“Do you want to talk about it?” Ally asks.
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You’re never a burden,” Dan says. “I’ll give you two privacy to talk. Take your time.” He kisses Ally then disappears around the hedge.
She sits beside me in silence, waiting for me to share details. I’m lost for words over my situation. When I don’t say anything, she takes the lead. “So, Felix. I spoke to him earlier tonight, encouraging him to talk to you. I hope I didn’t do the wrong thing?—”
“I slept with him.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “With Felix? Just now?”
“Last night.” I pause, chewing the inside of my cheek. “This morning, he acted like it was a mistake. Tonight… we had a fight that turned into the most honest conversation we’ve had in years. We kissed. He said he can forgive the mistakes of our past and be with me.”
Her face brightens. “Harper, that’s amazing?—”
“But he can’t forgive Tyler. He said I need to make a decision. Him or Tyler. I can’t have both.”
Ally’s fleeting moment of excitement drops. “That’s a big ask.”
“I told him I need time to think. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.” My voice cracks. “I don’t know how I can give up Tyler. He means so much to me. We’re on a break but I always thought we’d come back together. That maybe the space would help us reset and we could somehow get Felix back. But now… I don’t know what path I’m supposed to take.”
Ally stares down at the grass while contemplating everything I’ve said. “I have no clue what you should do. But, Harper, this is your life. Not Felix’s. Not Tyler’s.Yours.You have to do what makesyouhappy. That’s something I had to learn the hard way.”
I sit with her words for a long moment before whispering, “I’m scared I’ll make the wrong choice. I don’t want to choose between them. What I want is for Felix to forgive us both so the three of us can return to the way things were.”
Ally places a gentle hand on my shoulder, meeting my eyes. “Youcan’t fix what’s broken between Tyler and Felix. Only they can do that. But youcanfix what’s broken between you and Felix. I don’t want to overstep, but maybe being with Felix—just him—is exactly what you need and could one day lead to him forgiving Tyler. Choosing Felix now could be a doorway for the three of you to be together.”
I blink, processing Ally’s words and wondering ifshe’s right. But fear and uncertainty live within my heart. “What if I ruin everything again and lose both of them for good this time?”
“Perhaps. It’s a risk. But Harper… What if this path leads to the three of you being as happy as you once were?”
CHAPTER TWELVE
TYLER
“Tyler, it’s me. Can we talk?” Harper knocks on my bedroom door, her voice soft, trying not to wake anyone.
The house is quiet the morning after the engagement party. Everyone is sleeping late while staff are busy in the garden, packing down from last night. I finish buttoning my shirt and call for Harper to enter.
“Hey.” Harper greets me with a reserved smile, closing the door behind herself. She looks tired and is wearing the same emerald dress from the party.
“I didn’t see you again after our dance. You’re wearing the same dress. I assume things went well with Felix.”
Her gaze drops for a second then flicks back up nervously. “Not exactly. We spoke. We fought. Then he left. I was up all night, alone and deep in thought. I went searching for him this morning, but your dad told me he’s returned to the city.”
Her shoulders rise with tension. Something isn’tright. She’s fought with Felix before. Each time, she leaves frustrated, not nervous.
My fingers find hers. “Harp, are you okay?”
“I’m… fine.” She pulls her hand free and looks at the bed, at my open suitcase. Something is definitely wrong. “Are you heading home to L.A.?”
She’s deflecting, avoiding whatever the real issue is here. The phrasing of her question hurts, even though I know she didn’t mean anything by it.
“My home is with you, Harper. Not in L.A.”
Her throat bobs. My answer seems to make her more nervous.
“I’ve canceled my flight. I’m going to hang around for a bit and spend time with the family. I’ll sort out my own living arrangements. Our apartment is still your space.”
