Fantasized by You Read online

  “You’re the best!” she praised, kissing me. “Max isn’t a bad guy, and once you get to know him better, I think you’ll like him.”

  “As long as he never kisses you again and you tell me when you receive threatening notes,” I said firmly.

  “Of course.” She covered my mouth with hers again, pressing sweet pecks to my lips. “I only want your kisses.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Harper

  One week later, I was packed and ready to leave for Dallas. Elly’s bridal shower was tomorrow and I had Elly’s wedding dress, our bridesmaids’ dresses, my mom’s dress, and Charlotte’s dress already packed. We were supposed to meet at the airport in thirty minutes, but I was currently in my bathroom, throwing up.

  I’d thrown up once during the middle of the night, but I didn’t care. All I could think about right now was getting on my plane for Texas. I didn’t care that I was nauseated and incredibly tired. I was not missing Elly’s bridal shower. We had gifts to give her, and dresses to try on, and further wedding planning to do this weekend. I could not be sick right now.

  “Babe,” Maverick said, knocking on the bathroom door. “Are you okay?”

  “Yep!” I called, flushing the toilet. Standing up, I glanced in the mirror and swallowed back another wave of nausea. I brushed my teeth one last time and fixed my ponytail before opening the door. “It’s just the flu.”

  “How do you know it’s the flu?” he asked, standing in front of me. “It could be food poisoning, Harper. That crazy, stalker bitch could’ve poisoned you somehow. I mean, we did have takeout last night. If she can take pictures of you in Paris, she could poison you here.”

  Sighing, I tilted my head in incredulity. Ever since Max’s visit, Maverick had been a little strung out with worry over Diana. “Maverick, she did not poison our food last night. If she had, you’d be sick, too. Plus, when I order out, Imani makes sure things like that don’t happen, okay? I pay her a lot of money to protect me, and she’s really good at her job. You have to stop worrying so much. I didn’t get food poisoning. It’s just the flu. I’ll be okay. Although, I’m not looking forward to having the flu around my mom; she’ll probably think I’m making myself sick again.”

  “Don’t let her get to you. Imani’s going with you, right?” he asked for the millionth time.

  “Yes,” I answered, sliding my purse onto my arm. Imani usually didn’t travel home with me. It gave her the opportunity for a break, and I was safe in Texas. I always stayed at my parents’ place since it was in a gated community with high security, and they had enough security staff that we were always covered. There was no need for her to come back with me, but Maverick insisted she go this weekend, just to be on the safe side.

  “Good.” He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into him, and I could actually feel the relief that Imani would be with me relax him. It wasn’t that I didn’t care or worry myself, but I’d learned a long time ago not to let it consume me the way it was eating at Mav right now. “I just don’t want anything to happen to you. I love you.”

  “I know,” I said, tiredly. “I love you, too.” I pulled away, smiling up at him weakly as I ran my hands over his chest. “Which is why, while I’m gone, I want you to stay here with Axel and just take it easy. Invite the guys over. They’ve all been cleared by my security, so you don’t have to deal with any of that. Have them over, drink beer and watch basketball. I love you, baby, but you have to stop worrying so much about me. I am fine, and when I’m not fine, I will tell you. So, when I say it’s just the flu, it’s just the flu. I can handle it.”

  “Okay,” he said, nodding. “I just haven’t been able to stop thinking about all the shit that bitch could pull.”

  “You have to stop watching Criminal Minds reruns,” I teased.

  He laughed, shaking his head, and then grabbed the back of my neck and drew me in closer. “Let me know when you take off and when you land, so I know you made it.”

  I nodded.

  “Try to get some rest on the plane,” he said, running his thumbs over my cheeks. “And drink plenty of fluids.”

  “Mav …”

  “I know, I know. You’ve had the flu before. I just want you to feel better.”

  “It has to run its course. I’ll be better by the time I get home.”

  Pressing a kiss to my forehead, his hands skimmed up and down my back in a soothing pattern that made me think twice about leaving. I was so exhausted, I could probably fall asleep just standing here in his arms. “Try to have fun this weekend.”

