Fuck.
Her heart pounded. She tucked the phone into her beach bag—she couldn’t even bring herself to look at it. No matter what it said, nothing mattered now.
“We’re going to Cheeseburgers in Paradise,” Luke said. “Wanna join?”
Harper shook her head. “I don’t. You go ahead and perhaps we can all have breakfast in the morning before I fly out?”
“Deal,” Graydon said, and the two of them stood.
“I’ll see you down there in a minute,” Cooper said, holding her eyes as his friends slapped him on the back and left. He shifted seats so he was sitting opposite her.
“You, okay?” he asked, concern lining his face.
Harper nodded. “I am. Sorry I didn’t reply, Coop. I just needed some space to think.”
Cooper reached out and took her fingers tentatively in his. “Harper—”
She squeezed them in return, stopping him. “No, please don’t make me any promises. When I get home, if you want to stay in contact, that would be nice. Then we can see what happens. No expectations, okay?”
Cooper nodded, looking disappointed, but he forced a smile on his face. “No expectations.”
Harper smiled back.
“You are an incredible kisser, though,” he said.
She shook her head at him and grinned.
“I’ll see you for breakfast,” Cooper said, standing and kissing her on the top of her head. Then he left to join his friends.
Harper relaxed into her chair and stared up at the sky. She sent out a request to the universe to send her someone to love her, who would make her a priority.
To prove to her it was possible.
“Prove to me that real love exists, that I’m worthy of it, and I promise to love that man until my dying breath,” she whispered.