Stealing Harper (Taking Chances #1.5)(49)

“Aw hell, baby. That’s not possible.” I kissed the top of her head and squeezed her tighter to me. “What’s been going on? Is it still because of Brandon? Or did something else happen?”

“We need to go, Harper.”

I dropped my arms and stepped back when I heard my sister’s voice. Once again, I expected Bree to freak out, but she just stood there with a soft smile on her face.

Harper looked up at me and touched my arm softly. “See you.”

“Bye, Princess.”

I watched her walk away from me again, but this time I promised myself it would be the last time. Tomorrow, she would be mine.

I hoped.





Chapter Eleven



I’D GONE TO Los Angeles early in the morning to get everything I needed for Harper’s surprise and barely made it to school in time after dropping it all off at Brian and Marissa’s. I laid the bouquet of orange lilies onto the chair that was propping open the door to Breanna and Harper’s class and stood back, hidden from view. Not more than five minutes later, the girls were walking up. I watched as my princess looked up, then did a double take at the chair. Her footsteps faltered as she walked slowly over and picked up the bouquet. Her body straightened as she turned around and scanned the crowd before picking the note out and moving the bouquet to the crook of her arm while she read it.

When she turned back around to look through everyone again, she had the widest smile on her face, and it took everything in me not to go to her. Bree took the note from her and shook her head slowly before looking around again as well. As soon as they walked into the classroom, I pulled out my phone.

You look beautiful today

Princess: Were you watching me?

Maybe. I finally got to give you your lilies

Princess: You already gave me my lilies a few months ago, remember?

I couldn’t forget that day even if I tried

Princess: Well, you could have given these to me yourself, you know. I would have liked to see you

It was worth it to see that smile on your face

Princess: :) Thank you for my flowers. I love them

What are you doing for your birthday?

Princess: Dinner with your fam tonight, movies at the house after. You’re invited

I’ll see what I can do

I wouldn’t be there. But I sure as hell hoped she loved her surprise.

Since I’d missed it this morning, I went surfing with Brad and Drew before going back over to Brian and Marissa’s to help get everything ready for that night. I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Brian knee deep in lilies.

“Good look for you, Bri.”

He pointed a bunch of lilies at me and glared. Coming from a man of his size, mass of hair, tattoos, and piercings . . . that shit was hilarious. “Watch it, Grayson! I’m doing this for you!”

“And I appreciate it.”

“Chachi?” Marissa came running into the living room. “Do you think we got enough flowers? We can go scope out some flower shops around town.”

My eyes widened as I looked around their living room. “Uh, Riss. We bought every orange and white lily they had at the flower market. I think we’re good.” My phone rang, and I answered without looking, “Yeah?”

“Hey, sweetheart!”

“Hey, Ma, what’s going on?” Since Mom and Dad had sent me back to my house, I hadn’t seen or talked to Mom much as Harper was usually with her. Hopefully, that was all about to change.

“Well, um, I don’t know if you know . . . because you know . . . well maybe—”

“Mom, just say it.”

“It’s Harper’s birthday, you know.”

I smiled widely. “Oh yeah? Huh. That’s good.”

“Are you rethinking your feelings for her?” She sounded panicked, and I took my phone away from my ear to look at my screen for a second.

“Hell no. What’s going on? You okay, Ma?”

“Oh that’s good . . . that’s real good.”

Seriously, why is she being so weird?

“Well, we’re all going out to dinner tonight for her birthday, and I know she’d love it if you were there.”

“Yeah, look, I’d like to, but I just can’t. I’ll be busy tonight.” If she hadn’t started to weird me out so much, I might have told her my plans; but she just wasn’t acting like my mom.

“I hope you don’t give up on you and Harper, sweetheart.”

“Mom.” I spoke softly into the phone. “I haven’t. I promise. I have things I need to do tonight though . . . all right? If it eases your mind, I’ve decided to stay in San Diego after graduation.”

She blew out a relieved breath, “Oh thank God. All right. Well, if you change your mind, we’re going at six tonight.”

“Six. All right. Love you, Ma.”

“Love you, too, honey.”

We got all the flowers put together before I had to go in for my first of two appointments at the shop; and by the time I was done with the second, I was rushing to get the lilies, so they were covering every surface in the living room and breakfast bar at my parents’ house. I walked into the kitchen in search of anything I could scarf down quickly and a book sitting on the end of the kitchen table caught my eye. I did a double take when I saw the title and froze.