“Oh, Alyssa, how did you get yourself into this mess?”
I lean my elbows on my knees and scratch my scalp with my fingernails. “It’s Hayden’s fault. If he didn’t get all ‘I want to fuck you,’ it never would have happened.”
Harper’s smile drops. All mirth is gone. “I can’t believe he did that to you. That’s not okay.”
Tossing the cushion aside, I sigh. “Everyone has the right to change their mind. That’s not what’s annoying me so much. It’s the way he’s led me on only to tell me to leave. Like what happened is somehow my fault. He turned me on with his big hands and big…shower.”
Harper grins, knowing what I really wanted to say.
“Then he has the nerve to tell me he doesn’t want me.” Am I not good enough? Why am I not what anyone wants? My parents. Broadway. Now Hayden.
Avery stirs in the bassinet sitting beside Harper, she picks her up and cradles her daughter in her arms. “Hayden has his reasons.”
Wait, is Harper defending him? I sit straight in my seat. “What reasons?”
“It’s not my place to say. If he’s getting this close to you, maybe he’ll eventually open up.”
In the pool house he’d mentioned something about sorting through some things. “Whatever it is, he’s still treating me like crap.”
Harper sighs. “I know. I can talk to him for you if you’d like.”
“God no. I don’t want him thinking that this has bothered me.”
Harper pats Avery’s diaper-covered bottom. “It is bothering you.”
I wish it didn’t. A guy has never made me feel so rejected. My parents? Yes. A guy? No. “It stings a little. I’ll get over it.”
Harper gives me a dubious look but doesn’t say anything more about it. “Since you’re here, I’d love your help with something.”
“Anything. What is it?”
“I need to head over to Alessi’s and take a look at a fabric sample I’m interested in working with.”
“You’re working with Alessi Fashion now?” I ask.
Harper had tried working at the fashion house in the past. Being involved with Finn caused too much office gossip, and she decided to venture out on her own, hoping to stop anyone from accusing her of making it in the fashion world because of her husband’s influence. She’d put herself through school, had a baby, and got a job at a leading fashion house in New York City. I’m so proud of her.
“No, I’m still at Sempre. I’ve shown a design to Juliette Monet at Alessi’s, and she says she has the perfect fabric for the gown. I’m desperate to see it.”
“Do you need me to babysit Avery while you go?”
“I promised Juliette I’d take Avery into the office for a visit. Would you mind coming with me? This might sound silly, but now that Finn has gone back to work this is the first time I’m leaving the house with Avery on my own. I’m a bit nervous.”
“It’s not silly at all. Can’t Finn bring the sample home for you?”
Harper gives a heavy sigh. “I’ve been stuck at home for days. Going to the office sounds like a trip to Disney World.”
If I go to Alessi’s, I might run into Hayden. That’s the last place I want to go.
The expression on my face must tell Harper exactly how I feel about the request because she says, “I’m sorry. You don’t want to see Hayden. I should never have asked. I’ll manage. Moms do this every day. I need to start sometime.”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll help you. I’ll see him at Lily’s dance class anyway. It’s probably better to have our first encounter away from small children.” I laugh, but deep down my stomach twists into knots at the thought of possibly seeing him today.
“Hopefully, he’s stuck in meetings and you won’t bump into him,” Harper says.
I can only hope. “Fingers crossed.”
The second we step out of the elevator into the reception of Alessi Fashion, of course Hayden is the first person I see. He’s walking toward us with an older man. When he spots us, he does a double-take.Bet you never expected to see me here, buddy.
