Page 51 of Jump Start

There was something so comforting about arriving with her, knowing she would now be just down the hall. Maybe I was selfish, but I wanted her to be happy at Echidna and with me.

Even though she hadn’t officially started yet, she was still coming in to add a few bits and pieces of décor to her office, as well as joining in on a few meetings.

I found it quite distracting having her in some of the discussions. I would find myself staring at her, remembering the last time her hand was wrapped around my—

“Earth to Thomas,” Harper said as she knocked on my office door.

Busted.

“Sorry! Was in another world,” I said, feeling a little flushed. I briefly looked down to make sure I could stand up without embarrassment. Not quite.

Harper caught the look on my face and winked at me.

“You were thinking about sex, weren’t you?” she commented as I slowly stood from my desk.

“What, no? Come on, be professional. This is a workplace,” I said very unconvincingly.

She swiftly patted my butt before we walked out to the canteen to grab some lunch.

***

“So, weekend with the family. I’m so excited to meet everyone!” Harper mentioned enthusiastically as she retrieved her lunch from the fridge and took a seat nearby, at the table we alwaysseemed to sit at.

I gathered my lunch as well.

“I’m looking forward to you meeting them too. My parents can be a little standoffish, but they will come around. Xavier will give you a hard time but all in jest, of course.” I could feel the smile on my face talking about my brother.

“What if I find him hotter than you?” Her comment made us both laugh.

“That’s what he said. Then you’ll be in a pickle, won’t you?” I replied.

She reached out across the table and placed her hand briefly on top of time. I was about to speak when her phone rang.

“Oh! Hey, Dad, how are you doing?” Her voice was a little higher, almost sweeter when she spoke to her father. She was his little girl, always.

I can only imagine how he felt raising her, wanting to protect her at all costs, to love her as much as she deserved. I watched her speak on the phone and found myself daydreaming about us together, living together and working together. I felt a profound pull on my heartstrings just looking at her. She made me feel more worthy of love and the successes in my life than anyone.

“Yeah, I am so excited! It’s going great. I haven’t officially started yet, but I wanted to come in and get my office looking cute. You know me.”

She kept her eyes on me as she spoke, which again, did not help the tightness of my pants. What the fuck was going on?

Twenty-six

Harper

“Shouldn’t we just stay the night? Seems ridiculous to drive all the way there and back in a day,” I asked Thomas as I slid under the covers of his bed. He was changing into his pyjama bottoms, and I was enjoying the show as he undressed.

“Trust me, we’ll want an exit. I rarely stay out there anymore,” he responded as he hopped into bed with this laptop to check emails.

“One day you’ll tell me what happened with them, right?” I looked over at him, wishing he would just pour his thoughts out and let me sort through them.

“Harps, nothing happened.” That was a lie. I decided not to push.

He sensed my unease and placed a hand on my thigh.

“Better get to sleep. Big day tomorrow. You’ll be the highest, most mighty passenger princess there ever was,” he said as he leant over and kissed me on the cheek.

“Good night!” I answered cheerily, even though I felt anxiety building in my stomach. Not only from Thomas not confiding in me but the prospect of meeting his entire family.

---