Chapter Twenty Three

“This is amazing, Harper.” Celeste’s attention was diverted as she continued reading my article. She mumbled on and occasionally added in words of encouragement. “Brilliant! Love it! Fantastic!”

“You really think so?” I spun around in my swivel chair as the curled telephone wire wrapped around me. 

“Harper, are you kidding?” Her voice grew causing a smile to spring onto my face. “This is great! I knew you had it in you.”

I sighed as I began spinning in the opposite direction to unwind myself. “Thanks, Celeste.”

“I’m not just saying it to make you happy.”

“I know, but I mean really, thank you.” I huddled over my desk for privacy. “This wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t push me to try something different. I would have still been stuck in a rut trying to figure out what’s wrong with myself. You really are the best friend a stubborn girl could ever need.”

“Stop it.” At first she teased, but the light sobbing through the phone quickly changed the tone. “It had nothing to do with me. It was all you.”

“You know it’s true, Celeste.” A movement across the office caught my attention. I looked up to see Calvin walking. “I gotta go!” The words sped out of my mouth. “I gotta go, bye!”

Calvin smiled as he nodded his head in my direction. I smiled back and nodded hello.

His hands were full with one carrying coffee and the other a messenger bag stuffed with papers peeking out of it’s edges. Calvin proceeded to walk through the office as he smiled and nodded at anyone watching him walk into his office. 

“How could you let him go?” I heard Georgina’s voice behind me. I looked up at Elise to see her face light up as she readjusted herself to watch our conversation in entertainment.

I spun around and smiled at Georgina. “What do you mean?” 

Her hands were palm side up before she folded her arms across her chest. “I mean Rolan was your night in shining armor. You two met and it was serendipity. How could you possibly be okay with him gone?”

I laughed for a brief second before I realized Georgina was being serious. Plus, the fact that she was calling him Rolan let me know she read the article one too many times. Elise was right about her, Georgina was a hopeless romantic that spent way too much of her time fantasizing about romantic comedies. 

“It’s not that simple, Georgina.”

“I think it is, Harper.” Her tone was firm, yet soft enough to express her good intentions. “You need to find him. You can’t let a love like that go.”

I was speechless because deep down I knew she was right. It had been a little over two months now since I’d even attempted to contact Nolan. He had gone from someone I fell in love with, to someone I cried over for weeks, and now just a character in my article. 

“Georgina, I think the phone at your desk is ringing.” I heard Elise’s voice over my shoulder. Georgina furrowed her brows when she didn’t see and incoming call flashing on her land line. She opened her mouth, but Elise cut her off. “You should probably go pick it up…Now!” 

I sighed as I slowly spun back around to my desk. “Thanks.” I mumbled.

“Don’t mind her.” Elise spoke softly. “She doesn’t realize when she’s stepping over bounds.”

I opened up my computer screen and pulled up my work for the day. The presidential election has been picking up, so Ricky and I had been collaborating on a few more projects since the success of our last article. As soon as I signed in a ping appeared on my screen. It was a message from Ricky.

Ricky Alvarez: Hope you don’t have plans for lunch. We have a phone interview with a House Rep. @ 12.

Harper Stevens: Nice! How’d you manage to make that happen?

Ricky Alvarez: You know Latin men and our suave talents.

Harper Stevens: Yes, of course, God’s gift on earth.

“Hey,” I whispered to get Elise’s attention. She was typing away on her keyboard, but wiggled her eyebrows to let me know she was listening. Elise was a pro at multitasking. She could be on a personal phone call talking about her weekend while eating and working at the same time. “I’m sorry, but we have to cancel our lunch plans.” She finally stopped what she was doing and rested her chin on her fist. Her eyes squinted at the screen before she hit the backspace key a few times and began typing once again.

“But that new sushi place just opened.” She whined as she looked over at me with a frown.

“I know, I’m sorry. I have to be on a call with Ricky for an interview.” I exhaled a slow breath as I opened an inbox full of unread emails. I hated reading emails.

Elise’s eyes trailed back to her screen just before she gave me another look. 

“What?” 

She didn’t say a word. She continued on with her typing. A few seconds past before she finally broke the silence. “Hey, do you still have a picture of him?”

“Of Nolan?” I whispered.

She nodded. 

I pulled out my cellphone from my desk and scrolled through my gallery until I found the only picture the two of us had together. It was from the night we spent with the elderly couple at the bed and breakfast. It was the end of the night when Nolan’s shirt was a little untucked and the curls I worked so hard on were flattened. It may have been our only picture, but it was my favorite.

I held up my phone and showed it to Elise. She leaned over her desk to get a closer look.

“Okay, that’s what I thought.” She smiled. 

“What?” I shut off my phone and stowed it away. 

“The guy at the front desk.” I watched as she shut off her screen and turned her chair towards me. “I thought he looked familiar.”

I laughed unaware of what was going on. “What guy? What desk?”

“Behind you, you idiot!” 

