Harper Lee Richards is in New York City for a friends bachelorette party weekend trip. What was supposed to be a fun, carefree girls trip turned into so much more. When she meets a mysterious stranger and then keeps bumping into him everywhere she g...
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Chapter Songs: Use Me (Brutal Hearts)/Diplo feat Dove Cameron and Sturgill Simpson, Stitches/Shawn Mendes, Somebody Else/The 1975, Woman/Harry Styles
I close the door behind me as I join Marina in the library and she immediately hands me the glass of whiskey.
"How did the flavor of the month manage to get an entire new wardrobe out of my brother?" Marina asks as she stands beside me and runs her arm up and down against my back.
"She's more than a flavor of the month to him. You should show some respect when speaking about her or Antony will have a problem with how you speak of her." I know my harsh tone and words have more to do with my growing fondness of Harper than any sort of respect for her brother being shown.
"Hmmm interesting." Marina brings the glass to her lips and allows it to linger there, almost as if she's contemplating something in her mind. A knock on the door sounds and we are told that dinner is ready. Marina passes by me and brushes over my jawline with her index finger as she walks by. "Come on Harry, let's go have dinner with my brother's new toy." She laughs.
I follow her into the dining room and Harper isn't seated yet. I ask the butler if Harper has been told dinner is ready and he nods his head that she had. Not a minute later Harper appears and she's changed into some comfortable lounge clothes. Marina shoots her a disproving look that doesn't go unnoticed. I immediately notice her face fall and her arms wrap around herself in a protective way. Marina is such a condescending bitch.
"Harry tells me that Antony has taken a liking to you...." Her voice is grating on my nerves. Harper looks up immediately in my direction as if she's wondering if I'm playing both sides of the fence. I wish I could assure her that I'm not.
"I guess you could say that." Harper replied.
"Interesting...." Marina says with an amused look on her face.
"Is it?" Harper clips back.
I'm enjoying watching this back and forth more than I should admit, but seeing fire in Harper's eyes at this moment makes me proud of her and it also makes me want to warn her that her challenge of Antony's sister could be dangerous. I can't say a word though or I'll ruin everything.
"You just don't seem like his......type is all." Marina chuckles.
"Ahhhh I see. I think his type in my case is virginal. Am I right Harry? Isn't that what my appeal is for him?" She shoots daggers from her eyes. It's in that moment that I have Marina and Harper glaring in my direction.
"Harry?" Marina raises an eyebrow.
"Talk to your brother Marina. I want no part in this back and forth with you two." I sit back in my chair ready for whatever would come my way next. Surprisingly they both focus on dinner which is funny because I can't focus on anything but her. The way her hair falls around her shoulders, the spot where her neck meets her shoulders, her collarbone that I so desperately want to kiss. Her lips. I'd been so close to kissing her today, God I wanted to. If I'd taken her to my house I would have, it's probably best that I didn't. That would have been so foolish of me. I can't take anyone there, I know that. I've never taken a girl there, the only person who's been there is Niall. It's my space. My safe haven, where I can be me. The fact that I wanted to take her there scares me. The fact that I was so close and didn't put the brakes on once while driving there is terrifying. This could ruin everything. She could bring this all down, taking me down with her. The scariest thing is that I don't think I care as much as I should. If she's going down, I'm going down with her. Fuck, this is a problem.
