Harper
“Tiffany’s cheating on Grayson?”
My voice was louder as I quickly leaned towards Tracy.
It was only when she leaned backwards with a nervous smile because I’d caught her off–guard that I straightened up again.
“I know it’s shocking, but damn,” she said.
“I’m sorry. I just…what?” I couldn’t close
my mouth.
“You just couldn’t keep your mouth shut, could you?” Penelope shook her head with a look of disapproval. “Harper, don’t listen to a word she says. She’s not even sure.”
“But I saw her kissing another guy!” Tracy pursed her lips.
“Did you really see that?” Penelope narrowed her eyes with doubt. “I was there, remember? We never saw her face since her back was facing us. We only saw the guy<i>.” </i>
“But that was Tiffany Ford. I’d know that figure and hairstyle anywhere!”
The two of them went back and forth a few times and I just constantly moved my head from left to right.
It was only when I stepped in that they finally gave it a rest.
“That’s enough, you two. When did this happen?”
Penelope scoffed. “You believe her?”
“No. I’m just trying <i>to </i>understand something.”
“In other words, she believes me!” Tracy bragged. “Anyway, this happened on March 10th. Penelope and I were out at night when we saw Tiffany.”
“But she was at Maddox’s birthday.” My eyes narrowed.
“See what I was telling you?” Penelope snickered at Tracy. “It wasn’t her. All thatte night drinking got to your head.”
Tracy threw her hands up in protest. “I still stick to what I saw. I know it was 4 AM and I was drunk, but it still looked like Tiffany to me.”
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They continued to argue, but I just sat there, thinking about how Tiffany had left the party before 2 AM so she could take her best friend home.
I was just about to ask for further details when Aunt Patricia’s voice cut through the loud
voices.
“That’s enough gossip. Harper, sweetie,e with me outside for a minute.”
I nodded with a small smile, my mind now stuck on getting the full details about what had happened.
Aunt Patricia ced her hand on the back of my shoulder as she led me to the back door.
We came to the quiet and small backyard in silence and I constantly nced at the door like I could see inside the house.
She leaned against the wooden railing with arms crossed, studying me while lightly shaking her head.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“I know you just want to get back there and listen to the rest of the gossip, but don’t bother. You know how Tracy has always been so quick to jump to conclusions.”
“Well…I’m just…”
She chuckled softly. “<i>I </i>know that you have history with Tiffany and you and Grayson have always been close. Just be careful, okay?”
I sighed with a nod.
“Good. Sit with me.”
She pushed herself off the wooden railing and led the way to the small table with four chairs.
I sat right next to her after she took her seat first and she intertwined her fingers, making me swallow hard. Whenever she did that. There was usually some scoldinging up.
“There was a time when your name wasn’t stered all over the inte buttely, it is and not for the right reasons, at least not the ones I’d like to see.”
“Aunt-”
She held up her hand, letting me know she wasn’t finished. “I saw those clips from the party of you and Maddox. Is he your boyfriend?”
I chuckled dismissively. “Boyfriend? Of course not. He and I are just f-” I stopped myself
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before I could say I was just fucking him, remiinding myself that I wasn’t talking to my friends. “We’re just friends.”
“And yet, you two seem closer than that. While it backfired, his sister even went as far as to let it be known to the rest of the world that there was something going on between you two. Sweetie,” she paused, cing the palm of her hand on top of mine, “I’m only looking out for you. Your heart isn’t meant for all these games. Take care of yourself, alright?”
I firmly nodded, but the images that shed in my head were about Friday. I still had time to tell Maddox I wouldn’t go, but I didn’t see that happening, because it gave me a rush that made me anticipate what was toe.
It was only when she spoke again that I snapped out of it.
“A few days ago, I took some fresh roses to your mother’s grave and found fresh lilies. Looks like you got there before me.”
I smiled painfully. “Thanks.”
“You really need to stop thanking me. She was my younger sister. Why wouldn’t I do that for her?”
I frowned. “Well, not everyone wants to show up there, like Anna.”
“The way I <i>see </i>it, she’s been there so many times and empty–handed, just when no one’s watching her.”
My lips curved into a wide smile. I hoped that was the case.
“While that’s still better than nothing, it still hurts. I miss seeing her and just giving her a hug.”
“I’m d you heard from your sister over a month ago, even if it wasn’t a warm reception. The rest of us have tried but she just wants to be left alone.”
“I don’t know what it’ll take for her to open up her heart again.”
“Just give it time, okay?” She gave me a warm smile.
I clenched my jaw, unable to smile back. “That’s all I do.”
“If you knew her home address, would you go?”
I forced a chuckle. “No. That would be up to her. I’ll keep waiting until she’s ready.”
Aunt Patricia was the best cook I’d ever known. Too bad my stomach had no room left for
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more of her tasty meals. I still made sure to pack something I could have for dinner since it was already getting dark.
“Can’t you stay the night and leave tomorrow morning?” she asked while fixing my hair.
“I’d love to, but I have some pending work,” I said to her. “I should’ve finished it yesterday but I was upied. It can’t wait. I promise I’ll be back soon.”
She nodded in understanding, wrapping her arms around me for a warm hug. I didn’t know how much I needed that until I was in her embrace.
“I’m always here for whatever you need. Never forget that, my dear.”
She patted me on the back as she broke the hug, ready to lead the way out the front door when I saw that as my opportunity.
“I just need a minute. I didn’t tell Tracy and Penelope that I’m leaving.”
She scoffed, like she was suspicious of me, but she let me go upstairs anyway.
I found the two of them in their bedroom, as if they had been waiting for me.
“I told you she’de.” Tracyughed in her sister’s face. “Now, give me my $20!”
Penelope rolled her eyes, pping the $20 onto Tracy’s palm. “You just had toe up here. Are you really that curious?”
“Look, Grayson is my friend and I’m just looking out for him. That’s why I can’t just let this go.”
I still kept in mind that it wasn’t known for a fact that it was Tiffany, but I wanted to know all the details so badly and I didn’t know if I was doing it for Grayson or for my own selfish
reasons.
Tracy came real close, telling me the details with dramatic expressions.
While I had no one in particr in mind, the guy’s name was someone I would’ve never imagined.