“You were kinda cute last night—a pain in my ass—but a cute pain the ass.” He stares at me a moment longer. “Can I take you to breakfast?”
I snort a very un-cute laugh. “What?”
“You intrigue me, McCarthy. Let me take you to get some food,” he says again. “Then we can go back to the whole ‘me putting you in bed thing,’” he adds with a smirk. My cheeks burn thinking about what I was saying when I opened the door thinking it was Teddy.
“Uh…I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Really?” he says, crossing his arms over his chest, looking like he’s never been told no before. Shit, maybe he hasn’t.
“Yeah.” I scratch my head. “I went out last night to try to forget about my boyfriend who left me, and we both know how the night ended. Thanks, but I think I’m safer here at home, big guy.”
“Oh, big guy. I went up a notch,” he mocks with a teasing smile. “Well, Harper, I took the liberty of adding my number to your cell—under King Shrek.” He smirks. “If you ever need anything, and I mean anything, you call me.”
I nod. “Okay.”
“Okay,” he repeats and takes a step away from my doorway where we’re still standing.
“Thanks again for bringing my phone. Even if you did go through it,” I say with a raised brow and smirk of my own this time.
“I’ll see you around, Harper.”
“We’ll see.” I shrug.
With a chuckle, he leaves, and I close the door behind him. Letting out a deep sigh, I stay put for a second, thinking about the exchange with a guy that wasn’t Jett.
“I can’t believe you just turned down a date with Tristan Pike,” Gabby admonishes from behind me, making me jump. I didn’t hear her come out of her room during my conversation with Tristan.
“Fuck, Gabs.” My hand goes to my chest. “How long has your sneaky ninja ass been listening?”
“Long enough to know you’re a fucking fool,” she murmurs, walking to the coffee machine.
“Gabby,” I sigh. “I just… I can’t. It doesn’t feel right,” I admit, sitting on the couch and picking at the hem of my shirt.
A few minutes later, she holds a mug of coffee in front of my face and sits down next to me. “Then wait until it does,” she says, surprising me.
My face pinches, my brow furrowing. “What if it never does?” I ask, a stupid tear sliding down my cheek. Wiping it off on my shoulder, I take a sip of the hot coffee, thinking about that terrifying question.
What if moving on and dating someone else never feels right?
What if I never feel like I can move on from Jett? Am I going to be miserable for the rest of my life?
Has he moved on? Is that why he’s ignored me since he left?
Will it ever stop hurting?
As much as I want answers to all the questions swirling around in my head…
I don’t.
Part II
Chapter Seventeen
Jett
Five Years Later
Opening my eyes, I turn off the alarm on my cell and open Instagram. It’s how I start every morning, and it’s my favorite part of every day. I scroll until I see the post for today and then pause, a smile pulling on my lips.
Harper.
She’s at the beach, hair in two braids, standing in tree pose with one leg bent up, arms above her head with her palms touching. The little spandex shorts she’s wearing shows off every part of her toned legs while the sports bra she’s got on is pushing her tits up and giving her the perfect amount of cleavage. Her eyes are closed, head tilted back a little as the sun rises behind her where the ocean is. The caption reads: If you think it, you can believe it. I chuckle as I keep looking at her.
She’s become—as they say—Insta-famous in the past few years. A social media influencer. She posts pictures of herself in various yoga positions all over the country and always with some sort of quirky or humorous caption. It’s perfectly Harper.
My long-time friend Nikki was the one to find her and show me. She’s still mad at me for ghosting Harper all those years ago. Fuck, I’m mad at me, too.
But after five years of not reaching out, responding or acknowledging her, I figure I’m too late anyway. She looks good. Healthy. Happy.
I can’t bring myself to even ask Nikki if she has contact with her at all. I can’t. It’s too much. I know I hurt both of us too much after I left.
Tossing my cell down on my bed, I let out a breath and force myself up to start another day.
Each one the same as the last. Shower, jerk off to visions of my teenage ex, put on a suit that costs more than it would to support an orphanage in a third-world country, and go to work for my father. Come home and drink too much Scotch, hoping to drown out my miserable, pathetic life, then repeat.
Walking into my office, I’m greeted by my newest assistant, who goes through all my messages and my calendar of events needed to get done today.
After barely graduating with a degree in marketing last year—not finance or business like my father wanted—I came to work at The Eli Group for my father anyway. I’m just not directly under him as he would have liked. However, I’m still under his thumb enough for him to control, and that’s all he cares about these days.
Kimber finishes going through everything, but I’ve hardly heard a word she’s said until she adds on, “Oh, I almost forgot. Your friend Noah called too and asked for you to call him back as soon as you were able.”
I mumble a thanks, reaching for my phone as she scurries out of my office. Noah answers on the second ring. “Hey, man, heard you left a message,” I start, leaning back in my chair. “What’s up?”
I’ve known Noah since he was the new kid at school in the third grade. Some other kid started teasing him, I shoved the bully and we’ve been friends ever since.
“I got an extra ticket to the fight this weekend and wanted to know if you’d like it. Ari and Nikki are both coming too. Thought we could all use a little reunion away from our stuffy office jobs.”
