Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 2

Maddox

Every memory that I had about Harper was when she was a shy and quiet girl who always stayed by Grayson’s side. My sister always complained to our family that her dates with Grayson never went according to plan because Harper was in the way.

Even with that going on, Tiffany was never intimidated by Harper because Grayson always treated her so differently, but I saw it today for the first time. I knew my sister very well and seeing Harper look so breathtaking got to her. Who wouldn’t be shocked? That wasn’t the version of her that everyone knew.

While the sight before me was quite pleasing to look at, especially her toned legs on full display in those heels, the urge to call her out for her reaction at the engagement announcement was much stronger. I just couldn’t help it.

Placing a hand on her hip with her head high after taking a step closer, she boldly said, “You must be so irrelevant at this party that you came out here just to mock me. Nothing else to keep you occupied?”

Damn. She wasn't just pretty now. She was feisty and it was the last thing I expected. She didn't even need to raise her voice to make me feel each word.

The Harper I remembered would have stammered, maybe even ducked her head and rushed off in tears, but this version just stood in front of me like she wasn't scared of anything, especially not me.

I chuckled. “I didn't know you had that kind of-”

“Hold on,” she said, holding up the palm of her hand to my face. “It has just come to my attention that you and I are still talking.”

Did she just indirectly tell me that I wasn't worth her time?

She slowly walked past me to return inside, as if daring me to say something back to her, but I could only look on.

Then, I smiled, not because it was funny, but because it had been a long time since someone spoke to me like that, like they weren't intimidated by who I was.

Everything was so different about her and it left me curious. I wanted to know everything that college had changed about her.

“Everyone shut up! We're about to start the game!”

Tiffany yelled from the living room, screaming above the music.

I rolled my eyes. The two of us had lived under the same roof for years and yet I could never get used to her voice whenever she raised it.

~

Harper

While my feelings were still hurt by the engagement announcement, I realized that isolating myself wouldn’t make me feel any better, so I decided to show up for the rest of the party.

When I returned to join everyone in the living room, some of the guests were already in a circle, including Maddox. I still wasn’t over how he had seen right through me.

Some girls near me swooned over him as they whispered about how wealthier he had become after inheriting his father’s multibillion-dollar company.

Grayson stood by the drinks table, looking like he wasn't about to play the game, but Tiffany wasn't about to allow it. She had her hand wrapped around his arm with a pout, still trying to convince him to play until he gave in.

As the two of them sat together, she spotted me sitting across from her and her eyes lit up and not in a good way. I had seen that look before so many times. She only smiled like that when she was up to something.

With Grayson on one side, her best friend, Kate, sat next to her. Nothing much had changed about her because even after so many years, she didn’t like me.

That being Tiffany’s game, she went first, turning to face Grayson after glancing at me again.

“Truth or dare?” she asked.

“Truth.” He playfully rolled his eyes at her.

She giggled. “Did you fall in love with me at first sight?”

He raised his eyebrows in pleasant surprise and that only made my heart actually race as I also anticipated his response.

Kissing the back of her hand, he said, “Yes, as soon as I saw you, something in my heart told me you were the one.”

She rested her head on his broad shoulder, triumphantly glancing at me as everyone else found the moment to be so sweet.

“My turn!” Kate said. “Harper, truth or dare?”

My eyes widened a little at how she singled me out with a dramatic gesture.

“Uh…truth.”

“Are you currently in love with someone?”

I didn’t immediately turn to face him. “Don't you have a game to get back to?”

“Nah, I have something more interesting going on out here with you.”

With my eyes narrowed, I finally turned around. “And what's that?”

“First of all, what happened back there with those two in front of everyone, you handled it perfectly.”

I shook my head and smiled with disbelief. “Are you always this charming?”

“It only happens when I'm trying to get a girl to forget about another guy.”

My smile faded. “You need to leave.”

His eyes drifted down to my body and then slowly made their way back up. “I saw you curl your fingers on your way out. To me, that meant you lied about not being in love with Grayson. I think you're angry. You've been bottling up your feelings for years and I can help you forget about him.”

I tilted my head. “Yeah?”

He stepped closer, glancing at my busty cleavage. “It's pretty simple. I'm already done with this party. Let's go back to my place and leave the rest to me. It'll be the best night of your life and it doesn't have to end there.”

My blood boiled. It wasn’t just from knowing that Grayson and Tiffany would be together forever, or the triumphant smirk she had. It was also the way Maddox looked at me with his words and cocky mouth.

With the pain in my chest, something in me snapped and I closed the distance between us in just a second and slid one hand up the part of his exposed chest, the other one resting on his shoulder with my eyes locked on his.

He was taken by surprise and I boldly smashed my lips on his before he could even say a word.

He instantly placed his hands on my waist then impatiently slid them down to my hips, pulling me closer until there wasn’t any space between us. His tongue was hot and wild, like he had been waiting for such a moment all night. I held onto the collar of his shirt and gasped when he backed me up against the part of the wall that no light could reach.

He began to roll up my dress just so he could have more access to my thighs and my breath hitched right against his lips.

The moment I felt him hard against my inner thigh and he was about to lift me, I pulled back from his lips and pushed him away, making him stumble backwards.

“What?” he asked, his breath heavy.