Page 56 of My Favorite Secret
“She’s harmless.”
I side-eye my brother, smirking. “Like Paul Ferguson? The guy stands no chance with Harper. She’s not interested in him at all. And yet, at the cemetery, you wouldn’t stop glaring at him every time he got too close to Harper.”
“I don’t like the guy. End of story.”
My phone vibrates. I pull it out of my pocket, seeing a message from Theo, letting me know he’s arrived downstairs in the lobby. “What do you think my chances are of slipping out of here without Harper realizing I’m gone?”
“Slim to none.”
“Guess I’ll need to be quick.”
“Where are you going?”
“Theo is downstairs. I need to speak with him.”
His brow furrows. “About eclipse? I thought you were giving that a rest for a while?”
“Actually, I need to tell him I’m out.”
“For good? What brought that on?”
“Clara. Harper too.”
Tyler watches me carefully, understanding what my words don’t say. I see it in his eyes, that he knows something is happening between me and Harper. He can’t possibly know the extent. With the grief in this household and Harper’s supposed values of waiting for marriage, there’s no way he could suspect we’ve been physical. But he knows there’s something emotionally intimate between me and Harper, beyond just a friendship.
Tyler laughs. “You always gave me shit for trying to please Harper. I think I deserve an apology.”
There’s no jealousy in his response, which strengthens my suspicion that he would be open to us sharing Harper.
“She was sleeping in my arms this morning,” he continues, speaking the words quietly. “I nearly kissed her lips.”
“You should kiss her. When she’s awake, I mean.”
He laughs again, but there’s something troubled in his voice. “I can’t. The timing isn’t right with Clara’s passing. She needs me as a friend right now.”
He’s always gentle with her. She’s so delicate in his eyes.
“Bro, maybe kissing her is exactly what she needs from you.”
Tyler shrugs my words off, changing the topic but no less troubled. “I have a gift for Harper. I thought it would be a reminder of her bond with Clara and encourage her to keep dancing. But if she’s adamant about quitting, perhaps the gift is insensitive.”
“Only you can make that decision. Trust your instincts.” I pat Tyler on the shoulder. “Look, Theo is waiting. We can talk more later. Cover for me, okay? I don’t want Harper knowing where I am.”
Theo won’t be pleased with what I have to say, but the two of us have been through a lot together, we’ve always had each other’s backs, so I know he’ll understand eventually, if not today. But it doesn’t mean I want Harper witnessing this discussion.
“Yeah, I’ll cover for you.”
While Harper is preoccupied with Cindy, I quietly leave the rooftop. The elevator is fast and I’m in the lobby within a minute, finding Theo and some redheadgirl waiting for me on a couch. They’re the only ones here and stand to greet me as soon as they notice my arrival.
“Felix, man, everything all good?” There’s caution in Theo’s question. I’m not surprised. He’s an intuitive guy. Asking him to meet me mid-afternoon in the lobby for a quick talk isn’t something we usually do.
My gaze switches to the redhead behind him, wondering how cautious I need to be around her. She looks familiar. From the way she’s smiling at me, I’d say I’ve fucked her before. Now she’s fucking Theo. Doesn’t surprise me.
I focus back on Theo, choosing my words carefully due to the girl. “A problem has arisen. I know we had big plans, but I can’t be involved anymore.”
Theo’s expression drops. “Dude, what the fuck? You’re serious?”
“Yes. My situation has changed. Clara’s death has made me reconsider my choices.”
