Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 106

106 /148

Maddox

Right there in the lobby which had photographers on one side, Harper quickly got into character as my girlfriend, smiling for the cameras as we finally got to the central spot for the pictures.

Grayson and Tiffany had to leave from there now that it was no longer about them. They got busy by mingling with some of Tiffany’s friends by the staircase. Kate was one of them and she was staring right at me. I knew she was about to wave as I saw the movement of her hand, but I looked away to focus on Harper.

When I held her close like she was mine for real, the photographers‘ voices overlapped.

“Over here, Maddox!”

“Harper, look over here! Give us a little wave in those gorgeous gloves!”

“Show us the back of the dress!”

The moment she received that request, the front of her body faced mine as she turned all the way around. She then placed her hand on my chest as she looked back at the cameras.

I glanced at her hand on my chest for a few seconds before my eyes travelled up her collarbone and the gorgeous view of the side of her face. She was glowing with that smile as she realized that moment was all about her.

It took me a while to stop looking at her the way I did and when I realized it and looked back at the cameras, I knew that moment had been captured and would get people talking, but so what? If I could rewind to a few minutes earlier, I would’ve still looked at her the same way. She was stunning and I wanted everyone to see just how much she had my undivided attention.

No matter how many times she and I struck a different pose, the photographers still wanted more. I wanted her to get all her good angles and I was certain it was done. I leaned closer, whispering against her ear, which just looked like I was openly flirting with her so the photographers could capture that moment.

While the cameras flashed, I whispered, “Whenever you’re ready to go.”

“Now would be a really good time!” she said.

I held her hand again, leading the way so we could get to the other side and even then, the photographers were still focused on us. She was so into it that she looked back one last time and waved. I didn’t even look all the way back the way she did. I was too busy watching her.

It was only when she looked in my direction that I quickly faced forward.

I didn’t even have time to think about how much I’d been staring at her because when I looked up at the staircase, Tiffany and Grayson were still, there, now just the two of them. She constantly poked her cheek while shooting glares at Harper, but she wasn’t even my focus. My eyes were fixed on her fucking husband, who looked at Harper like she was an angel. With so many in attendance doing the same thing just to check out her entire look, it was the perfect opportunity for him.

I glanced at Harper and it was just as I thought, she was looking up at him, too, but her expression was unreadable. She’d been able to make it that far without picking up his calls just to practice some boundaries… and I hoped she wasn’t about to give in.

Then, Tiffany said something to Grayson and rushed down the stairs alone while giving me a fake warm smile. She wanted the brother and sister moment to be picture perfect.

“There’s my brother!” she said on top of her voice with dramatic enthusiasm. “You look dashing!”

Harper pulled her hand away from mine and stepped aside before Tiffany was close enough. I wished she hadn’t done that as I still wanted to hold it just a little bit longer.

Tiffany opened her arms for me and even though I didn’t want to, I had to go in for a hug because everyone was watching and the cameras were still flashing.

During our short embrace and a few fake lovely words, I was too focused on Grayson. He constantly stole glances at Harper while she waved at the Barclay twins who were on the other side of the lobby.

I could imagine him walking down the stairs to get to her and asking why she wasn’t picking up his calls, but why would he? He’d never been the desperate one in their friendship.

I expected Tiffany to keep up that act even when it came to Harper but she glanced at her once, like she hated her gorgeous outfit, then held my hand and said, “We should take some pictures together by the stairs with my husband!”

She emphasized the last word just so it could get to Harper and before I even agreed to it, she began to pull me along with her to the stairs.

I looked back, holding out my hand for Harper and motioning her to come with me. She hesitated, but I didn’t drop my hand until she finally gave in and placed hers in mine. I looked down at how it perfectly fit in mine, like that was where it belonged.

As Tiffany cheerfully called the photographers over to capture the moment, the brightness from her face faded when she finally noticed that Harper was right with me. She didn’t even dare to say some shit about it. She wouldn’t dare.

We finally got to the stairs and once again, I had to put on a fake smile for Grayson as I shook his hand. He barely looked at me as he was too busy looking back at Harper and I had to stand in the way just so he wouldn’t see her face anymore. I quickly realized I was being petty, but that still didn’t make me move out of the way.