by Sam Ayers
It was clear that his brother didn’t want him here. Even for their wedding.
Harley Evans sighed for the umpteenth time. She was heading for a disaster. Carter was no gentleman and she didn’t like him – let alone love him and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. She needed answers, and the only person who could give them had disappeared.
And now she lay on her bed thinking about Connor again. Why did he have such an effect on her? Heck, she had only met him this morning. Harley sighed again and buried her head under her pillow. Her thoughts were disturbed when she heard a noise coming from the balcony. Harley switched on the bedside lamp and stood up; moving slowly towards the balcony, she saw a stone hit the glass door. Harley panicked and peeped out. Seeing no one, she took a risk and stepped out to find Connor standing right below the balcony and grinning at her widely.
“Connor?” Harley asked as he waved at her.
“Hey! Move back, I’m coming up,” he said and started climbing the wall quickly using the pipe. Connor was an expert climber. She moved back and waited for him. Connor was now pulling himself up and he jumped over the railings. “Ha! Piece of cake!”
“Why are you here?” Harley asked, folding her arms over her chest.
“Well, I’m starving. I need food, and I’ve no money. I can’t go back home or that monster will eat me alive . . . so here I am. Do you have something to eat?” Connor asked, walking into her room. “Oooh nice! How is it so clean?”
“Connor, why did you leave?” Harley asked, ignoring his question.
Connor gave her a wicked smile before saying, “Your fiancé would look horrible with a broken nose at your wedding. Trust me, I did you a favor! At least you wouldn’t be marrying an ugly guy. As much as I hate that airhead, he happens to be my brother, and we share the same genes, which make us both stunning. But I’m the handsome one here. Not Carter.”
Harley burst out laughing. “Oh my, you’re so cute!” She was waiting for Connor’s comeback, but when he remained silent, she looked at him and saw him blushing a little. Connor Taylor was blushing!
“I’m starving,” he said, changing the subject. Harley knew what he was doing; Carter did the same once. Guess it’s a Taylor trait, Harley thought.
“We have Cup Noodles,” Harley said, walking out of her room. “Is that okay?”
“Anything would do now. If that moron would have shut up, I would have had the scrumptious dinner my mom cooked for me. But no, he had to speak, otherwise he would have faded into oblivion!”
Harley chuckled as she placed the Cup Noodles in front of Connor and poured some hot water in it. She closed the lid and sat down in front of him. “You’re really funny, but seriously, why did you leave before? I mean, why did you move to Vancouver?”
Connor sighed and looked down. “It’s a long story and it’s boring.”
Harley winked. “Try me.”
“Okay, but before I tell you my sad-sad story, I want you to tell me why you are marrying Carter.”
Harley shifted in her chair. “I . . . well, you see, my parents wanted me to marry him. I met him at a party, which was hosted by your parents, and I think Carter was just being polite and keeping me company. Guess that gave off a wrong impression and the next day Mom and Dad invited your parents and Carter for dinner and it went on like that for a month. After that, Dad just told me that I had to marry Carter and when I said no . . . I was told I couldn’t do better than him, and the waterworks started. Couldn’t really stand the emotional blackmail everyday, so I said yes.” Why am I telling him – a guy I just met – all this?!
Connor nodded. “Oh, I know all about that, but that doesn’t seem like the right reason to marry.” Shrugging, he turned back to his noodles. “But what’s stopping you from running away?”
“Run away?” Harley rolled her eyes. “Think it’s that easy?”
“Of course it is! I did it once,” Connor said as he ate the noodles. “It was a great experience!”
“Oh, tell me what happened!”
“Curious, aren’t you, Harls?” Connor winked. He noticed her blush when he called her ‘Harls’; smiling, he continued, “It was my 18th birthday. Mom cooked up a feast, and we were just about to have our dinner when Carter said something that annoyed me. And then we got into a fight. He almost broke my nose, and I almost dislocated his jaw. Dad was furious, and he grounded me. Carter told him that I started it, and I was arguing with them. Guess Dad just wanted both of us to shut up, and then he yelled at me. He told me to get out. He just wanted me to go to my room, but I didn’t go to my room; I left the house. I called my uncle Brandon; he arranged a visa on arrival and the next day I was off to Vancouver.”
