“Oh okay. Right, he’s Jamie’s history teacher. He talks about him a lot.”
“Yeah, we met when I went up to Jamie’s school.”
“That’s pretty cool,” Aiden says. Dakota nods. There is another long pause.
“Dakota, you want to dance?” Harper asks, smiling suggestively. Dakota smirks and nods.
***
Casey
They head off to the floor, leaving Casey and Aiden alone.
“It’s nice to see you, Casey,” Aiden says. Casey rolls her eyes at him.
“I’m sure,” she says and downs the rest of her glass. “I’m going to go get another drink.” Aiden follows her as she walks to the kitchen. There are a few people off in corners talking. Casey pulls a bottle of wine from a chilled bucket and grabs a clean glass. She pours while Aiden watches.
“You are determined not to like me, huh?” He leans on the island.
“I’m not determined. I just don’t like you,” she says and takes a sip of her wine.
“But I want you to like me.”
“Why do you care?”
“Because I do.”
“Why?”
“Because everything you said was right. Everything you said at the game that day was right. I am trying to be a better guy, and I want you to see that.” Casey takes another swig of her wine and sighs deeply.
“I do see it,” Casey says.
“So why can’t we be friends?”
“Because I don’t want to be your friend, Aiden! And I don’t have to be,” Casey says loudly.
“Why not?” Aiden says. Casey looks at him, her head tilted to the side. She takes a deep breath.
“That’s the reason right there.” Aiden blinks a few times.
“What?”
“The way you’re looking at me. Stop looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like I’m fourteen-year-old Harper and you want to make a baby,” she says, whispering the last part of the sentence menacingly. She grabs the bottle of wine and leaves the kitchen. She leans against the archway of the living room. She sets the bottle of wine on the desk next to her, sliding a particularly sweet picture of Rick and Jennifer down to make room.
Aiden smiles at her, biting back a laugh. “So I think you’re beautiful. I’m sorry if I can’t hide it from my face when I see you. But why would that bother you? You don’t peg me as a girl who’s shy around a guy checking her out.”
Casey’s nostrils flare slightly. She pours herself another glass of wine. Aiden leans up against the wall next to her.
“Unless…” he says, pondering.
“No,” Casey says, her voice shaking.
“Casey,” Aiden says. He brushes his finger down her arm. “You like me checking you out.”
Casey turns her head and looks at him. Her eyes narrow, and she shakes her head. Her hands shake as she downs her glass of wine. Her arm tingles from his touch. She glares at him in annoyance as the countdown to midnight begins. They stare at each other as the people around them yell number after number, unable to look away. As one, the entire house erupts into Happy New Year cheers. People yell, others dance, and most kiss. Aiden looks at a couple kissing in hopes that the new year binds them together forever. He looks back at Casey and leans in. He takes her lips and makes them a part of his own.
Casey gasps loudly when they touch lips, but after a second she recovers. She groans and wraps her arms around his neck, giving in to the kiss, if only for this special occasion. No one wants to be kiss-less on New Year’s.
Aiden wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her in to him, kissing her as if he might never do it again. They pull apart slowly, Aiden staring at her face, Casey staring at Aiden’s lips.
Casey slowly removes her arms from around his neck, but Aiden doesn’t move an inch. “You can…” Casey swallows, her throat suddenly dry. “You can let me go of me now.”
“I would really rather not…” Aiden says softly. He smiles, and Casey smiles back.
“Fuck my life,” she says, shaking her head as she goes in for another kiss.
***
Dakota
In another room, Dakota and Harper have not stopped kissing since the new year began.
“I think it’s time we leave,” Dakota says, staring at Harper’s semi-swollen lips. Harper nods enthusiastically.
“I’m going to love you forever, Dakota,” Harper whispers in his ear. Dakota just stares at her, unable to speak at all.
***
Jamie
Jamie and Bianca sit in the living room of Mason’s house. He and Amelia went upstairs to “talk” an hour ago and never returned. The air is thick between the two as they sit watching Ryan Seacrest announcing the upcoming dropping of the ball.
