Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44 

Harper 

MADDOX: “Since you want to know so badly, I’ll tell you, but I won’t waste it over the phone. You’re coming to London on Friday and don’t bother to show up if you’re not ready to obey.” 

I should’ve rolled my eyes and told him to go to hell. Instead, I bit my lip so hard that I nearly tasted blood. I wasn’t supposed to like that. 

As the heat began rushing between my legs, I reread his text over and over again until my phone suddenly rang, the name flashing across the screen bringing me back to reality. It was Aunt Patricia. 

“Hi, Auntie. I’m here.” 

“You’re right on time, sweetie.” Her voice was warm but tired, just as it always was after shift. “Wiat for me in the hotel lobby. I’ll be there in a few minutes, okay?” 

After the call, I placed my phone against my chest, now making my way up the stairs as Maddox’s text was still stuck on my mind. 

The air in the lobby was cool, but not enough to help fade away the heat from my body. 

I sat on one of the chairs and crossed my legs, pretending like I wasn’t imagining Friday and wondering how far he’d go once he had me right where he wanted me. I even chuckled to myself at how I had already decided that I was going to show up. 

I only meant to read his message one more time, but my gaze dropped to Grayson’s name right below Maddox’s, still waiting for that fucking reply. Quickly, I looked away, opening Maddox’s message thread to text him back, my hands a little shaky. 

“Fine, I’ll come.” 

“Of course you will, just like you always do.” 

I scoffed and was still lost in the double meaning of his reply when Aunt Patricia called my name. 

“Harper!” 

My head shot up to follow the sound of her voice and there she was, approaching me in her faded work uniform. She didn’t just sound tired, she looked tired, but her face lit up when she 

saw me. 

I quickly rose to my feet, throwing my arms around her and inhaling the smell of faint bleach 

16:06 Tue, Sep 16 

Chapter 44 

and lavender fabric softener from her uniform. 

When she pulled back, she still had her hands on my shoulders. 

“My goodness, Harper,” she paused as she studied me from head to toe. “You look prettier than you did on your graduation day. What’s the secret? Is it a new diet? A new boyfriend?” 

I chuckled dismissively. “It’s definitely not a new boyfriend.” 

“Are you sure about that? Considering everything I’ve been seeing online lately about you and Mad-” 

“What? You saw that?” I raised my eyebrows. 

“We’re going to have a long chat about that when we get home.” Her eyes narrowed like she was warning me. 

“I didn’t know you were now into social media.” 

“I’m not. Penelope and Tracy show me everything.” 

I forced a laugh. Of course it was my cousins. 

As we began walking towards the exit together, I said, “You should see my face without all this makeup. I look awful today, dark circles and all.” 

“Probably from working too hard.” 

I let her make that assumption when I knew that it was far from the truth and the one guy who had kept me up at night was waiting to devour me on Friday. 

Then, my phone buzzed in my hand. I only took a glance at the screen and it was Maddox. He had just texted me again but I wasn’t about to open it just there. I wouldn’t dare do that. Who knew what he had sent me this time? 

“So,” I said, keeping my eyes on the sidewalk that would lead to the bus station, “are my cousins still giving you trouble?” 

The three of us sat in silence as their eyes scanned my outfit, hair and the way I now carried myself. 

“You know,” Penelope began, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. “I still can’t believe this is you. Like…you used to hide behind those giant hoodies, remember?” 

Tracy snickered, nudging my shoulder like it was that funny. “You were always the shy nerd 

with her face stuck in a book and here you are with silky hair, flawless makeup and clothes that actually fit. You look different and actually pretty.” 

It wasn’t the first time they were saying that to me. I’d heard it when they came to my graduation, but it seemed that they just couldn’t fully believe it. 

“And yet when I look at both of you, there’s nothing different,” I said with a chuckle, their smiles instantly faltering. “The new coat of paint seems a little darker and actually fits the rest of the room better.” My voice was casual. 

They nodded in agreement but seemed less enthusiastic, more like I’d managed to turn the tables. To them, I had always been the awkward Harper that no one took seriously. 

The one exception was Aunt Patricia. She was the only one who ever looked at me and saw more than that. Maybe that was why I loved her the way I did. 

“Ooh! That reminds me!” Penelope turned to face me with wide eyes. “Are you Aldridge a thing?” 

I chuckled dismissively. “No, we’re not.” 

and Maddox 

“Oh, come on, no need to deny it.” Tracy teased me. “We saw his reply under Tiffany’s post.” 

“Yeah, but he was only clearing things up about how he wasn’t my boss.” 

Tracy snapped her fingers. “Exactly, he didn’t deny anything else, like the fact that you two are sleeping with each other!” 

“Damn, how do you do it? It’s one thing after another. There’s so much drama, Harper.” Penelope leaned back in her seat as she studied me. 

“You know what bothers me the most?” Tracy chuckled with disbelief. “It’s Tiffany. She has some nerve to expose others when she’s cheating on Grayson with another guy!” 

My eyes narrowed. “What?”