Page 94 of My Favorite Secret
Three months have flown by since we returned from the beach house. I’m high on life and it all stems from Harper and Felix. The three of us have never been closer. Harper radiates joy. She’s impossible to look away from. Passion burns in her eyes every time she speaks about ballet. Seeing her like this does something to me. To Felix, too. We thrive off her happiness.
We’ve all formed a routine. The new year has arrived and each day, Felix and I head to school. He applies himself during class instead of ditching like he used to. I know the effort is for Harper. Clara too.
Harper completes her homeschooling in the morning then disappears to the academy for hours, giving everything she has to her dance as she prepares forSwan Lake.
Evenings are sacred. We eat dinner with Thomas, playing our roles, feigning normality. We share stories about our day, pretending we’re just three kids with nothing to hide. Afterward, the three of us retreat to the home library to study. Sometimes, not much studying getsdone. I’ve lost track of how many times Felix and I have thrown our books aside to pleasure Harper.
Some nights, it’s slow and drawn out, with Harper stretched across the leather couch, moaning as I kiss between her legs and Felix whispers dirty things in her ear. Other nights, it’s desperate and fast because we don’t have time, knowing Thomas is next door in his office or lingering in the hallway, a breath away from catching us.
When the evening is late and we’re sure Thomas has gone to sleep, Harper slips out of her room and sneaks into one of our beds. The following night, she sneaks into the other’s room. Sometimes, when Harper can’t stand being apart from either of us, we all fall asleep in the same bed, a tangled mess of limbs. No one ever goes unsatisfied. I can’t remember the last time I jerked off because Harper and I are constantly fucking. I’ve had her body in every way.
There have been moments of grief for Harper. Clara’s exhibition opened soon after we returned from the beach. It was a proud moment for Harper but also one of sadness, feeling her mother’s absence more deeply that day than others.
Cindy attended the opening. Despite Felix’s ill feelings toward the girl, she continues proving to be a good friend. Harper says there’s no weirdness between them. She says they’re as close as ever and has even confided in Cindy about being with me and Felix.
As expected, Felix isn’t pleased that Cindy has been let in on our secret. But if Harper trusts her, so do I.
Paul Ferguson was at the exhibition opening too. Harper met up with him a few other times to appease her father. Each time, she insisted me and Felix join their outing. The guy hates us. The feeling is mutual and I’m sure he knows it from the way I look at him. Felix tells me to bemore subtle about my dislike, but I can’t contain myself when I know Paul wants our girlfriend for himself.
It’s late Friday afternoon when Thomas approaches me in the living room. We’re the only two in the apartment. Felix is picking up Harper from the academy and will be home any minute.
“Everything okay?” I ask.
“Yes. Take a seat.”
I sit on the opposite couch from him, quietly fretting that the secret between me, Harper, and Felix is up. We’ve been careful. We don’t act inappropriately in front of anyone. But maybe Thomas has sensed something.
“As you know, Clara wanted half of her ashes scattered in the Hamptons and the other half in Italy where we got married,” Thomas starts.
I remember him telling me these details when we scattered the first half of Clara’s ashes before returning from the beach. The day was sad for everyone but a much-needed step toward healing.
Thomas clears his throat, a little emotional. “Our wedding anniversary is approaching and it would mean a lot to me if I were able to scatter the remains of Clara’s ashes in Italy on that date. I’ve decided to fly there next week. If Harper wants to come, I’ll bring her. But she’s dancing again. She’s preparing forSwan Lake. She’s socializing with friends. Harper lost her way for a while but now she’s thriving and I don’t want to disrupt her life by bringing her to Italy.”
“I understand,” I say, relieved that this conversation isn’t connected to my relationship with Harper and Felix. “Is there anything I can do to make the journey smoother for you?”
“Yes. I need to ask something important of you. Harperis an independent young woman. Very self-driven. But she’ll always be my little girl and I’ll always worry to some extent. I’ll be put at ease if I know she has you looking out for her while I’m away. You’ve been such a good friend to Harper. A brother, really. You’re family and I know Harper feels the same way. I can never thank you and Felix enough for the way you’ve stepped up and taken care of Harper since she lost her mother. Can I trust that you’ll take care of Harper while I’m gone?”
“Of course. You know I’ll always take care of her.”
“You’re a good person, Tyler. Clara was always proud of the man you’ve become.”
Guilt hits me, hearing those words. This man trusts me and has no idea what I’ve done to his daughter. Last night, she started in Felix’s room. When she was done, she snuck next door to me and spent the rest of the night tied to my bed as my sex toy.
I clear my throat, pushing the thoughts away. “How long do you plan to be in Italy?”
“About a month. My ticket is open-ended. Clara has family in Italy and I think it’s important for me to spend time with them. I’ll be on the first flight back if Harper needs me.”
The front door opens and I hear Harper laughing as she arrives home with my brother. The two of them come to a halt when they enter the living room, seeing the serious conversation between me and Thomas.
“Sweetheart, how was ballet?” Thomas asks.
“Great. Is everything all right?” She answers with caution, her grip tightening on the bag strap slung over her shoulder. Harper’s gaze switches between me and her father and I can tell she’s panicked for the same reason I was.
“Yes, everything is fine,” Thomas says. “Honey, I have something to run by you. I want to scatter the rest of your mother’s ashes where we got married in Italy, on our anniversary.”
Harper’s mouth opens and closes in shock. “Dad, that’s just over a week away.”
“I know. You’re welcome to come with me, but I was saying to Tyler that you’re doing so well and I don’t want to uproot your life for this. You scattered part of her ashes in the Hamptons. Would you be awfully upset if I scattered the rest on my own?”
