56.0

56.0
HARPER

"So, what is your deal with my brother?" 

That's the first thing Damien says to me as he drives. It's the first thing he's said to me since the kitchen incident. What's my deal with his brother. I want to ask him why does he care but I don't want to be rude so I just pretend like I didn't hear.

"What did you say?" 

"I said... what's your fucking deal with Xavier?" He asks again.

You'd think that he was supposed to shut his mouth. Read my face and know that I wasn't ready for his questions and answers. But no. Damien kept mute, obviously waiting for an answer. 

"Mind your business." I say, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Look, I'm sorry about the other day, okay? I have no excuses. I was a dick."

I stare at this version of Damien and I'm tempted to let him know that I think he's lying. I don't buy the whole apology act. 

"What's your deal with your brother?" I ask, not taking my eyes off him. I'm asking because I'm curious. Like curious, curious. Since Xavier won't tell me, maybe this version of Damien will. When I see his jaw tighten, I just give up. 

He glances at me, then back at the road. "Some things are better left unsaid." 

"Yeah," I nod. "Don't ask me questions unless you want questions." I tell him. 

He starts laughing. "I wasn't wrong about you. You're smart and pretty."

Here we go again. What's the need of apologizing when you'll just go and make the same mistake again?

"The two of them? Pretty and smart? That's a weird combo. It's not common for me. I've been with pretty girls but not smart women. And you..." He pauses.

"I what?" I probe. Don't blame me for being curious. 

"You make me nervous." He says lowly. 

Oh. Wow. I make him nervous? Me... Harper... I guess I'll take that as a compliment? I mean... it's not every day you get to make a hot guy nervous. 

"Would you..." He shuts his eyes for a brief second, then reopen them. "Would you like to... go for breakfast?"

I can't help the smile that appears on my lip. He's asking me to go for breakfast. Doesn't he remember that we already had breakfast at home?

"I know you don't have to agree to anything. If you're not comfortable with me yet, you can just say it." He starts rambling. 

I almost laugh out loud. Damien looks cute when he's nervous. He's sweating and his grip on the wheel is tighter than tight. 

"Breakfast..." My voice trails off. I'm trying to give him a little time? I don't know, to remember? That his mum made breakfast for us this morning. But he stares at me hopefully.

"Yes. After we drop the baby..."

I frown. "Nyla." I cut him off.

"What?" He asks.

"Her name. It's Nyla." I repeat.

He looks flushed. "Oh. Yes. Nyla. I didn't... I forgot."

Liar. You didn't know. I don't call him out. I just nod. He's pretty interesting when he's not making rude comments about my boobs. Or about how pretty I'd be as a doctor.

"I guess. One breakfast wouldn't hurt. Just promise me we won't talk about Xavier." I stare at him.

He raises a brow. "So I was right," He says.

"About?" 

"You two did fight."

"We are not talking about him." I say firmly this time. 

"Good. Because the last thing I want to be doing is discussing my brother with a pretty girl that he might have feelings for."

"What did you just say?" 



XAVIER

My arms strain. I can feel my muscles tighten as I go down for the last time. I push myself up and then down. It feels like hell to push my arms past their normal limit, but it's working.

At least I can think about the pain. And not the fucking adoption that'll be happening anytime from now. I go down again just as I hear the clicking of heels. 

Her perfume enters before she does. "Study date, huh?"

I groan, lifting my body up. "Go away, mom."

"Xavier!" 

"Seriously. Go away." I say again. 

"No. I deserve to know why you've been... Off lately. I thought I could be quiet about it. But now, Harper notices. It won't be long before the environment becomes toxic for that sweet little baby."

I push myself up, standing tall. I'm dripping with sweat. Effects of pushing my body. Mom stands beside my open door. I frown. Seriously! I thought she left for her work? What was it this time? A charity gala? Whatever she calls them these days? I've lost count of names.

"Who upset you?" 

"Why do you care?" I shoot at her.

She sighs. "I care because I am your mother."

That is non-disputable. I can't take that from her. So I just shut my mouth and let her talk. 

"Xavier, if you don't tell me what you're thinking about, how would I know?" 

"Are you still going through with the adoption?" I ask her and she just stares at me. Good for her. Now she's putting the pieces together. She'll know why I'm like this. "Tell me mom, are you still going to adopt Harper?" 

"You don't want me to." She says.

"Yes. There must be some other option. Ask around. You don't have to..."

"Why? Because you're attracted to her?" Mom cuts me off.

"I am more than attracted to her." I admit.

"Xavier... you only just met her. She's a pure soul that needs no tainting by either you or your brother. You understand what I mean... right?" 

Fuck I do! But then I'm not gonna taint her. I don't understand my feelings for her but I just know that I don't want her to be my sister. You can't look at your sister the way I look at Harper. 

"Mom, please..."

"No." Mom raises her hand. "No. I know what it's like when you both like the same girl. I know what it has cost us. I'm trying each day to keep the secret and you boys are trying to let history repeat itself?" 

"I'm not gonna hurt her." I say, more to myself than to mom. "Ask her. She knows I can't hurt her. I like her, mom."

Mom walks to the door, ignoring me completely. Before she walks out of my room, she turns. 

"You loved Gia remember? And do I want to remind you how things ended?"