Page 21 of Maybe, Probably (Love Me, Maybe #1)

Chapter Twelve

Harper

I barely noticed the hours of the day slip past, and before I knew it, it was Friday.

Evie and I had a sleepover Sunday night.

She just found out that she’s going to be losing her job in a couple of weeks due to cutbacks.

Since it was a temp office job, she knew it wasn’t forever, but it sucks that it happened right before the holidays.

If it were me, I’d be so stressed out, but Evie is very much a go with the flow person.

It’s why we fit so well together. With Xavier’s family Thanksgiving dinner slowly approaching, Evie has taken it upon herself to ensure I’m ready…

both mentally and when it comes to my outfit.

Xavier and I have been texting throughout the week. We’ve been discussing the story of how we met, and the most logical is to use the story of Winnie being attacked by a porcupine. I’m a terrible liar, so it’s easier for me to go with something based on the truth.

When Xavier told his mom that he was bringing a date, apparently she was ecstatic. This causes nerves to fester in my stomach at the thought of meeting his parents. The people pleaser in me wants things to go well, despite it being just an arrangement between the two of us.

Tonight, I chose a more natural look. The smokey eye with the perfect mixture of browns and beige.

Finished off with a little shimmer of gold in the inner corner of my eye.

The black winged eyeliner is on point and probably the best I’ve ever done.

I lean over the vanity, rollers in my hair while I finish off the matte mahogany lipstick.

I love makeup and the creative freedom that comes with it.

There’s something so fun trying new techniques and watching as the blend of colors turn into something so stunning.

Satisfied with it all, I get to work cleaning up the scattered makeup mess on my vanity. Grabbing my lipstick I head back to the bedroom, placing it on my dresser and retreating to my closet to grab my outfit.

Evie is sitting on my bed playing on her phone. From the sounds of it, she’s swiping her way through a dating app while I finish getting ready.

“Anything good there?” I yell at her while grabbing my black tights.

I begin to shimmy my legs into them, the fabric hugging my curves.

Setting them into place, I grab the maroon sweater dress and carefully pull it over my head, trying to avoid hitting any of the rollers.

The material slides over my curves, forming to my body perfectly.

I quickly grab a pair of brown knee high boots to pull the whole look together.

I walk out of the closet as Evie huffs a sigh. “Ugh I don’t know. I hate these apps because they’re not made for bisexuals. I can’t just have a slew of men and women to look through. I have to change my preferences if I want either or.”

I shake my head with a smirk forming on my lips.

“Oh, is that all?” Making my way over to my dresser that has my jewelry on it, I quickly take the rollers out of my hair as Evie continues.

“I know I shouldn’t be complaining.” She pauses. “But…”

“But you’re still going to?” A smirk forming on my lips as I finish her sentence.

She clicks her tongue and finger guns in my direction, which I see through the mirror. I shake my head as I roll my eyes at her with a laugh. “You look hot.” Evie states as she watches me put on a pair of basic gold dangle earrings.

I blush from the compliment. “Oh shut up, I look fine.”

The hard stare that greets me from her is palpable. “When are you going to give yourself some credit?”

I turn around to face her, leaning my body against the dresser, and cross one foot over my ankle. Brows furrowed, I question her. “What do you mean? ”

“I mean,” She pauses, like she’s trying to figure out how exactly to say what she needs to say.

“You’re beautiful Harper, and you have this lightness about you that draws people to you.

You’re a dependable person, and you’re my person.

I would hide a body if you asked.” She gets off the bed and walks toward me, grabbing both my hands in hers and making eye contact.

Her eyes portray no funny business, but they also have a caring softness to it as she delivers what she says next.

“But you bring yourself down anytime anyone says anything relatively positive to you. You dismiss it, or you devalue it. I just wish you could see the person I see, because she’s great.

And she’s worth loving. And worshiping.”

I feel the prickle of tears beginning to form at the corner of my eye.

I quickly squeeze Evie’s hand before I let go to dab away the moisture.

“Stop, you're going to make me cry and I can’t have makeup smeared down my face.” I sniff and look back at her.

“But it’s hard, okay, especially after all the shit that happened with the break up.

It just…it can be hard to rebuild my confidence after finding everything out.

Then when I add on that this dinner is like a confrontation of sorts—and we know I don’t do the best with those—I just hope I’m going to be able to not fuck it up.

” I take a deep breath, and slowly release it.

I need to calm my nerves, or I’m just going to back out.

Evie gives me a small smile, but she doesn’t say anything. She acknowledges our conversation, but I know it won’t be the last I hear from her about it. Just then, my phone chimes from my bedside table. I quickly walk over there and take it off the charging dock.

Xavier : I’m just leaving my house now, I’ll be there in ten.

Harper: Okay! I’ll see you soon!!

“Okay.” I take another deep breath. I turn to look at Evie. “He’s on his way.”

“Perfect timing. Another minute and you would have probably bailed.” She says, the tease in her voice apparent. I mean, she’s not wrong. There is a lot at stake here .

I take a quick look in the mirror to make sure everything is good, and that there are no makeup streaks from nearly crying.

When I think everything looks presentable, I head into the living room.

I put my boots by the door so they’re ready when I need to leave.

Evie had disappeared when I told her Xavier was on his way.

Unsurprisingly, she comes back into the living room with a mug that has steam rolling off of it.

Hot apple cider. My nerves were pretty much gone, but knowing she went out of her way to make me an apple cider completely obliterates the remaining nerves. She approaches me and hands it over “I know you’re nervous, so I thought I’d give you something to calm you down.”

“Thanks,” I squeak out as I bring the cup to my mouth, the steam softly coating my face like a comforting caress.

The scent of apples mingling with hints of cinnamon and cloves invade my senses.

I feel my shoulders relax as I tip the cup back to take my first sip, the warmth of the drink spreading through my body. “You know me so well.”

The next few moments are spent talking about Evie’s plans.

She’s going to stay and hang out with Winnie so he isn’t alone tonight, but realistically, I know she’s staying behind because she wants all the details of whatever happens tonight.

I don’t blame her either. I would do the same if the roles were reversed.

As I set my empty cup on the coffee table, I hear a knock on the door, followed by barking.