  His brown eyes peered back at me as another bout of dizziness hit. I pushed down the urge to throw up again and gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. “You, too.”

  *

  The following day, we were in the ballroom of my parents’ house, ready to celebrate Elly. We had a large, round table decorated in Elly’s wedding colors, with calla lily petals as a centerpiece. Grandma Ceci and Mom were seated next to Janice and Charlotte, talking nonstop to their new friends. I loved how well Mom and Charlotte were getting along. She hadn’t met Maverick yet, so seeing her talking and joking with his mom made me happy. Elly had insisted on a small get together of immediate friends and family, and she wanted everything to be light and fun, so, even though I still felt like hell, I was glad we’d given her what she wanted. She also insisted on no gifts, but she clearly hadn’t won that battle, since we all had gifts for her.

  While Paige and Tessa looked through my sketchbook of dresses, I headed into the kitchen to help Bayler with the refreshments. We’d planned a brunch bridal shower with mimosas and food, but when I walked into the kitchen and smelled egg, I was on the verge of loosing it again, feeling that familiar, nauseated churn crawling up from my stomach.

  “Ohmigawd.” Hurrying into the bathroom off the kitchen, I knelt in front of the toilet and let it out. I threw up what little contents I had left inside of me, and then sat back against the wall exhausted. This was the fifth time I’d thrown up since leaving New York, and tired didn’t even begin to describe how I felt.

  “Are you okay?” Bayler asked, standing in the doorway.

  “No, I am not okay,” I mumbled, lifting my hand to my forehead. I felt a little warm, but not feverish. “And what in the hell did you make with eggs?”

  “A quiche,” Bayler said, as if I’d know what a quiche is. “I’m going to serve the food and drinks and then I’ll be right back. Stay here.”

  I nodded, too tired to even care about helping her host now. The cool tile of the bathroom felt so good against my skin.

  Bayler returned and closed the door behind her. She had her purse in hand and she sat down on the floor next to me. “Everyone’s eating right now. Elly will open her gifts after they’re done and then we can try on dresses. I told Paige and Tessa I had a mess in the kitchen you were helping me clean up, so they’re taking care of hosting duties.”

  “I’m fine,” I said, lazily turning my head to look at her. “It’s just a little stomach bug.”

  “Really?” Bayler laughed, rummaging through her purse. She pulled out a box and set it in my lap. “I don’t think so.”

  I looked down at the pregnancy test and all of the dots started to connect. I wasn’t running a fever. I didn’t have the chills or any other symptoms of the flu besides vomiting. Then I realized I should’ve had my period during Fashion Week, and again earlier this month, but I didn’t. How the hell did I miss this?! I shot Bayler a fascinated smile. “Do you just keep pregnancy tests in your purse like tampons?”

  “Hey, you never know when you’ll need one!” Bayler accused, raising her brows at me.

  Studying the box again, I took a deep breath and let it go. “I never even thought about being pregnant.”

  “Well, the pill isn’t a hundred percent effective.”

  “I know.”

  “Just pee on the damn thing already so we can get back to the shower,” Bayler urged, ripping the box open. She handed me the test smiling. “Harper,
you love eggs and you just threw up from the smell of them and they don’t even really have a strong scent; only pregnant women have that superpower. Just take the test so you know for sure.”

  I nodded nervously, knowing she was right, and went about peeing on a stick for the first time in my life. I never imagined it’d be like this: peeing in front of my sister at our parents’ house. I’d imagined peeing in front of my husband, like I would’ve already done a thousand times in our home, while we excitedly waited for the results. This version was way more humiliating and much less romantic than my fantasy.

  When I finished, I set the test on the counter to wait for the results, and then sat back down next to Bayler, tears flooding my eyes.

  “Hey, why are you crying?” she asked, reaching for my hand. “You love babies. You’ve always wanted to be a mom. You should be excited about this.”

  “That’s not it,” I said, blinking back the tears. “I am excited, it’s just … Maverick and I have only been dating for a few months. I know he wants kids someday, but he might not be ready for them now. And that scares me because I’m in love with him, but I can’t make him want to be a dad this soon in our relationship.”

