Page 107 of His Secret Gift

So, although Jack isn’t blood related to Harper’s family, or at least I hope not because that would bring a whole different host of issues to the table, I know family doesn’t always require suchrelation. Instead, members can be people who have supported you and stuck their necks out for you along the way.

“Okay,” I finally mumble.

“Okay?” I see the first semblance of hope on his face.

“Yes. We’ll go forward with your first plan. You and Harper slipped up. No biggie.” But then I threaten him to let him know I’m not a push over. “But this is the last chance, okay?”

He nods. “I promise. I’ll never be in a room alone with her again.”

Good.

Now that that tough conversation has happened, it seems as though he can let his body weaken again, and Callie and I basically have to catch him as he slumps over.

Then, after talking one arm and draping it around our shoulders, we lead him out and back to his seat.

I avoid acknowledgement of all the stares as we head down the aisle.

“Jack?” Bryant asks, his eyes wide with horror.

“He just isn’t feeling well,” I explain as we sit him down.

Then, as much as I don’t want to leave him, I know that I have to.

When Callie and I return to our sections, she texts something out on her phone before handing it to me.

“So, you believe him?”

I give her a look to communicate, “I don’t know. But I also don’t see how I can’t.” He did seem sincere, and I also knew it probably took a lot for him to apologize and confront me about it like that. Plus, I didn’t trust Harper any farther than I could throw her. And I also didn’t think her mighty enough not to pull a stupid, immoral trick like that.

However, none ofthat means that the little announcement we had to endure back on the boat was any easier for me to sit through. Thankfully, Jack was nowhere to be seen during any of it.

“So,” Captain Bryant stands in front of us and says, “as I’m sure you’ve all been made aware, Jack’s ex and he may have engaged in… adult behavior.”

Hearing it classified as that makes shivers spread all over my skin.

“Unfortunately, this was filmed and distributed somehow. Regardless, I trust that our crew is professional enough to discard this video and stop it from spreading even further. Am I correct in this assumption?”

“Yes, Captain,” we say in tandem.

He smirks. “Good. Now, I also hope to never hear a peep about this in the future. Understood?”

His eyes seem to intentionally meet mine.

Again, we all say, “Yes, Captain.”

Then, he puts his hat back on and tells all of us to get to our posts as we set sail for Greece.

That means us stewards need to clear any cobwebs or other dust that accumulated on the yacht during the few days we were away from it.

Chapter 33

Love Language – Jack

It’s certainly been a whirlwind of events the last few days. First, things with Kayla were just starting to heat up and then Harper had to do something so stupid and irresponsible to interfere with my future happiness.

And none of it really made any sense. She was the one who cheated on me. Sure, I know people can change their minds, but why would she keep pushing it when I clearly told her I was no longer interested.

… I guess some pretty girls aren’t used to hearing no.

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