“You left the house? Just like that?”
“Carter won. And I wasn’t going to stick around and get humiliated again.” Connor sighed. “Mom used to call, and she even visited twice. When Carter and Dad found out, they stopped her. It was hard, but I managed. Dad didn’t speak to me for three years. Let’s not even talk about Carter. He is so high on his mighty horse, he will die before a polite word leaves his mouth.”
Harley placed her hand on Connor’s and he looked up. He gave her a charming smile and continued, “I came back, five years ago. It was my parents’ wedding anniversary. I’d just graduated and before I started my job at Uncle Brand’s company, I wanted to see my parents. When I found out they were at a party, I went there and the security stopped me. When I told him to call my parents, he called Carter and then my obnoxious brother came out and told the security not to let me in.” Connor chuckled. “It was cold and the security guy was friendly enough when I asked him if I could wait there for a while. The party went on, so Bill – the security guy – and I ordered pizzas, and we had a blast!”
“Why didn’t Carter let you in?” Harley asked.
“Because he didn’t want me there. He didn’t care if I had to fly miles to reach there, and I was out in the cold. Nothing changed for him. When Mom and Dad came out, I went home with them. Of course, Mom was pleased to see me. Dad didn’t say a word. I left that night and only returned today.”
“Your father was really happy to see you here, Connor,” Harley pointed out.
“Of course, Harls. He visited me after I left, saying he had work in that area, but I knew he was here for me. He apologized. We all made up, but for everyone’s sake, I didn’t want to come back. Mom cried when I said I wasn’t coming for Carter’s wedding. She can turn on that emotional drama at a high level, so here I am.” Connor smiled.
“Glad you are here,” Harley whispered.
“What was that, Harls?” Connor asked, pretending he hadn’t heard what she said.
“Oh, nothing. Your parents must be glad that you are here,” Harley said, biting her lower lip. For the first time today, Connor’s eyes fell on that lip and he gulped. This was wrong; he shouldn’t be staring at her. After all, she was marrying that monster of a brother. Harley just smiled when she noticed he had finished the noodles.
“Do you have something else to eat?” Connor asked brightly, looking around. Harley laughed as he jumped from the chair and raided the fridge.
Oh yes, the next two weeks were going to be really exhilarating when you added Connor to them. She was just hoping he would be himself – funny and cheerful – and not end up messing his trip or breaking Carter’s nose.
Later that night, Connor was getting comfortable on the couch in Harley’s room. He’d asked her if he could stay the night because he wasn’t ready to face the wrath of Carter, and she said yes. Little did she know that Connor wasn’t ready to sleep in the guest bedroom. He said he wouldn’t mind taking the couch because he wanted to talk to her more. Of course, Harley couldn’t make him leave because she liked talking to him, too.
“So, if you are 25 and working as an architect in Vancouver, that means that if you had stayed back in California, and if we both went to college together, we would have been classmates.” Harley smiled. “We would have been friends,
” she added in a whisper.
“As if we aren’t already.” Connor smirked. “You’re right. We are architects, 25-year-olds, lived in the same area . . . so many possibilities. But things might have been different if I met you seven years ago.”
“How so?”
“Well, we might have been best friends, and I would have stopped you from marrying Carter.” Connor rubbed his chin lightly and nodded.
“Connor, just because you are my friend you can’t decide what I want to do with my life,” Harley pointed out.
“I would have made you fall in love with me.” Connor shrugged. “Now that would have stopped you from marrying him.”
Harley shuffled in her seat; the conversation was taking a turn that she didn’t even want to think about. She knew that what ifs and buts would only cause her heartache and nothing else. Speaking the first thing that came to mind, she changed the topic. “So when is your uncle getting here? Is he bringing Padfoot along?”
Connor smirked; it was so easy to see what she was trying to do. Letting her change the topic, he smiled. Why does she have to be so delightfully different? he thought.
