Page 86 of Redeeming Harmony

“Nathan’s,” she said. “But I’ve only seen her once, so I’m working from memory. Even if I weren’t, it would still suck.”

“It doesn’t,” Addie insisted, picking up her knitting again. “Stop being so hard on yourself, Harper. That isn’t like you.”

“Yeah, well, that was before I saw what real art was,” Harper said.

Addie frowned. “Hazel just bought four pieces of your art, and she told me the other day that she gets tons of compliments on them from customers. You’re good at this, and you can make a career of it. Don’t give up hope.”

“Hope fled the building a long fucking time ago,” Harper said.

“What’s going on?” Addie asked. “This defeatist attitude is not you, Harper.”

“I’m tired,” Harper said. “I was walking around town all freaking day, putting up reward posters, remember?”

“Offering a reward for Lady N is a brilliant idea,” Addie said.

“It was Hal’s.” Harper picked up her sketchpad and her pencil and started shading the side of Katy Purry’s face with short, light strokes. “But nothing yet in terms of someone catching her.”

“You just put the reward posters up this morning. It was nice of you to help Nathan, by the way.”

“I’m a nice person, pinky-pie,” Harper said.

Addie laughed. “Yes, you are. Now, tell me what’s going on with you for real.”

“I fucked Nathan yesterday.”

Addie jerked, the knitting needles making a clackety-clack noise, before she said, “I just dropped a stitch.”

“Oops, sorry,” Harper said.

“Who cares about that.” Addie tossed her knitting aside and turned to face Harper. “You had sex with Nathan yesterday for the first time, and you didn’t tell me?”

“Second time. And I’m telling you now,” Harper said.

“Second!” Addie looked like she was about to have a stroke. “Harper Brandt! Am I or am I not your best friend?”

“You are,” Harper said.

“Then why the heck didn’t you tell me you were having sex with Nathan? Give me all the details, right now!”

Harper couldn’t help but grin at Addie’s outrage despite her bad mood. “Okay, okay, just don’t stab me with your knitting needles, for God’s sake.”

Fifteen minutes later, Addie leaned back into the couch cushions, her feet tucked under her and a cup of green tea in her hands. “Wow. So, you’re really okay with friends with benefits?”

“More than okay,” Harper said. “It’s what I want.”

Addie studied her until Harper looked away from her scrutiny.

“Harper,” Addie said.

Fuck. Addie always could see right through her.

“Okay, look, I told you before that I’m not in the right headspace for a relationship, and I meant that. I just… I wouldn’t be good for Nathan in a girlfriend role, okay? Hell, I’ve never been good as a girlfriend. How many times did Sean tell me I was selfish and never considered his feelings?”

Addison frowned. “You dated Sean nearly four years ago, and you’ve changed a lot since then, Harper. Besides, you weren’t selfish then, and you aren’t selfish now. Sean constantly demanded your full attention, all the time.”

“He was a little needy,” Harper admitted. “Still, my life is shit right now, and Nathan doesn’t need to deal with my life falling apart or my emotional baggage about turning into my mother.”

“You’re not turning into your mother. She was awful and mean and the very epitome of selfishness. You are not that, Harper. I will keep telling you that until the end of time if that’s how long it takes for you to believe it.”

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