“That’s so cool, Mom,” Jamie says, almost at the same time.
“I know. I know. Thanks. I’ve been freaking out about it the whole way home.”
“So what happens now?” Dakota asks.
“Well, they’re giving me a week to decide, and if I accept, I begin training with Nichole next week, and then I would start at the beginning of next month.”
“Sounds legit, Mom. I think you should do it.”
“Yeah?” Harper says, biting her lip nervously. “It’s a lot of responsibility. The hours can be really nutty sometimes, and I’d have to wear actual clothes sometimes.” Dakota flags her.
“You can do it, Harper. I really think you can do it.” Harper looks at Dakota. Her decision is made right then and there.
“Okay. I’m going to accept.” Jamie and Dakota clap.
“I’m so proud of you, Mom,” Jamie says and kisses her on the forehead.
“Thanks, son.”
“All right, I’m heading to bed for real this time,” Jamie says, standing up and heading out of the kitchen. When he disappears, Dakota reaches for Harper’s hand and twines their fingers.
“I’m proud of you, too.”
“Thank you,” Harper says, blushing.
“We should celebrate,” he says, putting down his spoon.
“How?” Harper asks, setting her spoon down as well.
“Let me take you out to dinner this weekend.”
“Mmm…” Harper coos while grabbing Dakota’s other hand and lacing her fingers with his once again. “Are you asking me out on a date, Dakota Daughtry?”
“Yes. Yes, I am,” he says, bringing her hands to his lips and placing a feather light kiss on them. “Do you accept?” Harper nods.
“I’d love to,” she says, and Dakota responds to her answer with a kiss.
Chapter Seven
“So do we need to have the talk?” Jamie is standing in the doorway of Harper’s bedroom as she stands in front of the mirror, putting her final touches on her makeup.
“Jamie,” she says, half amused.
“I’m just saying it has been a long time since you’ve been out on an actual date.”
“Thanks for reminding me.”
“Guys aren’t the same as they were fourteen years ago,” he continues, ignoring her.
“I think I’ll be okay, Jam.” Satisfied with her face, she walks over to her closet and pulls out two cardigans on hangers. “Black or beige?” she asks.
“Black. Make sure he opens the car door for you and any other doors, for that matter.”
“It’s Dakota, Jamie,” Harper says. “Are you forgetting that?” She slips on the cardigan he chose and walks over to him.
“No,” he says. “I know it’s Dakota.”
“So why are you so nervous? Have you changed your mind about how you feel about us?” she asks, her eyes narrowing slightly in concern.
“No, of course not. I love Dakota,” Jamie says.
“So what’s up?” Harper asks. Jamie shrugs.
“You’re my mom,” he says. “I’m supposed to do this whole overprotective teenage son role.”
“I thought it was my job to worry.”
Jamie shakes his head. “Equal share.” Harper runs her hand over his hair and squeezes his shoulder.
“I’ll be fine, Jamie. Dakota is a perfect gentleman, and I’m completely comfortable with him. There is no need to worry.” Jamie nods his head.
“What time is your friend coming?” she asks as she walks to her dresser to get a necklace to match her little black dress.
“Mason should be here any minute, actually. We’re going to play some pool at the Blue Moon Grill.”
“Okay. I guess I should, like, give you a curfew, huh?” she says, still rummaging through her jewelry box.
“Um, yeah, I think that’s how this works.”
Harper chuckles. “Well, it’s Friday night, no school tomorrow, soooo…” She picks out a necklace and walks over to him. “Put this on for me…how about eleven?” Jamie nods as he secures her necklace around her neck.
“That sounds fair.” Harper nods her head and turns around to face him. “Okay. How do I look?” Jamie stands back and takes in his mother’s appearance.
“You look beautiful, Mom,” he says. Harper giggles.
“Thank you. Gosh, I’m so jittery. I haven’t felt this way since…” She pauses, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear. “Well…I don’t think I ever felt this way.”
“Not even with Dad?”
