“Well done, Mrs. Harper. You’ll be well prepared when you have children one day.”
Liz just smiled and asked if there were any more instructions for Will. He told her to let him rest and that the IV stand had wheels if he needed to take it to the bathroom. He told her he’d be back to remove the IV in a few hours, but not to worry until then.
Will was in bed for all of Friday and the majority of Saturday, though he quit retching Friday night. He was able to hold down light fluids Saturday and slept most of the day, this time in his bed. Sunday evening he sat on the couch by Liz, watching a movie while she rubbed his neck and played with his hair. She was kind enough to eat out of his sight since he still couldn’t hold much down, and by Monday morning, he was ready to go to work with strict orders to be nice to his stomach for several days. Liz made a pot of mild soup Sunday afternoon and because he’d done so well with it, she sent a container with him to work. She also sent a message to Evelyn telling her not to order Will’s usual take out, no matter what he said.
By the time she got to class Monday, it felt like a vacation just to be out of the house and away from the constant threat of sickness. So glad I’m not a nurse, she thought.
22
Game Point
Late October
6 Months Married
“Man, Harper, you are really not on your game today,” Andrew said as he scored yet another point.
“Thanks, Jamison. I hadn't noticed,” Will bit back.
“What's the problem? You're usually mopping the floor with me by now.” Will glared at him across the racquetball court. “Oh, I see!” Andrew drew out the words.
“See what?” Will's annoyance had not abated.
“You're not getting any!”
Will stared at him with shock and anger. “What do you mean 'not getting any'? I'm fine,” he said through a clamped jaw.
“Yeah, right! You have a thin grip on control, my friend. Admit it, you're turning blue.”
“I am not turning blue!” he nearly shouted.
Andrew held his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “All right, all right, I'll back off. But you know Lizzy would help you out with your little problem if you asked her. She seemed pretty open to it in the beginning. That's why she had that clause about children put in.”
“Children?”
“Yeah. Didn't you read the pre-nup?”
“I read the part about the financial settlements. I breezed through the rest. Chalk it up to my over-inflated trust in you.”
Andrew ignored his jab. “Lizzy insisted we add a clause about children. She said with the two of you in such close quarters and all that.” Andrew gestured with his hands as his friend studied his racket. “Actually, I'm surprised it hasn't happened already. It's been six months.”
Will huffed. “It's not that simple, Andrew. I live with Liz. I can't just stop living with her if things aren't...”
“Sweaty? Hot and dirty? Incredibly satisfying?”
Will groaned. “Oh, come on, Jamison. You know things could be incredibly awkward afterward. And it's not like I can just go back to my place and forget about it. It's not five dates and it's over. I have to see her—EVERY DAY!”
“So what are you afraid of? Not up to the challenge?” Will shot him a dirty look. “Think she's no good? Even if it sucked, I bet you could work on it. Like you said, you live together—what better opportunity to improve your skills?”
Will gave him a cynical look.
“And I doubt she sucks.”
Will looked at him questioningly.
“Trust me man, once you go Barrett, you don't go back.”
“You did not just say that,” Will replied.
Andrew just laughed. “Come on. Court time's up.”
***
“Death by Chocolate Cake or the Molten Lava Brownie?”
“I'm having the tiramisu,” Jen answered her sister as they perused their menus.
The waiter stepped up to the table to take their orders.
“Tiramisu and a cappuccino,” Jen said.
“I'll have the Death by Chocolate Cake a la mode. And can you drizzle a little hot fudge over that? And a cup of cocoa with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.”
Jen looked at her sister quizzically, but said nothing.
Liz looked at the man walking past and felt herself flush. “Wow. He's so tall. Did you see his arms?” Liz's eyes watched him until he turned the corner, then looked back at her sister who had an amused look on her face.
“Down girl!” Jen laughed. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I'm great. Why?”
“Oh, I don't know. You've just checked out every guy who's walked by in the last hour, including one who looked like Santa.” She leaned back when she saw the waiter approach. He quietly set down their desserts and left. “And you just ordered about two pounds of chocolate.”
“I'm just craving chocolate. It's no big deal.” As she finished her sentence, she unknowingly turned her head to follow a man in a dark suit walking past their table in the busy restaurant.
“Uh-oh. Oh, no,” Jen said, shaking her head.
“What?”
“How long has it been?”
“Has what been?”
Jen looked at her with raised brows and don't-mess-with-me eyes.
“All right! It's been a while.”
“How long is a while?”
“Jeremy.”
“Jeremy!” Jen cried.
“Shhh! You don't have to announce it to the world!”
“You mean to tell me you haven't gotten laid since Jeremy?” Jen whispered furiously. “You broke up last February!”
“I know.”
“It's October!”
“I know,” she said lowly through clenched teeth, leaning over the table so no one else would hear her.
“Wow. I thought you and Will agreed to sleep together? Didn't you talk about it in the beginning?”