I sit up straighter because, hell yes, this sounds like exactly what I need. “Count me in. Where’s it at?”
“Miami,” he answers, and my mind immediately goes to thoughts of Gabby, another friend I left in the dust.
“Want to take the jet?” I ask with a grin.
“Why do you think I invited you?” He laughs.
“Alright, dick face, can you round up the gang and meet me at the airport? Or do I need to send cars for all your mooching asses too?” I joke.
“Ari said he’d pick us up in his limo. You aren’t the only rich asshole I know,” he scoffs.
We conference call Nikki and Ari, and the four of us make plans for the weekend. I feel excited about something for the first time in a long time. Maybe this is what I need to get out of the fog and funk I’ve been in.
* * *
I’ve never been more excited to shed off my suit and hop on a jet in my life. By the time the four of us land in Miami, we’re already toeing the line between fun and sloppy drunk. But I haven’t laughed or had as much fun as I have in the hours on this plane in years.
After checking into our hotel, we grab dinner there and keep the night and alcohol flowing. We’re staying at a swanky resort with a lavish pool outside before you reach the beach beyond it.
I sleep in later than I have in a long time and take advantage of the lazy afternoon before we have to get ready for the fight.
I’m half asleep by the pool when something cold drips on my sun-baked back. “Fuck!” I yell, sitting up and growling at the person responsible.
Nikki stands over me with a cocktail dripping condensation in her hand and a smirk on her face. “Oops,” she says, sitting down on the lounger next to mine.
“Sure,” I deadpan. “We’ll go with oops.”
“You’re so tense and grumpy these days. Lighten up, Leos.” I ignore her jab of truth, lying back and closing my eyes once more. When she speaks again a few minutes later, she rock
s my whole world. “You might see her here this weekend.”
Turning my head to face her, my brows pinch in confusion. “What?”
“Harper. She’s supposed to be here this weekend for the fight. There’s a chance you’ll see her.” She takes a sip of her drink before turning to look at me. “You going to be okay if that happens?”
Turning my head back to face the sun, I grind my teeth before answering. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Wow,” she laughs. “You really think I’m buying any of what you’re laying down? Please. I know you.”
“And what is it you think you know, Nikki?” I snap, sitting up to face her and pushing my aviators to the top of my head.
She mimics my movements, placing her drink on the small table between our chairs. “I know you still love her. And I know you still feel guilty for how you left things.”
“Sure,” I scoff. “Closure would be nice, but love?” I shake my head. “It’s been five years. I’m over it, and I’m sure she is too.”
She stares at me a minute; her tongue clicks on the roof of her mouth. “So, her being here with Pike doesn’t upset you?”
I swallow down the bile that’s rising in my throat at the thought of her with someone else, and the fact that someone else is Tristan Pike makes me want to punch something and then puke.
“So, you do keep in touch with her,” I surmise with a cocked brow, faking confidence in everything I’m saying when in reality I’m dying inside.
Picking up her drink again, she lifts a shoulder and takes a sip. “Enough.”
Pulling my glasses back down to cover my eyes, I lie back again like I’m not affected by any of this. “Awesome.”
We’re both silent for a while before she adds more. “Look, all I know is that they’ve been friends a long time. How friendly, I don’t know.”
“How has Harper been friends with the brother of one of my best friends and I didn’t know?” I finally ask.
“I told Noah not to tell you,” she says, and my eyes snap to hers. “You didn’t want to know and didn’t ask about her. Figured it was better you didn’t know.” She shrugs.
Noah and Tristan are half-brothers. Same dad, different moms. Noah’s mom moved with him to LA when he was a kid after she caught his dad cheating with the nanny. Tristan’s mom died during childbirth with him, leaving him in Boston to be raised by his father.
“Until now.”
“Jett, come on. Would it have been better for you to see her here and get blindsided?”
I let out an exhausted sigh. “I don’t fucking know.” I run a hand down my face. “But now I’m going to be looking everywhere for her knowing she’s around.”
“You look where he is, fuckwit.”
“When did you become so mean?” I ask teasingly.
She gives me a really look. “I’ve always been this way. You were just never on my bad side before.”
“Ouch, Nick.” I put a hand on my heart. “You picking my ex over me?”
“When you fuck things up and are wrong, I do,” she sasses back.
“Don’t hold a grudge or anything,” I mumble.
* * *
The second we pull up to the arena, my eyes are bouncing everywhere as fast as my heart is hammering in my chest. I’m a ball of nerves. Right now, I’m wishing that Nikki hadn’t said a thing. Ignorant bliss sounds good right now.
Once in the box above the ring, Noah thumps me on the back. “Nikki said she told you. I’m sorry I didn’t say something before.”
“All good, Noah,” I assure him.
“I don’t know for sure if she is here, but she might be. She comes to a lot of his fights,” he adds, looking ashamed.
“You talk to her before?”
He nods, adding with a wince, “Once or twice.” Well, that hurts.
“What are you fuckers gossiping about?” Ari asks.
“Nothing,” Noah says at the same time I say, “Harper knows Tristan and might be here.”
