Page 2 of Waiting Forever
If only I knew what happened. Did she do something illegal? She’s a junior in college and not yet twenty-one. I can’t imagine she’s in trouble with the law. Then again, I don’t know much.
Her moving here, this whole scenario—it’s all so messed up.
“Now whose turn is it to be ignored?” Harper’s voice breaks into my thoughts.
I blink at her. “What?”
“Exactly.” She pokes me in the chest with her long fingernail. “You do it, too, so quit acting like you’re better than me.”
“Better than you? That doesn’t even make sense.”
“You know what? I think I’ll get a pedicure and facial and have a spa day with Sera. You go babysit yourlittlecousinand we’ll catch up later. Maybe have a small party at your place. I’ve been wanting to invite some people over. We used to party all the time. I miss it. I miss the fun we used to have. You never used to be so…boring.”
“I’m boring now? What the fuck, Harper? I lost my two best friends in one weekend.” One died and the other disappeared, leaving a note that he had to return home. Only I checked and he never went home. I knew he wouldn’t. He hates his dad as much as Sebastian hated his.
The weeks that followed the loss of them were hard on me. I never imagined Sebastian would die in a car accident. If anything, I thought his mob boss father would do him in. I’d been trying to get him into Witness Security so he could have the life he deserved,andthe girl he fell for faster and harder than I thought possible.
I used the family business—a reputable high-profile security firm—to try to get information about his death, hoping like hell he’d made it into the program, but that wasn’t the case. Ultimately, his family and his ex-girlfriend/fiancée, the daughter of a fellow mafia family, kidnapped Ainsley, and Sebastian died in a car crash trying to get to her. That’s what Agent Keller, the Fed I’d been in contact with, told me and all I could learn regarding the accident.
Harper was understanding for a little while, but she’s demanding in all ways, and the sex I used to love with her became unwanted pressure during a time when I needed to heal. Since then, we’ve fallen out of sync.
“I know things have been different for a while,” I say, “but you should know I don’t see them changing anytime soon.” This conversation has been a long time coming. “Yes, we used to party a lot and it was awesome, but I’m not in college anymore. I’m working for my dad now”—heading up his office downtown—“and I want to do a good job. My priorities have changed. Hell, I’m even thinking about getting a condo closer to the office and moving out of the house.”
Then Mom can sell it or do whatever she wants with the property. She grew up in Florida and inherited the house from her parents. When I decided to attend Ryland, she was cool enough to let me live here with my friends.
For four college guys, the size of the house had been perfect. Now, it’s just me and lots of wasted space.
Harper’s mouth hangs open with a shocked gasp. “Are you serious right now?”
“Very.” Why does she think I’m bringing it up?
“I still go to college, in case you forgot. My apartment is in Winter Park. I can’t move downtown.”
“I’m not asking you to.” I step under the shade of the café awning and bring her with me, tired of the sun blinding my eyes.
“What about your cousin, Kensington Palace? Where will she live? You said she was transferring to Ryland. That isn’t a convenient drive for her, unless you plan on chauffeuring her around town.”
Fuck.Kensi doesn’t exactly fit into my plan. Maybe I spoke up in haste. “I don’t know what I’m saying. I’m frustrated and I have a lot on my plate right now. Forget I said anything.”
She shakes her head and lets out a huff. “I’m tired of all this arguing. That’s all we do. I just want things to go back to normal.”
“You mean to the way they were?”
“Yes. Back when life was fun, and we had sex twice a day sometimes.” She sidles close and presses her huge fake tits against my chest.
I used to love those things.
I grip her arms and tug her to me for a kiss. Our lips touch, and I slide my tongue into her mouth, trying like hell to get that fire back that used to burn between us. It never comes.
For me, at least.
Meanwhile, Harper is all caught up, panting and pulling me down the nearby alley. “I want you. Fuck me against the wall.”
The old me might have risked it and given in to what she wants. The new me has some morals and doesn’t want to get arrested. I pull away from her roaming hands. “I can’t. I have to get Kensington.” I glance at my watch. “Shit. I have to go.”
“Nathan!” She stomps, but I’m already rounding the front of my SUV. “Who cares if you’re late. It’s not a big deal.”
Not a big deal?Kensington is the biggest deal in my life right now, whether I want her to be or not.
