Page 97 of Forbidden Harmony

When Harper didn’t reply, Addison tappedthe screen. “Hey, you still there? Crap, it’s frozen.”

“It’s not frozen,” Harper said. “I’m justsurprised and maybe a little worried.”

“What? Why?”

Harper took a sip of coffee. “If this is onlya casual thing, why are you making each other promise not to fuck other people?”

“I don’t – I mean… Preacher was the one whomade me say it first. I figured it was only fair that the same rules apply tohim.”

“Oh, I’m not disagreeing, they should applyto him too. I just find it strange that Preacher is asking you not to bang otherguys, if it’s only casual sex between you two. Francisco and I don’t have thatagreement.”

“Maybe it’s a little more than casual sex,”Addison said. “We’ve had sex three days in a row now and the agreement was supposedto be a lesson a week for a month. Maybe Preacher wants… more.”

“Honey, Preacher’s not the kind of guy who’sgoing to settle down with a woman. You know that, right?” Harper said.

“I know but he spent the night with me,” Addisonsaid. “He stayed the night and this morning we had sex again before he left.He made me come three times, Harper. When I got out of the shower, I thoughthe would be gone, but he wasn’t. He went down on me again, and then we hadsex, and then when we were cuddling, he touched me until I had a third one. I toldhim he didn’t have to, that two was more than enough, but he said something abouta hat trick. I don’t even know that that means.”

“It’s a hockey thing,” Harper said. “Honey,look, just because he spent the night doesn’t mean he wants more than sex. It probablymeans he was tired or still horny or your bed is more comfortable than his.There are plenty of reasons why a guy you’re only casually porking spends the night,and it’s not because he’s falling in love with you.”

Trying not to let Harper see the way herwords were crushing her, Addison said, “No, I know. You’re right. I’m justhopped up on coffee and great sex.”

Harper stared solemnly at her. “It’s easyto mistake what’s happening with Preacher as more than what it is. For the firsttime in your life, you’re having amazing sex and trust me – all those orgasmsdo weird fucking things to your brain. But you did just get out of a long-termrelationship and I’m not sure that you’re completely over -”

“I am completely over Harrison,” Addison said.“I don’t love him, Harper. I don’t even want to ever see him again.”

“Okay, but still… trying to start anotherrelationship immediately after having your heart broken isn’t a great idea.You need to have a couple of rebound relationships first. Trust me on this. What’shappening with Preacher is a fun distraction but don’t start thinking that it’sanything more than that. Just enjoy it for what it is, okay?”

“Okay,” Addison said.

“I’m not trying to upset you, honey,”Harper said.

“You’re not. I appreciate the dose ofreality,” Addison said.

“All right. What are your plans for today?”

“Not a lot,” Addison said. “I have a womancoming by tonight to look at my wedding dress.”

Harper paused with her coffee cup to hermouth. “How does that make you feel?”

Addison smiled a little. “You sound likemy mom. I Facetimed with her and Dad yesterday morning and she said the exactsame thing.”

“You love that dress,” Harper said. “Iknow you do.”

“I do,” Addison said. “But with my cardying, I could really use the extra money. I can’t return it to the dress shopbecause the alterations were already made, so selling it is my only option. Ihate taking the bus and once school starts up again, it’ll be really inconvenientnot to have a car.”

“So, get a loan to buy a car. You don’tneed to sell your wedding dress. You’ll get married some day to the perfectguy and don’t you want your perfect dress when that happens?”

“I can’t afford a car loan and my studentloans,” Addison said. “Besides, as much as I love that dress, it was meant tobe for my wedding to Harrison, and wouldn’t it be weird to marry someone else whilewearing it?”

“If you didn’t need the money for a car, wouldyou sell the dress?” Harper said.

Addison shrugged. “I don’t know. It doesn’tmatter though. I’m just being sentimental over it and that’s stupid. I’m gladI’m not marrying Harrison so I shouldn’t care one way or another about thedress. Anyway, why aren’t you at work? Did you switch shifts again?”

Harper sighed. “I got laid off.”

“What?” Addison sat forward. “When?”

“Monday.”

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