  “He got you a puppy for Valentine’s Day and you’d only been dating a few weeks,” Bayler reminded me. “You don’t get a gift like that if you don’t want a future with someone.”

  “Yeah …”

  “What’d you guys do for your birthday—the big three-oh?” Bayler asked, encouraging me to reminisce about him.

  “I told him I didn’t want to celebrate turning thirty, so we just stayed home. He made us dinner and then he gave me a full body massage. It was absolutely perfect.”

  “And then you had lots and lots of amazing sex, right?” she teased, nudging me with her elbow.

  Laughing, I nodded. “Yes, and the sex is more than amazing. I can’t get enough of him. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

  “I know what you mean,” she sighed, leaning her head against the tile.

  “Wait, what? Are you saying you met a guy you didn’t want to kick out of bed the minute you finished having sex with him?” I teased, knowing her all too well.

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know, but I can’t stop thinking about the guy I slept with on New Year’s.”

  “You were in New York for New Year’s,” I said, thinking back. “Who is he? What’s his name? When you move to the city, you should call him.”

  “I don’t know who he is. I’m pretty sure he gave me a fake name.”

  “Why would he do that?” I asked.

  “Because I gave him one,” she laughed, shaking her head. “I was kinda drunk, and sometimes I do that when I’m drunk.”

  “What name did you give him?” I laughed. Her sex life was definitely entertaining, but she also had to carry pregnancy tests around like packs of gum, so I didn’t really envy her.

  “Jane Doe,” she said, laughing harder.

  “You gave him the name they give unidentified dead women?” I laughed, covering my face with my hands. “Ohmigawd, that’s funny … and slightly disturbing.”

  “I know!” she exclaimed, smiling. “When I met him, he looked like the type of guy I’m into, the guy who loves ’em and leaves ’em, but he wanted me to stay after sex. I don’t know, it just felt different with him. I’m not in love with the guy or anything. I don’t even know him.”

  “So, did you stay?” I probed.

  “No,” she said, longingly. “But I wish I had, which is a first for me, because now I compare every other guy to him. I have to fantasize about my night with him just to get my socks rocked by someone else. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. This has never happened before.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with you,” I said, rolling my eyes. “It’s okay to have feelings for someone.”

  “Whatever,” she said, shrugging it off. “Let’s see if you have a bun in the oven!”

  “Wait,” I said shakily, stopping her from grabbing the test. I took a deep breath, swallowing hard, and looked her in the eyes. “I can do this without him. If he isn’t ready to be a dad, I can do this alone. I’m going to be a good mom, no matter what.”

  She held both of my hands and smiled. “Harper Elizabeth Jennings, you are one of the strongest women I know. You are going to be the best mom because you will love your baby more than you love yourself. That’s just who you are. I know you can do this, with or without Mav, and you will never be alone because you will always have me.”

  Blinking back more tears, I swallowed the worried lump in my throat and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, B.”

  “Anytime.”

  I anxiously leaned forward and grabbed the test off of the bathroom counter, and then peered at the white stick. When I saw the plus sign, excitement flooded me and I covered my mouth with my hand as happy tears began to fall. I’m pregnant. “I’m going to be a mom.”

  “I’m so happy for you!” Bayler laid her head on my shoulder and then laughed. “Just don’t turn into Mom.”

  “Oh, god, no,” I cried, joining in on the laughter. And, just like that, I didn’t have the flu anymore.

  *

  By the time Bayler and I rejoined the party, everyone was mostly finished eating and it was time for Elly to open her gifts. Bayler promised to keep my pregnancy a secret until I could tell Maverick. I didn’t want him finding out from someone else. I wanted to be the one to tell him, face-to-face.

  I sat down next to Paige and took a sip of my mimosa—sans champagne. I couldn’t stop the emotions running their marathon through my mind. I was excited. I wanted to jump on my plane and fly back to New York just to tell Maverick. The more I let it sink in that I was pregnant, the more anxious I got about telling him, and I no longer cared whether or not he was ready. I was ready. That’s all that mattered.

