Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Chapter 146

Maddox

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Uncle Sebastian was about to finish his second glass of wine and was still talking about life after divorce as he sat across from me at our table in his restaurant. I nodded and smiled when expected, except I didn’t hear half of it.

I thought I could still get away with not paying full attention, but he finally noticed, tilting his head as he narrowed his eyes.

“You’re not listening,” he said.

I exhaled slowly. “I’m sorry. It’s just…it’s a long story.”

“Those are the best and hey, I know that look. It’s definitely not because you don’t want to go on that business trip to London in an hour. It’s girl trouble, isn’t it?”

I nodded in agreement, leaning back in my chair and staring at my plate with the food I’d ordered. I hadn’t even taken a single bite.

“It’s definitely girl trouble. I think I messed up.”

He chuckled, rubbing his hands together while nodding.

“Why do you make it look like you’re thrilled that I messed up?” I asked,my eyebrows raised in surprise.

“I’ve just never had this moment with you before. I’ve been waiting for years!”

“For me to mess up?”

“Yeah, I’m just kidding. What happened?”

I began by telling him about Harper and Grayson’s history. Apart from them being childhood best friends, I also mentioned how much of a jerk he actually turned out to be after she discovered that notebook in the treehouse, how he used her desire to reunite with Anna and what his feelings had always been for her.

Bringing his glass to his lips, he said, “Wait, he told Harper he loves her? While knowing he’s been married to your sister?”

“Yes, he didn’t want to lose Harper, but it was too late. She made it very clear yesterday when he went to her place since she was the only one he could take to. He caught Tiffany in bed with another guy.”

He instantly choked in his wine.

“Are you okay?” I asked with concern, watching him cough a few times.

He waved me off. “You can’t just drop that like it’s nothing.” He squinted. “What’s your dad saying about this?”

“I don’t think Grayson and Tiffany have told anyone yet, but that’s besides the point.”

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Chapter 146

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He parted his lips, clearly dying for more details but I cut him off when I continued, “There are two reasons Harper didn’t care when Grayson showed up yesterday. Firstly, she hated the sight of him and had stopped caring. Secondly, she already had a lot going on. She found out who her dad was and you won’t believe who it

is.”

“Who?”

“Landon Beauregard.”

He leaned back in his seat hard with a heavy sigh, his mouth hanging open in shock, but I didn’t pause. I told him everything Dean had said to her and how she had left because it was too much, including how Grayson was left outside after Harper locked up and spent the night at my place

“The whole night, I couldn’t stop thinking about whether or not Grayson had left her place,” I admitted. “I didn’t say anything right there because she had so much going on. I even dropped her off at her aunt’s place where she found out the whole truth about her father.”

“Which was?” He leaned forward.

I couldn’t even chuckle at how he was dying to hear the details because I was too worried about what Harper thought of me.

After I told him everything Harper had found out, my grip tightened on the edge of the table as I wished I could undo what I’d done.

“She called me afterwards and was overwhelmed. She clearly needed me and wanted to know what my opinion was and what her options were, but at that moment, I asked her whether or not Grayson was still at her place in the morning and-”

“Nope,” he said firmly as he set down his glass. “Nope!” he repeated, shaking his head with disapproval. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“I know. I realized it after she hung up on me.”

“You deserved it. You’re definitely in big trouble.”

“Thanks for the help.”

He sighed, tilting his head thoughtfully as he turned serious. “Are you threatened by Grayson when it comes to Harper?”

The question was so heavy that I didn’t answer right away.

“Do you love her?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said immediately.

“Does she love you?”

My mouth hung open, but nothing came out and that made me lower my head.

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He nodded slowly. “That says a lot. Look, this won’t happen overnight. She’s moving on, but doing it at her own pace. The least you can do is stop showing her that Grayson being around gets under your skin.”

“You’re right,” I said, not raising my head to look up at him as I thought about it all.

Then, he gasped dramatically. “Imagine she changes her mind about going to Greece with you this weekend… and that’s just two days away.”

Panicking, my head shot up and I pushed back the chair so hard that it scraped loudly against the floor.

