Chapter 73

HARPER

" I have zero idea what to pack for this thing." I threw a handful of dresses onto the bed, and stormed into the closet to pull more from their hangers.

"It won't matter, I'm sure the activities you partake in most of the stay won't require any of these, or clothing in general." Aster chuckled through the last part.

"Excuse me but Jasper and I have a relationship that is built on way more than giving in to our physical desires, unlike anything you'd know about, our relationship is much deeper than sex." I snatched the maxi dress she currently held in front of her, while she stood in front of the oversized mirror Jasper insisted, we have in the bedroom.

"Oh, I bet," she teased, pointing in the direction of an incredibly risqué piece of lingerie laid out on the bed, where moments ago, I was trying to decide which outfit, if you could call it that, to bring with me. She waggled her eyebrows and snatched the Maxi dress back from my tight grip playfully.

"This little number here would make your ass look great."

"So, what's the latest with you and Max? Any chemistry there since you guys have been teaming up to snag that recording from Prestyn?" I couldn't help but ask. Deep down, I'm convinced they're destined to be together. They click, you know? Honestly, imagining them married with kids really gets me pumped –picture our kids being little buddies and all of us sharing one big, happy home. Like one big happy family, something I never got as a child but something I always wanted.

"No and stop trying to force that. He doesn't like me like that." She said more of a question than a statement.

Jasper slipped up a few nights ago when I asked if Max was into Aster. He said Max had been into Aster since before he saw her. Max did a background check on me and Aster when Jasper became interested in me. It was real stalker vibes, but I've gotten past that. I understood why he did things the way he did, and it worked out for the best. I would never allow him to pull some stupid shit like that again, but I looked past it and I couldn't be happier that I did.

"Oh, come on Aster you are a freaking catch. He'd be lucky to have a babe like you,"

"Well, we will see. Not everyone gets the fairy tale story like you did."

I scoffed at her statement.

Yeah right, a fairy tale. The only fairy tale about my life is meeting Jasper. Everything before him was anything but.

Aster lay on the bed spreading out over the satin sheets. the duvet was being cleaned. It isn't a good idea to eat pizza and horseplay simultaneously. It was all Jasper's fault if he hadn't tickled me when I was trying to enjoy my show and a huge slice of pepperoni pizza which by the way he snubbed his nose at when I offered him a piece. Who doesn't like pizza?

"Max told me I'm not the first one Prestyn did that too," Aster said, sounding wounded.

"Yeah, I heard."

I turned from the suitcase, which was full of entirely too many articles of clothing, for a weekend away. I walked over and joined her on the bed. Laying right beside her we both stared at the ceiling in silence.

"Are you okay? With all of this…" I waved my hand in the air referring to my move into the penthouse and the fact that she and I aren't together every day, like we used to be. If I'm being honest, although being with Jasper and waking up to him every morning has been a dream, the guilt of leaving Aster behind does bother me and I feel like it bothers her too. She would never admit it because she would never want to get between me and my happiness.

"Of course I am! I love that you found a man to love you. He stayed by your side the entire time you were in the hospital. You should have seen him. the way he watched you while you lay there. He wouldn't eat or sleep. Max had to force him to shower. He's good for you Harper and you deserve that kind of love." she said with tears in her eyes.

"I love you Aster and I hope you find what you are looking for too. Even if it ends up not being Max." I sarcastically rolled my eyes as I chuckled through the last part. She glared at me but there was something behind that glare, something more than she was putting on.

"He wishes." she teased, throwing a dismissive wave up in the air.

We kicked off our weekly family dinners and up till now, nobody's skipped out. But this weekend was going to be the first time we hadn't done it since Jasper, and I got it rolling. I'm curious what Max and Aster will get up to instead. It'd be cool if they hung out together, but judging by how things were going I'm not holding my breath.

They are a great Match. Max is a muscular, biker, bad boy, with tattoos and a great career, not to mention he has an incredible personality.

Aster, a total knockout with legs for days, a clubber, never meets a stranger, successful in everything she puts her mind to.

Each one has everything the other could ever wish for. They were two appealing individuals with matching desires and ways of life.

Jasper said to let things unfold naturally, but I thought they could use a slight nudge.

Aster got up from the bed and walked over to my bag emptying all the contents I had already placed in it, then she went into our walk-in closet where she stayed for several minutes.

"What do you think will happen this weekend?" her voice muffled from the closet.

"What do you mean?" I questioned. Knowing her she means sexually.

Nosey.

"He actually sold the family mansion?"Jasper couldn't handle having it after what happened to his mom. He was like, why hang on to a place that only reminds him of bad stuff? I didn't say anything because it's up to him, but all his happy childhood memories with his mom are tied to that house. I hope he doesn't end up wishing he hadn't sold it.

"I think we are just picking up a few things of his mother's and then there's closing paperwork."

"Oh, so, boring shit then?" she sarcastically answered herself.

"Cool, I'll pack some things to make it interesting." She giggled.

I'm scared.

I heard drawers open and hangers clink, then she walked out with a completely packed bag. She threw the bag on the bed and opened it to show me its contents. Everything was folded neatly and chosen specifically for each occasion.

It's perfect.

How does she do that?

I reached up to touch a sitting on top when she snapped the top closed and swiftly zipped the bag.

"There, you are packed. let's go find some alcohol in this space house," she smirked reaching for my hand.