Stealing Harper(30)

“Funny. Who’s winning?”

“Oh man, Chase!” Zach said, and held a fist up while he tried to swallow whatever he was eating. “You missed a hilarious party on Friday. You know that Carter kid? Princess’s friend?”

I already didn’t want to hear this story. I hated that clown.

“Get this. Homeboy takes Princess outside and kisses her right in front of all of us, starts declaring his love for her and goes to kiss her again when Brandon and Derek stepped in and took care of it. He freaked when Brandon wouldn’t fight him and got all loud and pissy; Brad ended the entire party because of it.”

“Good.” I huffed and glanced at Brandon like he was insane. “He kissed her, and you didn’t do anything?”

He started to speak, but Derek interrupted. “He handled it how he should have, and apparently it worked for Princess, too. I heard her moaning the next morning.”

My body went rigid, and Brandon tensed as he glared at Derek. “Shut the hell up; you know not to talk about her like that.”

Derek held his hands up and smiled. “Just sayin’, she sounded more than happy with whatever you two were doing.”

“Shut up, man; you can talk about your girl all you want, but leave mine and what we do out of it.”

My hands curled into fists, and Brad stepped right in front of me and started pushing me out of the living room, talking quietly, “Don’t, Chase. We’re not going through this shit again. Just leave it alone. They’re dating, so it shouldn’t be shocking to you. You’ve got to start being okay with this.”

She was a fucking virgin, and he took that from her. I didn’t have to be okay with anything! I wanted to go back in there and beat the shit out of him more than anything, but with all of them standing around, I wouldn’t have even gotten one hit in. I thought about the time I’d just spent with her, and everything I’d just found out. Clown’s kissing her Friday, she’s screwing my best friend on Saturday, and leaning in to kiss me today? She’s gonna make me feel like shit for the few girls she’d seen me with and tell me she’d just be another girl for me? Look in a fucking mirror, Princess. Because, obviously, I’m just one of many guys for you.

“CHASE!”

I groaned and hated the fact that despite all I’d found out about her, all I wanted was to take her in my arms.

“What, you’re just not going to talk to me now?”

I kept walking down the hall and only stopped after she planted herself right in front of me, hands on her hips.

“Why are you being like this?”

Really? She really wanted to know why I was being like that?

“Did I do something to offend you? You haven’t said a word to me since Sunday. You have been so bipolar lately, I don’t even know what to expect from you.”

I raised an eyebrow at her; she didn’t know what to expect from me? At least I was completely honest. Well, maybe not, but at least I wasn’t going around acting like some innocent virgin when I was really screwing everyone.

Harper’s cheeks turned red suddenly, and now I had no idea what we were even talking about. Wasn’t she just mad at me? What was the embarrassment for? She blinked her eyes rapidly a few times and narrowed her eyes at me. I almost laughed. My fierce little princess was back.

“Whatever. I’m done trying to figure you out. If you want to be an asshole, go right ahead. But don’t keep acting like there’s nothing wrong between us on Sundays.”

Oh my God, really? This wasn’t about me being an asshole, it was about the way I thought she was acting with every other guy! “We’re back to this now?”

“It’s a freaking miracle. He speaks.”

“You think I’m confusing? God, Harper, that’s rich. This coming from the girl who repeatedly told me to stay away, but fell into my arms at the first sign of trouble with her boyfriend? Do you want me to back off, or don’t you?” I took a step toward her, and another when she stepped back. I leaned in close and whispered softly in her ear, the way I did when I wanted her to sway toward me; and I wasn’t disappointed this time either. “Why keep fighting the inevitable, baby? You want me. Even now, your body is shaking because you’re trying to keep yourself from touching me.” I brushed my fingers across her hand and watched her arms instantly get covered in goose bumps. “One touch from me, and you’re covered in goose bumps. Tell me now that you want me to go away.”

“You’re such an ass. I just don’t understand why we can’t be friends all the time. I don’t want to be your friend on Sunday and the girl you don’t acknowledge every other day of the week. I want the same thing every day. So you decide what that is and let me know.”