Page 137 of The Plus One Contract

She lifts her hand in an exaggerated wave, and for the first time since I boarded that plane, I feel something close to relief.

This is safe.

She is safe.

I try to smile, try to mirror the expression on her face, but before I can, Harper’s grin slips, her brows pulling together like she knows.

Of course she knows.

I’ve been feeding her bits and pieces of everything over texts the past few days, vague updates, careful edits of the truth.

I should’ve known that none of it would fool her.

She doesn’t wait for me to reach her because she comes to me, and the second she does, I finally breathe.

She pulls me in, her arms wrapping around me, holding tight, and I sink into the hug like I’ve been waiting for it, like my body finally got the memo that it’s allowed to break now.

“Jesus,” she mutters into my hair. “I was this close to hopping on a flight and dragging your ass home myself.”

I huff out a weak laugh, my grip tightening on her.

“And here I thought you just missed me.”

“Oh, I did.” She squeezes me harder. “Missed you like crazy, but mostly, I was worried you’d let some hot corporate grump rip your heart out and stomp on it like a goddamn roach.”

I make a very undignified noise. “That’s an interesting visual.”

She pulls back just enough to look at me, her hands still on my arms, eyes scanning my face like she’s assessing the damage.

“You okay?” she asks.

I nod.

I lie.

Because I have to.

“I will be,” I murmur.

She studies me for a second but eventually nods, accepting my answer for now.

“Good.” Her hands slide down to take mine. “I got takeout waiting at home, a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge, and tonight, we’re exorcising that man from your system.”

A weak laugh bubbles up. “You make it sound like an actual exorcism.”

“It is.” She tightens her grip, starting to lead me toward the exit. “You’ve been spiritually contaminated, and do you know how we handle that?”

I shake my head, biting back a smile.

“Wine, trash TV, and me roasting that man into the sun.”

God, I love her.

I squeeze her hand. “That sounds perfect.”

“Of course it does. I’m a genius at heartbreak recovery.”

There’s something warm in my chest now.

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