“Are we just going to sit in silence?” Jamie asks.
“Yes,” Bianca says, picking listlessly at the couch pillow she’s hugging on the opposite end of the couch.
“Are you mad at me or something?” Jamie says. He looks at her.
“No,” she replies.
“So why aren’t you talking to me?”
“I don’t have anything to say…” She sighs and keeps her eyes on the television.
“Was Adam sorry to see you go?”
Bianca rolls her eyes. “Why are you so obsessed with Adam?” she says.
“Because he had something I wanted tonight.”
“And that is…” She looks at him reluctantly.
“You,” Jamie says smoothly, though his heart is racing rapidly.
Bianca’s mouth opens. The countdown to the new year begins.
“Me?” Bianca says breathless. Ten…
“Are you really surprised?” Nine…
“Yes. We’re friends.” Eight…
“So what? The best relationships start out of friendship. Look at my mom and Dakota.” Seven…
“So you want to be together?” Six…
“Yes.” Five…
“What about Mason? Won’t he feel like a third wheel?” Four…
“He knows how I feel about you. He’s prepared.” Three…
“You can’t love me…” Two…
“Too late.” One…Jamie has crept his way to Bianca’s side of the couch and kisses her deeply.
Happy New Year! On television, the sky erupts into a beautiful fireworks display, and the crowds of people cheer, kiss, and hug their friends, but the two do not have to look at the TV to know what’s going on as color explodes behind their eyelids as their lips become one.
Chapter Sixteen
Harper
A Month Later…
Harper’s eyes flutter open as she wakes up from a good night’s sleep. She turns over, yawning, and finds that she’s alone. She sits up slightly, looking around, feeling slightly disoriented. She picks up her cell phone from her night-stand and reads that it’s almost noon. Why had she slept so long? That’s ten solid hours. She didn’t know what was getting into her lately. On her days off she would sleep half the day away. Her job was pretty demanding, but she didn’t think it was wearing her out that much. She sighs, sits up straight, and stretches her arms up in the air, closing her eyes to enjoy the stretch.
“Look who’s alive.” Harper turns to see Dakota coming into the bedroom. He crawls onto the bed and kisses her sweetly on the cheek.
“I didn’t mean to sleep so long,” she says.
“You were out like a light. I made you breakfast, and when I tried to wake you, you threw a pillow at me.”
Harper bursts into laughter. “I’m sorry. I don’t remember that,” she says, shaking her head. She falls back on the bed, flopping her head on the pillow.
“It’s perfectly fine,” he says, chuckling. They stare at each other for a few seconds, and Harper giggles, blushing.
“What?” she says.
“Do you know what today is?” he asks.
“Ummm…no. What?” Dakota turns around and opens the drawer of his night-stand, an addition he adde
d to the room. He pulls out a silver and white box and then turns back to Harper on the bed. He hands it to her. Harper looks at it in his hand. She sits up straight.
“It’s Valentine’s Day,” she says, shaking her head. She runs her fingers through her messy hair. “How could I forget?”
“Because you’ve been sleeping through entire decades lately,” he says, smiling.
“I didn’t get you anything, Dakota. This is our first Valentine’s Day as a couple, and I didn’t get you anything. God, I’m such an idiot.” She was really out of it lately. What the hell was wrong with her?
“First off, you just being in my life is gift enough,” he says. Harper shakes her head at the unexpectedly beautiful things he can say. “But I’m hoping once you open this box you’ll be so pleased that tonight you’ll find a way to thank me properly.” Harper blushes, chuckling at the smirk on his face. She takes the box from his hand. She opens the box, and inside it is another black square-shaped box. She opens it, and inside is a silver charm bracelet.
“Oh…my…God, Dakota. This is beautiful,” Harper says, her eyes wide with shock. “Is this Jamie’s birthstone?” she says, touching the charm with her finger.