  Tessa brought all the gifts to Elly and took a seat next to her. “Okay, Elly, get to opening!”

  We laughed as Elly rolled her eyes and picked the smallest gift first. It was from Charlotte and, as Elly read the card, tears formed in her eyes, which only fueled my emotions even more.

  “I feel like I’m going to cry a lot today,” Elly laughed, wiping away a tear. “Thank you, Char.”

  “You haven’t even opened it yet, sweetie!” Charlotte said. “Open it!”

  Elly ripped through the wrapping paper and pulled out a small white box. Lifting the lid off of it, she pulled out a charcoal-colored lace garter set. It had a small peach calla lily in the center with silver embellishments around it. It was absolutely stunning.

  “Charlotte, it’s beautiful. I love it,” Elly said, handing it to Paige to pass around the table. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome, dear. Your mom wore a lace garter when she married your dad, so I wanted to make you something similar, but still your own,” Charlotte said, smiling.

  “It’s perfect,” Elly said, reaching for the next gift, which was from Mrs. J. She tore the paper off and pulled out a thick brown book, its pages tinted with age. Elly opened it up and laughed as she pulled out a small card. “This is from Janice, and the card says, So Carter doesn’t starve.”

  We all laughed and Janice smirked. “Well, I won’t be around forever, and you’re always asking me for recipes, so I thought you should have my book.”

  “Thank you,” Elly said, passing it to Paige. She reached for the next gift, and I knew it was from Grandma Ceci because of her wrapping. She had the best wrapping skills I’d ever seen, and she always curled her ribbons.

  Elly opened the card and smiled over at Grandma. “This one is from Grandma Ceci and Lucy.”

  That’s a surprise, I thought. Mom hadn’t told me she was going in on a gift with Grandma Ceci, but when Elly popped the lid off of their box and I saw the diamond-studded headpiece in tissue, my eyes watered again. It was the headpiece every Jennings woman wore on her wedding day.

  “Ohmigawd,” Tessa said, as Elly pulled out the vintage piece.


  “Every Jennings woman has worn this headpiece on their wedding day,” Grandma Ceci explained, smiling proudly. “I wore it with a long veil.”

  “And I wore mine with a birdcage veil,” Mom added.

  “But you can wear it however you want,” Grandma Ceci said, “And when the next Jennings gal gets hitched, you can pass it on to her.”

  I watched Elly study the delicate piece, and a small envious girl sat in the back of my mind pouting. I grew up admiring Grandma’s wedding pictures as well as Mom’s, dreaming about the moment I’d get to wear that headpiece and carry on the family tradition.

  “It’s absolutely gorgeous,” Elly said, running her fingers over the detailed diamonds. She looked over at me and mouthed, “You’re next!” making all of my jealousy disappear with one, sweet gesture. She put the headpiece back into its box and passed it to Paige. Tessa handed her the next gift.

  “Does this one not have a card?” Elly asked, searching around the box.

  “Nope,” Tessa said, smiling. “It’s from all of us bridesmaids.”

  “You guys,” Elly sighed, shaking her head. Once she had the paper off, she stared at the shoebox. “There are very expensive shoes in here, aren’t there?”

  “They’re not just shoes,” Paige said, waving Elly along. “Open them!”

  Pulling the lid off, Elly took out the dark blue, satin Rene Caovilla pumps that we picked out for her. Their narrow toes were covered in fine lace and adorned with precious jewels and crystals. They were the perfect shoes for her something blue.

  “They’re Rene Caovillas!” Paige exclaimed, smiling brightly. “Do you like them?”

  “Like them?” Elly laughed, looking around the table at all of us. “Are you kidding me? I love them!”

  “Look at the bottoms,” Tessa urged.

  Elly picked up the heels and found all of our signatures on the bottom in blue ink, and she teared up again. “That’s such an awesome idea. Thank you all for the wonderful gifts and for putting all of this together for me.”

  “Oh, you have one more gift,” Bayler said, handing over a bag.