Page 26 of Maybe, Probably
“I know I shouldn’t be complaining.” She pauses. “But…”
“But you’re still going to?” A smirk forming on my lips as I finish her sentence.
She clicks her tongue and finger guns in my direction, which I see through the mirror. I shake my head as I roll my eyes at her with a laugh. “You look hot.” Evie states as she watches me put on a pair of basic gold dangle earrings.
I blush from the compliment. “Oh shut up, I look fine.”
The hard stare that greets me from her is palpable. “When are you going to give yourself some credit?”
I turn around to face her, leaning my body against the dresser, and cross one foot over my ankle. Brows furrowed, I question her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” She pauses, like she’s trying to figure out how exactly to say what she needs to say. “You’re beautiful Harper, and you have this lightness about you that draws people to you. You’re a dependable person, and you’remyperson. I would hide a body if you asked.” She gets off the bed and walks toward me, grabbing both my hands in hers and making eye contact. Her eyes portray no funny business, but they also have a caring softness to it as she delivers what she says next. “But you bring yourself down anytime anyone says anything relatively positive to you. You dismiss it, or you devalue it. I just wish you could see the person I see, because she’s great. And she’s worth loving. And worshiping.”
I feel the prickle of tears beginning to form at the corner of my eye. I quickly squeeze Evie’s hand before I let go to dab away the moisture. “Stop, you're going to make me cry and I can’t have makeup smeared down my face.” I sniff and look back at her. “But it’s hard, okay, especially after all the shit that happened with the break up. It just…it can be hard to rebuild my confidence after finding everything out. Then when I add on that this dinner is like a confrontation of sorts—and we know I don’t do the best with those—I just hope I’m going to be able to not fuck it up.” I take a deep breath, and slowly release it. I need to calm my nerves, or I’m just going to back out.
Evie gives me a small smile, but she doesn’t say anything. She acknowledges our conversation, but I know it won’t be the last I hear from her about it. Just then, my phone chimes from my bedside table. I quickly walk over there and take it off the charging dock.
Xavier: I’m just leaving my house now, I’ll be there in ten.
Harper:Okay! I’ll see you soon!!
“Okay.” I take another deep breath. I turn to look at Evie. “He’s on his way.”
“Perfect timing. Another minute and you would have probably bailed.” She says, the tease in her voice apparent. I mean, she’s not wrong. There is a lot at stake here.
I take a quick look in the mirror to make sure everything is good, and that there are no makeup streaks from nearly crying. When I think everything looks presentable, I head into the living room. I put my boots by the door so they’re ready when I need to leave. Evie had disappeared when I told her Xavier was on his way. Unsurprisingly, she comes back into the living room with a mug that has steam rolling off of it.
Hot apple cider. My nerves were pretty much gone, but knowing she went out of her way to make me an apple cider completely obliterates the remaining nerves. She approaches me and hands it over “I know you’re nervous, so I thought I’d give you something to calm you down.”
“Thanks,” I squeak out as I bring the cup to my mouth, the steam softly coating my face like a comforting caress. The scent of apples mingling with hints of cinnamon and cloves invade my senses. I feel my shoulders relax as I tip the cup back to take my first sip, the warmth of the drink spreading through my body. “You know me so well.”
The next few moments are spent talking about Evie’s plans. She’s going to stay and hang out with Winnie so he isn’t alone tonight, but realistically, I know she’s staying behind because she wants all the details of whatever happens tonight. I don’t blame her either. I would do the same if the roles were reversed. As I set my empty cup on the coffee table, I hear a knock on the door, followed by barking.
Chapter Thirteen
Xavier
I’mstandingatthedoor of Harper’s house, waiting for someone to answer. I hear the echo of a dog barking through the door, and I quickly adjust the cuffs of my dress shirt. It’s a nervous habit I get when I dress up. Basically, whenever I have to go have dinner with my family. The door swings open, and I’m momentarily stunned by the beauty that is Harper.
I’ve seen her dressed down, and casual; her natural beauty easy to be transfixed by. I think about the time we spent out at the farm. She wore no makeup except maybe some mascara on her lashes. She was stunning then.
But shit. Now?
I take in the knee-high boots that work up her calves, showing off black tights that hug her thighs effortlessly. The maroon sweater dress clings to every luscious curve on her body. I momentarily stop at her breasts, fixated on the way the V of the dress perfectly sculpts them together. I continue my journey up to her pouty lips, accented with the perfect shade of mahogany. I momentarily picture how her lips would feel against my own. Would they feel as soft as I imagine they would be?
Absolutely Stunning.
I watch her eyes trail down my own body, and slowly make their way back up. I find myself adjusting my cuffs again, noticing how her eyes are bewitched by the movement. When her eyes finally meet mine, they widen in surprise, realizing that I’ve been watching her this whole time. Aredness blooms on her cheeks from being caught. I can’t fight the smirk on my face. “Hey there,” I husk out.
She awkwardly waves her hand by her hip. “Hi,” she says, almost breathlessly before turning to grab her bag. She steps out of her house, closing the door behind her. She begins walking, but I pause and point back at the door.
“Do you need to lock up before we leave?”
“What?” She starts, before shaking her head at the practicality of the question. “Oh, no. Evie is staying behind with Winnie, that way I don’t have to rush back.”
I give her a nod before continuing to my truck. I open the door for her, and offer my hand to get her up into the seat. She places her hand in mine before she climbs in and begins buckling herself. Quickly, I shut her door. Hopping into the driver’s side, I click my seatbelt into place as I begin to pull out of the driveway.
The playlist flows through the cab of the truck as we head toward my parents house. Thanks to shuffle, not a single genre is missed as we drive. WhenCruiseby Florida Georgia Line begins to play, I catch movement in the corner of my eye as Harper looks at me before turning back toward the window.