“Yeah, we talked about it and we agreed it was okay, but it's kind of awkward now.”
“What do you mean awkward?”
“I mean I feel like we're friends now.”
“And that's a problem because...?”
“I've never done it with a friend!”
“It's called friends with benefits. People do it all the time.”
“I know that. I just thought it would happen naturally, but we haven't even gotten close. Now I'm afraid we're too firmly established in the friend zone.”
“The zone isn't a death sentence. It's not like you're related or anything. You can adapt.”
“I know that logically, but what if he doesn't want to? I don't want to humiliate myself.”
“Why would you think he doesn't want to? You're hot!”
“He hasn't made a single move. He's been the perfect gentleman. Unfortunately,” Liz mumbled.
“And you don't want a big awkward mess with someone you consider a friend.”
“Exactly.”
“Weren't you friends with Jeremy?”
“Before I dated him! Then we dated for like two months before we slept together.” Jen looked at her doubtfully. “Okay, two weeks, but still!”
“But you're married to Will.” She leaned further across the table and whispered to her sister. “And you guys go on dates—fake dates, but dates. Doesn't that count?”
“I don't know.” Liz grumbled and shoved another piece of chocolate cake in her mouth.
“What about that guy before Jeremy? Mike? Mark? Mick? Weren't you friends?”
“Matt. I really liked him. And he was practically in love with me. He almost proposed, remember?”
“Oh, yeah. Why'd you guys break up again?”
“He had that weird collection of golf-balls.”
“The ones with celebrities' faces painted on them?”
“Yup.”
“Yeah, that's weird.” Jen made a face and shook her head. “What about Phillip? You guys were great friends. He was always helping you with your h
omework.”
“Yeah, we were friends. But I still had a major crush on him, even if it did only last a month. And we never actually slept together.”
“You didn't? But what about that time I caught him coming out of your room?”
Liz grimaced and wagged her head side to side as if she were trying to find just the right words. “Heavy make-out session.”
“Ah.” Jen nodded in understanding. “So that just leaves us with the skinny tall boy from freshman year.”
“Caleb.”
“Ah, Kosher Caleb—how could I forget?”
Liz glared at her sister and said, “I was crazy about him and we went out for over a year. I met his parents, for pete's sake. He was my first—of course we weren't just friends.”
“So you're in uncharted territory. Big deal. Figure it out. It's not like you're not attracted to each other. Who knows? Maybe after you sleep together you'll start to like each other.”
“Who says we're attracted to each other?”
“Oh, come on, Lizzy! First of all, this is William we're talking about. One of Manhattan's top ten most eligible bachelors—or at least he was. Every woman in the western hemisphere is attracted to him. Secondly, he's totally you're type.”
“Is not. I don't have a type.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
“Okay, miss I-don't-have-a-type. Why haven't you ever dated a guy under six feet? Or is it six two?” Liz glared at her sister as she forcefully ate another bite of cake. “You have a thing for tall guys.”
“Every woman likes tall guys. It's primal. They look like good hunters or something.”
“Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better. Have you ever dated a blonde? Or a red head?”
“That's not fair! Statistically there aren't very many red-heads. Most people have never dated one,” Liz said defensively.
“Still, it seems like a pretty steady pattern you have of tall guys with dark hair. Jeremy's was black, and weird Matt's was definitely dark brown.”
“Phillip was blonde. Ha!”
“Light brown.” Jen shot back.
“Dark blonde.”
“Dark blonde? Really?” Jen looked at her skeptically. “Even if there was such a thing, you just said you never really slept together and you only went out for a month.”
“So?”
“So! He doesn't really count! Obviously your subconscious was telling you he was the wrong type for you and refused to let it get serious.”
“Oh, Jenny! You are really starting to crack me up!”
Jen left some money on the table and led her sister out the door. “Come on—I've got an idea.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“La Perla.” Liz looked at her with wide eyes. “Don't worry, there's construction on the building on the corner. I'll let you stop and gawk on the way.”
**
Three hours later, Liz was unpacking her bags in her room while Jen watched, sprawled across her bed.
“I can't believe I let you talk me into this,” Liz said.
“Of course you can. Subconsciously, this is what you want and I am merely helping you to achieve it.”
“Would you quit talking about my subconscious? This is a ridiculous plan. I should just tell Will that I'm hormonal and ask him to oblige me.”
“Oblige you? Seriously? You used to be fearless! Remember how you wrapped yourself in saran wrap for Jeremy's birthday?”
Liz got a faraway look in her eye. “Yeah. That was…” She sighed dreamily.
“Hey! Snap out of it!” Liz blinked and looked at her sister. “It can't be any harder to wear a negligee than to wear plastic wrap. And definitely easier to get into.”
“Not to mention it breathes better. Okay, Jenny. You win. Now help me pick which of these to wear first.”
Jen held up a silky, gray-blue slip with a wide border of lace at the hem and tiny spaghetti straps. “Start with this one. It's more subtle. He won't be completely shocked to see you wandering around in it.”
