Page 17 of My Favorite Secret
When I sobered up, I realized the dream would never happen. Harper wouldn’t approve and as much as I don’t want to care about my father’s opinion of me, I do care. I seem to be the only one of his sons who cares. My brothers often give me shit for it, but there’s something within me that seeks out his approval.
Now, with this deal Dad is striking up regarding Mom’s ring, I have even more reason to focus on Columbia.
“Okay,” I say to my father, telling myself once and for all to forget about the speakeasy. “We have a deal. I get into Columbia, you give me Mom’s engagement ring.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
TYLER
It’s nine p.m. when I arrive at Harper’s apartment with a bag of Felix’s belongings to drop off. The place is unusually quiet. I call out to announce myself, but no one answers. It’s not until I enter the living room that I see Clara lying on the couch with one hand over her eyes and a glass of wine in the other.
Unsure if she’s asleep, I clear my throat. She peeks out from behind her hand and sends me a stressed smile. “Oh, hi, honey. Thank you for bringing Felix’s belongings. I’ve set up the guest bedroom for him. The one farthest away from Harper’s. You can place his bag in there.”
“Sure.” I walk toward the bedroom, turning back before exiting the living room. “Clara, are you okay?”
“I’ll be fine. Families are a complicated thing. I’m sure you’ve already guessed that Thomas and Harper aren’t happy about Felix moving in with us. The three of us had a fight.”
I can only imagine how frustrated Harper must be, especially with Felix sleeping so close to her. The master bedroom is positioned on the east side of the penthouse.On the west is a hall of three bedrooms, Harper’s being on the far left. Clara said she’s given Felix the room farthest away from Harper’s, but when there’s three bedrooms lined up in a row, they’re really not that far away from each other at all.
“I’m sorry to hear about the fight. Is there anything I can do to help?” I ask.
“Thank you, but no. Don’t put yourself in the middle of this.”
I leave Clara and head to the guest bedroom. While the Blackwood penthouse has become a party house, rarely ever clean, the Winslow residence is immaculate, sophisticated, and is filled with Clara’s paintings.
After knocking on Felix’s bedroom and being met with no answer, I poke my head inside, finding an empty room.
The penthouse is big. He could be anywhere. Along with all the usual amenities of a house, the Winslows have their own library. They even have an indoor swimming pool.
I drop Felix’s bag on the bed and head over to Harper’s room, finding it empty too. When I call her phone, there’s no answer. There’s no way in hell the two of them would be together right now.
At least, not knowingly on Harper’s behalf.
I’ve caught my brother watching Harper many times. He has a fascination with her, even though he denies it.
I wish he’d fix his issues with her.
I head back to the living room. “Clara, do you know where Harper is?”
“She’s probably blowing off steam and dancing on the rooftop garden.”
My guess is that’s where I’ll find Felix too.
I take the elevator to the rooftop. As soon as I arrive, thedistant hum of Manhattan traffic rises from twenty floors below. The scent of jasmine fills the air. Clara likes to paint up here and has turned it into an oasis within the city. Every corner of the roof is filled with lush greenery. Ivy weaves through trellises and flowers spill from hanging pots. Fairy lights are strung between pergolas, swaying gently in the cool September breeze.
I’m not the least bit surprised when I find Felix blending in with the shadows, standing with his back against a lattice of foliage. He lifts a glass, taking a slow sip of what I assume is alcohol. A black hood hangs over his head, revealing his gaze locked onto something.
Someone.
From the tension in his shoulders and the heat in his eyes, I know he’s watching Harper dance.
I’ve seen Felix with many girls over the years. He never looks at any of them the way he looks at Harper. It’s with complete obsession and ownership.
I like it.
Cringing, I try to suppress twisted thoughts that would label me a sicko if anyone ever heard them. The thoughts need to be crushed because what did I seriously expect when growing up, that things would remain the same between me, Felix, and Harper forever? That Harper would turn into our girlfriend and we’d share her?
Perhaps if Felix and I weren’t brothers.
