Page 68 of The Final Draft

FORTY-FOUR

HARPER

Julian picks me up bright and early for our flight to Charlotte. I’m excited about this getaway, but it’s our public debut as a couple, and the butterflies are fluttering. Well, public to the people that mean the most to him, anyway.

We submitted our final draft of the book last night, and my emotions are all over the map. I’m excited we finished the project with a great story. After reading my last chapter, he agreed mine was the better ending, so we submitted it. If we weren’t under a tight deadline, there may have been more collaboration and compromise. His approach to their love story was all in. Mine was a little more cautious. Gavin leads with his heart, Charlotte with her head. Life imitating art, perhaps?

We get to the airport with no time to spare thanks to New York gridlock, and once we board, I can exhale. I hate being late and want time to relax for a few minutes once I get to the airport. Julian slides in with seconds to spare. He took a few years off my life when we ran through the airport.

He still won’t tell me where we’re going next week after the wedding. My only clue was to pack warm clothes, and if I don’t have what I need, he’ll buy it for me. That rules out a tropical island. His spontaneity is exciting but also nerve-racking for a planner like me.

“Juice or coffee?” the flight attendant asks Julian as we take our seats. The last passengers walk past, going further into the plane. I’ll never tire of flying first class.

“Coffee for me, cream and sugar,” Julian says. “A mimosa for my girlfriend, please.”

At the use of the title, I turn and look at him and quirk my eyebrow. We haven’t put labels on anything, even though I assume we’re exclusive.

He leans over and nibbles on my earlobe. “Have I told you how much I enjoy your surprised looks? They’re my reason for living.”

“Is that what I am?” I can’t hide my pleasure at the title.

“No, Harper, you’re so much more.”

Our conversation never lags on the two-hour flight, and my bottomless mimosas keep me giggling. When we arrive and get our luggage, the nerves hit with the reality of our soft launch, as he calls it.

“If you don’t mind, I’m going to use the restroom before we leave.” I’m not sure how far we have to drive and if we need to wait for an Uber. I need a minute to compose myself because of my nerves. Or maybe it’s the champagne?

A little pep talk in the mirror, some fresh lipstick, and I’m good to go. That is until I see our Uber driver chatting with Julian.

“The groom is on airport duty?” I interrupt their conversation. Cole holds his hand out to shake mine and introduce himself when he does a double take.

“Harper?” His eyebrows shoot up, and he’s genuinely surprised.

Julian holds his hand out and pulls me to his side.

“Harper’s my date for this little soirée you’re throwing, and she has promised to keep me from yelling ‘I object’ to save my sister from a lifetime of baseball and smelly socks,” Julian teases.

“Well, in that case, she’s my favorite guest here!” Cole laughs. “Because I won’t let anyone stand in my way of marrying Leigh, and I’d hate to hurt her brother on such a joyous occasion.” I adore that Cole still calls her Leigh, the name she went by when he fell in love with her.

“I promise to do my best.” These goofballs make me laugh.

“The girls will be thrilled to see you. And no one wins the pool on who your date is, so that means it goes to the honeymoon fund.” Cole takes my bags, and we go to the pickup area, where Matt, his best man, is waiting by the idling car.

“Do I want to know the guesses?” I ask.

“Probably not,” Cole says.

“Definitely not,” Julian laughs. “But I’m the winner, however you cut it.”

“Are my eyes playing tricks on me, or is this Harper Cartwright? Fucking Awesome.” Matt says when I get to the car. His excited greeting makes me optimistic about this soft launch. He hugs me, picks me up, and my feet dangle off the ground.

“The one and only.” All this fuss from these guys is so embarrassing.

“Darcy is going to be stoked to see you.” He puts me down, and Julian puts his arm around me, giving me balance again.

“Your brother isn’t coming, is he?” Matt asks as he looks around for Lawson. The jovial atmosphere is settling my anxiety.

On the drive home, the guys are chatting and catching up, and I’m getting a glimpse of another side of Julian. Friendand mentor. These two young baseball players are part of the exclusive client list that he personally manages.

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