His at Night

Chapter 33

I watched the sun come up on Tuesday morning as I held Harper close to me in bed. After talking about everything that happened last night, she had a hard time being able to sleep. A few hours ago though, she finally drifted off. I didn't sleep however. My heart was still racing and I couldn't stop looking at her. Part of me is surprised that she is actually here with me, but another part of me knows this was how it was going to be.

Wanting to let her sleep a while longer, I gently rolled her onto her back and slid out of bed. Starting a pot of coffee, I opened the fridge and pulled out the eggs and bacon to make us breakfast. As the bacon sizzled in the pan, I poured myself a cup of coffee and started to heat water for Harper. I had some berries in the fridge as well, and when everything was done I neatly served up to plates.

"It smells so good in here." I heard Harper say as I picked up the plates to put them on the table.

After setting the plates down, I wrapped my arms around her in a hug. "Good morning." I whispered. "Go eat, I'll be there in just a second." I said as I let my arms fall and I walked back into the kitchen.

Pulling down a mug from the cabinet, I made her a cup of her favorite green tea and added a slice of lemon. Picking up my coffee cup as well, I walked back out to the table, and set the drinks down. Sitting in my chair next to her, I took a sip of my coffee and set the mug down. Looking over at Harper, her eyes were filled with tears.

"Hey..." I said as I moved my chair next to hers, and put my hands on her legs, "Talk to me." I said softly.

She wiped the tears off of her cheeks, then pointed at the cup of tea in front of her.

"It's tea." I said, not really sure why she was upset.

She nodded, "I know. It's my favorite too." She said before leaning forward and looking in the cup. "There's a lemon." she said as she looked back at me with more tears.

I couldn't hold back anymore, and let out a small laugh, "You always want a lemon in your green tea."

"Yeah, I do." she said as she moved into my lap and wrapped her arms around me, burying her face in my neck. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." I said as I rubbed her back.

It's just tea. It took less than a minute to make, and she is acting like I just surprised her with her dream vacation or something.

"You should eat." I said as I loosened my hold on her and she moved back into her chair.

It was quiet for a minute before she asked, "What time do you have to be at work?"

"I'm not going in today." I said shaking my head, "Or tomorrow."

"...oh." she said surprised, "That wasn't necessary."

"Yes, it was very necessary." I said.

We finished eating, and insisted that I would do the dishes. Thankfully Harper didn't protest too heavily, and decided to go take a shower. When all the dishes were done, I sat on the couch and opened my laptop. I sent a few quick work emails and just as I sent the last one, I felt Harper sit next to me and curl into my side.

"Do you feel better?" I asked her.

"Yeah." She said as she looked up at me with a small smile.

"What?" I asked.

"I smell like you." she said, "And I stole your clothes."

Looking down at what she was wearing, she had on one of my t-shirts and a pair of my sweatpants. Giving her a satisfied smile, I leaned in and gently kissed her.

"You look beautiful." I whispered.

Harper's POV

We stayed curled up together for a while on the couch. I don't know how to explain how I feel. I'm relieved that the secretive part of this is over. I'm thankful that I get to be with Michael without a deadline on our time together, but at the same time I just walked away from my marriage. Even if it was a complete disaster, Jeremy was still my husband.

"I need to call Mason." I said as I sat up and out of Michael's arms.

"Ok." He said as I stood up. "I'll be here if you need me."

Walking into the bedroom I got my phone off of the nightstand and walked back out to the couch. Michael had his laptop open on his lap again, and I sat next to him and laid my head on his shoulder as I opened Mason's contact. Looking up at Michael as the phone rang, I gave him a gentle kiss. He was giving me a questioning look as to why I came back instead of talking to Mason in the other room.

"I need you." I said with a shrug as I laid my head back on his shoulder.

"Hey." I heard Mason say as he answered the phone.

"Hi." I said softly.

"Are you doing ok?"

"Yeah," I said, "Just trying to get a grasp on reality."

"Sam called me last night and asked me to come get her." He said.

"Well, I guess that means you know everything that happened." I said as Michael laced his fingers between mine.

"Yeah, I stayed with her all night until Carter got home this morning. We talked about a lot of things." He said.

"Does she hate me?" I asked with a broken voice.

Shutting his laptop, Michael set it on the table, and pulled me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me.

"No, she doesn't hate you. She's an emotional mess, and I'm sure you are too, but we talked through a lot of stuff. She's worried that you're upset with her because Jeremy found out." he said.

"It was just a matter of time. I don't blame her at all for telling Carter." I said.

"Did you talk to her?" Mason asked.

"No, not yet. I'll probably call her later today." I said.

"How did you know she told Carter?"

I let out a small laugh, "Because I know Sam. She was upset, and told Carter, and Carter told Jeremy."

"Huh." I heard through the phone.

"I'm right, aren't I?" I asked.

"Yeah." he said with a sigh. "Are you ok?"

I smiled as I thought about our morning together, "Michael made me breakfast."

There was a short pause, "What did he make?" Mason asked.

"Scrambled eggs with bacon and berries." I said as I smiled, "he also made me tea."

"Himalayan loose leaf?" he asked.

"Mmhmm. With a lemon wedge." I said. "It's not the first time he's cooked or made me tea... but it's the little things." I said as I curled further into Michael's chest.

"Yeah, It's the little things." Mason said, and I could hear his smile through the phone. "I love you, Harper."

"I love you too. You're my favorite big brother, you know that right?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Damn right I am. I'm always just a phone call away." he said before we both hung up. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Sorry for the shorter chapter. Friday's will be longer, I promise!