“I can take the photo,” I offer.
She hands me her phone. “That’d be perfect!”
“Here, I’ll get out of the photo,” Harper says, but Tom grabs her by the hand.
“No, stay.” He pulls her back to him and she gives me an awkward smile.
Everyone smiles, and I take a few photos. When the girl takes her phone back, I hand her mine.
“Can you take one of me and Harper?”
“Sure!” she says, but Tom gives me a glare.
Huh, maybe this is why things didn’t work out with Cassie.
I try not to be smug as Harper pulls herself away from Tom and puts an arm around my waist to smile at the camera. It’s the same pose we’ve always taken for photos, but Tom’s anger gives me a bit of pride.
“Come on, Harper, I wanna show you something,” Tom says the moment the photo is taken.
Harper slinks out of my grasp, leaving me alone as the group scatters. I linger behind her and Tom, making sure she doesn’t leave my sight but trying not to be creepy about it. Iknow Harper would tell me that I don’t need to be protective, but at the end of the day, this is a stranger.
Then I kick myself for being a hypocrite because I was hanging out with a stranger yesterday. The thought stops me in my tracks, and I hang back, giving Harper her privacy.
I don’t know where the rest of the group goes, but I make my way back to the car slowly. I eye the ocean as I walk. Waves lap against the black beach, massive rock structures reaching out of the water, forming stone towers that look imposing as waves crash against them.
“Ready to go?” Harper says, coming up behind me after a few minutes. I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit how the sound of her voice made my heart swell. And I’m even happier when I turn around and see only Harper standing there, no Tom.
“Yeah, where to?” I ask, pulling the keys out.
“Reynisdrangar View,” she says, stumbling over the word. “You can kinda see it from here.”
She points over my shoulder, and I follow her gaze. There’s a beach at the foot of the cliff face we’re standing on, and off in the distance there are tall rock formations with waves crashing against them.
“Cool, want me to drive still?”
“Actually, I was going to ride with Tom if that’s okay.” She scrunches up her face, like she isn’t sure if she should even ask.
I look back at the cars and see Tom leaning against the door of his car, talking to one of his friends sitting inside, probably trying to be subtle while watching the two of us like a hawk.
“Uh, sure. I’ll meet you over there.”
Harper perks up. “Thanks! See you in a little bit.”
When she gets back to Tom, he opens the car door for her.
She’s not into you, I remind myself. As if seeing her fawn over some British guy didn’t make it obvious enough.
Chapter 25
Harper
Ifeel a little bad springing everyone on Luke, but I thought he’d make friends. I was sure there was someone in the group he’d bond with and be able to talk to, so he isn’t just the random guy standing on the sidelines.
Worst of all, the entire time I’m with Tom, I just want to grab Luke by the hand and force him to socialize. I’ve always been more social than him, but he usually at least tries. Maybe it’s whatever happened with Cassie that’s bothering him.
I cringe, thinking about how he said they ended things because she found out we were sharing the same bed. I glance over at Tom while he’s driving, wondering if he’d have the same reaction. It’s probably information better kept to myself.
Our situation is odd, isn’t it?
