Chapter 08 - Time to be honest

Theon

Gregor and I left Vegas in the morning, but it was almost lunchtime when we arrived in Aspen. I dropped him off at his house before heading back to mine, letting Harper know that I had arrived before I got into the shower. My only desire at that moment was to sleep for the rest of the afternoon, but I was aware that if I delayed my conversation with my girlfriend any longer, I would lose the courage to tell her what I had discovered.

As soon as I was out of the shower, I went to the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge for something for lunch while planning to visit Harper soon after. The sound of the front door being unlocked caught my attention, I closed the fridge and walked to the living room, almost bumping into Harper on the way.

" Theon! Hi," she smiled as she saw me.

She was wearing a blue plaid shirt and a scarf around her neck. Her hair was tied up simply, but she still managed to look beautiful with that easy smile on her lips. A smile that I would be taking off soon.

" Harper, what are you doing here? " I forced a smile, feeling a little apprehensive.

I had hoped to have a little more time to prepare for this conversation, but I can see that won't be the case.

" I came to bring you lunch, I thought you might be too tired to cook anything," she held up a paper bag she was holding before walking to the kitchen.

" You needn't have worried," I commented following her.

" It was nothing," she assured me, taking some sandwich packs out of the bag, "I made meatball sandwiches.”

" You're great, thanks," I wrapped my arms around her waist before kissing her.

I grabbed two cans of soda from the fridge while Harper settled on the counter. Anyway, we could eat in peace right now. I would talk to her later.

I sat down next to her and she held out one of the sandwiches. We ate in silence for a while as I mentally rehearsed a way to start this conversation, but they all seemed stupid.

" Why are you looking at me like that? " she frowned, making me realize that I was staring at her.

" Just admiring your beauty," I winked at her.

Harper was a beautiful woman. Her face was composed of delicate features, large honey colored eyes, and pale skin that matched her almost blond hair.”

"Was Gregor able to solve your problem? " she changed the subject, looking embarrassed at my compliment.

I looked away before putting the sandwich on my plate. I had to tell her, if I didn't tell her now, I would lose my nerve.

" Harper, there's something I need to tell you.”

" What is it? " she asked innocently.

" Gregor had no business in Vegas, I did," I began carefully.

" What do you mean? " she stammered, "What kind of business?”

I propped my elbows on the table, hiding my face with my hands and taking a deep breath.

" Theon? What kind of business? " she repeated the question fearfully.

" I met someone during Gregor's bachelor party. " I removed my hand from my face, looking into her eyes, "On Friday she called me.”

" You went to Vegas to meet another woman? " Her voice faltered a little, making me feel terrible for hurting her.

" Yes, but not in the way you're thinking.”

" How so, Theon? " she returned angrily.

" She called me to tell me she's pregnant," I stared into her eyes.

Harper was frozen in place, staring at me dumbfounded.

" Did you say ‘pregnant’? " she mumbled.

" Yes, I did.”

" But…”

" I needed to confirm before I told you," I explained.

" What you're trying to tell me is that you got some random girl from Vegas pregnant? " she blinked a few tears away.

" I know it's sudden, but Samantha and I talked it over and decided that…”

" If this is the time you tell me you're leaving me to go play house with some girl from Vegas, I'd rather not hear it," she stood up, wiping the tears from her face.

" Harper, wait," I stood up, following her as she reached for the door.

" No Theon... I already told you.”

" Harper, Samantha and I are not together! " I held her arm "let me explain.”

" Theon…”

" Please," I pleaded, looking into her eyes.

She wiped the tears that were now a constant on her face, and I accepted her silence as permission and led her to the sofa, offering a box of tissues from the coffee table.

" I talked to Samantha, I explained that I am in a relationship and she respected that. Nothing happened between us yesterday and nothing will happen," I assured her, holding her hand.

" She's going to have your child, Theon," Harper pointed out.

" That doesn't mean anything. We'll have a friendly relationship for the child and that's it. Harper, I like you and I want to be with you.”

" Are you sure she's okay with that? " she wiped her eyes, trying hard to stop herself from crying.

" I’m Sure, the two of us hardly know each other. It's not as if there is any feeling on either side. Samantha is just going to live here to…”

" She's going to live here? " Harper raised her voice.

I should have told you this before. Oh, shit!

" Well, Vegas is not a good place to raise a child, she was going to move away and I want to be close to the child so I suggested she come to Aspen," I explained a bit clumsily.

" And when you say that she will come to Aspen, you mean....”

" That she will rent a house here and look for a job.”

Harper remained silent, increasing my apprehension. I couldn't force her to accept this situation. But I really hope she will.

" Harper, she is only 25 years old and she was terrified that I would disappear and leave her alone. I understand that it is a complex situation, and I understand if you don't want to get involved, but I can't pretend this isn't happening," I looked away, "I can't leave her alone.”

" Have you lost your mind? I would never ask for this," she exclaimed in horror, "I just don't know what to do now, about us, I mean. I need some time.”

" You can have as much time as you need. Samantha will be here in two weeks and if you want to talk to her too, she will confirm what I told you.”

I didn't know if Samantha would confirm anything, but I prefer to think so.

"I have to digest all of this," she stood up.

" That's fine, if you can not tell my sister today. I want to talk to my mother first," I asked, "I'll talk to them tonight.”

" Fine, I'll talk to you later," she assured me. 

She hurried off, leaving me alone there with my thoughts. How will my family react to this news? I remember how γιαγιά was when Lara appeared with a daughter and without a husband.

I grabbed my laptop that was on the coffee table and researched a place for Samantha to live, sorting out some options to send to her, and spent the rest of the afternoon like that, trying not to think about Harper. Deep down I hoped that she would give me a chance, but something told me that she wouldn't want to get involved in something so complicated.