63.0

63.0
HARPER

"Seeing me with other girls bother you and you know it. You just don't want to admit it to yourself."

I stare blankly at him. He continues. "Tell me. If the situation was reversed, and my mother didn't want to adopt..." His voice trials off. "Would you go for me?"

Would I go for him? He says it like I have multiple options of guys all lined up for me to make a choice. It's just him. I see just him.

"I don't know what you're saying." I tell him.

"No. You understand. If my mother didn't want an adoption, would you pick me? Would you want to be with me? Or would you pick Damien? Or any of the many guys in your department."

I squint my eyes at him. Is he serious right now? The fact that Nyla is calm and her eyes are heavy is why I'm being quiet and not giving Xavier a piece of my mind. What the fuck? Who thinks that way? Obviously him. He thinks I have the luxury to think about men? 

"Tell me..."

"Ssshhh. You'll wake my baby. It's hard to get her to sleep in the evenings." I roll my eyes at him.

"I just need you to tell me." 

"Are you being for real?" I raise a brow. 

"It's just a question. All you have to do is answer the damn question."

"It's not just a damn question, okay? It's insane. It's unheard of. I'm a mom. I'm a mom of a very little baby who doesn't know what life holds yet. Before all of that? I used to be just a happy teenager with her friends. Then... I could indulge in all sort of truances and go scot free. I could date whoever I wanted and be that girl. I used to think funky accessories and large boho skirts were all that mattered. I had this gorgeous red hair that... that everybody loved. That girl... that Harper died when she saw this little girl." I glance down at Nyla. Her eyes are wide open now, staring at me. 

"I never said anything about the girl you once where. I know you've been through a lot. I want to be there for you. I'm willing to make you..."

"Xavier stop. I do not want to hear about it."

Xavier takes few steps closer to my bed. "You don't have a choice."

"Are you out of your mind?" 

"Seriously, Harper. I want you. I am going to have you." He tells me and then he turns and walks out of my room, leaving me with wide eyes and shaky hands.

What the fuck just happened?

That didn't sound like Xavier at all. Xavier would never say those lines. He's always on his best behavior. I heave a sigh and gently leave the position I'm in. Lyra and Bailey are still downstairs and I know they'd be feeling awkward without me.

I change Nyla's dress and take her with me. When I'm downstairs, the doorbell rings and I tell Damien to hang on so I'll go and check who's there. 

I'm at the door, I slowly open it and I'm staring at a red-haired version of my best friend. My eyes widen slightly and I gasp a little. Why does she look so much like... Skye?

"Excuse me?" I say softly.

She stares at me, then at Nyla in my arms, then at me, then at Nyla. 

"You?" She finally lets out a word.