“No,” I said sharply. “I won’t let that happen.”

He lifted his hands with a chuckle. “Relax, I’m just kidding. Sit down and eat. It’s only 5 PM. You still have an hour before you head to London.”

“No. I have to go.”

I was already heading for the door, my heart pounding hard. It didn’t matter if my uncle didn’t mean it. I had already taken it seriously. If there was even the slightest possibility of Harper changing her mind about spending the weekend in Greece with me, I wanted to eliminate it.

Harper

I was on my way home around 8 PM and the cab ride felt longer than usual. I was glad Ella and Zoey had dropped me off at my aunt’s workplace when I’d gone to see her. After everything that had happened, I didn’t think I would’ve had it in me to focus on the road and drive myself home.

My mind wouldn’t stop replaying Maddox’s voice from earlier with that one question and the way it landed at a time when I was so confused.

After I’d hung up on him, he hadn’t called or texted and neither did I.

The cab slowed down as we turned into my street and when I glanced up absently as we made it closer to my place, the first thing I saw was his car parked right in my driveway and next to my car.

My heart began to race as I wondered if he was inside his car and just waiting for me.

When my front porch came into view after the cab came to a stop right near the sidewalk, I raised my eyebrows just a little. Maddix was sitting on the steps with a red box in one hand and a large bouquet of roses in the other.

He got up but didn’t come towards me right away. He just stood in place as he looked on.

After paying the driver and stepping out, I walked towards my front porch slowly.

Seeing his face only made me replay that question over and over again and I wondered what his expression could have been when he’d asked me that.

I didn’t crack even the slightest smile as I approached and when I was getting closer to the steps, he headed

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Chapter 146

towards me and blocked the way. I stepped to the side but so did he, making me sigh in defeat.

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Crossing my arms, I looked to the side and decided to stop in my tracks and give him the chance to speak.

“I should’ve been on my way to London by now, but I told myself it can wait,” he said. “I’ve been here for two hours. I didn’t know when you’d be back and I didn’t want to ask. I figured you wouldn’t answer my calls or

texts.”

That alone told me that he understood something.

“I’m sorry about what I said earlier when you called.” His voice was now a bit strained. “I wasn’t there for you when you needed me because I made it about me.”

I pursed my lips, as I continued to look to the side, still not saying anything to him or looking in his direction.

“I was selfish and insecure,” he added. “And I let that get in the way of being the person you deserved at that moment. I promise I’ll do better. I know that flowers and a box of chocolates won’t fix what I did, but I’ll do whatever it takes for you to forgive me.”

At that moment, I realised that if I said nothing, he’d keep on talking and that only made me feel bad for him. I wanted to put him at ease, so I used that moment to say something to him.

“After I spoke to Aunt Patricia, you were actually the first person I called, not Ella or Zoey. I just needed you to listen and talk to me about it, but all you could think about was Grayson.”

He exhaled deeply as he lowered his head. “I’m really sorry. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

I pursed my lips as I finally glanced at him with a side eye. “There’s one thing you can do.”

He raised his head instantly. “Anything, babe. Just tell me and it’s done.”

I finally made eye contact with him and said, “Give me the chocolates and flowers.”

He blinked rapidly with wide eyes. “What?” he asked, clearly stunned.

The look on his face was so unexpectedly adorable that I let out a laugh before I could stop it.

I held out my hands just to show him I meant it, his lips curving into a smile as he placed the box in one hand and the bouquet in the other.

His eyes were so round like he still couldn’t believe I’d said that.

I brought the roses to my nose and they smelled rich and fresh.

“Thank you,” I said with a bright smile.

I stepped forward, pushing my heels off the ground to get closer to his lips and he quickly leaned over to make it easier for me.

He gently placed his hand at the back of my neck for a passionate kiss and I could feel him smile against my lips.

After pulling away, I said, “I know you’re running late because you need to head to London, but I want you to know that I’m sorry too.”

“For what?” His eyebrows furrowed as he raked his fingertips through my hair.

“For not telling you what I found out from my neighbor. You deserved to know. She said there was no one on my doorstep in the morning.”