Page 97 of Nothing to Tell

Four couples.Harper was used to being the singleton.For the first time, she was actually happy and it was all down to the man at her side.

The food arrived and the conversation moved on but the contentment remained.Unfamiliar, but not unwelcome, she’d never be able to repay his kindness.

THIRTY-FOUR

“THAT WASN’T SO BAD,” Bastian said as they drove home later that night.“Was it?”

“Which part?When my mother asked for your social security number or when my dad started going on about seeking new investment?Oh no, was it when Adara asked you to be groomsmen or when Charissa wanted you to admire her necklace?The cleavage was totally incidental.”

“They’re people.People are people.”Whatever that meant.“What were you and Damon talking about outside?”

At the restaurant while they were waiting for the cars.Hmm, she’d caught Bastian’s scrutiny but hoped he wouldn’t ask.

Hope extinguished.

“Nothing.”

“It was something.”

“Damon being Damon,” she said.“Don’t worry about it.”

“There’s something on your mind that wasn’t there when I met you tonight.”

How did he know that?He wasn’t wrong, but how did he know?

Her troubles, and meandering thoughts, weren’t his to shoulder.“I’m fine.”

“Your family are your family,” he said.“You can’t do anything about that.I don’t judge—”

“No, it’s not—you were incredible.Way more patient than I would’ve been.”

“You’ve tolerated plenty from my family.What did Damon want?I’ll turn right around and ask him if you don’t tell me how he upset you.”

“He didn’t upset me.”

“You’re lucky.Guy upsets me whenever he breathes.”

Another grievance she’d introduced into Bastian’s life.Rather than sadden her, it infuriated her.

“I’m so exhausted with it all.I’ll never be free of him.”She tucked her purse by her leg.“My father needs Damon and will always pick him over me.I should move.”

Planet, if possible.

“Yeah, you should.I can talk to your father, tell him to get rid of the guy.”

Given her father’s veneration of him, Bastian may be the only one with a shot of getting through.Still…

“I would never ask you to do that.”

“I’m offering.Hell, I’m begging.I want that guy out of your life for good.”

“And what happens when you’re out of my life?”There would be nothing stopping Damon from swanning back in.“Besides Charissa and Adara are best friends.”Meaning as long as he was with Charissa, Damon would be a part of her life.She exhaled.“Sorry.I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize.”

“Let’s talk about how amazing you were tonight.You really impressed my family.”He did that just by being him.Impressed everyone with that trick.“You impressed me.I don’t even know how to… My family were ready to write me off.This could buy them another year or two of hope that I may not be a lost cause.”

Her father was thrilled, her mom, her sister, finally had proof someone else might take the burden of her from them.