I turned around and for the first time in a long time felt my heart stop. 

It was Nolan. He was here. At my office. In Boston. 

I didn’t know what to do. I felt Elise’s hand push my shoulder push. “Go!” 

“What is going on?” I felt a nervous chill run through my body. “What is he doing here? Wait, is that really him?”

“Nolan!” I ducked behind my cubicle wall when Elise shouted his name. 

“Elise, what the hell!” I whispered angrily. 

I watched as she waved her hand gesturing for him to walk over. She continued watching him as she spoke through the corner of her mouth. “Harper if you don’t get up in 3…2…1…”

“Can you tell me where I can find Harper? Harper Stevens.” I heard Nolan’s voice and I almost wanted to cry. 

“Oh, Harper, Harper Stevens? She’s right there.” Elise pointed behind him. 

“Harper get up right now!” She whispered aggressively as Nolan turned away.

“Where?” He sounded confused. “I’m sorry did you just say something?” 

“Yeah, just there. Right there. You see her?” She kept pointing in different directions hoping he’d turn away.

"Tell him to wait outside.” I was hoping she knew how to read lips.

“What?” She whispered back. 

A startled expression came across her face. I looked up to see Nolan peeking into my cubicle.

“Harper? What are you doing down there?” He looked at Elise then back down to me. “Were you trying to hide from me?”

I was speechless. 

I tried moving my lips, but nothing was coming out. I sat there like a fool on my knees as Nolan stood over my cubicle.

“Oh…” Elise’s voice cracked as she tried to divert the awkward moment. “There you are Harper!”

I stood up and dusted off my skirt. “I wasn’t hiding from you. I don’t know what just happened. I panicked.”

Nolan didn’t say a word.

“It’s nice to finally see you.” I fidgeted with my fingers feeling more nervous than before. “I tried calling you, like, a thousand times. I sent texts too, and emails, and…” I stopped myself when I realized I sounded psychotic.

Nolan leaned off the cubicle wall and unfolded a paper that he’d been holding in his hand. “I read your article.” He stared down at it and continued. “Rolan Gletcher? That was real original.”

“Yeah, well…” I shrugged.

“Is this really what happened?” He handed the paper to me, but I didn’t take it from him.

“I’m sorry.” He finally exhaled and looked back up at me. “I’m sorry I left you the way that I did. It’s been eating at me this whole time.”

“Don't apologize. I deserved it.” I folded my arms across my chest. “But, you shut me out completely. You didn’t even answer me when I tried reaching out to you for weeks.”

“Because you're just another person I love that hurt me.” His brows furrowed as a glimpse of sadness raced across his face. 

I took a step closer to Nolan. “Did you just say you love me?” 

He sighed. “It scared me how fast it all happened, but yes, Harper I do. When I found your notebook I thought you were just using me, which I guess you technically were, and it hurt. It hurt bad. But then I read this damn article and I had to hear it from you myself.”

We stared at each other quietly. Our eyes were locked and the room felt like it was spinning. I knew if I didn’t do anything in this moment, I’d lose Nolan all over again. I reached forward and pulled his face down towards mine and kissed him. 

“I was scared too, Nolan.” I held onto his face. “I was a coward. I couldn’t admit it then, but I love you too.”

There was a squeal across the room that broke our attention. Georgina stood with her hands cupped over her mouth as she watched us. I couldn’t help but laugh as Elise tugged at her arm to pull her away.

“Will you forgive me?” I asked as the feeling of guilt rushed over me again.

Nolan shook his head as he stepped back. “Not for the Rolan Gletcher thing.” His tense expression eased as a smile broke through. “But I think we can try to work through everything else.”

“I would really, really like that.” I buried my face beneath his chin as we hugged. I'd missed this feeling. “How did you find my article anyway?” 

“I got a call from someone asking to do an article about our store. When I looked up the website I saw your article on the front page. I couldn't believe it."

“That’s strange. Why would they do that. We’re local to Boston.”

“Oh, yeah, I guess I should tell you we’re planning on opening a Fletcher’s here.”

“Shut the hell up.” My jaw slightly dropped as I stared at him in silence.

Nolan laughed. “Yeah, Gramps gave me a nice little promotion when I got back to South Carolina and asked if I’d take the lead on the project. So, I guess I’ll be here until it’s up and running.”

I held my hands to my cheeks as I processed everything he was saying. “Where?”

“Funny you ask.” He took my hand and led me to the window as he pointed to the building across the street with a construction sign in the window.

___________________________________________

Hello Love,

I can NOT believe we're finished with yet another journey together!! I wanted to try something new out with Twenty One Questions by writing it in "book" form rather than an open ended blog. It was fun and I hope you all enjoyed it!! 

Would you guys like to do a Q&A? If so, please comment below and I'll create a post next week answering everyone's questions. It can be about anything! Whether about the blogs or personal :) I miss connecting with you all and thought it'd be a perfect end to this blog!! 

Love you all tons and thanks again for reading!!!!

Xx

Zara