CHAPTER 4
Harper
I t wasn’t like I hadn’t seen Max with other girls before. I had, plenty of times, but watching Alexa get in the car with him after the party got to me, especially since he’d just agreed to be my escort on Homecoming. Just thinking about it made me doubt everything. I couldn’t help but wonder if he offered out of pity, thinking I’d never find anyone else to do it. The more I thought about it, the more hurt I became. I was a complete wreck, and was even considering telling him to forget the whole thing, until I overheard Alexa and Lisa talking in the bathroom. They had no idea I was in one of the stalls when they walked in.
“I can’t believe he said that,” Lisa squawked.
“I know! I mean, who does that?”
“So, he tells you he isn’t into you, and then pulls up at your house?”
“Yep, and then, he just sat there without saying a word and waited for me to get out,” Alexa whined.
“Oh my God. What a jerk! He could’ve at least taken you back to the party.”
“I know!”
“Don’t even worry about it. There are tons of guys who would kill for a chance to go out with you. You can do better than Max Lanheart.”
When I heard his name, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest. Suddenly all was right in the world, and a week later, I found myself at the Homecoming football game with Max at my side. There was no better feeling on Earth than having my arm wrapped around his as we walked out onto that football field. It was the perfect night. Max was the perfect gentleman—sweet and funny, making my sides hurt from laughing so much, and I had a great time. Apparently, he did too.
There was no defining moment, no kiss or hidden innuendo, but something changed between us. After that night, we started spending more and more time together. At first it was just fleeting moments, like a brief conversation on the front porch steps or sitting together at lunch, but as time progressed, it seemed like we were always finding excuses to be together. We’d spend hours studying for tests, running errands for Mom, or watching TV—like the night we started watching Lost together.
I was sitting at the end of the sofa, flipping through the channels, when he walked up behind me. “Is it on?”
While I knew he liked the show, I didn’t expect him to leave his pool game with Brody to watch it with me. “Not yet. I think we still have five more minutes.”
“Cool.” He disappeared into the kitchen, only to return with a couple of drinks and a bag of chips. He plopped down on the other end of the sofa, and after he handed me a soda, he reached for my feet, pulling them into his lap. I couldn’t help but smile. I felt so at ease with him, like he was just Max , not the guy who haunted my every thought. “So, what do you think happened to Claire?”
“I have no idea, but that Ethan guy gives me the creeps. I bet he knows something.”
I reached for a handful of chips as he nodded. “Yeah, there’s definitely something up with that guy.” He offered me the bag, and after I grabbed another handful of my own, he said, “I wanna know what’s up with Jack. There’s something going on with him, too.”
“Maybe Kate will help him figure it out.”
“Kate is awesome,” he smirked, and I suddenly felt a little jealous of a character from a stupid show.
“Yeah, I think Hurley is, too.” Hurley was far from awesome. He was a big guy with long, curly hair, but he was sweet and I liked his smile.
“Hurley is the man,” Max agreed.
Seconds later, the theme music started to play, and our focus was drawn to the television. It became our Wednesday night ritual to pile up on the sofa and spend the night debating our theories of who or what was on that island with them. Each time we were together, I fell for him a little more. Without even trying, he made me laugh. I felt special when I was with him, like I meant something to him, and even though I tried my best to hide it, I often wondered if he knew how he made me feel.
It was the one thing we never talked about. A part of me didn’t want to know what was going on with us. Not knowing meant I could keep fantasizing that we were something more, so I left it alone. I convinced myself that just being with him was enough. I cherished every moment, every laugh, every touch, and over the next few months, those little moments became more and more frequent. By the time Christmas came around, I no longer had to wonder how Max felt about me. His gift said it all.
Like always, Max spent Christmas Eve with us, and after Mom fixed us all a huge dinner, we all piled up in the living room. She was about to explode with excitement as she sat down by the tree. “Who wants to go first?”
