“Sorry,” I giggle. “Proceed.”
Chris chuckles, but his smile fades as fast as it appeared.
“So the frog agreed, the scorpion climbed on his back and they jumped into the water together,” he says. “But the scorpion stung the frog, sentencing them both to certain death. As they both sank into the water, the frog asked the scorpion, ‘Why did you do that? Now we’re both going to drown!’ And the scorpion replied…”
Chris lifts my chin to make sure I’m listening.
“‘Because I’m a scorpion,’” he whispers, his heavy breath blowing a warm wind across my face. “I am what I am, Harper. I’m a scorpion. I can’t fight my own nature. And there’s no way in hell I’m letting you drown.”
Wow.
“But I?-“
“That’s why I’m leaving,” he says, and I freeze. “Booked my flight to London a few hours ago.”
The initial wave of relief I feel is quickly replaced with impending doom. I didn’t see this guy for over five years, but now the thought of not having him around is unthinkable.
I can’t even remember what my life looked like when he wasn’t in it.
To hide the sadness, I lower my head to the pillow, but I can’t let go of his arm.
“When are you leaving?” I ask.
“Friday morning.”
My heart sinks. “This
Friday?”
“Yeah,” he sighs.
That’s like a day and a half away. He must really want to get away from me fast.
“And when are you coming home?” I mumble.
Silence.
He’s not coming back.
“Sometimes the best thing for people you care about is to let them go,” he says.
I can feel a pulse throbbing in his arm.
“Like you’ve told me a dozen times, you’re not a kid anymore. I’ll make sure that Bryan prick stays away from you, and I’ve already arranged to keep you safe until college is over. After that…”
He can’t bring himself to say it, so he clears his throat.
“It’s for the best,” he says. “I just hope your mother understands.”
I close my eyes and squeeze out a tear. “Okay. Since we’re having a night of honesty, why did you go to speak with Oscar Karlson at the alumni gala?”
Chris pauses, clearly not wanting to betray his best friend.
“You promise you won’t say anything to your father?”
“Yeah,” I mumble.
“Your dad has been paying people to keep tabs on you.”
I should be outraged by that, but I’m not. It’s typical Mark Reeves behavior, and I’m still in shock at everything he’s said in the past five minutes.
“It started off with some guy called Richard, but he’s moved to Texas, apparently.”
Richard Levitt was a classmate for two years. No wonder he showed so much interest in what I was doing.
“Now it’s this Oscar guy. And your nosy neighbor reports to him as well. But don’t worry about that. I went round there and had a quiet word with him an hour ago. He won’t be doing that anymore.”
“So that’s why Oscar asked me out,” I mumble, feeling so pathetic.
“I don’t know about that. But Ido know it’s why you’ve been struggling to make friends. Because look what happened as soon as that Richard guy moved away. All those people came to your party and now they want you to run their sorority thing.”
“Greek Life,” I mutter, stroking his arm. “And that was just because you lied about me dating Billy McVane.”
“Jesus Christ,” he gasps, throwing his head back into the pillow.
I sit up a little. “What?”
“You just don’t get it, do you?” Chris says, staring into my eyes. “They like you because you’reyou, Harper. You’re intelligent and witty and fucking gorgeous. Andthat’s why that Aaron guy wanted photographs of you. Because you’re beautiful. How much more evidence do you need?”
His gaze falls to my lips and he throws his feet to the floor before marching to my door.
“It’s for the best, Harper. I’m bad news, and I can’t change who I am. Get some rest. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Chris,” I say, pausing him in the doorway.
He can’t bring himself to look back at me. “Yeah?”
“Who did those roofies belong to?”
As I grab the cord to my robe, he takes an age to answer.
“Some scumbag at my club tried to drug a girl. So I took them from him.”
“Okay,” I say, unhooking the loop. “Makes sense. And was it his license in your glove box? The one you said was from the previous car owner?”
“Yeah.”
I can’t believe I’m doing this!
“Are you going to hurt him? Because you don’t have to. You could just call the cops.”
My heart gallops as I pull open my robe.
Tossing one side behind me as Chris stares into the hallway, I lie here naked and wait for his response.
“You don’t know my world, Harper. People like me don’t involve the police.”
“You’re right. I don’t know your world. And maybe you are a scorpion, but you don’t have to use your sting. We always have choices.”
I’m struggling to breathe, but it’s excitement, not fear.
“And I’m not some innocent little kid anymore. So you could alwayschoose to stay in here tonight. With me. It’ll just be sex because you’re leaving soon.”
Chris slowly turns his head.
His eyes widen with lust.
“For just one night,” I mouth at him, tracing a finger down my stomach. “I’m all yours…”
TWENTY-SIX
Chris
Walking out of Harper’s room last night was the hardest thing I’ve done since leaving the army.
But I have to keep reminding myself who she is and the promise I vowed to keep.
Grabbing two eggs from the pack, I crack one into the pan and turn up the gas. Then the air grows thick, and I know Harper has entered the kitchen behind me.
“Good morning,” I say.
Silence.
I turn to find Harper sitting at the table, tying her laces. “You want eggs?”
“Not hungry,” she mumbles.
Standing from the chair, she marches to the fridge and grabs two chocolate bars.
“Let me cook you some real food,” I tell her. “You can’t start your day on that junk.”
Harper rolls her eyes at me. “Not your problem, Mr. Collins. You’re just my dad’s business partner, remember? You’ll have no idea what junk I’m eating when you run away to London tomorrow, will you?”
Wow.
“Is that what this is about?” I ask, sliding the egg around the pan. “You’re angry that I’m leaving?”
She snickers and I turn off the gas. “Get over yourself. Not everything revolves around the almighty Chris Collins.”
“When did I say it did? Look at me.”
“Nope,” she says, biting down into a chocolate bar.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.