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Out with Harper
I lift the note from the board and stare for minutes. Hmm. So, Hagan has to have dinner with his parents, but Harper doesn’t?
ChapterEleven
TACKETT
Sweaty palms and eyes that don’t connect are only two signs that Harper has anxiety. Over the past month, hanging out with Harper, Hagan, and Talynn, it clicked. The four of us enjoy each other’s company, but today I need to ask questions that hopefully won’t send Harper into a panic attack. I haven’t seen her have one, but Hagan told me it happens when she feels uncomfortable.
The valet takes my car and keys. Harper is waiting for me in the lobby wearing a gold bathing suit cover up with a sun visor across her forehead. “Good to see you.”
Like the rest of her family, her smile is warm as she hugs me. “You too. I’m glad to be home.” I pause. “I don’t have my swim trunks.”
She slips her arm through mine. “We’re just going to lounge by the pool.”
We find two lounge chairs complete with orange cushions. I use my phone and hover over the QR code for the drink menu.
“Oh, don’t worry about drinks, I ordered them before I came down. They’re adding protein powder.”
“Thanks.”
She shrugs her shoulders, loses her cover up, and I scan Harper’s graceful and perfectly proportioned body. What surprises me is what I don’t feel. There’s no twitch of my dick. No flutter of nerves. And no contraction of my heart. We’re friends. The opposite of what happens when I’m around Talynn.
I decide to get right to the point. The longer I hold it in, the more nervous, I’ll be. “So…is there anything going on with Hagan and Talynn?”
The waiter, dressed in all white, serves our drinks giving Harper’s first. “Virgin Strawberry Daquiri for Ms. Chatham, and a WaterNana protein shake for her guest.” When he bends down, he says, “Oh, you’re Tackett Towles.”
I push my sunglasses into my hair in utter disbelief that he recognizes me. “I am.” I look at his name tag. “How are you, Raul?”
“Good. Wait until I tell my sister I met you. Would you autograph something for me?”
“Sure.”
He scurries back to the bar, searching for something to sign. I look over to Harper and she’s digging through her pool tote. She hands me a Sarasota Sharks program. Raul comes back over, looking defeated. I hold up the booklet and he sheds his frown for a smile.
“What’s your sister’s name?”
“Evita. She’s going to be so happy.” He smiles as he hands me the permanent marker.
I scratch out,Evita, Thanks for your support. Tackett Towles #9.
“Mr. Towles, mi Madre always says, ‘A happy man will be a successful man.’ You must be very happy.” His eyes dart between Harper and me.
I stand up to shake Raul’s hand. His grip is firm, and his white teeth take up his entire face, his smile is so big. “I’m happy, just wish I could get out of this slump.”
“Ahh, maybe you should concentrate on something other than baseball and then baseball will click again.”
That’s good advice. Maybe I’m worrying too much and trying too hard. “Thanks again. Call the baseball office and leave a message for Kandi. She’ll set your family up with tickets to a home game.”
Raul claps his hands together twice before shouting, “Thank you. Thank you.” People are starting to stare, so the manager calls him back to the bar.
“He’s right, you know. I’ve heard the guys in my family say it a million times. You have to get out of your own head.” Harper takes a sip of her frozen fruity drink. “Back to your question. Nothing is going on between Hagan and Talynn. I’m not saying there won’t be tomorrow or the next day, but I doubt it.”
“Why?”
“Well, he hasn’t kissed Talynn and he was on the phone with Julia when you messaged me.”
I let out a gigantic sigh of relief as she continues, “He’s not ready for a relationship. I know he told you about Julia and although he won’t admit it, he’s crushed. He calls her a psychopath, but her picture is still the screensaver on his laptop. He acts like he’s glad they broke it off, but he’s moving to Kentucky because he can’t stand to see her with another guy.”
