Page 41 of The Best Man: Unfinished Business
“Yup. Why do you think I’m calling you? Candace and the girls are out shopping or something. It is sometimes nice to be the king of the castle…” As Murch droned on, Harper crafted a message and hit send.
“Check your texts. I just sent you something.” Abruptly Murch stopped talking.
“Oh, okay. Hold on…” he said, sounding farther away. Harper looked at his phone at the photo of himself and Jordan that he just shot through the text-o-sphere and did a silent countdown: five…four…three…two…
“Holy shit,” Murch said. Harper smiled. “Is this for real?” Murch sounded genuinely surprised.
“Yup.”
“This is amazing!” Murch’s enthusiasm brought a welcome laugh to Harper and made him feel much more comfortable sharing a recap of the past few days with Murch, who quickly became as giddy as a schoolgirl.
“Congratulations. I can’t wait to see you guys!”
“Thanks, Murch. I’ll be in touch. Thanks for the call back,” Harper responded as he closed his journal and grabbed his pen to head inside through the patio doors.
“Oh, no problem. Oh my God. I’m so happy for you guys.
This is great,” Murch continued to effuse loudly through Harper’s speakerphone as he approached the kitchen.
Jordan suddenly lurched forward over her coffee mug, pursing her lips with wide eyes toward Harper.
She swallowed hard and mouthed, “What?” dramatically.
Harper was all smiles as he reached her and placed his hand on her waist. “Please tell Jordan I said hello and give her my love.” Murch’s voice was warm and full of palpable affection.
Jordan looked at Harper as if to say Should I respond?
Harper smiled and half shrugged; he’d leave it up to her.
“Thanks, Julian,” Jordan said into the phone. Harper pulled her closer into an embrace.
“Oh, Jordan. I am so happy that you guys finally made this happen,” Murch’s excitement poured through the speaker. Jordan gave Harper a look of combined skepticism and curiosity.
“Well, we’re having a good time.” Harper gave her a wink.
“Well, let the good times roll. You guys enjoy yourselves.”
“All right, Murch. Peace,” Harper said before disconnecting the call. The final notes of “Mermaid” trickled out as Jordan looked at him and he back at her, in a bit of stunned silence. It was clear they’d both just realized what had happened.
“So, you told Murch.” From Jordan, this sounded like only half a question, mostly a declaration.
“Yup.” Harper poured creamer into his coffee cup. “Sent him our pic too.”
“Our pic…” Jordan’s face scrunched up. “What pic?”
“Same one I sent Q of us on the trail at Solstice Canyon.” Harper handed his phone over to Jordan so she could see for herself. Jordan studied it as the distinctive bassline of Dennis Edwards and Siedah Garrett’s “Don’t Look Any Further” started playing over the surrounds.
“That’s cute,” Jordan acknowledges. “But Murch, huh?”
Too cool to be careless, the song leads sang in the background.
“Yeah. Problem?” Harper said and sipped his coffee.
“Well, I just think we should be sure what we’re doing before letting others know what we’re doing.”
“What are we doing?” Harper asked as he put down his coffee and pulled Jordan into another embrace. He looked into her eyes awaiting an answer.
Oh baby, don’t look any further …the song continued.
“I don’t know,” Jordan said, meeting Harper squarely in the eyes. “But I like it.”
“Good. Because I love it.” Jordan smiled and looked away, taking in a small breath.
“Yeah?” she responded, much more timidly than usual.
“Yeah,” Harper said definitively.
“Okay.” Jordan nodded, with a deep exhale. “Cool. Just slow down on the pics.”
“Too late. I already posted to IG and Twitter,” Harper joked.
“You mean X?”
“Aww, damn it. That’s right. Guess it’s a post and delete.” He winked at her.
“Good. That just leaves our own personal Black tweeter,” Jordan warned, the look of amusement dropping from her face. Harper returned a look of curiosity.
“You know he’s going to show Candace and she won’t keep that to herself.”
“You think?”
“Harper, don’t be messy. You just sent a loaded gun,” Jordan remarked, giving him “the look.” Harper considered what she said and delivered a nod of understanding. He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger and gently tipped her gaze toward his.
“Don’t worry,” he said gently. “We’re fine.” He felt sure about that. Did Jordan? She studied him, her eyes moving across his face.
“Okay, Mr. Stewart,” Jordan finally responded, with only a hint of skepticism. “I’m showering and getting dressed.” With that, she made an about-face toward her bedroom, leaving Harper to watch the sway of her kimono as she retreated.
“Can I help you wash your back?” he offered.
She dropped her kimono, exposing her glorious backside, and kept moving toward the bedroom. Understanding the assignment, Harper took his last sips of coffee and left a trail of his discarded clothes behind him on his way to do his duty.
Along the way, only very briefly did he even think about that photo he sent to Murch. Harper knows he sent a loaded gun. But if it goes off…so be it…