Chapter 48

“I don’t know what to do about Jasper. The last thing I want is to make him feel like, without Harper, we have nothing. That’s so far from the truth,” I sigh, rubbing my forehead as I stare down at the lady massaging my toes.

My mom is in the chair next to me, getting her toes done as well.

“Well, sweetie, if you’ve been talking about this Harper move as much as you say, then Jasper is right to worry. When you all were together, it was balanced. No one had to prove how much they loved the others because everyone was in the same place and on the same page. Things are changing now, and you feel the need to make sure that Harper feels your love, but you’re leaving Jasper out of the loop. You have to accept that the more you try to hold on to Harper, the more you’re going to lose Jasper, who is the father of your baby. Don’t go ruining your family, Eden.”

Sliding down in my chair, I close my eyes.

“How do I fix this?”

“Tell Harper that you’re happy for him and wish him luck on his journey. Show Jasper that you love him and would never put anyone above him. Jasper has always chosen you, sweetie. Not Harper. Jasper.” She frowns a little, obviously showing bias.

“I know, Mom.”

“Do you? Jasper sacrificed a relationship with his own brother for you. He could’ve been all or nothing and left too, but he stayed. He let you bring Harper back in. He let you feel things for Harper. I don’t need to know what else he let you do with Harper beyond that point, but my point is, Jasper has always put you and your wants first.”

Sitting there, I think about what my mom said, and it makes me feel like shit. What the hell has gotten into me? When did I become such a selfish person? I’m ruining my relationship with Jasper and potentially guilting Harper out of his move. And why? Because I don’t want things to change? Ugh.

I need to get it together.

After getting our toenails painted, we grab lunch and my mom asks me about Quinn. She isn’t keen on the idea of me hanging with her, but I tell her that Quinn is doing a lot better as far as her sobriety. I can’t speak on her private life since she hardly talks about it. My mom thinks that’s creepy.

“She’s grieving.”

“I don’t trust her. The things she’s done to you are unforgivable.”

“Mom, you know better than anyone that drugs and alcohol can make a person do bad things.”

“Of course I know, but I’m your mother and a part of my sobriety is being your mother. Mama says she doesn’t trust that bitch.”

“Mom!” I throw my head back, laughing, covering my mouth so I don’t disturb the whole restaurant.

“I’m telling the truth.” She shrugs.

“What if someone said that about you?”

“Whatever anyone says about me is the truth. I was a drunk who had no sense of privacy. Quinn is too private. If she’s so happy to get her best friend back, why is she hiding things?”

“I never said she was hiding anything.” This woman is crazy.

“Baby, any best friend who feels the need to be private is a friend who is hiding something. I saw it in a crime documentary.”

“You should stop watching those.” I shake my head as she gives me a look.

“Just be careful around her.”

“Got it, Inspector Gadget.”

I know I’m joking, but it does get the gears in my head turning about whether or not Quinn is hiding something from me. I don’t know what she could be hiding, but it stays on my mind for a while. The last thing I want to do is go accusing her of anything based on my mom’s obsession with crime documentaries. That’s only a few notches away from being a conspiracy theorist. I fell into the rabbit hole of crime documentaries once and began looking up crime scene photographer jobs. Needless to say, I’m banned from watching them.

I think my mother is overreacting, but it still plants a seed in my head. Maybe I should keep an eye out for Quinn. I’m not saying she’s dangerous, but I know from experience that she has some tricks up her sleeve.

When I get home, Jasper is in his office and Harper is in the living room. I don’t know who to go to first to apologize for how I’ve been acting. Heck, I don’t even feel like a standard apology is enough. Going upstairs, I brainstorm what I can do to make it up to both of them.

Before I know it, I’m reserving an entire restaurant for a private steak dinner. I also make a phone call to a jeweler because I know the perfect apology gifts. Since neither of the guys even realizes that I’m home, I sneak back out to go pick them up.

I get to the jewelry store, and the owner already has my order bagged, having cleared his schedule to prepare these gifts for me. I’m not surprised, seeing as the watches are over $1000 each. They're luxury watches. Jasper’s is black with gold detailing, and Harper’s is gold with black detailing. I want them to know that I care about them equally, but I love them differently.