“Yeah,” he says softly. “And yours…and mine. It’s like you have our family with you wherever you go.” Harper feels tears filling her eyes as he takes the bracelet and puts it on her wrist.
“This is amazing, Dakota.” A tear slides down her cheek.
“I did good?” he asks.
Harper throws her arms around his neck. “You did very good,” she says and kisses him passionately. When they break apart, Dakota chuckles.
“I’m guessing you know how to thank me?” he asks. Harper nods and pulls him into bed.
***
“You’re really good at that,” Harper says as she lies on Dakota’s chest an hour or so later. Dakota chuckles, stroking her satin-like hair.
“Why, thank you. I was thinking about going pro.” Harper laughs into his chest, shaking her head.
“No, no, no. I would rather you keep this talent between us.” Dakota kisses her forehead, a huge grin on his face.
“I can’t believe you paid Jamie to leave the house for the entire day. How much did that run you?” Harper asks, looking up at him.
“A hundred bucks. Just enough for him to get Bianca a really nice V-day present and dinner. The house is ours until midnight,” he says.
“My goodness. You are so good to me.”
“I try,” Dakota says, smirking down at her.
“So what’s next on the itinerary?”
“Well, lunch is in the crockpot, and then you’ll receive the other present I got you.”
Harper sits up, pulling up the sheet firmly around her torso, blushing.
“A second present? Dakota, the bracelet was more than enough. Seriously.” Dakota sits up a little, his bare chest facing her. She glances at it and grins.
“You’re such a perv,” he says when he catches her staring. Harper blushes, giggling. “And no, the bracelet wasn’t enough, so get over it. I’m treating you like a queen.”
“You treat me like a queen every day,” she says.
“Then I’m doing my job.”
Harper pulls the cover over her face and groans into it. “I love you,” she says.
Dakota kisses her forehead, quickly getting out of bed. “I know,” he responds. “Now get up so we can eat.”
“Any chance you made a stromboli with pepperoni, steak, and provolone cheese? And ranch sauce. Lots and lots of ranch sauce,” she says dreamily.
Dakota chuckles. “That’s pretty specific,” he says. “I actually just made smothered pork chops over white rice. Your favorite.”
“Mmm. That sounds good too. But I do really, really want a stromboli.”
“Well, I was thinking seafood for dinner, but if that’s what you want, we can do a grocery run for dinner tonight and make a homemade one,” he says.
Harper claps, excited. “That would be amazing,” she says, emphasizing the last word. Dakota raises his eyebrow at her. Harper shrugs.
“Shower first?” she asks, smiling.
Dakota groans, mocking her. “I love you,” he says, and Harper laughs as he scoops her up and heads to the bathroom.
***
“A weekend away at my favorite bed and breakfast. How did you even know?” Harper gushes for the fourth time as she and Dakota walk into their local grocery store. Dakota leans on the cart, pushing it down an aisle as she rambles on about how wonderful he is. He grins and blushes slightly, happy that his second present was on point. Casey’s tip was perfect.
“Casey dropped me a few hints about it. Plus, you have the website in your favorites on the computer.” Harper chuckles.
“You are so thoughtful, boyfriend,” she says and kisses him sweetly.
“Part of the job. Now, what do we need?” Dakota asks. They walk around the grocery store, throwing things in the cart that are on the list and mostly things that are not. After dinner, they plan to have a Criminal Minds marathon and snacks were needed for that.
“Pickle-flavored potato chips?” Dakota questions as Harper throws them in the cart.
“They sound delicious,” Harper says.
“Oh, we need peanut butter. And vanilla ice cream.”
“Why not just buy peanut butter ice cream?” Dakota asks.
“It’s not the same,” Harper says seriously.
Dakota laughs. “You’re insane.”
Harper shrugs, not offended. She is a little weird lately in the food category. She actually can’t remember the last time she had a stromboli, but tonight she just really wanted one. They conclude their shopping trip with over fifty dollars in groceries, including three bags of M&Ms they decided to feed to each other during checkout, throwing each piece into each other’s mouth hoping the other caught it. The cashier wasn’t amused, but the bag boy was, and Dakota tipped him ten bucks for his great sense of humor.