“So?” Harley prompted.
“They are arriving next week, Harls. If it weren’t for Dean’s wedding, I would have arrived just a day before your wedding and left the next evening.”
“You don’t want to be here?”
“If you’d asked me the same question this morning I would have said no. But now, I think I can stick around for a while. Heads up, if Carter finds out that you are hanging out with me, he will lose it for sure. Heck, he wouldn’t even allow us to be friends after you marry him.”
“Connor, I won’t let him interfere with my life,” Harley said in a stern tone.
“Oh, knowing you it might not happen. But love can complicate stuff. Imagine, after your wedding, you’ll be head over heels in love with him, and you will consider what he says if not do what he says. So, it looks like we have very little time. We should cherish it.” Connor smiled.
“What do you mean?”
“Harley Evans, I’ll be your friend till the minute you say ‘I do’. After that, we’ll just go on our ways. I don’t want to be the reason to ruin anything that’s there between you and Carter. As much as I hate him, he is my brother, and he deserves to be happy. And you, Evans . . . I know you will make him happy.”
Harley felt a lump in her throat, “So you are saying our friendship has a deadline? We can be friends only for the next fifteen days?”
“Now don’t say it like that! We can make memories in these mere fifteen days that will last us a lifetime, I promise.” Connor smiled, his eyes twinkling.
“You better keep your promise, Taylor,” Harley said and turned off the bedside lamp. “Good night, Connor.”
“Night, Harls.”
Harley lay awake on her bed. She felt so self-conscious now that Connor was in sleeping her room, snoring lightly. She didn’t mind that at all; it was rather cute. What bothered her was the conversation she had with Connor earlier. Was he speaking the truth when he said he would have made her fall in love with him? Was that even possible? After turning and tossing for a while she finally lost herself to a deep slumber.
The next morning, Harley woke up to a weird noise in the bathroom. She walked towards it and saw the door was open. Connor was standing in front of the mirror, admiring himself by the look of things. Shirtless. Toothbrush in his mouth. He was actually singing. When he saw her, he waved and quickly rinsed his mouth.
“See something you like, Evans?” He smirked, pointing towards himself.
“You wish, Taylor.” Harley rolled her eyes and walked towards him. She pushed him away lightly, took her toothbrush out and noticed Connor staring at her in the mirror. “What?” she asked incredulously.
“You’re beautiful!” he blurted.
Harley choked on the mouthful of water, spat it out and coughed. Connor patted her back and helped her to a chair in her room.
“Connor, please don’t say such stupid things,” Harley said once she was able to speak properly.
“That wasn’t stupid. As a matter of fact, it was a compliment.” He winked. “By the way, I found an extra toothbrush in the cabinet and used it. I think I should head home now. I’ll sneak in through the back door and then I’m hitting the beach. Join me!”
“What if I’m busy?” Harley wriggled her eyebrows, and Connor burst out laughing.
“Oh, Evans,” he said, controlling himself. “Oh, you’re gonna be the death of me! Come over for breakfast; we will leave after that.”
He got up and placed a quick kiss on her cheek before he left the room. Harley touched her cheek and smiled. She walked towards the balcony and stood there, seeing how Connor sneaked out and went to the backyard. Smiling to herself, she went to the bathroom again for a shower, all the while thinking about this adorable yet crazy guy who forced an entry into her life. Just fourteen days left, her subconscious pointed out, and Harley sighed. She would miss Connor!
When she was finally ready, she went to the Taylors’ home and immediately saw Connor sitting at the dining table, his mother cooing and making him eat everything that was on the table. When Connor wiggled in his seat and complained that he couldn’t eat all that, Mrs. Taylor said, “Just look at yourself! You are so thin! If you don’t eat, you might disappear into thin air!”
“Mom, stop exaggerating!” Connor groaned. “Look, I am eating! But I can’t eat everything, I might explode!”
Mr. Taylor snickered. “Mae, let the poor kid eat. Don’t force him; he has a bad habit of running away. Can’t afford that to happen again.”