Harper shakes her head, looking at the ceiling as she thinks about it. She grabs the beaded clutch purse sitting on her nightstand.
“There were butterflies with your dad, but it wasn’t like this. I mean, I knew your dad from the town, but I didn’t know him like I know Dakota.”
“Do you think building a friendship with someone first is important?” They walk out of her bedroom and head downstairs.
“Definitely. Getting to know someone before you take that next step is important. It makes the relationship mean something and you really know they’re there because of you and not for any superficial reasons.” Jamie nods his head, a slight blush creeping up his cheeks.
“Why do you ask?” Harper’s eyes narrow in curiosity. Jamie shrugs as they stand in the living room by the door.
“Just wondering,” he says smoothly. Harper nods her head, convinced at the moment. The doorbell rings, and Harper grins. She answers the door, and Dakota’s handsome smirk greets them. Dakota comes into the house.
“Hello, beautiful,” he says. Harper admires him in his dark fitted jeans, blue shirt, and suit jacket before responding. The man was perfection, and she couldn’t help staring for a little while longer.
“Thank you,” she says, feeling like the air has just left her lungs. “You look great.” Dakota smiles.
“Thank you. Are we all ready to go?” he asks. Harper nods. She turns to Jamie.
“Home at eleven,” she says and kisses his cheek.
“Have fun. Dakota, behave yourself.” Dakota hits Jamie playfully, and they leave. Jamie stands watching the door after as they leave, smiling from ear to ear.
***
Jamie
Jamie stuffs a few French fries into his mouth as he listens to his new friend Mason Lincoln explain all the reasons why he wants to travel when he finishes high school.
“I mean, I love this town. I grew up here. I can’t ever say I hate it, but I feel like once I’m done with school there’s nothing holding me back from having a fresh start, you know?” Jamie nods, agreeing with him.
“That makes sense.”
“Do you ever want to leave?” Jamie takes a sip of his soda and thinks for a second before answering.
“I don’t know. I mean, I’ve always thought about what it would be like to go away, but I don’t think I want to leave my mom or Dakota.”
“Who’s Dakota?”
Jamie’s eyes narrow slightly, not sure of how to answer that question. His mom’s boyfriend, his best friend, his mom’s best friend…
“Um, I don’t really know how to define Dakota, to be honest.” Mason looks at him curiously. Jamie sits back in his chair, takes a deep breath, and tries to explain it the best way he can. A few minutes later, Mason nods his head, still curious but understanding.
“And now Dakota is dating your mom? Isn’t that weird?”
Jamie shakes his head. “No, not really. It still feels like it always has.”
“Do you ever wish Dakota was your dad?” Jamie shakes his head, smiling.
“Honestly, no. Aiden is my dad. He isn’t perfect, but he’s my dad. But I’m grateful for Dakota every day.” Mason shakes his head.
“Well, you’re lucky, man. I wish I had a Dakota.”
Jamie grins. “What are your parents like?”
“They prefer long distance parenting.”
Jamie laughs. “What do you mean?”
“I’ve been emancipated from my parents since I w
as fourteen.” Jamie chokes on his soda a little.
“Seriously?” Mason nods his head and chuckles a little.
“My mom has always been an anywhere-but-here kind of woman. She’s always off on some adventure with Mr. Right Now, and I never knew my dad. I just figured if no one was going to take care of me, I needed to take care of myself, and I didn’t want her coming back and taking what I work for.”
“Do you ever see her?”
“Yeah. A few times a year. She stops in for cash.” Jamie looks sad for a second but recovers quickly. The last thing the kid needs is his pity…what he deserves is his respect.
“What about the house?” Mason nods.
“The house is paid for. It was my grandma’s, so there’s not a mortgage on it. I just pay for utility bills.” Jamie nods his head.
“You know what? That explains the free French fries! You work here!” Mason laughs. “I thought our waitress was just hitting on you.”
“No, Amelia was not hitting on me,” he says, glancing at the dark-haired girl waiting on the table across from theirs. Jamie looks too.
“I don’t know, she’s been giving you longing looks all night, man.” Mason grins, shaking his head.
