Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Maddox

I stood there and watched as Harper left me standing and made her way to Mike with hurried footsteps. He matched her energy as he hurried towards her as well.

She let out a laugh that matched her bright expression and when they hugged each other, it was like nothing or no one else existed outside of that moment and I actually felt threatened.

At any other time before getting to know her, I would’ve been cool with the fact that the two of them had a past, but I couldn’t stand seeing them like that.

She even closed her eyes as they hugged a bit longer.

When they broke the hug, he took a step back as his eyes lingered on her. “Damn, you’re even more gorgeous than the last time I saw you.”

She giggled at the compliment. “Thanks. I see you now keep your hair a bit longer.”

My jaw tightened as I watched him closely. I could see the way he checked her out from head to toe as she threw him a compliment about his fucking hair.

When she held his arm and led him towards me, I couldn’t look away from the way she touched him. It took everything in me not to step forward and pull her towards me so she could get away from him. I felt the need to show him that she wasn’t his anymore. She was mine, even though the truth was that she wasn’t.

“Mike,” Harper said brightly, introducing us. “This is my boyfriend, Maddox. Maddox, this is Mike, my ex- boyfriend.”

He extended his hand with a grin. “The famous Maddox Aldridge. I know all about you.”

“And I’ve heard quite a lot about you,” I said, shaking his hand. “It’s all thanks to my girl.”

His eyes narrowed with a chuckle. “Is that so? What could she have possibly said to you?”

“Nothing but good things.”

“I really hope so.”

“As far as I know, you’re not from around here, so what brings you to town?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking him that. I hoped he hadn’t come there in search of her.

“A potential business partner brought me here.”

Even though he was talking to me, his gaze constantly flicked towards Harper, who was on my right. I just wanted to squeeze his hand and make him feel even a fraction of the thread that I felt. I wanted him gone.

“Since you’re in town for business, that means you’re not staying long?” I smiled, my eyes narrowed with a subtle warning behind them.

“Exactly.” He nodded.

As soon as he said that. I loosened my grip on his hand with relief. “That’s great.”

“You always told me about how beautiful your town was,” he said to Harper, not even looking at me anymore. “Now I see just how beautiful it is.”

Thoughtfully tilting her head, she said, “Whatever you’ve seen so far, there’s so much more.”

As she went on to mention a few places, I already began to feel like the third wheel. I should’ve just cut their conversation short so we’d move along and get to shopping, but my phone rang, and it still counted as a way to get away because I didn’t want to be there.

I looked down at my screen after taking it out of my back pocket and it was just what I needed,

“I really have to take this call. It’s the office in London. I hope you don’t mind.” I

Mike firmly shook his head. “Not at all. Take your time.”

“You should’ve been shopping by now,” Mike chimed in, “but then I showed up.”

“We better get going now,” I forced a smile. “I’m sure you also have things to do.”

He gave me a nod of acknowledgment, then turned around to head back to his car.

I didn’t even stick around to watch until he got in. I pulled Harper along with me in the opposite direction.

I felt her lingering gaze on my side profile and I didn’t turn immediately as I spoke to her.

“What’s up?”

“What was that?” she asked.

I finally glanced down at her as I shrugged, a confident smirk on my lips. “What do you think it was? I don’t want Mike going around saying I have no problem with your exes coming around.”

“You’re right,” she admitted.

“So, how did it feel seeing your ex again?” I asked before I could stop myself. I had made my assumptions, but I still needed to hear it from her.

She gave a small smile. “It was great. It turns out he hasn’t had a girlfriend since we broke up.”

I held my breath, wanting to test her. “Is this the part where you consider going back to him or you two talking again to give it another try?”

Her response was firm and instant. “No. That’ll never happen.”

“Because your feelings weren’t as strong as his?” I finished for her, then watched her nod in agreement.

Her response hit me in a way I hadn’t expected. Mike looked like he still wanted her, but she wanted nothing to do with him. Not only was that a huge relief, it also became my moment of realization as I watched her side profile. I didn’t want to be in competition with anyone out there when it came to her and I didn’t want anyone to even think they could have her, not even Grayson.