Page 63 of Perfect Harmony

“Harper! That word is awful. Don’t use itagain,” Addison said.

“What? Fiancé?” Harper said.

Grace was more than relieved when a smallsmile crossed Addie’s face. “I love you, Harper.”

“I love you too, honey. I really think I shouldcome down there.”

Addison shook her head. “No, you can’tafford to take time off and I can skype or call you anytime I need to talk.”

“Anytime,” Harper said. “I mean that,love.”

“I know.” Addison’s phone dinged and freshtears slipped down her face. “He keeps texting me. I know he showed up at my apartmentthis morning, he said he was there, but I – I couldn’t face him, so I made sureI left early this morning and drove straight to Kira’s.”

She reached out and took Kira’s hand. “I’msorry I ruined your Saturday, Kira.”

“Honey, you haven’t.” Kira squeezed herhand. “Don’t even worry about it.”

“Where’s Connor?” Grace asked.

“New Cassel. His dad’s redoing their basementand Connor went with him to New Cassel to pick up supplies and stuff.”

Grace put her arm around Addison. “If youneed a place to stay, you know you can stay with me.”

“Thanks, Gracie.” Addie rested her head onGrace’s shoulder. “I just feel so stupid, you know? Like, I actually believedthat he was working late.”

“He’s the dumb cheating bastard,” Harpersaid. “There is nothing stupid about trusting your fiancé, Addie. Don’t lethim make you feel anything but anger. He fucked up. He cheated.”

“I cheated too,” Addie whispered.

Grace stared dumbfounded at her as Kiranearly fell off her chair.

“Bullshit!” Harper said. “Masturbating tothoughts of Preacher is not cheating. Hell, half the married women in HarmonyFalls masturbate or fuck their husbands to thoughts of Preacher.”

“Harper! I didn’t tell Gracie and Kira who…I mean…”

“Don’t worry,” Kira said. “We’re not goingto say anything to anyone. And Harper is right, it’s not cheating.”

“It’s emotional cheating,” Addison said.

“So fucking what?” Grace said. “Harrisonwas actually physically cheating on you. That is far worse than you thinking afew naughty thoughts about Preacher while you’re polishing the pink canoe.”

That made Addison laugh like she knew itwould, and Gracie squeezed her tight. “Honey, you have nothing to apologize toHarrison for or feel guilty about. He’s the asshole here.”

Addison’s phone dinged again, and Addie glancedat the screen. Fresh tears leaked down her cheeks. “He’s super upset.”

“Why is he upset?” Grace said. “He’s thecheating scumbag.”

Addie bit her bottom lip. “So, I had totell my mom. I mean, I didn’t want to tell her, but I was supposed to meet herthis morning to put the deposit on the wedding flowers. Only, I don’t evenknow if there’s going to be a wedding.”

She paused, and Kira gave her a fresh tissueto wipe her face. “I tried to make up some excuse for why we couldn’t do it,but if we didn’t pay the deposit today, we’d lose our reservation with theflorist. So, she was pretty insistent about paying because who doesn’t haveflowers at their wedding, you know? But the deposit is non-refundable, and myparents don’t have that kind of money to waste. Anyway, she could tell I wasupset, and I finally blurted out that I didn’t think Harrison and I weregetting married and I couldn’t talk about it right now.”

“What did she say?”

“Not much at the time,” Addison said. Sheseemed kind of stunned. I told her I would talk to her later and ended thecall. But then…”

She sucked in a shaky breath, her voice cracking.

Kira shifted closer and put her arm around Addie’swaist. “It’s okay, honey.”

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