“If this blows up in my face, I'm blaming you.”
“Trust me. And quit being such a coward. It's not like you.”
***
Will walked into the apartment late that night, exhausted and frustrated. “Lizzy,” he called out from the entryway, “you will never believe the day I had! Saunders is a complete idiot and he totally cocked up the—” he stopped in mid-sentence as he walked into the living room.
“Hey, Will. Popcorn?” Liz asked from the floor where she laid on her stomach, in her new negligee, watching television as if this was an everyday occurrence. She sat up and held the bowl out to him.
“Thanks.” He fell onto the sofa and took the bowl from her hand, looking at her oddly.
“So what did Saunders do? Is it about the buyout?” she asked as if everything was the same as it had always been.
“Yeah.” Will ate a few bites of popcorn and shook himself out of his silk-induced trance. “He pitched his plan on how to market HarperCo to the old workers at the Stenson Plant. It was complete rubbish. He even made a short film about what a caring company we are and how we look after our own.”
“But you are a caring company and you do look after your people,” she reasoned.
“He just made it sound so sappy.”
Elizabeth laughed at the look on his face.
“Truly, it was almost painful to watch. It came complete with a theme song and motto. 'HarperCo, because Harper Cares.' I've never hated the sound of my own name so much.”
“You're kidding! He really said that? Wow!” Liz laughed as Will let out a grumbling sigh and leaned his head back in exhaustion. “Aw, I'm sorry babe. It sounds awful. Beer and grilled cheese? It'll make you feel better.”
“Yeah, I am a bit peckish.”
He followed Liz into the kitchen and sat at one of the bar stools while she gathered ingredients from the fridge. She seemed to struggle in her short nightgown with reaching down into the lower cabinet for a pan. She finally decided on squatting sideways with her knees pressed closely together. He watched her with a smile on his face as he began to relax from the day.
“So what else happened today? Is the merger still on track?” she asked him as he grabbed a beer and popped the top off.
“Yeah, so far everything is looking good. The Helgsen people will be in at the middle of the month. We'll have to do a lot of wining and dining, I'm afraid; he's bringing his wife. Are you up for it?”
“When exactly?” she asked as she set the sandwich in the pan.
“Looks like they'll arrive the fourteenth and stay the week. We're in meetings all day Monday. His wife wants to go shopping and she'll be here alone, so I was hoping you'd go with her—you know, keep her company.”
“You mean keep her happy and off her husband's back so he can sign your papers faster?” she asked with a grin.
“Something like that,” he replied.
“Hasn't she ever been to New York before? Does she not have her own friends here?”
“According to Mr. Helgsen's assistant, she usually goes to Paris to shop. She's been to New York before, but usually with her sister or a friend. This will be her first time with just her husband.”
“And that's where I come in.”
“Exactly.”
“Well, I suppose I can take one for the team and spend a day shopping. You know how I detest it, but I'll do it for the company,” she said in a dramatic voice.
“You are too good, Lizzy.” She set a plate with a grilled cheese sandwich in front of him. “What would I do without you?”
“You'd be sitting alone in England with no merger, eating beans on toast.” She laughed.
Will joined in and then grabbed her hand. He brought it to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “I am forever indebted to you, my lady,” he said with mock gravity.
Liz backed up and pointed a finger at him. “And don't you forget it!”
Will watched
her leave with a slight grin. Maybe getting… closer wouldn’t be as hard as he’d thought.
23
Mad
Early November
Married 6.5 Months
“So this is my dad's house.” Elizabeth pointed to a picture of an old farmhouse in the photo album sitting on her lap.
“This is where you grew up?” Will asked. He was sitting close to Liz on the couch, their legs touching and his arm on the sofa back behind her.
“Mostly. Originally, we all lived here.” She pointed to a photo of a large pink Victorian house. “After the divorce my mom kept the big house and dad moved to a smaller farmhouse at the back of the property.”
“Remind me how old you were when they divorced?” He played with her hair and touched her neck subtly, not terribly focused on the conversation and wondering how much longer this flirtation would go on before they got to the point.
She pointed to a picture of her and Jen in front of the Victorian house. “I was three, so I don't really remember living all together. Jenny was five, so she remembers a little more than I do, but not much.” She curled her legs up so her knees were halfway across his leg and her upper body was leaning against him, his breath tickling her forehead.
“Wow. That’s young.”
“Yeah. They talked about it when I was a baby, but decided to stay together for the kids. That clearly didn't last,” she said sarcastically.
Will flipped the page himself and saw the same two girls, a little older now, posing with two smaller girls, one with brown hair a little lighter than Liz's and one blonde like Jenny. “Are these your other sisters?”
“Yes, that's Heather and Tiffany.”
“They’re your mom’s right, because you said your dad never remarried?”
“No,” she drew out the word, “mom never remarried either. They're not half-sisters. Just sisters.”
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