Ari’s eyes widen before he starts bouncing on his feet and throwing punches in the air. “Shit! We might see two fights for the price of one tonight,” he hoots and hollers.
“I’m not fighting anyone, shit stain,” I scoff and shake my head at him.
Unless I see him or some other motherfucker hurt or disrespect Harper in some way. Then, I don’t care who they are; I will kill them.
The first fights begin, and I hardly pay attention. My mind is running all over the place with different scenarios of how things could play out if I see her. If she’s even here, I don’t know if she’ll come up to the box that we’re in or sit somewhere on the floor or another location. I have no idea, but my mind won’t stop.
When it’s Tristan’s turn to fight, I still haven’t seen her anywhere. It’s got to mean she’s not here. Right?
By his third round, I start to relax a little and actually enjoy watching the fight. He starts to look like he’s weakening and stumbling but then rallies, delivering a knockout hit to his competitor. The guy is out cold. Everyone in the box and around the ring is going crazy, including me.
Until I see her.
Then, everything stops—including my heart—as I watch her slide through the ropes into the ring and jump into Tristan Pike’s fucking arms.
Chapter Eighteen
Harper
“Fuck,” I say under my breath as I bite my thumbnail. I don’t know why I agreed to come to these fights. I’m a nervous wreck the entire time and don’t enjoy them one bit. “He looks tired. Doesn’t he look tired?”
“Nah, he’s alright. He’s putting on a façade for Blevins. He still has plenty in him,” Teddy says, pulling me under his arm and into his side. Then he winces because Tristan takes a hard hit, leaving him looking a little too unbalanced for my liking.
“Knock the fucker out!” Gabby screams on the other side of me, making me chuckle.
She, unlike me, enjoys coming to these things. Teddy too. Although, he doesn’t make it to as many these days now that he’s working with his dad.
When we found out the fight was going to be in Gabby’s old stomping grounds, we couldn’t pass it up. Gabby’s mom insisted we all stay with her while we’re here for the weekend. It’s been fun feeling like old times with my two besties.
With all of us out of college now and doing different things, it’s hard to catch up at the same time all together. We try to make a point of it as much as possible.
Gabby and Teddy both work for The Eli Group. Although, Gabby travels with her job a lot. She does most of the setting up of new offices around the country, whereas Teddy is basically turning into Mr. Tomlin, doing the same job. But at least he stays put and I can see him anytime I want. Especially since we’re neighbors. Again.
Tristan must have heard Gabby because when I look back up, he delivers a nasty hit and knocks Blevins out cold.
He’s been training for this fight for so long I couldn’t miss it. I’m so proud of him. Rushing to the ring, I sneak through before anyone can stop me. Squealing, I lock eyes with Tristan and leap. As tired and beat up as he is, he still catches me like I knew he would.
“You did it!” I yell into his ear.
His head goes to my shoulder as he breathes heavily and slowly rocks us in a circle still inside the ring. “I can’t fucking believe it’s over.” Then he starts to laugh, picking his head up and saying, “I’m fucking rich, Harper!”
My laughter joins his as I grab his face in my hands. Sweat and blood are pouring out of him, but I don’t care. I’m so incredibly proud of him. I press my lips to his in a simple, soft kiss. “You did everything you said you would,” I tell him with tears stinging my eyes. “I’m so proud of you.”
He refuses to put me down with the rowdy crowd around us. Shifting to carry me on his back, we leave the ring and head to the locker room. But when I look up at his friends and family box, my eyes lock on green ones I haven’t seen in years, and I gasp. “Jett,” I whisper.
“You okay back
there?” Tristan asks as he keeps walking.
Shaking my head, because I must be hallucinating, I tell him I’m fine and keep on celebrating with him.
The locker room is buzzing with everyone coming in to congratulate him and clean him up some before he goes back out to do press. With him sitting on a bench and me standing behind him, I start working out the knots in his neck and shoulders. His head lulls to the side with a groan when I hit a big one.
He’s pulled away before I can do much more. I’ll get him better when he’s done for the night. My smile doesn’t leave my face as I watch him go back out and the roar of the crowd intensifies.
Looking down, I see my shirt is covered in blood from me mauling him in the ring, so I find my bag and pull out a spare. Tossing the ruined one in the bin, I turn back for my clean one when I jump at the sight of someone I didn’t expect to see there.
“Shit!” I yell and rush to pull on my clean shirt.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says, dropping his face to look at the ground.
“What are you doing here?”
He huffs a laugh, peeking up at me. “Came to watch the fight.”
“Oh,” I reply simply because what else should I say to him.
Trying to shove my emotions down like I have for the past five years, I reach for my bag again searching for… something. Anything not to have to look at him. He can’t see the hurt on my face.
“Harper…” he starts but trails off.
“Why are you here, Jett?” I ask again, this time looking up. A tear slips from my eye, and I quickly swipe it away. “Why now?”
“I…” He starts and stops again, his face looking like a similar mixture of emotions to everything I’m feeling. “I didn’t know about…” He motions to the door.
“Tristan?” I ask confused.
I Kissed Her First: A BOUND TOGETHER NOVEL Page 11
