The Straight Crimes (8 page)

“Strange that I’ve never seen you—my house backs up to it.”

“Really?”

“Yes. It’s too dark to see right now, but it’s on that hill right over there.”

Harper knew the massive estates Traci was pointing to. However, it was the first time she ever met anyone who lived in one of them.

“I’ve probably seen your house before. I’m always at the beach. It’s my favorite place to go, especially the lighthouse. Nik and I like watchin’ the boats from up there—”

"Wait—who’s Nik, someone special?"

"Yeah, sort of."

"Are you talking about Nikki Di Nolfo? She used to work for me.”

"No, Nik’s a guy. Nikolas Roberts."

Traci was so startled she wobbled the table and choked. Regaining her wits, she took a heavy sip of water and cleared her throat.

“Are you okay?” Harper asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

"What’s wrong? Do y’all know each other?"

"No I don’t think so. His name doesn’t seem relevant." Traci took a big swig of her cocktail. “I’m just surprised to hear you've been spending time with a boy. Don’t worry. I wasn't thinking that you were straight or anything sick like that. However, I'd be careful about devoting so much time to him.”

“Why?”

“People around here may start talking. It’ll make finding a girlfriend much more challenging,” Traci advised.

Before Harper could respond, the waiter presented their entrees.

For the first couple of minutes, the women quietly ate without exchanging any words.

After detecting Traci’s disapproval of her sexuality, Harper felt awkward. As generous as the woman was, it was slightly disheartening to hear she was heterophobic.

"So where's your
 
friend
 tonight? If you guys are as close as you say, shouldn't you be together?" Traci asked.

"We had a disagreement and haven’t seen each other in a couple weeks.”

"Oh.” Her face lit up. “What happened?"

"It’s complicated. I don’t really wanna get into it—”

"You don’t have to explain anything. I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

"I hope so. It’s strange not seein’ him. We usually spend every day together.”

“Good friends are certainly hard to come by,” Traci pointed out. “So what's his deal?"

"It’s a real long story. He's been through so much in his life. His father,” she reluctantly paused, “ran off with a woman and left Nik behind with his abusive, alcoholic dad.”

“You’re kidding me.” Traci chose her words carefully as if not to vilify the situation. “That seems rather scandalous.”

“Nik’s talked about wantin’ to find his father, but isn't sure where he’s even at. I don’t know, maybe it’d help our situation if they’d talk.”

"How do you figure?"

"Maybe it’d shed some light on the strong feelings we’ve got for each other.”

“I see. Usually when people disappear like that, they don’t want to be found.” Displeased, Traci smirked and abruptly changed the subject. "Tell me, how's the steak?"

After dinner, the wait staff brought a small cake with a candle and serenaded Harper for her birthday.

"You told them to do this?”

“Maybe.”

“You’re too much.”

"Well, go on, make a wish."

Harper stared at the dancing candle and watched the fickle flame move in its unpredictable way. It was reminiscent of her life path. She closed her eyes, losing herself in a moment of fantasy…

All she could see was Nik and his incredibly strong body. Before she could speak a single word, he’d hush her pouty lips with his long fingers. She ached for him, craving the warmth of his mouth to cover hers and for his intoxicating touch to send shivers down her back.

Harper held her breath and slowly opened her eyes, immediately disappointed when she looked across the table and saw Traci—not Nik.

"I know it’s your birthday, but I made a wish too.”

Harper cocked her head. "I'm sorry what?”

“I also made a wish. I hope you don’t mind.”

It struck Harper as strange. “Really, for what?”

"I’ve been having such a lovely evening that I hope we can spend more time together. That’s if you want to see me again.”

Harper shrugged. “I don’t have many friends.”

"That just breaks my heart, especially with everything you told me about your mom and your family life.”

“You don’t need to feel bad for me. I’m okay.”

“Look, I want you to know I'm here for you, anytime. It'd be wonderful if we could get to know each other better.” Traci placed a business card in Harper's hand. "I mean it, whether you want to grab dinner, need someone to do your makeup, or just a
place to stay, give me a call."

"Really?”

"No one deserves a life of uncertainty. Besides, what are friends for?"

Traci boldly reached for Harper's hands and leaned across the table.

Their lips were mere inches apart, but Harper quickly pulled back.

Then Traci slowly kissed Harper’s hand as if it were her original intention.

"I’ve gotta go."

“So suddenly?”

"Mama’s already off work,” she lied. “I’ve gotta get home.”

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t.”

“But I feel as if I did. I really like you and hope we can see each other soon. Promise you’ll keep in touch?”

“Sure.” She threw her purse over her shoulder and stood up.

“Remember, if you need anything, call me.”

"Yep, got it, thanks.”

Harper lifted her hand to wa
ve. Before she could escape, Traci pulled her into an awkward embrace.

She closed her eyes, tantalized by the softness of Harper’s skin and the alluring aroma of her light, fruity perfume. She lingered in the moment, desperately hoping that it’d never end.

After watching Harper leave, Traci collapsed into the chair and let out a defeated sigh. She pulled a cigarette out of her designer clutch, lit a match, and took a long, slow drag.

No woman had ever caught her attention with the same intensity as Harper.

Traci’s mind spun in frantic circles while she contemplated her next move and suppressed the uncontrollable fantasies.

She realized Harper would be a challenge, especially since she was attracted to men—specifically Nik Roberts. It meant that she needed to move fast.

