Chapter 163: Morning Disruptions

Justin’s POV

The moment I ended the call with my father, my phone buzzed in my hand.

I glanced down at the screen.

Mason: Why the fuck are you sitting on the couch like a fucking old man?

I stared at the text for a solid second before slowly turning my head toward the window. Sure enough, Mason was standing right by the glass of his apartment across the street, holding a mug and staring directly at my house.

I threw my head back against the cushion, groaning. "God. Buying houses opposite each other was such a fucking mistake."

At the time, living across from my best friend had seemed like a great idea. Now I was beginning to question every single decision I had ever made in my life.

My phone buzzed again.

Mason: I can see you, by the way.

I typed back fast.

Me: Why the fuck are you putting your eyes in my business? Aren’t you supposed to be in bed with your girl?

His response came back almost immediately.

Mason: I’m taking from your miserable face that you’re not in bed with your girl either.

I frowned at the screen.

Mason: Besides, it’s morning. I have shit to do. I gotta make breakfast for my girl. You know, replenish the energy.

I groaned out loud. "Oh, God. I’m going to throw a hockey puck through his window."

I quickly typed back.

Me: I don’t want to hear a single word about you and your bedroom affairs right now.

Before he could reply, I sent another one.

Me: I’m closing my curtains now, you dumb motherfucker.

I got up from the couch and started walking toward the living room window to block him out.

Mason: Make yourself useful today. Your girl was killing herself setting up that house for you yesterday while you were busy sleeping like a corpse.

I stopped dead in my tracks. I stared at the message, the words sinking in, and my chest tightened with a sudden wave of warmth and guilt.

Then I shook my head, fighting off a smile, and typed back.

Me: Please take your giant nose out of my relationship. Bye.

I hit send, grabbed the edge of the curtains, and yanked them completely shut.

"What the fuck is wrong with that guy?" I muttered into the quiet room.

I stood there in the dim light for a moment, staring at the heavy fabric. Then I looked at the closed curtains again.

"No," I said out loud.

I grabbed the fabric and threw them wide open again.

"Fuck that."

I wasn’t going to let that little fucker intimidate me in my own living room or ruin my morning. If anything, I was going to find a way to annoy him right back today.

I turned around and headed into the kitchen. Harper was still fast asleep down the hall, and after what Mason said and everything she had done to welcome me home I wanted to make her morning special.

I pulled out everything I needed from the pantry and fridge to make my signature pancakes.

Flour. Eggs. Milk. A dash of vanilla extract.

I whisked everything together in a bowl until the batter was perfectly smooth, then preheated the pan on the stove. As I worked, my mind flashed back to a random memory from our vacation together. Harper had ordered pancakes served with savory chicken ribs. At first, I had thought it was the weirdest combination ever, but then I had watched the absolute delight on her face while she ate it.

So I pulled out the chicken ribs and prepped those too.

By the time I was finishing up, the entire kitchen smelled incredible sweet vanilla and warm syrup mixed with savory chicken. I neatly stacked the fluffy pancakes onto a plate, placed the crispy chicken ribs right beside them, and generously drizzled golden maple syrup over the top.

I grabbed a fork, picked up the plate, and headed back down the hallway toward the bedroom.

Harper was awake now. She was propped up against the headboard, her dark hair completely wild from sleep, blinking away the morning haze.

I smiled, my heart doing that familiar flip in my chest. "Morning, babe."

She blinked up at me, her eyes tracking the plate in my hand. "What’s that?"

"Breakfast."

Her eyes immediately locked onto the food, widening. "You made me pancakes?"

"Not just any pancakes. My signature pancakes."

A soft, sleepy smile spread across her face. "You’re so sweet, Justin."

"I know I am." I walked over and carefully set the plate down on her lap. "Eat."

She didn’t hesitate. She picked up the fork and took a bite of the pancake and chicken together. Her eyes widened even further, her cheeks puffing out slightly as she chewed.

"Oh my God," she mumbled around the food.

I laughed, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her. "Good?"

"So good," she praised, taking another enthusiastic bite.

I watched her eat, admiring the soft glow of her skin in the morning light. She took one more bite, then slowly lowered her fork and turned to look at me with a mischievous, playful glint in her eyes an expression I had learned to recognize anywhere.

"Justin?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"After breakfast..." She paused, biting her lower lip nervously. "Can we continue from where we stopped yesterday?"

I blinked, genuinely confused. "Continue what?"

She just stared at me, waiting.

My mind raced through the previous night, trying to figure out what I had missed. "Yesterday?"

"Yeah."

I frowned thoughtfully, racking my brain. "Was it the pictures on my phone?"

Her sweet expression instantly dropped into a deadpan look. "No."

"The camp videos?"

"No, Justin."

I looked at her, completely clueless. "What did we do yesterday?"

Harper stared at me for another silent second, looking thoroughly exasperated, before she finally raised her hand and made a very obvious, undeniable little gesture with her fingers.

My mouth fell open in shock.

Then I threw my head back and burst into loud, unstoppable laughter.

"Oh!" I wheezed, wiping my eyes.

Harper rolled her eyes dramtically, though a blush was creeping up her neck. "Yes. Oh."

I shook my head, laughing as I leaned in closer to her. "Girl, you are so spoiled."

She gave me a completely innocent, wide-eyed smile. "Maybe I am."

I leaned in the rest of the way and pressed a warm, lingering kiss to her forehead, inhaling her soft scent. "But yes," I murmured against her skin, pulling back to look directly into her eyes. "We’ll definitely continue right from where we stopped yesterday."