Harper


    B55 vouchers


    If I hadn’t pulled away from Maddox’s lips, he would’ve had my underwear down to my knees. The thought of it turned my gaze ice–cold.


    I smacked my slightly swollen lips and said, “I just wanted to see if kissing you would change anything.”


    “And?” He smirked confidently.


    Leaning closer to his ear, I said, “What makes you think I have any interest in dating Tiffany’s brother?”


    He poked his cheek, looking at me in disbelief.


    I turned around to leave and he stood in ce, not even saying a word. I was actually disappointed that kissing him felt that way. For someone who was a yboy and always charming with thedies, I expected to feel something, anything.


    It was then that I began to wonder. Had that been Grayson touching and kissing me like that, would I have let myself go?


    I firmly shook my head, telling myself not even to entertain such thoughts. He was going to marry Tiffany.


    My only interactions with him that night had been in the presence of others. It was clear he had no time for me and I didn’t want to be there anymore, so without anyone noticing, I made my way back to the car.


    It was best to leave before I found myself kissing Maddox again out of anger.


    I tightened my grip on the steering wheel, checking my eyes in the mirror. Did I look as much of an idiot as I felt? Yes.


    I went from just wanting Grayson to notice me to kissing Maddox so willingly and boldly. I didn’t even regret it.


    Just as I began to drive away, I held on to the stupid hope that I would see Grayson from the rear view mirror, running outside so he could stop me from leaving, but that wasn’t my fairy tale.


    I made it home forty five minutester. It was quite the distance from his ce, but I had wanted to go that far just to see him.


    I changed my clothes, removed my makeup, freshened up and got into bed, hoping that I would forget it all the following day.


    The morning <b>sun </b>filtered through my curtains and I groaned, pulling the covers over my head while trying to convince myself that everything that happenedst night was a dream, from the engagement announcement, to the steamy kiss with Maddox.


    But the moment my phone buzzed on my nightstand and I reached for it to check the notifications, my eyes widened and I sat up.


    The notifications were a mix of tags, group chats and lots of messages. My name was trending.


    55 vouchers


    I had never posted pictures online about how different I now looked, but someone had posted a picture of me that was taken at the party and so manyments flooded the post.


    “Who knew nerdy Harper had those damn gorgeous legs?”


    “I was there and this picture doesn’t even do her justice. She needs to drop her skin care routine because WOW!”


    “Wait, is this the girl who used to wear oversized hoodies? She looks like a movie star!”


    I wanted to read everyment on that post, but when the ones below began to involve Grayson, I frowned and tossed the phone onto the edge of the bed.


    I wanted nothing to do with him that day.


    Just then, my phone rang and I felt a knot in my stomach as soon as I saw his name on the screen.


    I quickly reached for the phone again, my thumb hovering over the green button before finally pressing it.


    “Hello?<b>” </b>


    “Hey, Harp.” His voice was soft and warm.


    I cleared my throat. “Hey, what’s up?”


    “I looked for youst night but I couldn’t find you. I don’t even me you for leaving. I actually wanted to call youst night, but I was so busy with Tiffany after the party”


    <b>I </b>scrunched my pillow at the thought of them alone.


    “I just wanted to apologise for what happened. She shouldn’t have done that to you. She crossed the line with the truth–or–dare thing.”


    I bit the inside of my cheek. “Yeah, well, she’s always been that way towards me. It’s nothing new.”


    “I really had a long talk with her and told her it wasn’t funny. You didn’t deserve that at all. She’s my fiancée but you’re…” he trailed off for a few seconds. “I know we haven’t been close for a while now but you’ve always been important to me.”


    I hated how those words made my heart race. I hated how I still wanted to hear him say things like that even when they meant nothing,


    “Anyway,” he continued quickly. “I just wanted to make sure you’re stilling to the wedding despite what happened with Tiffany.”


    My eyes widened as I pointed at myself. “You expect me toe?<b>” </b>


    “Of course. You and I go way back. Don’t you remember that we used to say we would be best friends for life?”


    That description hit me so hard that I didn’t want to go.


    “I don’t know, Grayson. I have a lot going on right now.”


    “Come on.” His voice was gentle. “Please? I want you to be there.”


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    So much time had passed but I was still the girl who waited for scraps of affection from the boy who never truly chose her.


    “Okay.” I sighed.


    “Great!” He sounded genuinely relieved. “I’ll send you the final detailster.”


    “Cool.”


    Even after we hung up, I could still hear him calling me his best friend and it hurt, but I couldn’t change it.


    Grayson


    Ever since we were kids, I knew that Harper was in love with me. She never said it, but she didn’t have to. I figured it out from the way she always looked at me, like I was the center of her universe and was already everything to her.


    I liked it because it always fed something in me. It was that part of me that liked knowing someone would always be there no matter what. She was reliable, adoring, constant and never asked for anything in return and I never gave her anything. I didn’t want to.


    I told myself she wasn’t for me and I needed someone who was pretty, hot and more noticeable. Harper was just someone who was always in the background. She was quiet and safe.


    Then, Tiffany showed up around the time I began to get popr and I made my choice.


    It fed my <i>ego </i>even more, having Tiffany as my girl and Harper still by my side, ready to do anything for me.


    We began to grow apart before she left for college, but I never forgot about her and still kept in touch. It was for this reason that I invited her <i>to </i>the party when I learned that she was back in town and she now looked like every guy’s desire.


    The one thing that hadn’t changed was how she couldn’t say no to me when I asked her toe to the wedding.


    The big day arrived and Tiffany was finally going to be mine forever. It felt like the best decision I had ever made in my life.


    Despite my regret of missing out on Harper’s beauty, she still was nowhere close to the wealthy circle I was in and I wouldn’t have wanted things any other way.


    It was all going to n. Just a few more minutes and we were going to be husband and wife. Then, Tiffany barged into my dressing room, holding onto the sides of her wedding dress while yelling at everyone


    7:20 Tue, Sep 16


    to get out.


    <b>78 </b>


    E 55 vouchers


    “What’s gotten into you?” I said to her with concern. “Don’t you know it’s bad luck for me to see you like this?”


    She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please! Why is Harper attending our wedding?”


    “Because I invited her.”


    “And you didn’t bother to tell me? Everyone’s looking at her like she’s a goddess or something. She needs to leave.”


    “No. She’s my guest and best friend.”


    She scoffed. “Best friend? You two have barely spoken in years.”


    “I know, but she was always there.”


    “So fucking what? I don’t want her here and don’t you daree to her defense because if she doesn’t leave, this wedding is cancelled!”


    <b>7:20 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b>Sep <b>16 </b>