“I think you’re on a French fry high. Amelia Young is my coworker and our schoolmate. That’s it.”
Jamie chuckles and takes a sip of his soda. “I think she wants to be more,” he replies, wiggling his eyebrows.
Mason can’t stop grinning. “Eat your fries,” he says, tossing one at Jamie. “Anyway, look who’s talking. I don’t think you should be teasing me when you’ve been looking at Bianca like she’s about to grant you free deep fried potatoes for life this whole week.”
“Oh my God, we get it. I love French fries.” Mason laughs into his own soda, spilling a little on the table. “And for the record, Bianca Bradley is just nice to look at. Nothing wrong with looking.”
“Mmhm,” he says.
“Why don’t I kick your ass in another game of pool, and when I win, you admit that French fries might not be your only weakness?”
“And when I win, you admit that Amelia stamps your timecard.” Mason shoves him playfully as they get up from their table, laughing the whole walk over.
***
Dakota
“So tell me when this started for you,” Harper says, smiling across the table at Dakota. Dakota smirks and takes a sip of his wine. He takes a deep breath.
“First day I saw you.” Harper swallows a sip of her wine and looks at him, surprised.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“But you were only eighteen.”
“I know how old I was,” he says, smirking. “You were the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and I was smitten from day one.” Harper shakes her head.
“You’re crazy, Daughtry.” Dakota shrugs.
“What about you? A week ago did you think we would be sitting here? Under candlelight?” Harper blushes slightly. She takes a sip of her wine and then sets the glass down slowly.
“No, but I think I secretly hoped for it.” Dakota puts his knife and fork down and reaches for her hand across the table. He twines their fingers, and Harper looks down at them.
“I feel like maybe there was always something…different about us, but I never really took the time to try to figure it out. I feel like maybe I was afraid of it.”
“I know I was afraid of it,” Dakota says honestly.
“What were you afraid of?”
Harper tilts her head to the side. “Losing Jamie, losing your friendship, losing everything.” Dakota strokes the front of her hand with his thumb. “For a long time all I really wanted was a family, you know? I never knew my parents. In and out of crappy foster homes. All I ever really wanted was somewhere to belong. I think I was lost when I first met Jamie, and then somehow I was found when you let me into your world. No matter how much I wanted you I didn’t want to jeopardize that.” Harper tilts her head to the side and bites her lip, fighting off the emotion welling up inside of her.
“I was afraid of the same thing, Dakota. Afraid of losing you and Jamie losing you. I thought that if I admitted to myself what you really mean to me, it would change everything and nothing would ever be the same.”
“It won’t be the same, and I can’t tell you what’s going to happen in the future, but I can tell you that I am one hundred percent committed to making this work.”
“I am too,” Harper says softly, leaning in so only he can hear her. “I want you and I want us and I’m so happy we’re doing this. I’m all in, Dakota. I’m all in.” Dakota doesn’t give her a chance to pause. He kisses her, and the world disappears around them.
Chapter Eight
Jamie
“So is this fiesta tonight formal?” Mason asks before devouring the last bit of his blueberry bagel. Jamie swallows the last swig of apple juice and shakes his head. They are all in the hallway of their school waiting for the first period bell to ring. Jamie and Bianca are leaning up against the lockers while Mason is standing in front of them.
“Not at all. Come as you are,” Jamie replies.
“Good, because I don’t look good in a tie,” Bianca says, smirking.
“Hmm…that doesn’t work with my Fifty Shades fantasy…” Jamie says, scratching his head. Mason and Bianca burst out laughing, and Jamie joins them. The warning bell sounds, and they all pick up their book bags from the floor.
“All right, guys. I’ll see you tonight. Ties optional,” Bianca says and heads off to her first class. They wave at her, chuckling.
“I think it’s so cool that your mom makes such a big deal about your birthday,” Mason says, and they head in the opposite direction toward their English class.
“She says it was the best day of her life, and just saying Happy Birthday and shoving a gift card in my hand isn’t good enough,” Jamie says, shaking his head.
