Page 129 of Don't Puck His Best Friend
Harper
IliedownonMaddie's bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm my racing thoughts. But instead of peace, my mind conjures images I shouldn't be thinking about.
Liam and Cole. Both in my bed. Both touching me, pleasing me, working together instead of fighting. The fantasy unfolds behind my closed eyelids—Liam's rough intensity mixed with Cole's tender attention, both of them focused entirely on me, both on the same page for once.
The thought turns me on more than I'd like to admit.
I squeeze my thighs together, trying to make it stop, but it only makes it worse. Heat pools low in my stomach, and I'm suddenly very aware of my body's betrayal.
I roll over and close my eyes. Maybe if I fall asleep, this will all go away.
Sometime later, my phone buzzes. Then again. And again.
I grab it and see Cole's name lighting up the screen repeatedly. Calls. Texts. Each one more frantic than the last.
Cole:Harper please don't do this
Cole:I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry.
Cole:Please talk to me
Cole:HARPER
Good. Let him freak out. He wanted to hide something this massive from me for a year? Well, now it's time for payback.
But even as I think it, I know I'm not going to follow through. I only said it out of anger. I only agreed to the date to make them both feel as out of control as I feel.
Right?
The tears start falling before I can stop them. Hot, angry tears that soak into Maddie's pillow. I can't nap. Can't rest. Can't escape the mess I've made.
My phone rings. Liam.
I answer without thinking.
"Trouble. Heard the answer is a yes."
His voice does something to me—something I don't want to acknowledge.
"Come pick me up at Maddie's and Sirus's right now."
There's a pause. "I’m there."
I end the call and stare at the phone in my hand, my heart pounding. What am I doing? What the fuck am I doing?
I walk into the living room, tears streaming down my face. "I don't know what I'm doing."
Maddie rushes over and hugs me. "It's going to be okay."
"It's not. I just told Liam to pick me up."
She gasps, pulling back to look at me. "What? Whatareyou doing?"
"I don't know," I cry.
The silence falls heavy between us. I cry into her shoulder while she holds me, and I feel like I'm falling apart.
"You still think about Liam, Harp? After all this time?" she whispers.
