Page 60 of This Feeling

“That’s because he does. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to bitch-slap him. I also think he’s a pussy—pardon my language—for not standing up to your mother.”

“No offense taken because you aren’t wrong. No one else knows?”

“Oh, I’ve toldallmy closest friends. And my family. There is no way they’d believe I was back with Sean, and I didn’t want them to.”

Then I remembered the day Mayor Browning came into the flower shop. “Now that day with your dad makes so much more sense.”

She let out a soft laugh, and I loved the sound. I wanted to hear more of it, and see more of that smile that seemed to light up the whole roof.

“I felt so terrible about lying to you.”

“Why?” I asked, genuinely curious.

Harper shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve liked our time together, and it didn’t feel right to keep it from you.”

I winked. “I liked it too. And Ihatedthe idea that you were dating my brother again.”

She leaned forward slightly. “Really?”

“Yes, really! I hated it the first time around, and this time was even worse.”

Harper blinked rapidly a few times and stood. “Wait—does that mean you liked me before you left for the Marines?”

I let out a humorless laugh as I shook my head. “Harper, I’ve liked you since you were about fourteen years old, and I was a senior in high school.”

Her eyes went wide. “But…but I was so overweight back then.”

“I thought you were perfect.”

Her eyes filled with tears, and she quickly blinked them back. “What?”

I set my beer on the table and stepped toward her. Harper turned, and when she looked up at me with those big, hauntingly beautiful eyes, I nearly fell to the floor.

“You thought I was perfect, but you never said anything?”

“You were younger than me, and I knew I’d be leaving for the Marines. It wouldn’t have been fair of me to expect you to wait around.”

She shook her head slowly. “I’m still younger than you.”

I grinned. “True…but if I make love to you now, I won’t get thrown in jail.”

A bubble of nervous laughter slipped from her mouth, and her cheeks turned red. God, I wanted to do things to her with my hands and mouth that made her whole body turn that shade.

“I…I thought I felt something between us, but I was too young to know for sure. Then this whole stupid thing with your brother, and I…”

Cupping her face in my hands, I pressed my forehead to hers. “I have something to tellyou, as well.”

“Yeah?” she whispered.

“Sean and I got into it at my parents’ house earlier today…and I punched him in the face.”

She stepped back. “You did? Why?”

“I told him he didn’t deserve you. And honestly, I’ve been wanting to hit my brother since he first asked you out years ago.”

Harper laughed. “Did you make up?”

“Um, no. I stormed out. And I’m sure my mother will have a barrage of questions.”

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