19. Lara

Chapter 19

Lara

T hat evening, the girls and I are seated on our small balcony, each with a wine in hand. One of Harper’s signature charcuterie spreads sits half-eaten on the table. When I’d questioned the occasion, she’d referred to it as a “celebratory charcuterie for your first day in the big corporate world”.

“So, Lara, tell us everything!” The girls beam at me, nothing but pride and support radiating off them.

It’s times like these when I realise how lucky I am to have these two. In a place where I’m half a world away from my family, I’ve found a new, different kind of family in Harper and Mia.

Taking a larger-than-necessary sip of my wine, I decide it’s best to start at the beginning; my new boss’ identity.?

“It was pretty great as far as first days go, except for a small mix-up. Carter, my new boss, was under the impression I knew his sister, Emilia. Oh, and Carter is Mr Darcy.”

Two things happen simultaneously a single moment after the words leave my mouth: Harper does a real-life spit take, showering Mia and me in droplets of her Chianti, whilst Mia all but chokes on her mouthful.?

Mouth gaping, I glance between my friends with the vigour of a die-hard tennis fan during a ten-point tie break, trying to figure out what the fuck is happening.

My body seemingly stupefied, I can do nothing but sit here and watch the two of them. Harper wipes the back of her hand over her mouth, sweeping up the wine remnants. A sharp cough from Mia alerts Harper, and she’s beside her in an instant, delivering several sharp blows to Mia’s back. It doesn’t make a difference though; Mia continues to choke.

Why hasn’t she calmed down yet? This seems very odd.

My gaze turns to Harper. Her amber eyes meet mine for a moment before flicking between Mia and me.

“Come on you two, it’s not even that bad. What the fuck is going on?”

A pair of sea green eyes avert my gaze, while Harper merely sits in silence. I’m starting to think there’s something else at play here, and I have a feeling I’m about to find out what.

The girls look at each other, exchanging unspoken words, before returning their focus to me.

Arching a brow, I wait.

“I cannot believe I never told you this Lars, but Mia is a nickname.” Bottom lip between her teeth, she absentmindedly chews as she waits. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Harper glancing between us, concern flickering over her features.

A slow blink is all I can muster. Oh god. Oh. My. Fucking. God.

“He’s your brother, isn’t he?”

The look on Mia’s face tells me everything I need to know.

“He’s my brother.” The best way to describe the look Mia gives me is a kind grimace. “My birth name is Emilia, but my family usually refer to me as Emmy. I picked Mia in high school because kids gave me weird looks when they heard Emilia or Emmy.”

I close my eyes as my stomach bottoms out. Mia continues talking, but I don’t register a word she says. Her brother. I can’t decide what’s worse; the fact one of my best friends knows, in detail, about the places on my body her brother’s mouth has been, or the fact that said brother is my boss. Deep breaths, Lara.

It seems almost ridiculous that I wouldn’t connect the dots between Mia and Carter sharing a last name, but at the same time, it’s not like I think about her last name often, if at all. Maybe subconsciously I assumed it was a common English surname so completely disregarded the coincidence? I guess I’ll never know.

Can this day get any weirder?

“Oh my fucking god,” I blurt out, scarcely aware of my own voice. Seems like those deep breaths did a fat lot of nothing.

“Oh my fucking god, indeed,” Harper echoes, the sound seeming to come from miles away.

Opening my eyes, I’m met with a version of Harper who appears to have seen a ghost. The amber of her irises has been almost completely taken over by her pupils, and her eyebrows are inches from her hairline. Always the calm and sane one of the three of us, I have no idea how to react to this version.

The look on Mia’s face couldn’t be further from the woman next to her. With a hand over her mouth, I’m almost certain she’s holding in a laugh. I think it’s hysteria.?

“Well, this is certainly not how I thought our evening would go.” Mia’s voice is at least an octave higher than normal, which is incredibly disconcerting.?

Harper and I exchange a glance, both quickly looking at Mia.?

“I don’t even know what to say, I?—”

“Lars, it’s so fine. You weren’t to know he’s my brother.” Her voice is still too high, which makes me wonder how true her words are.

“Are you sure?”

Mia sighs, resting a palm on my knee. “Yes, Lars, I’m sure. But let’s not discuss the details.”

We exchange small smiles, and all the while, Harper remains silent.

“Okay.” I break the silence, crossing my legs beneath me and settling in for story time like a kindergartener. “I need the complete rundown on your family tree, please.”

