Page 62 of Always My Love

Damn. She was going to have to work overtime next week just to pay for all these nice things for one dinner.

Still, she figured Nick was worth it. After all that he’d done for her and Hailey, he was so worth it.

With her new items wrapped in a hot pink Classy and Sassy Bag, she made her way over to Baked to grab a slice of pizza.

Hailey happened to be taking her lunch at the same time and they sat at a table together.

“What’s up between you and Reece?” Harper asked her sister.

Hailey’s eyebrows rose slightly before she shrugged.

“I’m not sure.” She frowned into her iced tea. “I mean, he’s very protective. Almost brotherly.” Hailey avoided her eyes.

Harper was surprised at this comment.

“He… he hasn’t kissed you yet?” she asked.

She’d assumed, along with everyone else in town, that the two were an item. Like her and Nick.

Hailey shook her head.

Harper leaned closer and whispered, “What have you told him about… things.” She glanced around.

Hailey shrugged. “A lot. Not everything, but a lot.”

Harper took her sister’s hand in her own. “I hope that one day you’ll feel comfortable talking with someone like I am now.”

“So Nick knows everything?” Hailey asked, her eyes searching Harper’s.

“Yes,” Harper answered softly.

“And… you’re not in trouble?” Hailey whispered.

Harper smiled and shook her head. “No, even after I told him everything, he didn’t even look at me differently. Besides, he’s the one who found out that Heidi was already dead when I…” She dropped off. “He’s gone out of his way to make me feel… different.” She sighed and leaned back in the chair. “I think I’m in love,” she admitted to her sister.

Hailey was quiet for a moment.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to trust like that,” Hailey said, looking down as she swirled her straw in her tea. “To tell someone my biggest secret. My biggest shame.”

Harper reached across the table and gripped Hailey’s hand.

“Nothing you did was shameful,” she asserted. “You did nothing wrong. Neither of us did.”

Hailey’s eyes started to tear up, but she nodded slightly.

Harper could tell that her sister struggled to believe it.

“Are you okay staying at Reece’s place? We could go home?” Harper asked.

Hailey shrugged. “I know you want to be with Nick, and I also know that you wouldn’t let me stay home by myself. I’m okay where I’m at for now.”

It was true. The thought of going back home and not being with Nick caused pain in her gut and heart. Still, she missed being with Hailey. Missed the sister time they had each night.

“Why don’t you come over tonight for dinner? Nick is a wonderful cook. You can see Lucy and Blue.”

Hailey glanced around. “I asked for a double shift. I won’t get off work until eleven.”

“Tomorrow?” Harper asked.