Page 85 of The Complication with the Best Man

The color looks good. When we were done, I was picturing what the room might look like once it’s complete, and it really started to feel real. Not that it doesn’t already with the changes Harper’s body is going through, but it felt real in the way that I could picture our baby in the space. See Harper in a chair in the corner breastfeeding, picture myself at the changing table, imagine both of us leaning over the crib just to watch our baby sleep.

Everything with Harper has been full speed ahead since we met, and my growing feelings for her are no different. But I don’t want to scare her off. We’ve both gone through so many changes in our lives recently that it feels best to keep it to myself for now.

We’re in the kitchen eating breakfast at the breakfast bar when Maven walks in, dressed as though maybe she’s going to work out.

“Morning,” I say to her. “There’s coffee made if you want some.” I nod toward the coffee machine on the counter.

Her phone is in her hand, her eyes wide as she looks between us. “Have you guys seen last night’s Buzz Wheel?”

I look at Harper and groan.

“No…” She picks her phone up off the counter and pulls up the app.

“I swear I didn’t say anything to anyone.” Maven looks panicked.

“Shit,” Harper says.

“What is it?” I look between them.

Harper’s expression is a mix of annoyance and upset when her eyes meet mine. “It details how you were engaged to someone else a short time ago and how I was acting as the wedding planner for you and Tamra before we got together.”

My stomach sinks. It’s not as though it was a secret per se, but I could go without everyone in town thinking I’m some slimy piece of shit who jumps from one woman to another.

“I’m not the leak,” Maven says.

“I know that. I would never think that.” Harper slides off the stool and walks over to embrace her cousin.

“As soon as I saw it, I was worried you would think it was me since I’d talked to you about the flowers for the wedding.”

I shake my head. I obviously don’t know Maven nearly as well as Harper, but she doesn’t strike me as the sort to throw people under the bus. Especially not someone she cares about as much as Harper.

My phone buzzes from where it’s plugged in on the counter beside the coffee machine. Harper walks over and unplugs it, passing it to me.

A text from Hudson.

Dude this is not good.

I roll my eyes and type out a response.

No shit.

Before he replies, a new text comes in from an unknown number.

Finn, this is Harper’s dad, Austin. I’d appreciate it if you could come by the house at noon today.

I swallow. Hard. “Um… your dad just texted me and asked me to go over to his place at noon.”

Both Harper and Maven’s eyes widen to the size of the toonies I used to pay for things when I was driving through Canada.

“Damn it.” Harper closes her eyes and massages her temples.

“What should I say?” I look between the two women.

“You have to go,” Maven says.

“She’s right. My dad will just show up here otherwise, which will make it look more like you have something to hide.”

I nod and type out a response with shaky fingers.

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