says, “Don’t hurt my family.”
Cole peeks his head in the doorway, brows raised. “What’s up?” His eyes flick between Liam and me.
I plaster on a fake smile. “I was just telling Liam that we saw his friend Mia the other day.” The lie rolls easily off my tongue.
Liam grins, seemingly impressed with my quick thinking.
“I knew she looked familiar. She’s hot,” Cole says, lightly punching Liam’s bicep. “You still hittin’ that?”
I wince. Cole has no idea he’s talking about someone important to me like she’s just another piece of ass.
Before Liam can reply, I cut him off. “And on that note, I’m out.”
Their laughter echoes behind me as I head downstairs.
THE WINTER WONDERLAND Ball is a charity function hosted by Mimi Mackenzie and her socialite friends to benefit Toys for Tots.
“The food better be ready. I’m starving,” Cole mumbles beside me in the back seat of Jay’s Range Rover.
I run my hand up his thigh and lean into his ear. “Me, too.” I press a kiss just behind his ear. Cole in a tuxedo does crazy things to my insides.
“Stop it,” he growls into my neck, “or I’ll have Zach turn this car around and take us home. Then I’ll fuck you into Christmas.”
I giggle. Yes, he makes me giggle. “Okay. I’ll stop.”
Zach pulls Jay’s Range Rover up to the valet outside the Oceanside Aquarium. Cole helps me out and leads me inside. The main ballroom is decorated with crystal chandeliers that resemble icicles, the tables covered in white tablecloths with silver runners draped across the middle, the glass globes in the center made to look like giant snow globes.
After dinner, the guests are herded to an adjoining ballroom decorated in red and white fabric, giving the illusion that we’re standing under a circus tent. Booths line three of the four walls with a variety of carnival games, and a merry-go-round sits in the middle of the room.
Cole grins and makes a beeline for the dunk tank.
“I NEED TO go to the restroom,” I tell Cole as he cashes in his tickets.
“Go ahead. I’m right behind you.”
On the way, I pass Jay and Zach standing at the fortune teller’s booth. I giggle at Zach’s expression while the lady wearing big hoop earrings and a purple scarf on her head is reading Jay’s fortune.
After I use the restroom, I step out of the stall and come face-to-face with Ashton, Hannah, and Chelsea, a close friend of Zach’s who graduated last year.
Ignoring them, I move to the sink on the end to wash my hands.
Ashton speaks first. “He still calls me, you know.” I roll my eyes and reach for a paper towel. Here we go, again. “He’s only using you for sex because I’m not ready. But when I am, he’ll come running back to me like he always does.”
Does she hear herself?
“I thought you were blissfully happy with your new baseball boyfriend,” I say.
“That’s none of your business,” she snarls, taking a step closer as Hannah moves to stand at my side. Oddly, Chelsea stays a few feet away, almost as if she’s not involving herself. Leaning my hip against the counter, I keep my back to the wall so I can be prepared if they strike.
“You made it my business when you came in here telling lies about my boyfriend.”
“He’s not your boyfriend!” Ashton yells.
This girl is delusional.
“What are you even doing with him?” Hannah snaps, shoving me against the wall. Her bracelet catches on the beading of my dress, and I close my eyes when I hear the rip as she yanks her hand away.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jay’s voice echoes from the doorway.
Hannah looks over her shoulder with a sneer. “Looks like your hand healed up nicely.”
“I wish I could say the same about your face,” Jay shoots back, and I grin. I love my best friend and her sassy mouth. Her eyes move to my dress. “Did you tear my dress?” It’s my dress, but it’s her design and something she put a lot of thought into when she had it made for me as an early Christmas present.
“Your dress?” Ashton laughs and turns to face me. “Figures this piece of trash can’t even afford to buy her own dress.”
I frown. Trash?
“Oh, and you can?” Jay argues. “Or does your mommy buy you dresses with the money your dad sends so he doesn’t have to deal with you.”
