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And it was hell.
I thought I had been keeping up with my fitness during the summer, but fuck me, Coach Anderson is working us hard, or maybe they are hazing my brother and me to see what we are made of. All in all, it’s a great start to training camp. I’m thankful they work us so hard so I can push the ache away of not walking Harper to work. The thoughts of wondering what she is up to. How her day is going. I don’t have time for any of that as each night my brother and I collapse into our beds exhausted.
37
HARPER
These weeks apart from Felix have been torture. I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night reaching for him. Every afternoon, I forget that he isn’t there to pick me up, and I keep searching for him. I’ve also had to listen to my brother moan that he’s lost his morning running buddy. My mind is so fixated on thoughts of missing Felix that I don’t notice the male figure standing outside my home.
“Finally, you’re alone. Do you have any idea how long I have waited for you to get rid of that thing?” Josh sneers as I stop in front of him. Panic starts to race over my body, true fear fills me as I know I don’t have Felix here to protect me this time.
“Fuck off, Josh, before I call the police,” I tell him as I slowly move my keys to between my fingers in case things go south.
“Such a vulgar mouth. I do miss it, you always gave great head.” My stomach rolls, thinking I ever touched this man. “See your toy boy has finally grown tired of you. I can just imagine he is swimming in puck bunny pussy, young puck bunny pussy.”
“I mean it, Josh, fuck off or I’m calling the police,” I warn him again.
“I’ll go, but just answer me this, have you reconsidered your choice to break up?”
“Um, no. Hell no. You have ten seconds to remove yourself from my stoop or I’m going to pepper spray you,” I tell him. I don’t have any, but I really think I should have some in my purse.
Josh sneers at me. “You really are such a bitch, but I’ll pull you back into line very soon. I warned you, Harper, that I would release those intimate images you shared with me to the world. I’m sure your parents would be so proud seeing your vagina broadcast to the entire city.” I still. Then I remember Jackson was able to wipe everything I ever sent to him which was only a couple of things from his cloud.
“And I’m happy to share to the city images of your pin dick.”
He huffs. “Pictures of my dick are not going to ruin my reputation, but your nudes … I wonder how many clients are going to stay on at The Rose Agency after I’ve published them. My hands are shaking, is he bluffing? He has to be bluffing. Jackson reassured me there is nothing on anything Josh owns or his family or friends that have my nudes on them.
“Go ahead, do your worst,” I tell him.
“Fucking stupid bitch,” he hisses as his shoulder hits mine as he passes. As soon as the coast is clear, I rush up my stairs, and into my home, where I collapse and burst into tears. Once I’m able to control myself, I call Jackson, and he reassures me there is nothing he has that can be damaging. But he will check everything again just to make sure he hasn’t reloaded any copies he’s stashed anywhere.
I really wish Felix was here. Instead, I turn to a bottle of tequila to calm my nerves.
“Parcel for you,”Sabrina says, walking into my office. She makes me jump. I’m all jittery again since my run-in with Josh. I didn’t tell any of my friends because I don’t need to bother them. They will just worry, and Jackson’s told me I have nothing to worry about, and I believe him.
“Thanks,” I say, taking it, and when I turn it over and see it’s from Felix my heart takes off in my chest as I rip the package apart.
It’s tickets to his exhibition game which is on Saturday. And underneath them is a Mavericks jersey. A note falls out when I pull the jersey out.
Dear Harper,
Training camp is nearly up, and I told myself I was going to be patient to find out what your answer to my question was, but let’s be serious, I’m not a patient guy. Inside there are rinkside tickets for you and whoever you would like to bring. And also, a jersey with my name on it.
I take out the jersey and it does have his name on it.
I made them put an F at the front. I don’t want anyone thinking you're my brother’s girl.
This makes me laugh as I can feel the jealousy dripping off the page.
Here is what I ask.
If you come to my game wearing my jersey then you’re accepting that you’re mine, and if you come wearing anything else then we are just friends, and I’ll have to deal with that.
Pucks in your court.
Felix
Ps: I miss the hell out of you either way.