“That’s so sweet, dude,” Mason says, nudging him with his elbow as they walk down the hall. “No, seriously, it’s just…beautiful.”
Jamie chuckles, still shaking his head, knowing that Mason is teasing him. “Whatever, man. Just make sure you come.”
“Wouldn’t miss it, man. Full course meal instead of free diner food? Oh, I’m totally there.”
Jamie laughs. “But seriously, bro. Thanks for saying you’ll come. I’ve never really had…friends, I guess. It’s always just been me and my mom, and then me and my mom and Dakota. I never felt like I was missing anything, but this past month has shown me that I have been.”
Mason grins. “You’re welcome, dude. And just so we’re clear, you get three bromance moments a year, so this is strike one.”
“Oh, come on, it’s my birthday. Don’t I get an extra one for special holidays?” Jamie says as they reach their destination and walk into the classroom. Mason shakes his head, laughing.
“Hey, Mason. Hey, Jamie,” Amelia Young says, entering the room behind them.
“Hey, Amelia,” Mason says. Jamie waves.
“Are you working tonight?” she asks, taking her regular seat in the front of the classroom. Jamie walks to the back of the classroom, not wanting to intrude on their moment.
“No, I switched with Megan so I could hang out with Jam on his birthday.” Amelia nods and looks at Jamie.
“Happy Birthday,” she says sweetly. Jamie salutes her. She chuckles. “That’s nice, but it’ll be boring without you.”
“What? No way. Megan is a hoot. Take a tally of how many guys she flirts with and you’ll forget all about me. Super fun,” Mason says. Amelia pushes a strand of hair behind her ear, laughing. Jamie laughs from the back of the room, totally listening to their conversation secretly.
“How come every time I see you, you’re up in my girl’s face?” Mason looks up and sees Tanner Andrews walk into the classroom. From the back of the room, Jamie looks up from his Spanish book and his eyes narrow. Tanner Andrews is what he would call the “big man on campus” or that was what he tho
ught he was. Even though he was the son of their town’s most popular and sought out doctor, Jamie never paid him much mind. But lately he’s been riding Mason really hard and Jamie was not amused. He was an asshole, a bully, and Jamie knew eventually a confrontation would happen. He just hoped this wasn’t it. It was his birthday and he was wearing his favorite polo shirt.
“Hello, Tanner. Lovely to see you too,” Mason says.
“Tanner, don’t be mean. We’re just talking,” Amelia says. Tanner sits next to Amelia but doesn’t look at her or acknowledge that she even spoke to him. He keeps his eyes on Mason, who in turn is staring right back at him. Students start to enter the room in crowds as the start of class gets closer.
“Why are you hounding my girlfriend?”
“I’m not hounding anything, dude. Like Amelia said, we were just talking because we’re coworkers and friends. But to be honest, I don’t appreciate the tone you’re using, so try to work on that along with your insecurities.” Tanner gets up from his seat and stands face to face with Mason. The chatter in the classroom dies down, and suddenly all eyes are on them. Jamie gets up from his seat and stands behind Mason. His back is to him.
“How about everybody just go take their seats and not talk to anyone?” Jamie suggests.
“Good idea, Jamie. Go sit down, Tanner, please,” Amelia says, looking up at them.
“Not insecure at all, bro. I just know for a fact that you’re into my girlfriend and it’s disrespectful. Stay out of her face or else.”
“Or else what?” Mason asks, taking a step closer to him. Amelia gets up from her seat and stands in between them. She faces Mason first.
“Please, just go sit down, okay?” she says softly. Mason looks at her, and his face softens. He looks back at Tanner and then back at Amelia.
“Okay,” he says and heads to the back of the classroom just as the teacher enters the room. Amelia sits back down, and the teacher goes straight to the board to write the day’s lesson plan, unaware of the scene that just took place.
“Hola, hola! Sorry I’m late,” she says, but no one answers. She turns to face the class.
Maybe Forever (Missing Pieces Book 1) Page 5
