Chapter <i>57 </i>
Harper
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I was curled up on the couch with E and Zoey in my living room, their heads heavy against my shoulders while I gently rubbed the sides of their arms in slow circles. It was one of the ways Iforted them so they wouldn’t drop actual tears over the Bary Twins.
“I hate to say it, but this was going to eventually happen,” I said softly. “You both knew that it was nothing serious. You were just having a good time with the twins.”
Zoey let out a dramatic huff, pushing her head off my shoulder so she could look me in the eye, her hand pressed against her chest like she was offended.
“It’s just, they were so fun and acted like gentlemen.”
“Exactly!” E chimed in from the other side, her voice a pitch higher with frustration. “And here I thought things were just getting better.”
She shoved her hair out of her face and picked up her phone from the table for what had to be the hundredth time. She hadn’t stopped reading the message that Adrian had sent to her. It was the same one Aiden had sent to Zoey, word for word.
“You’re an amazing girl. Thanks for all the good memories. It was fun while itsted.”
“I really thought that Aiden and I were going strong. I guess it was one–sided.” Zoey sighed with an effort.
“You two really fell for these guys,” I lightly teased.
E groaned and grabbed the nearest pillow, swatting me on the arm with it. “Don’t say it like that. It only makes it worse that the fun is over and we didn’t see iting.”
“Well…” I dragged the word out before pressing my lips together. “…I kinda did.”
Their heads shot towards me with narrowed eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” They asked in unison.
I threw my hands up defensively. “Okay, calm down. Last weekend, Maddox told me the twins don’t do themitment type of thing, just like him.”
Zoey gasped, shaking me by my shoulder like I’d justmitted a crime. “And you didn’t say anything?”
“How was I supposed to just say it?” I forced a chuckle. “I didn’t know how to make it sound
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better, so I said nothing. I also didn’t want to ruin the fun for you guys.”
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“Well, it’s all in the past now.” E slightly frowned as she gently punched the side of my arm. Then, with a grin, she said, “At least you and Maddox still have your thing going on.”
“I’ve always told you two that it’s nothing serious.” I rolled my eyes dismissively.
“I don’t think so.” Zoey pursed her lips. “Didn’t you say that he warned youst week about Dean?”
I hesitated. “Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean-‘
“Yes, it does!” They said in unison.
“Ugh! You two are ridiculous.”
“No,” Zoey said, leaning forward to squeeze my hand. “You two really look so good together. Can’t you just like…give him a chance?”
I rolled my eyes in disbelief. “Did you not hear a thing I said?”
“You just don’t want to admit it, but we see what’s going on.” E smirked. “Maddox kissed you right in front of Kate and now he calls and texts you more frequently than ever before. He’s even in San Francisco today for a few business meetings, but I bet he has a huge surprise for you afterwards!”
“Yeah!” Zoey firmly added. “And since the day you came back from Londonst weekend, he’s asked about Dean a lot. Isn’t it obvious? The idea of you and Dean getting closer bothers him.”
Rising <i>to </i>my feet, I brushed my palms over my jeans. “Look, Dean and I, that’s never happening. And Maddox…” I exhaled, waving a hand as though that exined everything. “He’s just be a little possessive, that’s all.”
“You know what I think?” E’s eyes thoughtfully narrowed. “Had it been Grayson acting this way, even without doing much, you would’ve already convinced yourself that he was in love with you.”
Her words hit me so hard that I smacked my lips together as I frowned and lowered my gaze.
E gasped and pped her mouth. “Oh, shit, I shouldn’t have brought him up.”
“I’m fine. It’s okay.” I assured her with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
“You’re so dumb sometimes.” Zoey shook her head with disapproval at E, then gave me a soft, reassuring look. “It’s okay, Harper. Don’t let her mouth ruin the vibe.”
E pouted, throwing her arms around me. “I’m sorry. It just still pisses me off that he chose
<b>16:11 </b>Tue, Sep 16
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that bitch even after everything. Imagine if that baby isn’t even his!”
