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HARPER
Imove from aisle to aisle, trying to find the perfect gift for Peter. I thought it’d be easier to find something, considering how young he is, but clearly I couldn’t have been more wrong. There are so many options, and I don’t have a clue how much is too much or too little.
“Harper,” Antonio whispers, his voice deep and gravelly while he hovers behind me, his warm breath teasing the nape of my neck and making my pulse quicken. “The way you’re browsing these shelves reminds me of my sister.”
Isabella. I don’t know how I feel being compared to her after our last meeting. “Oh? How so?”
He leans in closer, his cologne filling my senses and making my head swim. “She can go into a store and spend hours inside of it and still never make a purchase.” He grins, and I can’t help but return the smile. “I wonder if that’s a woman thing.”
I roll my eyes at him and playfully hit him in the shoulder, enjoying the way his grin lights up his face.
“Harper, Antonio! Come take a look at this!” Benedict calls out to us from across the store.
“What did you find?” I ask, my curiosity piqued as I make my way over to him.
“Check it out.” Benedict points to a large, colorful toy on display. “It’s a robotic dinosaur that walks, roars, and even breathes smoke. I think Peter would absolutely love it.”
I inspect the toy closely, my fingers tracing over its plastic exterior. “It does look fun, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last. Peter destroys just about every toy he owns, usually by throwing it, so he has to get the heavy-duty ones.”
“Ah, Harper,” Benedict chuckles, his eyes sparkling mischievously. “Always the practical one. That’s not what Christmas is about.”
I roll my eyes. “You spend hundreds of dollars buying him toys that he’ll break in a day. I much prefer toys that at least last a week.”
Antonio steps forward, placing a hand on my shoulder. “You know, I saw something else earlier that you might like for Peter.”
We follow Antonio to another section of the store, where he stops in front of a row of miniature cars designed for children. They’re bright and shiny, with working headlights and doors that open and close.
“Look at these,” Antonio says, gesturing toward the tiny vehicles. “They’re battery-powered, so kids can actually drive them around. And he can’t throw it. He’d love it.”
“Wow,” I breathe, taking in the sight of the little car. It’s incredibly realistic and detailed, with a gleaming red paint job that catches the light. “This is amazing. Peter would go crazy for this.”
“Exactly,” Antonio agrees, his eyes locked on mine. “And it beats the dinosaur.”
“Not a competition,” Benedict comments, voice low, although he doesn’t look like he’s taking it to heart.
“This is perfect for Peter,” I comment. Antonio slips it off of the shelf, which I’m sure is harder than it looks, considering how heavy it has to be, and puts it in the cart.
A knot forms in my stomach as I glance at the price tag hanging from the car’s side mirror. “Goodness, toys are so expensive these days. We’ll have to watch the prices a little.”
“We don’t mind helping,” Benedict chips in. “We want to make this special for them.”
“No, I can’t ask you guys for that. They’re my kids, and?—”
“Harper,” Antonio cuts me off, his patience notably wearing thin. He clearly doesn’t want to argue about finances in the middle of the store. “We’ve already told you not to worry about the money. We want to help you because we care about you and the kids.”
“Antonio’s right,” Benedict chimes in, trying to reassure me. “You’re not a burden, Harper. We’re all family now.”
Despite their reassurances, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m taking advantage of their generosity. It’s hard for me to accept help from others, especially when it comes to financial matters.
“Look—” I begin, preparing to insist on a more affordable option. But before I can finish my thought, Antonio’s frustration boils over.
“Enough,” he says sharply, grabbing my arm. His grip is firm, but not unkind. The sudden action startles me, and I’m left speechless. “You’re coming with me to the bathroom. We need to talk privately.”
As I reluctantly follow Antonio and Benedict into the bathroom, my heart races in a mixture of anticipation and unease. It’s a spacious unisex facility, thankfully vacant, with sleek silver fixtures and an oversized mirror dominating one wall.
“Antonio, what’s this about?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady as the door clicks shut behind us.
“Harper,” he responds, turning to face me with a handsome, serious expression. His dark eyes burn with intensity, and it’s as if they’re reaching right into my soul. “We need to set something straight.”
