It shouldn’t bother me as much as it does, but I can’t wrap my head around it. None of my memories of us are genuine. Everything feels fake and manufactured, and the pain cuts deeper than I expected. I knew the later years were a façade; that was clear. But those middle school sleepovers? The cheer practices where we gossiped instead of focusing on routines? Preparing for our first school dances? None of it was authentic.
Ford takes my hand and exhales deeply. “Harper, I need to tell you something.”
My stomach drops. Those were the exact words Asher used before he called off the wedding, confessing his love for Kenzie. “What?”
“There was one piece of truth in what was said tonight.”
I frown. “What was that?”
He draws in a long breath, never breaking eye contact. “I’ve been in love with you since high school. Probably from the moment I met you.”
I can only stare at him, completely stunned. “What?”
“I was only friends with Asher to be near you. I’ve been jealous every single day he had you. He never deserved you, and I just waited for you to realize it.”
“But you’ve dated other girls—”
“Who I would have left the moment you came to your senses and left Asher. In fact, I did that when I heard the wedding was off. Janet pretty much hates me now, but it’s always been you.”
There were signs that he liked me, but being in love with me? That seems insane.
“When Asher called to tell me he proposed and you said yes, that you were going to marry him, I lost it. I drank myself into a blackout to forget that I’d lost you forever.”
This is too much. I can’t meet his gaze anymore and turn my eyes to the dashboard, pulling my hand away from his.
“Harper—”
“I need… I need some time to process this.”
He deflates beside me, murmuring, “Okay.”
My fingertips go numb first, then my lips, as if I’ve been standing in snow without gloves. The sound of my own heartbeat drowns out everything else, pulsing in my ears like I’m underwater. I blink three times but can’t seem to focus on anything.
Ford’s door slams shut. The passenger side opens with a creak. His hand hovers near my elbow without touching as I step ontothe curb. My legs move forward only because they must, one foot mechanically following the other across the familiar concrete path while the warmth of his presence stays just behind my right shoulder.
“Maybe this wasn’t the best time to tell you, but I felt like I might explode if I didn’t say it soon. And there seemed to be an opening, but…”
“It’s… a lot.”
He leans in, his lips brushing mine with a gentleness that makes my knees weak. His forehead rests against mine, warm and solid, and I can feel his eyelashes flutter against my skin as his eyes close. “I’ll wait,” he whispers, his breath mingling with mine. “As long as it takes. Please don’t run away.”
The gravel crunches under his boots as he walks away. My feet might as well be cemented to the sidewalk. My fingertips touch my lips, still tingling, as his truck door slams and the engine rumbles to life.
When I finally stumble inside, Gina’s laughter cuts off mid-sentence. She’s curled against Lance on the couch, their honeymoon glow still evident in their sun-kissed cheeks, but her smile vanishes the moment she sees my face.
“Harper? What’s wrong? What happened?”
The rest of the family rushes into the living room, and I still feel paralyzed. “I was at the rehearsal dinner,” I manage to say.
“What did that wench do?”
“Gina!” Mom scolds.
I blink, and Eric moves to sit on the coffee table in front of me. “This must be bad. She didn’t even laugh when Mom scolded you for using a word you can say on every channel of cable now.”
“That was… but then…”
“Sentences, Harper. We need full sentences.”
