"No." Harper gave me a serious look. "And I'm not planning to."
"But why not?"
"Because I want to hear it fromher." Harper blinked away sudden tears. "He'ssucha monster. He already ruined her career. What if he breaks her heart?" Her voice rose. "And why won't Lexie tell me?"
I knew exactly why."Well…" I began, trying to be diplomatic. "Maybe she doesn't want to upset you."
As Harper continued to vent, it slowly dawned on me that Lexie and I were in the same boat. Okay, maybe it wasn't theexactsame boat, but both of us were seeing guys who made Harper just a little bit crazy.
Sure, I wasn't seeing Drake in the making-out sort of way, but Ididlike him. And even though I supposedly wasn't his type, I couldn’t help but wonder if Icouldbe his type with only a few superficial changes.
If my life were a movie, this would be the part where I'd let down my hair and trade my eyeglasses for contacts. Maybe I'd put on something sexy and watch his eyes light up with surprise and new appreciation.
Maybe he'd decide I was exactly his type. I felt my pulse quicken as something inside me stirred. Maybe the scene would end with flung clothing and multiple orgasms.
Hey, it could happen.
Normally, I wasn't the type to have a fling. But I'd been playing it safe for so long, my life had gotten stale, like a Christmas cookie left out too long for Santa.
Plus, Ididfind Drake incredibly attractive. I liked him, and it had been far too long since my last orgasm – well, with a partner that is.
And who knows? Maybe the fling would turn into something more.His grandfather liked me, so that was a mark in my favor, right?
On the sofa, Harper gave a loud huff. "It'snotsomething to smile about."
I hadn't been smiling about Lexie and her old boss. I'd been smiling at the thought of Drake's reaction if I went through with my plan.
But I wasn't smiling anymore. What if wedidhook up?
With Harper already on the warpath, I could only imagine how she'd feel about me taking up with the grandson of the guy who'd made Aunt Celia so upset.
I told Harper, "I didn't mean to smile. I'm just thinking."
"About what?"
"Just relationships in general, I guess."
Harper's expression only darkened. "Oh, my God. You don't think they're in anactualrelationship, do you?"
"I don't know much of anything," I confessed. "This is the first I've heard of it."
"I know, but just do me a favor, alright? Don't tell her that I know."
I wanted to groan at the request.I hated secrets.Sure, I was good at keeping them, but secrets like these always felt so oppressive compared to just discussing things like normal adults. "But why not?" I asked. "Or better yet, why don'tyoutell her?"
Harper gave me a pleading look. "For starters, I don't want her to think that I’m spying on her. That's one reason I didn't tellyouuntil just now."
"But youarespying on her," I said. "I mean, you looked up his middle name."
"Oh, please. I'm spying onhim, not her. And if you want the truth, I'm a little worried."
"I know. You already said that."
"Yeah, but what I meannowis let's say I tell her that I know she's seeing him. What if it only makes hermoreinterested? Like, what if he becomes her forbidden fruit?" Harper lifted a hand and swiped at her overbright eyes. "And besides, I reallydowant to hear it from her."
I sighed. WhatIwanted was for all of us to be open about it. But Harper and Lexie were sisters. I was only their cousin, so in the end, I deferred to Harper's wishes and agreed to keep my mouth shut, at least for now.
I also shut my mouth about the other stuff I'd been wanting to say. I'd beenplanningto give Harper holy hell about her treatment of Drake. But now, given how upset she was, it seemed cruel to kick her when she was down.
