Page 19 of Nothing to Tell

Instead of fighting with the man displaying such concern, she appreciated his proximity and sought something she’d missed.

“Show me your dimple,” she murmured, her palm finding his cheek.

Even if it was against his better judgment, he relented and smiled.They weren’t going to fight; they were calling a truce.

“You’re trouble,” he muttered.“Aren’t you?”

“You didn’t have to come,” she whispered.

He traced his forefinger down her jaw while she cradled his face.“I did.”

Their bubble burst when the door opened and Adara came in with Carnell in tow.Bastian retreated to see the new entrants.

“Thank you for coming,” Adara said to Bastian.“I can’t believe she… I can’t believe this happened.It’s my fault.”

“Adara…” Her sister’s apologies had been coming all night.“This is not your fault.”

“I should’ve been outside with you,” Adara said.“I chose the restaurant.”

Carnell put a hand on his worried fiancée’s shoulder.“This is not your fault.”

“Are your parents on their way?”Bastian asked the group.

“I didn’t phone Dad.”Adara blushed.“I can’t phone him.”

“No, that would’ve been embarrassing,” Harper said, directing her words at Bastian.“I’m fine.You’re worrying about nothing.”

Fumbling behind her for the broken strap of her bag, she wound it around her hand.

Except Bastian preempted her and blocked her before she could get off the bed.“Where are you going?”

“I’m going home,” she stated in clear, plain English to the whole room.

“I’ll come with you,” Adara said, scurrying over to Bastian’s side.

“No,” Harper said.“You were staying over at Carnell’s tonight.I don’t need a babysitter.”

“I’m not going to Carnell’s,” Adara said.“I’m not leaving you alone after this.Oh my God.”

Everyone was looking at her.All expectation narrowed.Harper.Harper.Harper.The internal mental chant squeezed from every angle.Life was a shitstorm.Did they have to gawk?She already felt like a zoo exhibit.Okay, they wanted to look out for her, she got that, but the notion of her independence being curtailed… That aversion released a little sass.

“Statistically, the chances of me being mugged twice in one night are low,” she said.“I’m safer than all of you.”

“You shouldn’t be alone,” Adara said, being a worrywart.“The doctor said you might have a concussion.We can’t tell Mom and Dad what happened; they won’t know to look after you.”

Despite living with them, she saw little of her parents and was used to staying out or secreting herself in her bedroom.More so these days given the chance of running into Damon or Charissa.

“My head is harder than the sidewalk,” Harper said.“I’ll be fine on my own.”

“You could go home with Bastian.”

That from the now-smiling woman he’d brought with him.Wham!Knocked it right out of the park!What an opener.

“Mom!”he barked.

Oh, God!Oh, God!Oh, God!No, no, no!

Mortification loosened her jaw.“She’s your mother?Of course she’s your mother.”