Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

“Well, since he didn’t actually do anything to her, there’s nothing much we can do there.”

“He threatened her life! And what about all the things Harper told you about when they lived together in the foster home?”

“Again, if she had filed charges then, we’d probably be able to get something on him now but we just can’t, Callum.”

“So, essentially he has to do something heinous to her in order for you to get involved?” I asked in disbelief.

He sighed loudly again. “No, but he technically didn’t do anything directly to Harper. I’m sorry but my hands are tied. This does not mean that you shouldn’t take his verbal threats seriously. Just be careful.

“Also, listen, he posted bail early this morning.”

All the breath seemed to suck from my chest at those words.

“Alright, thanks Detective. Uh, I’ll let Harper know.”

“Keep her safe, son,” he said.

“I promise,” was all I could think to say and hung up.

I returned the card to my back pocket and stuck both hands in the front pockets of my jeans, dreading the walk back to Harper. She read my face from across the street and stood, wrapping her arms around her torso, shifting her weight from foot to foot. Tears began to cascade down her beautiful skin.

“No,” she simply said. “No, no, no, no, no!” She then screamed, bending to sit on her ankles and hugging her knees.

I ran to her, scooping her up into my arms and gathering her to my chest.

“Shh,” I said, running the palm of my hand over her hair. “He can’t find us, Harper. He can’t do anything. He’ll never be able to find you because I have a plan. You’re going to fall off the face of this earth. He will not be able to find you.”

“H...how?”

“We’ll change your last name...to Tate.”

She withdrew herself slightly and stared into my eyes, gulping hard.

“I’m considering it,” she said, then buried her face in my chest once more.

We sat like we had before, but this time she pulled herself practically on top of me for comfort, not that I’d have complained. Her warm body overtook all my senses. All I could hear was Harper, all I could smell was Harper, all I could feel was Harper, all I could see was Harper, all I could taste...was Harper. I would do anything for her. I would die for her.

I’d only known her a few weeks.

But I was in love with Harper Bailey.

You’re in deep, Callum, I thought to myself because I had just asked the love of my life to marry me but did it for all the wrong reasons.

Harper

I had no idea what I was doing. I practically agreed to marry a stranger. Except he wasn’t a stranger, was he? He was Callum. Sweet, adorable, amazing Callum. Agreeing to marry him for appearance’s sake only felt wrong, though, knowing how I really felt about him. I was falling in love with Callum and marrying him for the wrong reasons made me feel ill to my stomach, knowing I’d only end up breaking my heart in the end.

I knew I would do it, though. As pathetic as that seemed, I know I would. If Callum Tate ever asks you to marry him, you do it whether he loves you or not because he would treat you better than anyone else. I knew how stupid I was being but I literally could not help myself. Never had I ever lead my life with my heart. Why I was doing it now, I didn’t know but I couldn’t help but wonder if it was because I really did love Callum. It was a self-destructive decision. I had no real sense of self-preservation. To hell with it. I’ll probably leave the imitation marriage with my heart scattered in pieces at my feet but at least I’ll get to know what it feels like to belong to someone, really belong to someone, with papers to prove it and everything.

Since we’re both using the other to survive is it really using? Yes. It was. I couldn’t lie to myself but somehow it didn’t feel like using. I knew Callum and I would figure it out together whether we went ahead with the sham marriage or not. That made me feel a little better about considering his fictitious proposal.

“We can’t tell anyone it’s fake,” I blurted out to him.

“I completely agree. We couldn’t let anyone know, not even Charlie or Cherry. It’s just not smart if we don’t take this all very seriously.”

a bent to pick up a paperclip she dropped and I peered hard into Harper’s eyes, my mouth dropped open. This was it. This was our out. Her eyes opened wide and she started to shake her head but I wouldn’t hear of it.

“But we are,” I blurted out.