On my way back to the house, I stop at a little boutique, buying a dress that will make my bump look cute but not distracting. It’s black and fitted with an open back and halter neck. The guys are going to drool all over themselves. However, knowing their taste in suits, I’m sure I’ll be drooling too.

I get home with 2 hours to get ready for our dinner. Once I get into the house, I call the guys out from wherever they are. They both appear with messy hair and sweat pants like couch potatoes.

“What’s up, baby?” Jasper yawns, making me frown. Behind me, I hear Harper do the same.

“I’m going to need you two to get it together because we have a dinner reservation at 8:30. It’s important, so dress nice please.”

“What’s going on?” Harper asks, probably wondering if he’s missed an important event or anniversary.

“I made reservations for us to have dinner somewhere nice. Now, please, go get ready.”

Jasper senses how important this is to me and clears the tired out of his throat.

“Alright, let’s do this, but first, a glass of scotch to wake me up.”

“Yeah, I agree.” Harper follows Jasper to the kitchen as I curse both of them while heading upstairs.

“I wish I could have some scotch,” I groan.

Since the guys are downstairs, I can grab everything I need and go to the other guestroom. I shower, shave, the whole nine yards, anxious about how tonight will go. I don’t think anything terrible will happen, but I’m nervous about apologizing to both of them. I want them to know how sincerely sorry I am for how I’ve been acting. I can’t even blame my hormones because I know I’d act the same way if I weren't pregnant. I have to own up to being a little selfish.

I’m so nervous that I get ready extremely fast, prepared before either of the guys. I waste time checking myself out in the mirror. I feel sexy, which isn’t a word I’ve used this whole pregnancy, but tonight I feel confident and pretty. I hope the guys think so too.

I prop myself up on a kitchen bar stool, waiting for them to come down. One leg over the other, I rest my hands on my knee as I scroll through my phone. I’m about to announce that they have 20 minutes left before we have to go when I hear doors being opened. Standing up, I hold their gift bags in my hand, excited to give them their watches. Harper comes down first, wearing a charcoal suit that looks impeccable on him. His wild hair is tamed, and he looks delicious. Behind him, Jasper appears in a black suit, and I swear my water almost breaks at how fucking yummy he looks.

Catching my breath, we lock eyes as he comes down.

“Wow, you two clean up well.” I run my eyes over them as they stand in front of me, giving me a show with a few poses.

“And, today, we are introducing our luxury line of panty-dropper suits, guaranteed to make any woman come on sight,” I announce into an invisible microphone.

“Thanks, baby. You look fucking gorgeous.” Jasper pulls me close, kissing me.

“Thank you.”

“I couldn’t agree more. Mmm, damn girl.” Harper shakes his head, kissing my neck and then my lips.

I giggle at the compliments, feeling my cheeks heat.

“Thank you, I was worried.”

“Nothing to worry about, baby.” Jasper gives me a wink.

I seriously want to say fuck this dinner and just fall into bed with them, but that can wait until after. Plus, I still need to give them their gifts.

“So, these are for the two of you.” I hand them the little bags, and I watch as they open them.

Harper gets his open first, his eyes widening.

“Holy shit, this is nice as fuck! Is this Versace?”

“Yes, I wanted to get you this to congratulate you and wish you well in your future business ventures. I’m so proud of you, even if I haven’t been acting like it. I’m really sorry if I made you feel like you couldn’t be excited about moving to New York.”

Harper looks at me, and I feel like there is a significant weight off his shoulders.

When Jasper opens his, I watch the shocked frown on his face.

“Baby, you didn’t have to do this.”

“I wanted to. I love you so much, Jasper. I love you more than you’ll ever know, and no matter what, it’s always going to be you.”

Jasper gives me a look, and the look on his face makes me want to cry. I can’t believe how much I’ve been hurting Harper and Jasper without even realizing it. I never wanted to make them feel less than or guilty about anything. It definitely wasn’t my intention, but that’s how it came off. There’s no excuse.

I help them out with their watches before taking a few selfies as the car pulls up to ferry us to dinner. In the car, I sit between them, and I can tell the driver is a little confused about the arrangement. It doesn’t matter to me, though. Right now, I’m with my favorite men, and tonight is all about them.