Invisible to My First Love (Harper and Maddox) novel Chapter 65

Harper 

“Hey.” I managed to say as I placed my items on the counter. My voice came out lower than I intended and it made me feel like I was the one doing something wrong. 

His gaze met mine briefly and his lips curved into a smile. It was the kind of smile that was polite enough to pass, but without much meaning behind it. He nodded once, his hands already moving to scan the items. His gestures were so quick that I knew he wanted it to be over quickly. 

I’d been to that store so many times and that moment felt like I’d stepped into another world. Normally, Josh would ask how I was doing or crack a lame joke about how I still loved the same snacks that I used to have back when we were in high school. But this time, there was nothing but the flat beep of the scanner. 

Even the pop song playing in the store, which was meant to make waiting in line less painful, wasn’t enough to help with the awkward silence between us. If anything it made it worse. 

“That’ll be $70.” His eyes slightly narrowed, even though his tone was still within the boundaries of customer service politeness. But that look told me everything that I needed to know. Tiffany had definitely told him what I had done or had attempted to do. 

Pressing my lips together in a smile, I rummaged through my purse, wanting to get the money as soon as possible. I finally took it out, sliding the bill across the counter. 

He took the money without a word, slipped it into the register and handed me the change like I was any customer, but his eyes said otherwise. 

“Have a good day. Next!” 

I raised my eyebrows a little at how he dismissed me so quickly. other 

As I picked up my bag and approached the exit so the person behind me could get their turn. I glanced at him once, accepting the fact that he couldn’t stand the sight of me. 

I texted Ella and Zoey about it before I began to drive, then sent a quick reply to Dean. I promised I’d call him as soon as I got home since I didn’t want to be on the phone while on the road. 

Ella and Zoey were also aware of this but kept blowing up my phone with constant calls and texts. They wanted the full details on what had happened at the store and it made me roll my eyes. I should’ve waited until I was home to tell them. 

My phone was on the passenger seat and every time it buzzed and the screen lit up, I couldn’t help but glance at the sender’s name. I’d been doing that since the previous day, hoping that it was Anna. I’d told myself over and over again not to get my hopes up that I’d hear from her so soon, but I just couldn’t help it. 

I pulled up into my driveway, taking my bag with me in one hand with my purse in the other. My phone rang a few more times and I chuckled in disbelief. They just couldn’t wait. 

Only because I would’ve loved it to be true, I let myself imagine that it wasn’t Ella and Zoey waiting for the details. Instead, it was my sister, who finally decided to get in touch with me and wasn’t going to stop blowing up my phone with calls and texts until I picked up or replied. 

I unlocked the front door and went in, already a little out of breath as the bag got heavier the longer I carried it. 

As soon as I placed it on the kitchen counter with a sigh of relief, I unzipped my purse and took out my phone faster than I usually did. 

The screen lit up and I held my breath but as soon as I realized there was still nothing from Anna and what I wanted was still just wishful thinking, I sighed with disappointment. 

Putting the phone on speaker, I called Ella and Zoey, the two of them joining the call at the same time. 

“Start talking!” Ella playfully demanded. 

“Damn.” I scoffed, looking down at the screen like I could actually see her. 

I took out the items from the bag and placed them on the counter while telling them in detail everything they wanted to hear. 

“You know what, Harper?” Zoey said to me. 

“What?” I asked, putting some bottles of water in the fridge. 

“I know you feel awful that he treated you like shit, but you did nothing wrong. The nerve of him to even act that way!” 

“Fuck that guy!” Ella quickly added. “We should’ve been at the store with you and brought up Tiffany in our own little conversation while making sure he heard us.” 

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