“Fuck you!” Ashton shouts. “You don’t know shit about me.”
“And you don’t know shit about Harper except that Cole wants her and not you.” Jay turns to Chelsea, who is silently watching the entire exchange, and squares her shoulders. “What’s up, Chelsea? The college girls won’t put up with your shit, so you come here and pick on high school girls?” She shakes her head. “Pathetic.”
Chelsea laughs, pushing off the sink and standing up straight, crossing her arms over her chest. “What’s pathetic is you think this thing with you and Zach is real. He’s using you. Don’t get too attached. Once he gets what he wants, he’ll toss you aside.”
“And what is it that he wants?” Jay laughs. “Sex? Because he gets plenty of it. You sound like a bitter ex-girlfriend who got used and tossed aside.”
“I did.”
Jay scoffs and rolls her eyes. “No, you didn’t. You’re supposed to be his friend, but what you are is a shitty person, Chelsea, and an even shittier friend. Honestly, I don’t know why Zach is still friends with you. You do realize that, in making me your enemy, you’re pushing him away. If you really care about Zach, you’d get your head out of your jealous ass and be a true friend. Not that it matters one way or the other once he realizes his bestie is a fake and a liar.”
Chelsea sneers. “Let’s go.” She turns to leave but at the last minute tries to shoulder-check Jay. Jay must’ve seen it coming because she braces herself, digging her heels into the marble floor. Chelsea stumbles into the vanity, then clips the corner of the metal paper towel holder.
“Ow! You bitch,” Chelsea cries, grabbing her arm.
“I didn’t even touch you.” Jay laughs. “It’s not my fault you don’t know how to walk in heels.”
With one last huff, Chelsea, Ashton, and Hannah storm out of the bathroom.
Jay looks over at me, grinning, and we burst out laughing. “What was that all about?”
“Cole,” I tell her. “Ashton wanted me to know that he still calls her and he’s only with me because she’s not ready for sex.” I shrug. “Her loss.”
“Ewww!” Jay laughs and edges to the door. “Come on, girl. Let’s
go round up the guys and head home.”
Zach is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, and he looks pissed. “I heard what she said.”
Jay waves him off. “Who cares?”
Cole comes out of the bathroom and stops in his tracks, his eyes flicking between the three of us. He’s so freakin’ hot.
“Are you guys ready to go?” Jay asks.
“Yeeees! Thank you,” Cole cheers, wrapping his arm around my waist before we make our way to the exit.
Zach hands over our ticket to the valet. While we wait for him to bring Jay’s Range Rover around, Chelsea walks up with tears streaming down her face and Zach’s mom beside her, furious.
“What’s the matter, Chels?” Zach asks.
“Ask your girlfriend.” His mom narrows her eyes at Jay.
Jay pinches her brows. “Ask me what? What’s wrong with Chelsea?” She shrugs. “I don’t think we have that kind of time.” Cole chuckles beside me as I smile proudly. I wish I had just an ounce of her wit. “You’re full of all kinds of drama, Chelsea,” Jay continues. “Funny how you weren’t crying ten minutes ago when you and your friends had Harper cornered in the bathroom.”
Cole tenses beside me, the arm around my waist tightening. “What?” he growls, looking over at me. “Who was it, Harper?”
I wave him off because I don’t need the added drama. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Apparently that Ashton girl was arguing with Harper in the bathroom,” Zach’s mom tells him. “Chelsea was there, but she wasn’t involved.”
“Mom,” Zach cuts in, annoyed. “Chelsea can speak for herself. Stop babying her. It’s annoying as fuck.”
“Zach, don’t talk to me like that.”
“Jay pushed me into the sink counter. I lost my balance and scraped my arm on the metal paper towel dispenser on the wall.”
She’s such a liar.
“Did she corner you?” Cole asks me.
I shake my head. “She was there, but it wasn’t her. It was Ashton and Hannah.”
Jay turns to Zach. “I swear I never laid a hand on her, Z.”