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My eyebrows furrowed as that possibility flickered in my mind. For a few seconds, I pictured it, then shook my head hard to shut it all out. It didn’t matter. I hadn’t seen him or spoken to him since he’d blocked me. I’d beenpletely cut off.
“You know what?” I broke the hug, my voice firmer. “Enough about him. If we’re going to talk about boys, no Grayson.”
“Did you hear that?” Zoey tilted her head at E just for emphasis.
“Shut up.” E replied, rolling her eyes.
suddenly giggled, making both of them exchange matching nces of curiosity before looking at me.
“What?” Zoey smiled like she was already in on the joke.
“It’s just that this was supposed to be about you two and the Bary twins but somehow, it turned into being about me.”
“We’re okay. Right, Zoey?” E said quickly.
“Yeah, totally!”
I lightly shook my head at both of them. Weren’t they the same girls who had their heads on my shoulders not too long ago?
“Well,” I said slowly, “if you two are okay, then I guess I’ll just cancel the shopping spree I was nning <i>to </i>cheer you up.”
They gasped, clutching my hands with exaggerated puppy eyes as they begged me to take them. I fought hard to keep a straight face even when I knew I was just messing with them.
During the ride to the mall in my car, Zoey took the wheel and E was in the backseat, loudly singing along to the breakup song ying on the radio. She was dramatic with it, like she’d actually been through an actual break up and that only made it hrious to me.
The song was just about to get to the chorus when I received a call and turned down the volume, but E wasn’t too happy about it.
“Hey, why did you do that?” she asked, bringing her face towards the back of my seat.
“I just need to take this call.” I nced back at her.
16:11 <b>Tue</b><b>, </b>Sep 16
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“But the song was just getting to the best…” She trailed off when I showed her Maddox’s name on the caller ID. “You know what? Fuck the song!”
yfully rolling my eyes, I ced the phone against my ear after picking up his call.
“Hey…”
“Everything okay?” he asked from the other end of the line.
“Uh…yeah.” My eyebrows furrowed as I was a little confused.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Is everything okay with your friends? How are they doing? The Barcaly twins told me.”
“Of course they did. I’m taking my girls shopping. Shouldn’t you be in a meeting right now?”
“The next one is in two hours. I’m at the Aldridge Estate and Grayson’s parents won’t stop talking about the baby and they’re the least annoying ones. I’m just d I won’t have to do this shit much longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Have fun. I’ll call youter.”
My girls wouldn’t stop teasing me after the call, but I was more focused on what exactly he was talking about.
After the shopping spree, I brought them to one of my favorite restaurants to grab some lunch. It was a cheap and simple ce but the food was always so tasty like it was meant to be served in one of Maddox’s elegant restaurants.
E and Zoey sat on the same side of the table, directly facing the entrance to the restaurant while I was on the other side of it and facing them. They were all smiles while talking about their new dresses. They weren’t even talking about the twins anymore.
Even when our order was served, I thoughtfully watched the two of them eat first.
“Hey, what’s up?” Zoey leaned forward. “Don’t like the food?”
“It’s not that. I just have a feeling that you two are really gonna be okay,” I said with a smile.
“That’s right!” E raised her ss like it was a toast.
At that moment, I wished I could be just like the two of them. It was so easy for them to move
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on from the Bary twins because whatever they felt wasn’t that deep and it had only been a few weeks. My feelings for Grayson weren’t just a few weeks, they were several years. I shouldn’t have thought about him, but I did and it was because I was mad at him.
As I was taking a sip from my ss of juice, their eyes opened wide while looking straight at the entrance before ncing at each other. I sensed a shift in their bodynguage, making me tilt my head.
“What’s gotten into you two?”
“Don’t look back.” E’s voice was quiet.
“Why not?”
I was so curious that I looked back and instantly regretted it. Grayson was holding Tiffany’s hand as he looked around for a spot that wasn’t taken, his head movements freezing the moment his eyesnded on me.
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