Chapter 16

HARPER

I t had been some time since I last heard from J.W., and I felt a bit guilty for not responding to him. He reached out, and we were having a great conversation, but the fact that I felt comfortable… scared me.

I had to cut it off because I didn't know where it was leading. I have spent many years learning to avoid these feelings and spent so much time learning to keep my walls up and protect myself. I couldn't throw all that away for some guy I knew nothing about.

"How long are you going to be gone?" I asked. The idea of being alone at the house for a while really bugged me, but I didn't want to let it on to my best friend.

"Maybe a week," she answered excitedly as she packed for her impromptu vacation to London with Prestyn.

They had been dating each other for nearly a month and since that night at the lounge, I hadn't seen much of her at home. He had been whisking her away every chance he got.

"A whole week? You lucky Bitch." I teased her as I watched while she picked through her lingerie drawer and packed way too much underwear.

"Don't you think that is a little much?" I ask with my eyebrows raised.

"You've nearly emptied your drawer," I laughed as I picked up the one pair of cotton panties with my index finger. I held them up with one hand as I sipped from my wine glass and giggled.

The panties were white and had the words ‘ yes daddy ' printed on the front.

My eyes widened when I noticed it. Aster grabbed them from my hand and packed them away.

"You never know when Aunt Flo might peek her rude head out for a visit," I laughed so hard into my glass that bubbles shot up my nose.

"What about you? What about that guy that saved you that night? Did you ever message him?" she asked waggling her eyebrows at me.

I choked on nothing at her question.

"Yep, sure did. Said thanks and all that jazz." I rattled off as I made a beeline for her closet, trying to dodge her probing stare.

"You should take this one with you, it would almost cover your ass." I joked, trying desperately to switch the subject. When she didn't say anything, I stepped out of the closet and found her standing with her arms crossed over her chest, with one hip cocked to the side.

"And?" she said sternly, accentuating the word.

"And what?" I retorted feigning ignorance.

"What did he say? Was there any potential there? And… why didn't you tell me?" She said the final words in a sad tone.

"Well, it was fine. and I haven't really seen a lot of you lately you've been… b usy ," I grabbed her panties from her bag and raised them on one finger again suggestively waggling my eyebrows.

She snatched her panties and shoved them back in the bag then zipped them up. She turned toward me; she was wearing a serious expression.

"I'm never too busy for you Harper, just call me."

"I know, I will," I said,

Attempting to dodge the awkward eye contact I expected, I snatched the bottle of inexpensive wine from the dresser and flopped back onto her bed.

She went into her closet and came out with a third bag

"Seriously, are you moving there? How much crap do you need?" I choked out.

"Mind your business, not everyone can just wake up and throw on something and then look drop dead all day like you," she snarls with her middle finger up to her forehead.

"Yeah right," I said with a blush.

I never was good at accepting compliments.

After, we spent hours packing her bags and talking about how many cars Prestyn has and how many they've done it in.

He has quite a collection of classic cars, and quite the appetite for Aster inside those cars.

I listened to all her stories, blushing and with my mouth open.

I did my best to convince Aster to stay up late since I was feeling tipsy and wasn't ready to end the night, but she continued to yawn and go on about the importance of beauty sleep. So, I went to my room, taking the remainder of the wine bottle with me.

I grabbed my laptop and tossed it on the bed before losing my balance and fumbling the bottle of wine onto the floor.

"It's a good thing it's wood," I whined.

After a very complicated attempt at cleaning up the wine with a towel, and absolutely no control over my balance, I opened my message feed with J.W.

I hovered over the reply button, debating on striking up another conversation. Luckily, I was sober enough not to embarrass myself. I've got my reasons for sticking to drinking at home, safety being the obvious one.