Traci Galva was the kind of woman who always got everything she wanted, and in no uncertain terms, she wanted the sweet, Southern girl.

Harper ran through the downpour into the corner drug store to get an umbrella. As she compared the vibrant colors amongst one another, she felt relieved to be faced with far less pressing issues than her sexuality.

While waiting for the cashier, she saw a headline on the chronicle that read: 'Local Teen Found Dead.’ She thought her eyes had been playing a vicious trick on her when she saw the victim’s name, Ricky Wiley.

Harper couldn’t breathe. It felt as if someone was choking the last breath of air from her lungs.

While standing under the flickering fluorescent light of the store sign, she read how his lifeless body had been found earlier that day in the Dark Woods, just as Brielle predicted. It sent chills down her spine.

She stepped onto the soaked beach, walking towards the water. Ricky's death made her think deeper about Brielle’s predictions. The woman professed to know many things, but what stuck in Harper’s mind was how insistent she was that Harper needed Nik.

That’s when it hit her. Ricky was really gone. He’d never be able to hurt them or say another vile thing about their relationship. It didn’t completely diminish the possibility for other hate crimes, but it provided relief.

However, it also gave Harper more to consider—so she headed somewhere to clear her mind. She ran for the lighthouse.

Through the heavy rain, she looked up and saw its beacon as if it were reaching for her. As comforting as it was, she wished she’d see the soft, promising glow of candlelight in the watch room, signifying Nik’s presence. However, the tower was dark and empty, much like the way she felt standing in the middle the desolate beach.

The soft rumble of thunder grew stronger. The waves were uncompromising, crashing against the shore as she raced to her safe haven. Harper held the umbrella out to shield her face against the wind and spitting rain.

After taking a few minutes to catch her breath, she mustered the strength to tug open the heavy old door and let herself inside. She swiftly struck a match, lighting the wick to one of the lanterns.

Cautiously ascending the winding stairs, she held it out as she moved through the darkness. Flashes of lightning illuminated the tower through the small windows along the way.

Harper pushed the watch room door open and set the lantern on the ground while searching for blankets she and Nik had left behind.

Suddenly, it was as if time stood still. Harper was immediately overcome with emotion. While she made her way across the darkness, she suspected the shadows were playing tricks on her. She squinted, believing she’d gone mad. However, her suspicions were confirmed as the lantern illuminated the beautiful truth before her eyes. Asleep on the floor, as if he were hiding in the shadows, was Nik.

He appeared to be in a deep slumber. His hair and clothes were soaked. The sleeves on his white button up shirt were rolled to his elbows and his fitted khaki slacks hugged his muscular thighs. The man looked serene and gorgeous.

There was a certainty moving through her body that she’d never felt before as she examined his flawless face. All her doubt dissipated, leaving only burning desire for him. It was as if nothing changed.

Harper nestled beside Nik and sunk her freckled nose into his chest, taking a deep breath of his alluring, familiar scent. Even being pressed against him, she felt entirely too far away.

Nik abruptly turned over and flinched.             

“Harper?” he asked.

She was breathtaking. Her emerald eyes shimmered against the reflection of the candlelight as they looked at each other.

“Hey,” she whispered.

Nik wiped his face and propped himself up. “What are you doing here?”

“I had some thinkin’ to do.”

A concerned look washed over him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Harper pulled her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around them nervously. “Why are you here?”

“I’ve had a lot on my mind too.”

“Like what?”

“To be honest, mostly you. I wanted to stay away ‘cause all it does is remind me of us, but being here is the only thing that makes any sense. You’re all I can think about, and I don’t wanna stop thinking about you. I’ve been here every night since you left, so I can feel like we’re still close.”

“Nik—”

“Don’t worry, I know where we stand. I’m not saying this to change your mind. I’m just being honest. As much as it hurts, being here with your memory is far less painful than trying to forget you. That’s something I’ll never be able to do.”

Harper felt the tears coming on. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“Don’t apologize for being honest. You don’t wanna be with me. That’s just something I’ll have to live with.”

The intense pain in his eyes matched the devastation that dwelled within Harper. “No, you’re wrong. I
 
do
 wanna be with you—”

“I know, but you’re afraid of what may happen to us. I get it.”

“No, you don’t get it. I shouldn’t have left that day. It was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made in my life. I’ve been miserable. Everything I do reminds me of you. It’s like you’ve become my life now. Without you, I don’t know how to be myself.”

“But how about all the things you said, like how you don’t think it’s a good idea?”

“I’ve had enough time to realize I was wrong. A lot’s happened over the last few weeks, like have you heard that Ricky died?”

“Yeah, everyone’s been talking about it today.”

“I think it’s a sign that you were right. We need to fight for this no matter what. It’s the only thing that makes sense. Every time I try tellin’ myself this ain’t gonna work, no matter what I do, I can’t move on. Yesterday I went to the psychic to help make sense of things. Even she said we belong together.”

Nik folded his arms in curiosity.

“Look, Ricky’s outta the picture. That along with what Brielle said about you and me needin’ each other and how we really feel, it’s like everything’s pointin’ us in the direction of bein’ together.”

“That’s all good in theory, but are you having a hard time ‘cause you really wanna be together, or ‘cause you feel bad for hurting me?”

“’Cause I want you, Nik.” Harper put her hand on his shoulder.

Nik closed his eyes and let the words resonate. He lowered his head and took a deep breath.

“What are you thinkin’?”