An explosion had destroyed the home of a prominent businessman and his family, including, they believed, his son and parents. Their pictures were shown all over the news, including a photograph of the little boy.
Obviously, the boy wasn’t dead, and while I had a name, what next? All I’d do is get myself killed.
My plan had been to talk to Luca about it when I saw him, have him ask his father questions when he visits next weekend, and maybe we could find a way to make sure the child is safe and free.
“Harper?” Kensley says my name and snaps in front of my face when I don’t answer her quickly enough. “What’d you do that upset Luca?”
“I kept something from him,” I whisper.
Kensley glances from me to Ashton.
“I’m sure Ashton can talk to Luca. I mean, you said you’re roommates with him.” Kensley is asking for me, which is sweet, but she has no idea how deep this goes and that talking isn’t going to fix the bigger picture.
She’s not even privy to the bigger picture, which is that we’re to wed, and soon.
I can’t lie to Kensley, so not mentioning the wedding seems the best choice.
“Well, I’m sure whatever it was, he’ll get over it. If not, there are other guys at EU,” Kensley says. “I mean, I’m sure your roommate is a great guy and all, but if he’s not the forgiving type, then maybe Ashton can help you meet another great guy. I’m sure he knows a lot of hockey players.”
“I’m not dating another athlete,” I say and hold up my hand to stop her. “I’m not dating anyone else.”
“Okay, then celibacy it is. I can get you a toy rabbit,” Kensley says, and I’m not sure if she’s joking.
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Oh, did you ever get those texts?” Kensley asks me again.
I show her my phone. “Nada.” There are no missed texts or even previously read messages from her.
“That’s weird,” Kensley says. She shows me her phone, and all the text messages came on Saturday morning and they show read.
“I didn’t have my phone with me when you sent these,” I say, noticing the time stamps and the read receipts on them on her phone. They all came when I was out to lunch with Nikki and I had accidentally left my phone behind.
Did Luca read my messages?
Or was it Dante?
The messages aren’t anything that would throw up any warnings or even give away that Luca and I hadn’t been on a proper date yet.
But the invasion of privacy sits heavily in my stomach.
“It looks like someone read and erased my texts. Do you know anything about this?” I ask, staring at Ashton, imploring him to tell me everything. He was at home with Luca. Surely, he knows something.
“Nope.” Ashton shrugs nonchalantly.
Why did I expect him to be helpful?
We finish lunch, and Kensley grabs her backpack and glances at me over her shoulder as we head outside. “You’re coming over tonight. We can play some games after dinner.” She’s not really asking, she wants to hang out, and I neglected her all weekend.
“It’s a date.”
Ashton is right beside me, and he leans in and whispers, “Don’t let Luca hear you say that; he will definitely get jealous.”
I glare at Ashton. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be?”
“Don’t be rude!” Kensley says and purses her lips. “You’re welcome to join us if you like. I really want to play D&D if Harper will be dungeon master, and the game isn’t any fun with just two people.”
Kensley is giving me the look, like she’s begging. “We really need three or four to make it fun,” I remind her.
