Sweet Little Lies

Ch. 9 Jealousy

Ajax West

"Best friend." I hear the words echo in my head. Who would've thought such an innocent word would have me seeing red. I know Harper spent her holidays with a friend, I just assumed it was another woman. I remember my mother listening to Mrs. Morgan talk about Harp wanting to stay in Flagstaff with her "friend". It never occurred to me her friend could've been a man... a straight man.
Turning my truck into the long driveway of The West End fourty minutes later, I finally find my voice. "He misses you?"
"He does." She confirms, sadly.
"And you miss him?" I question, not asking what I'm dying to know.
"Of course." She admits, honestly.
Clenching my jaw tightly I say, "I wasn't aware the friend you were so close to was a guy."
She scoffs, "Yeah, I think we've established that. You have a problem with it?"
"I do." I confess, my anger starting to show. "Was it a secret you kept? Did your family know you were staying with a man every holiday?" I can't see the Morgan's liking the idea of her staying with this guy and his family without meeting him first.
"Yes, my mother knew. It's not like I had to ask permission to stay with Remmy. I've been making my own choices for a while now Ajax. Even my family acknowledges the fact that I can take care of myself."
I can't help the growling sound that comes out when she says his name. Hitting the garage door button harder then necessary, I watch the door lift and drive through, parking the truck. I kill the engine and turn towards her, her posture telling me she knows of the impending argument that is to come. "Is he your boyfriend?"
She rolls her eyes and opens the truck door. I get out following after her, waiting for an answer. "Would I leave my boyfriend in Arizona?" She asks, irritation clear in every word.
I think about it briefly and it makes sense, but is still not a definitive answer. "Was he ever your boyfriend?" Her loud groan as she pulls open the door to the house tells me she doesn't want to talk about it. "Well, was he?" I demand to know.
"Yes, we dated for a while." She admits, exhaling her frustration with my questions.
Every muscle in my body tenses and I slam the door behind me. "You told my Ma you didn't have any serious relationships!"
"Ajax, it's none of your business or your mother's!" She yells, angrily stomping up the stairs to her room. If she thinks we're done taking about this she's dead wrong.
"I'm making it my business! Just how close are the two of you?" I yell, following her every move. Just as she's about to slam her bedroom door on me I bring my hand out to stop it and walk in the room after her. I'm seconds away from asking her the same questions again but she turns to me her face flushed and her arms crossed over her chest.
"I'm not discussing this anymore! Have I demanded to know about your love life?"
"You love him?" I roar. Losing total control over myself I pick up the object closest to me.

Harper Morgan

I don't think I've seen anyone as pissed off as Ajax is. Without thinking I watch him pick up the chair next to the door and slam it against the wall. The drywall crumbles under the force and the back of the chair breaks off.
"Are you crazy!" I scream. At the same time I hear pounding on the front door.
Seconds later my father's voice yells up the stairs. "What the hell is going on you two? It's two to o'clock in the morning! Can't you kill each other after the rooster crows?"
Ajax gives me one final cold look and saying nothing, he turns around and walks to his room. I hear his door click shut just as my dad fills the doorway. His eyes narrow on the destroyed chair and then the whole in the wall.
"What's going on sweet pea?" He questions, uncomfortably. If there's anything my Pa hates its getting involved in drama.
I shake my head, telling him I don't want to talk about it. His large hand runs down his face and he looks at the chair again. "I honestly don't want to know what happened, but if I go home without an explanation your mother will kill me."
I can't help but laugh at the awkward situation. I shrug one shoulder, "I don't even know." I reply, truthfully.
What the hell just happened? How did it escalate so quickly? My refusal to answer any personal questions had Ajax flying off the handle. Not once has Ajax gotten this angry with me, it was scary and shocking at the same time. I didn't even recognize the man standing in front of me.
My dad shifts on his feet sensing that I'm just as lost as he is. "I'll just tell her you'll talk to her tomorrow." He says.
I nod agreeing. "I'll be over in the morning. Good night, sorry for waking you."
"Night, baby girl." He says, walking out the door and down the stairs.
I sigh and step over the broken wood pieces of the chair, closing the door quietly and locking it. It's not that I'm afraid. Ajax wouldn't hurt me, but I don't want him coming back in here tonight. Obviously, he needs to calm down before we speak again. Fishing with the boys tomorrow isn't going to happen, not after this.
Tossing and turning all night I'm relieved when I hear Dan's truck pull up to the house. I get out of bed and pull the curtains aside. The sun is just starting to come up as I watch Ajax walk to the truck putting his fishing rod and tackle in the back. Just before he's about to get in the truck he looks up at my window, his eyes slam into mine and I step back letting the curtain fall back into place.
After a hot shower and lots of primping I finally resign myself to the fact that I can't put off Ma all day. I walk out the door and towards my childhood home. As I get close the familiar smells of my mother's cooking welcomes me.
Letting myself in the house I walk to the kitchen, she is at the kitchen table pealing apples, no doubt for a pie. "Morning." I greet walking to the table. I kiss her cheek as she eyes me suspiciously. I don't say anything as I go to the counter and make a cup of coffee. As soon as I turn around her eyes pin me down.
"Are you going to tell me what happened? You've kept me waiting long enough." She scolds.
I smile, "I'm surprised you let me get coffee first."
"You look like you could use it. What happened?" " She replies, sympathetically.
"I fought with Ajax." I say, simply.
"Harper Elizabeth Morgan, stop stalling and spill! Adelaide is set to call in an hour." She orders, anxiously looking at the clock.
Rolling my eyes I sit down. "Ajax found out Remmy and I dated. Apparently, I'm not allowed to date. He got angry."
Ma huffs loudly. "Angry? He put a chair through the wall."
"It didn't go through the wall." I mutter, taking a sip of coffee.