Stealing Harper(56)

“If you don’t want me to take you, at least let me call Bree so she can take you home.” I thought about my conversation with Dad this morning, and added softly, “Speaking of, when were you going to tell me you moved into my parents’ house?”

She turned off the faucet and put a piece of gum in her mouth, chewing a few times before asking, “Does that bother you?”

“Not at all, but I just found out this morning that you’ve been living there over a month. I would have come around more if I knew you were there and not hiding from me in your dorm.”

“I haven’t been hiding from you, Chase.”

I almost snorted. Jeff had been right last night—I’d barely talked to her in the last month and a half. I knew she wanted time, but she always seemed to run in the opposite direction from me. My head dropped, and I stared at her backpack sitting between us. “You sure about that?”

She was quiet for a few moments, and when she finally said something, her voice was soft and shaking slightly, “I’ve just been busy, and you haven’t been around much either. You haven’t come to a family day in months.”

“As before, Harper, I’m giving you the time you asked for.”

“Oh.”

Yeah.

She picked up her backpack and walked past me, and when I turned to look at her, she was looking at me expectantly, her hand on the handle of the door. I followed her outside, and remained silent until I caught her looking up at me from the corner of my eye.

“Harper, can you tell me one thing?”

“I’ll tell you anything, Chase.”

I touched her arm to stop her and waited until she was looking at me with those wide gray eyes. “Have I—have I missed my chance?”

Her brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I mean with you, us. Did I miss my chance?”

My chest tightened painfully when she closed the distance between us and wrapped her arms around me. The night on my parents’ driveway when she kissed me softly before telling me she was staying with Brandon flashed through my mind, and I held my breath and gripped her tighter when she answered.

“I’m sorry that you would even have to ask that. I wish you knew how much I love you, Chase, it’s just been a hard time for me. I didn’t know you were still giving me time; I figured I’d already lost you.” Her voice broke at the end, and I almost thanked God out loud.

“Aw hell, baby. That’s not possible.” I kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tighter to me. “What’s been going on? Is it still because of Brandon? Or did something else happen?”

“We need to go, Harper.”

I dropped my arms and stepped back when I heard my sister’s voice. Once again, I expected Bree to freak out, but she just stood there with a soft smile on her face.

Harper looked up at me and touched my arm softly. “See you.”

“Bye, Princess.”

I watched her walk away from me again, but this time I promised myself it would be the last time. Tomorrow, she would be mine.

I hoped.





Chapter Eleven



I’D GONE TO Los Angeles early in the morning to get everything I needed for Harper’s surprise and barely made it to school in time after dropping it all off at Brian and Marissa’s. I laid the bouquet of orange lilies onto the chair that was propping open the door to Breanna and Harper’s class and stood back, hidden from view. Not more than five minutes later, the girls were walking up. I watched as my princess looked up, then did a double take at the chair. Her footsteps faltered as she walked slowly over and picked up the bouquet. Her body straightened as she turned around and scanned the crowd before picking the note out and moving the bouquet to the crook of her arm while she read it.

When she turned back around to look through everyone again, she had the widest smile on her face, and it took everything in me not to go to her. Bree took the note from her and shook her head slowly before looking around again as well. As soon as they walked into the classroom, I pulled out my phone.

You look beautiful today

Princess: Were you watching me?

Maybe. I finally got to give you your lilies

Princess: You already gave me my lilies a few months ago, remember?

I couldn’t forget that day even if I tried

Princess: Well, you could have given these to me yourself, you know. I would have liked to see you

It was worth it to see that smile on your face

Princess: :) Thank you for my flowers. I love them

What are you doing for your birthday?

Princess: Dinner with your fam tonight, movies at the house after. You’re invited

I’ll see what I can do

I wouldn’t be there. But I sure as hell hoped she loved her surprise.