Page 39 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business

Chapter Twenty

Jordan

Three days later, Jordan was floating on air.

That’s the only way to explain why, despite the smallest bit of trepidation, she told Shelby about the turn of events with Harper.

There was something oddly satisfying about seeing Shelby’s face frozen on the screen, mouth agape and yet silent.

Shelby’s mouth was never both open and silent.

Jordan held the phone in front of her in amused patience, until she started to wonder if the call had frozen.

But finally Shelby moved and screamed. “Aaaaahhhhhh!” It was so loud Jordan winced.

“How do you wait this long to tell me!” Shelby reanimated in a frenzy, clearly pacing now. Her free hand was flailing wildly in the air behind her. “ You and Harper?”

Jordan felt her face stretch into a smile.

Yes, me and Harper, she thought and let out a sigh without meaning to.

It felt so right, so natural, so as it was supposed to be.

So long overdue, but so normal now. Still, even after three days, she needed to pinch herself just to make sure it was real.

It had to be real, had to be. She was way too far gone for any other possibility.

“I obviously couldn’t call you in front of him, Shelby,” Jordan protested.

And plus, they’d been far too busy with each other to be preoccupied with anyone else.

“Right. I mean, how could you talk with a dick in your mouth? Takes special skill…but that’s enough about me.” Shelby muttered the last words, but quickly continued with, “Jordan, you’ve been fucking Harper Stewart for three straight days ?!”

Jordan smiled again at the thought of it. “We have. Anywhere and everywhere.”

“Where are you now?”

“I’m sitting in my car. We just picked up his stuff from Shutters.”

“Damn. You were fucking in Shutters too?”

“ Everywhere, Shelby.”

“On the balcony?”

“Yep.”

“In the bathroom?”

“In the tub, the shower, on the floor.”

“I mean the public bathroom.”

“Ladies room, last stall in the back.”

“Jordan! You’re a freak. And where is Harper? Balled up in a corner?”

Jordan laughed. “He’s dropping off his rental and then we’re going to get some brunch.”

“Well, clearly he needs to replenish his electrolytes.”

Jordan just continued right past Shelby’s snark. “He’s also saying good night to his daughter. Eight-hour time difference to Accra,” Jordan informed.

“Amaaazing. Well…” Shelby paused with a deep breath to adjust her flowing layers of hair to again perfectly frame her face—a sure sign that she’d moved past her initial shock. “How long is he staying?”

Forever, Jordan’s mind replied. It was her wish.

She could live like this with Harper forever, and she wanted to.

To just shut the world out and stay focused only on each other.

Well, each other and work. “He doesn’t know.

I don’t know either. We’re taking it one day at a time.

He has a project to work on and so doI. ”

“So, you’re just living in a bubble of bliss.”

“It’s real life, Shelby. We wake up together. He does his work, I do mine. Day-to-day stuff—we go shopping. He journals. We’re headed to the Hollywood Bowl next week. Isley Brothers. We eat—”

“And fuck. Don’t forget the fucking.”

“Yes,” Jordan said with a chuckle. “And we are fuuuuuckkkkkiiinggg,” she said, savoring the articulation of every letter in the word.

“Agggghhhhh! I can’t take it!” Shelby was screaming again on her end of the phone so loudly Jordan had to pull it away from her.

When she brought it back, Shelby looked as happy as Jordan had ever seen her.

“I’m so happy for you Jordan, really! I love it.

I mean, I really love it. I can see it in your face…

you’re really happy. And…oh, wow, I might actually fucking cry. This is the most amazing news.”

The quick sound of knuckles rapping on the window brought Jordan’s attention back to her surroundings.

She turned to see Harper at the passenger-side window, bags and all.

Jordan quickly straightened herself and hesitated before reaching for the door lock.

She popped her trunk instead, indicating to Harper to drop his bags back there. “Hey, Shelby, gotta go,” she said.

“Aww, let me talk to him! Say congratulations.” Shelby was clearly lingering.

“No, Shelby. Gotta go.” Harper nodded and went to drop his suitcase in her trunk, buying her a bit more time.

“What? Why?”

“Look, let us just live for a second. It’s—” Jordan was interrupted by Harper opening the door and taking his place in the passenger seat.

“I can’t even tell Quentin?” Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Jordan saw Harper perk up and turn his attention to the phone.

Shelby’s voice was unmistakable and audible enough.

He heard it, for sure. This Jordan knew.

What she didn’t know was how he’d react.

This new version of them had been a world of only two.

Who knew how fragile it was? What it could withstand?

“Hi, Shelby,” Harper said, seemingly unfazed. And even though she felt slightly guilty, his smile and wink gave Jordan comfort that maybe it was all good, just as it seemed.

Shelby wasted no time engaging with him.

Her voice rang out over the phone’s speaker.

“Hiiiiii, Harrrrper,” she sang. “How’s Cal-ih-for-ny-ay treating you?

” Jordan looked at him for his response.

The easy smile on her face belied even just that tiny bit of concern she had, her own whispering wonder of Is this real? Can things really be this good?

But Harper was steadfast, relaxed even. And when he met Jordan’s eyes, he declared confidently, “I’ve never been happier in my life.”

Shelby’s screech of pure elation echoed through the car and caused them both to wince—Jordan from embarrassment, but Harper just chuckled. “Goodbye, Shelby,” Jordan said firmly, relieved to hear Shelby’s reply.

“Call Quentin, Harper, so we can talk about y’all. Okay Byee!” And finally, she hung up. Jordan breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Harper.

“Everything okay?” she asked. Sure, she was asking about his hotel checkout, his good night with Mia, if he had everything he needed.

But it was also a check-in. The moment with Shelby had been a reality check, that there were layers to this.

That this was so sure and so fragile all at the same time.

Harper looked at her for a full three seconds before leaning in to kiss her lips softly yet assuredly.

He pulled back, eyes still locked in on hers.

“Everything is great,” Harper responded. It was a relief that he sounded so sincere.

Jordan’s shoulders relaxed. “So, then, where to now, Mr. Stewart?”

Harper leaned his head against the seat back.

It was a glorious day. Even in the parking circle of Shutters, the salty air blew in through the windows from the ocean-facing side of the quaint hotel.

People moved leisurely about, hopping in and out of cars pulled up by the uniformed valet.

And they were just two lovers, sharing the sunshine.

Harper reached for Jordan’s hand resting on the gearshift.

“Let’s see where the day takes us.”

“Are you sure?” Jordan wasn’t used to this version of the usual workaholic Harper. “I don’t want to get in the way of whatever work you need to do.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand. “You won’t.

You’re not. I’m flowing on this project like I haven’t in a long time.

I’m…inspired.” He leaned in to kiss her again.

She closed her eyes and met his lips with a lingering soft touch that surged through the rest of her body, tingling through her center and all the way to her toes.

She could do this, stay like this … forever.

And they could. The day was ahead, and they had all the time in the world.