“That cashier did not like us,” Harper says, laughing. Dakota shakes his head.
“No, she did not.” He pushes the cart to Harper’s car. “How did we possibly go for ten things and leave with like a hundred things?” Harper shrugs.
“Your fault,” she says. Dakota laughs. Harper opens the trunk to her car and helps him load the groceries in it. She stops for a second and holds her stomach, feeling a little sick.
“Ouch,” she says, frowning. Dakota looks at her.
“You okay?” he asks.
“Yes,” Harper says. “I think I ate too many M&Ms. Stomach’s not so happy about chocolate these days. Weird.” She chuckles. Dakota nods, smiling warmly at her.
“Well, we’ll stop at a drive through and get you a ginger ale. Should go away by dinner.”
“Okay,” she says. Dakota closes the trunk and heads over to the driver’s side.
“I’ll drive,” he says. Harper nods her head and walks slowly to the passenger side. She gets in the car and fastens her seatbelt securely. She scratches her head slightly.
“Today’s the 14th?” Harper asks.
“Mmhm,” Dakota says. Harper lays her head on the window and stares out at the road, silently counting something in her head.
“You okay?” Dakota says.
“Yeah…yes. I think I might have forgotten to file some paperwork, but it’s all good. I can take care of it tomorrow morning,” she says. Dakota nods.
“Good.” He puts his gaze back on the road.
Chapter Seventeen
Dakota
“So what you’re saying is that…you’d sleep with Dr. Reid? No questions asked?” Dakota asks as he and Harper enjoy dessert after eating a pound of stromboli each for dinner.
“Oh my goodness, yes. All that intelligence and you think he won’t be good in bed? He’d be magnificent,” she says dreamily. Dakota shakes his head at her. Harper stuffs another spoonful of peanut butter in her mouth and then follows it with another spoonful of ice cream. Dakota laughs at he
r.
“You are a bottomless pit these days,” Dakota says, stealing a spoonful of ice cream for himself.
Harper laughs tightly. “Yeah, guess I am. Is that unattractive?” she asks.
“It’s actually adorable. I like a woman that can eat.”
Harper laughs. “If I ever do anything unattractive, please tell me. Sometimes it’s hard being both the best friend and the girlfriend. I don’t want to cross any lines.”
Dakota shakes his head. “You’re perfect. These past five months have been perfect. Don’t change anything,” he says. “Got it?”
Harper nods, a spoonful of peanut butter in her mouth. “So what are you saying exactly? You wouldn’t have a threesome with me and Dr. Reid?” she asks.
Dakota’s eyes narrow.
“Well, that depends on whether you would have a threesome with me and Scarlet Jo?”
Harper ponders for a second. She strokes her chin. “I’d do that,” she says, smirking.
Dakota laughs. “Come here,” he says.
Harper quickly puts her bowl of ice cream on the floor as he grabs her and pulls her in to him, playfully kissing the sweetness from her welcoming mouth.
An hour later they are cuddled up on the sofa finishing their TV marathon, a blanket covering their comfortable forms.
“This is really nice,” Harper says.
“Yeah it is.”
“Thank you for such a fun Valentine’s Day,” she says.
“You’re welcome.” Dakota kisses her forehead.
Harper snuggles closer. “Oh, I forgot to tell you I’m having lunch with Jennifer next week.”
“Yeah?” Dakota says. “That’s great. This is the third time since New Year’s. I’m guessing you guys are turning into total bffs.”
“Yes, we are. She’s so great. She’s taking me and Casey to see her dress. She’s picking it up and doing a final fitting.”
“Will all of her bridesmaids be there too?” Dakota asks.
“No, none of them could get off work apparently, so she asked me and Casey so she didn’t have to go alone.”
Maybe Forever (Missing Pieces Book 1) Page 11