After we broke up, I spent the first few years being angry with Harper. Enough time has passed that I’ve forgiven her mistakes, but the pain has never faded. To be so in love with someone and then have it all ripped out from beneath me… I don’t know if the pain will ever fade.
I’ve had to enforce space between us for my sanity. I promised myself I would never go back to her because of how much she ruined me. I can’t allow myself to be that vulnerable with Harper ever again.
The same applies to Tyler, though I haven’t forgiven him. What he did was worse than Harper. She was manipulated and lied to. He was the perpetrator.
“Blackwood,” Theo croons my name with a teasing lilt. “I have information about this weekend you’ll want to know.”
I swallow the last of my drink and stand from the booth, ending the conversation. “Whatever you’ve discovered, I don’t care?—”
“Tyler and Harper broke up.”
My head whips back to Theo and my eyes flare. Despite not wanting to care, I’m burning for more information and it’s fucking pathetic. I hate that the news of their breakup pleases me. I shouldn’t give a shit about them.
“I was playing poker with Dan last night.” Theo is friendly with my youngest brother, enough so to get invited to his wedding. “He said they broke up three months ago.”
“Three fucking months ago? How am I only hearing about this now? Harper’s name is everywhere.”
My family have learned not to speak about Tyler with me. Regardless, Harper is a public figure, being the face of the most prestigious ballet company in America. She’s been labeled the sweetheart of ballet. Young ballerinas look up to Harper, wanting to be her when they grow up. She gets stopped on the street to sign autographs. Paparazzi love capturing her photo. Fashion designers beg to dress her. She has fan pages dedicated to her on social media. People buy her dead pointe shoes for thousands of dollars. On top of that, she’s tied to Forever Families, being Tyler’s girlfriend.
“The breakup isn’t public knowledge, but I thought you should know about Harper’s single dating status in case you want to…” Theo trails off, smug again, laughing as he lifts his drink for another sip.
I raise an unimpressed brow, warning Theo not to voice his thoughts. I know where his words were heading. Harper will still be at the engagement party this weekend as one of Ally’s bridesmaids.
“There’s something else.” He’s suddenly serious. “Harper was attacked by a rabid fan recently when leaving a ballet rehearsal. She fought him off but has a black eye and other minor injuries. There have been a few accounts of this man stalking her.”
My jaw clenches. I slide back into the booth, instantly tense and hot, fueled with rage over the thought of anyone harming Harper. My eyes scrunch shut and I pinch the space between my brows, taking a deep breath, trying to calm myself but with no success.
She’s not mine to worry about, I chant in my head.
I’m not the least bit surprised Harper has a stalker. She’s beautiful, especially when dancing. I won’t admit it to Harper, but I’ve attended many of her performances over the years. During family functions, it’s difficult to keep my eyes off her. Every time she catches me staring at her mouth, she smiles and licks her lips, pleased to be sending my thoughts to the filthiest places.
I don’t know how the fuck Tyler screwed up his relationship with her. I hear he’s out of town on business a lot. Every time I see him at family events, he doesn’t seem happy. Over these last eight years, I never got the impression he and Harper were blissfully in love, as they once were. But I’ve been strict with myself, not prying into their dynamics.
Taking another deep breath, I smooth both hands through my hair and open my eyes. “Track the stalker down and kill him.”
Theo grins. “I was hoping you’d say that. My hands have been too clean lately. One last thing. A letter from Harper arrived in the mail today.”
The news isn’t shocking. She’s sent me sporadicletters over the years. I stopped reading them long ago. Harper spilling her heart was agony to read, especially the letters with tear-smudged ink.
I always told myself there was too much emotional baggage with Harper to let her back into my life. As an extra measure, I vowed there was zero chance while Tyler was still in the picture. The excuse was my safety net, knowing Harper would never let go of Tyler.
But now…
Shit.
He’s gone.
The news is truly sinking in. Tyler and Harper are no longer together.
Fuck. Fuck.Fuck. This is somehow the worst and best news.
I’m furious at myself for caring. My hands claw into the leather booth.
Icannotbreak.
I don’t want Harper back. A relationship with her would be messy. I don’t want her in my life. Idon’t.
“Give me the letter.” I am fucking screwed.