We spend the next hour gossiping about Mia’s family history, and I’m slightly embarrassed by how little I knew about her family. I learn Mia’s parents are still disgustingly in love after 35 years of marriage, and her other brother, Teddy, has a four-year-old daughter who’s the light of his life. Mia doesn’t offer up any information about the mother, so I decide it’s best not to ask any questions.

After one too many wines, Mia turns in for the night. Although the conversation felt okay, it was clear Mia wasn’t overly comfortable. I can’t say I blame her; I can’t imagine how I’d react if the roles were reversed. As night falls and the chill air begins to seep into our skin, Harper and I relocate to the lounge room, swapping wine for hot chocolate.?

“I didn’t want to bring it up in front of Mia because she gets a little defensive.” Harper pulls her feet up beneath the throw blanket draped over us. “Have you ever seen the headlines about the Oxford Street Playboy?”

Headlines? Oxford Street who?

“Uh, n-no, I haven’t.” I rub a hand across my forehead, smoothing the frown lines my confusion has created. “Care to elaborate?”

She lets out a sigh, her face taking on a sombre expression. “I suppose you would’ve known who he was that first day if you had. Carter has been known as the Oxford Street Playboy across most of the tabloids in the UK for a few years now.”

It all makes sense now. Of course he was too good to be a true gentleman. And far too skilled.

“That sounds unfortunate for him.” Trust me to make light of any situation if it makes me feel slightly more comfortable. “That doesn’t change anything, though.”

There’s a softness in Harper’s expression, one that isn’t seen often. “The man went down on you, so I imagine I’m right in assuming there’s something there? Perhaps more than you’ve let on?”

A sharp “ha!” bursts from me, startling Harper.

“Harps, you do not need to worry about me. My heart isn’t easily touched.”

“It’s too bad your vagina isn’t as untouchable as your heart.”

“Ouch.” I throw a hand over my heart with a dramatic flair that would rival Pumbaa’s iconic “ Oh, the shame! ” scene.

We break into a fit of quiet giggles.

Wiping a tear of laughter away, Harper gently places a hand on my blanketed knee and squeezes.?

“I just don’t want to see you get hurt, Lars.” She gives me a small smile. “If the media is to be trusted, he’s not exactly the relationship type.”

Harper and Mia have been friends for over ten years, so of course she’s seen more of Carter than what the papers show. But despite that, she’s still warning me to be careful.?

I pay little attention to the way something deflates inside me at that fact.

I take her hand in mine and return the squeeze, reassuring her.

“Harper, listen to me carefully. Whilst this may not be a one-time thing?—"

“I beg your pardon?” Harper glares at me with bewilderment.

“Did I forget to mention the part where Mr Dar— fuck , Carter—told me we weren’t finished yet when we were rudely interrupted? Oops.”

“Big oops!”?

I wave a hand casually. “Regardless. It’s only physical, whatever this thing is between us. He might now be the relationship type, but then neither am I. At least not right now. Honestly, the less serious, the better. Plus, he’s now my boss, remember?”

Harper’s shoulders sag, her hand still wrapped beneath mine. “I just remember what it was like going through the heartbreak with you when that absolute wanker fucked you over.”

Oh, but of course, my ex. What a piece of work he was, and probably still is.

Something must run in my mother’s bloodline because now both of us have given our all to a man who turned around and laughed in our faces. Is this what they mean when they say “daddy issues”? My father’s actions tore our family apart many years ago, and then I went and found a boyfriend who inevitably tore our relationship apart in the same fashion.

Their actions are a constant reminder that nothing is permanent, regardless of whether or not you want it to be.

“Between my ex and my father, I’ve encountered enough cheating arseholes to last me a lifetime. Trust me, Harps.” Grabbing her other hand in mine and giving both a gentle squeeze, I smile. “I won’t feel that pain again because I refuse to give anyone the power.”

Harper squeezes my hands in return.

“Atta girl.” Her face drops slightly. “I know Mia seemed pretty calm about this revelation, but?—”

“It’s fucking weird,” I cut Harper off, finishing the sentence I knew was coming. “I honestly don’t know how she managed to keep her cool so well.”

“If I know Mia, and I like to think I do after ten years, she’ll be processing for a little bit. She likes to act as though everything is fine and nothing phases her, but it’s a front. Please don’t take it too personally if she changes her tune in the coming days.”

Despite already knowing this myself, I can’t help the tiny niggling of disappointment. Not that I really have any reason to be disappointed—I’m planning to sleep with her brother—but it still sucks knowing things will be uncomfortable between us for a little bit.