Page 74 of My Favorite Secret
“I missed you so much,” Harper whispers, lifting onto her toes and greeting me with a soft kiss. I can feel her smiling against my lips. She melts into me.
My arms slip around her waist. Her tiny frame feels incredible. She smells like strawberry shampoo and tastes like addiction.
“I love you,” she murmurs.
The words jolt my chest, not because Harper’s feelings are a shock, but because I have no memory of anyone saying them to me other than Clara.I’venever said them to anyone.
Warmth spreads through my body. I can see the love confession blissfully radiating through Harper as her beautiful blue eyes meet mine.
“What made you choose this moment to tell me?” I ask.
“Felix, youseethe real me. I struggled to see the real you for a long time, but I see it now. You show the world a rough side. What you show me is selfless and caring. Last night with Tyler… It could never have happened without you. You know what my heart wants, and you push me to take it. You knew I wouldn’t be complete without you and Tyler. Loving you two is what’s healing me.”
My forehead rests against Harper’s. I close my eyes, breathing her in and holding her tight. “Harper, you are my entire world.”
She owns my heart. And yet, as much as I want to say the three words back to her, as much as I truly feel them, something is stopping me. I’m in so fucking deep with this girl that it frightens me a little.
Alot.
With no mother and an absent father, I’ve always needed to fend for myself in this world. I’ve always forced myself to be strong. But Harper has the power to break me. I know she never will. I trust her. But I’m so used to playing defense that holding onto those three little words feels instinctual. It’s my last line of self-preservation before I give Harper every piece of my soul.
My gaze flicks to Tyler. He’s watching the two of us with approval. My brother holds himself differently. More assured and confident. It makes perfect sense. He finally got the girl he’s been in love with his entire life, and finally got his dick properly played with.
I heard the two of them through the wall all night. They didn’t get any sleep. It was constant moaning and orgasms. Tyler took good care of her. I jerked off to the sound of Harper, as I said I would, jealous as fuck but enjoying the animal it turned me into. They needed their time alone together, and I respect that.
“Just so you know,” Harper starts. “I’m still a virgin. I told Tyler I want you two to decide who gets my first time.”
Fuck. Blood rushes to my cock.
I lock eyes with Tyler, wondering if we can solve thisamicably. There’s nothing territorial in his gaze. He respects my relationship with Harper as much as I do his.
I kiss Harper and stroke her hair. “Your father is about to leave for the beach house. You should get a ride with him. We’ll follow in the Jeep. My brother and I need to have alongchat about you.”
Tyler and I are halfway to the Hamptons. Music is blaring. There’s junk food in the center console. Tyler’s legs are on the dashboard. He’s flicking his Zippo non-stop. We’ve been laughing over the dumbest shit, talking about our brothers, school, and not once has he stopped smiling. There’s not a trace of weirdness between us.
“Now that you’re not trying to get into Columbia to marry Harper, what do you say about bringing our speakeasy plan back to life?” I ask.
Tyler scratches his jaw, groaning. “You know Harper wouldn’t approve.”
“She wouldn’t approve of an illegal business. We’ll make it legal. The speakeasy won’t be what we originally envisioned, but we can still make it great. Think about how incredible it would be, the two of us working together. Sharing a business.”
He contemplates my words for a moment before flicking the Zippo shut and reading the first part of its inscription. “The house always wins.”
“Except when we play,” I finish.
He grins. “All right, man. I love the idea. Let’s do this.”
“For real?” I glance from the road to Tyler in disbelief. “You’re not fucking with me? Not going to run off to Columbia to impress Daddy?”
“Fuck you.” He laughs, shoving my shoulder. “No. I’m all in.”
I do give Tyler shit for how much he’s tried to impress our father over the years. He’s the only one out of me and my brothers who seeks Dad’s approval. I can’t blame Tyler. It would be nice to have a father who takes an interest in my life.
Dad won’t be pleased with our speakeasy plans. When he retires, he wants Tyler to be his successor.
Dad doesn’t have any vision for me, other than for me to clean my act up. He isn’t aware I’m doing just that. I could tell him all the ways I’m changing. That I hope he reinstates my trust fund, but that money isn’t the motivator here. I’m becoming a better person for Harper and Clara.
Honestly, I don’t think he’d believe it, nor do I think it would fix our relationship. I don’t even want to waste my breath talking to the man.
