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“Harper, honey. You know I love that woman very much. And I just couldn’t bring myself to stop talking to her.”
A chill runs down Harper’s spine.
“This is unbelievable. You saw how she walked out. You saw how she tore me apart when she boarded a plane bound for Paris, as if our marriage were an old coat you swap out when the season changes.”
“Harper…” Here comes the big Nora Brooks lecture. “The last six months of your marriage were one constant competition. You wouldn’t back down either.”
Harper leans back and closes her eyes tightly. Discovering that there were calls, that there was interest, that there was an invisible thread kept hidden in the shadows—it’s just thrown her whole world off balance. But above all… “Damn it, I hope she didn’t tell her anything.” “And why am I worrying about that now?”
“And what exactly has she told you these past few days?” Harper asks.
“Nothing I should share.”
“This is the last straw!”
“All I know, honey, is that you should take some time to figure out what you want out of life,” Nora replies. Harper hears someone calling her mother in the background. “I have to go. Take care of yourself, okay? I love you.”
“I love you too, Mom,” Harper murmurs before hanging up.
She sets the phone down on the table and buries her face in her hands.
“This sucks…”
*
Twenty minutes later, Solange walks into the office carrying a paper bag and two large cups of coffee.
“You’ve got quite the look on your face,” Solange says, setting the drinks on the table. “Perfect for carbs and unsolicited advice.”
Solange settles into the chair across from her and takes a big gulp of coffee.
“Spit it out. What happened this time?”
“It turns out my mom hasn’t stopped keeping in touch with Victoria all these years,” Harper blurts out, crossing her arms. “Victoria even called her to tell her how well things had gone for us in Los Angeles.”
Solange freezes and blinks twice.
“Wow.” Solange sets the cup down on the table, processing the information. “That’s… a plot twist worthy of prime time. Pretty intense, actually.”
Harper narrows her eyes, realizing how calmly Solange has spoken.
“I don’t like that reaction one bit. You should be outraged. Are you going to take her side, too?”
“I’m always on your side, you idiot. But I’m your best friend, which gives me the legal right to tell you a few home truths.” Solange leans forward, resting her elbows on the table. “And you’re mad at your mom because it’s easier to get mad at her than to come to terms with what it means that Victoria is still upsetting you.”
Harper presses her lips together and feels her cheeks burn. She runs a hand over the back of her neck, gets up from her chair, and starts gathering the papers off the table just to keep her hands busy.
“Oh my God. When she came back to New York, everything was so easy,” Harper murmurs. “I could look at her, feel angry, and remember every single reason why we got divorced.”
“So what’s going on now?” Solange asks, dropping her sarcastic tone for a second.
“The chemistry between us is overwhelming,” Harper confesses, fixing her gaze on her friend. “And I’m terrified, Solange. It terrifies me because I don’t know if it’s just desire, if it’s nostalgia… or if I’m falling in love again with the woman who destroyed my life.”
Solange takes another sip of her coffee with a reassuring smile.
“I think the first thing you need to focus on is the cover you’re working on. Nobody said getting back to the top would be a leisurely stroll through Central Park. Much less that Victoria’s presence wouldn’t short-circuit your brain. Because it’s clear that it has,” Solange points out, then winks at her. “That… and awakened other instincts in you.”
Harper can’t help but laugh.