“Miles, don’t!” Mrs. Taylor warned, but she couldn’t resist smiling when she saw her husband and son laughing out loud. Harley cleared her throat and walked into the dining room.
“Harley, dear, come join us,” Mrs. Taylor said cheerfully. Just as Harley was about to sit, she felt someone grab her arm. She turned abruptly to see Carter. Weary eyes and unruly hair only made him look younger. “Harley, I would like to speak to you for a minute,” Carter said.
Connor shushed everyone and spoke, “Go on, Carter. We are listening.”
Mr. Taylor couldn’t help but chuckle. Connor always spoke at the wrong time and that made it funnier. Carter was fuming now. “Alone!” He glared at Connor and pulled Harley away.
“Well, your loss, then. After all, you had an audience.” Connor shrugged.
“Doodle-bug, don’t tease your brother,” Mrs. Taylor said.
“Yes, Doodle-bug. Behave.” Carter smirked and walked out of the room.
“Mom, no nicknames in front of Carter!” Connor pouted and his mother hugged him fondly. And then she was forcing him to eat again.
Harley was standing quietly in Carter’s study as he paced the room. Finally, he walked towards her and grabbed her shoulders. “I’m so sorry, Harley.”
“Wha . . . what?”
“Harley, what you witnessed last night – it shouldn’t have happened. I regret every single minute,” Carter said calmly.
She couldn’t help but feel happy. “You mean . . . you didn’t want to fight with Connor, and you regret that?”
“What? No!” Carter rolled his eyes. “I regret that you had to witness that. Connor and I always fight. He’s a lunatic.”
“No, he is not!” Harley frowned. “Carter, don’t apologize to me; you owe an apology to your brother. He came all the way from Canada for our wedding, at least we can make him feel at home.”
Carter sighed; he didn’t want to upset Harley, so he gave in. “I promise, I’ll behave.”
Harley smiled. Okay, this was easy, she thought.
Carter grabbed her hand and kissed her palm. “Harley, I would like to take you out for dinner tonight.”
“Oh . . . okay, sure, dinner sounds cool,” she muttered. To her surprise, he pulled her into his arms and hugged her. When she pulled away, he placed a chaste kiss on her temple and grabbed her hand, slowly walking
towards the dining room, hand-in-hand.
Connor was laughing with his parents, and the moment his eyes fell on their entwined hands, his smile dimmed a little and he looked away. No one but his mother noticed that his smile was now a fake one. She knew her boy well; he may have been boisterous and loud, but he was a sensitive soul and as she watched him look at the engaged pair’s entwined arms, she knew what really was troubling him.
Carter sat next to Harley and gave her a charming smile. Oddly, it didn’t affect her anymore. There was another person present in that very room who had already swept her off her feet. Connor wasn’t even looking at them anymore; he was talking to his father about a new project as Carter tried to engage in a conversation with Harley.
“Well, now that we have all made peace, I think we should have dinner together without repeating what happened last night,” Mrs. Taylor said sternly. “You will behave. Both of you.”
Connor simply nodded, but Carter shook his head lightly. “Mom, Harley and I are going out for dinner. She still hasn’t seen the house, so we might stop by before dinner.”
“Oh, that’s okay then. Tomorrow.” Mrs. Taylor smiled. “You two have a great time!”
Connor sighed and stood up. “Excuse me, I need to talk to Uncle Brand.”
Mrs. Taylor noticed how strange Connor was acting and her brother Brandon was the only person whom Connor trusted the most. She knew he would probably talk about his spat with Carter and share all his confused feelings. But she wasn’t going to stop him. A loud noise cut off her thoughts and she turned around to see Harley apologizing as her phone rang. Excusing herself, Harley walked away and clicked the answer button.
“Harley, dear,” said her mother’s voice from the other side.
“Hi Mom,” Harley said as she stood near the window, looking outside. She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Carter gave her a reassuring smile and asked her to put the phone on speaker. “Hold on, Mom. Carter wants to speak with you, too.”