It was one of our traditions to open a gift on Christmas Eve, and as usual, Brody was the first to shout, “Me!”
“Okay, but I’m choosing which one you get.”
“But, Mom ,” Brody whined. “That’s not how it works.”
“It does today.” She reached under the tree and handed him a rectangular box, and then she handed one exactly like it to Max. “You both need to open them at the same time.”
Without hesitation they both started ripping away at the wrapping paper, and seconds later, they were both uncovering the exact same present. Brody stood up and held the black t-shirt to his chest. “Ah, man. This is so cool.”
Max smiled as he looked over to Mom and said, “This is awesome. Thank you.”
I’d been so focused on Max’s smile that I hadn’t noticed what the t-shirt said. When I finally looked at it, I was surprised to see a Marine’s logo and the quote, “Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don’t have that problem. ”
It seemed like an odd gift until my father said, “It takes a special kind of man to join the Marines. You boys have made us both very proud.”
My mother and father sprang from their seats and hugged them both while I sat there frozen in my seat. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t breathe. I was too stunned to even think. I just couldn’t believe it. I’d heard Brody and Max talk about the Marines, but I’d always thought it was just talk. That’s what they did. They were always going on about some crazy idea, but after a few days, they’d forget about it and move onto something else. I never dreamed that the Marines would be the one thing that actually stuck. I couldn’t believe Max would even consider it, especially after everything that happened with his father. I was so lost in thought that I didn’t even notice when Mom placed my Christmas gift on my lap. Brody finally nudged me with his foot.
“Are you going to open it or just sit there staring at it?”
I feigned a smile and started tearing at the paper. After I opened the box, I pulled out a silver bracelet with a small cat charm. Even though it was something I would’ve worn when I was eight, I looked over to her and smiled. “It’s really pretty, Mom. Thank you.”
“I’m glad you like it, sweetheart.” She stood up, kissed me on the forehead, and started for the kitchen. “Who wants dessert?”
I had to fight back the tears as I watched them all file into the kitchen. Max glanced back at me, and I couldn’t fight it any longer. I didn’t want him to see me crying, so I rushed up the stairs to my room and shut the door. Tears streamed down my face as I laid down on the bed and pulled the covers over my head. I just couldn’t believe he was really leaving. College was one thing, but joining the Marines meant I might never see him again. Just as I was really starting to sob, there was a light tap on my door.
As he eased the door open, Max whispered, “Harper? Are you okay?”
With my head still buried under my blanket, I answered, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He sat down on the edge of the bed and replied, “I don’t know. I guess I never really got the chance.”
As dramatically as possible, I threw the cover off me as I pulled myself up into a sitting position. I wiped the tears from my face and scolded, “You never got the chance? What about last night when we were watching A Christmas Story for the hundredth time, or last week when I was helping you study for your chemistry final?”
“You’ve heard us talking about it.”
“I know, but I didn’t think you were serious.” I dropped my head into my hands as I explained, “It’s just a lot to take in.”
“I get that.”
“Why the Marines? With everything that happened with your dad …”
“I can’t explain it, but I know it’s the right thing for me to do.”
“I guess I can understand that.” I sighed as I looked at him and said, “It’s just going to be hard not having you around. I’m going to miss you … and Brody. I like knowing you two are around.”
He reached into his front pocket and pulled out a small box. “Maybe this will help.”
“What is it?”
“Just a little something that made me think of you.”
I carefully opened the little box and found a small silver ring nestled inside. I took it out and when I looked closer, I saw that it had half of a heart etched into the side. As I slipped it on, all my doubts slowly started to fade. I no longer had to wonder if he had feelings for me. He did, and the proof was right there on my finger. “Max .”
He held up his hand, showing me that he was wearing a similar ring with the other half of the heart etched into it. “I’m sure you know promise rings can mean all sorts of things—like a promise of marriage or a future together, but that’s not what this is about—at least, not for now. I’m giving this ring to you so you’ll know that you mean something to me, Harper. And no matter where I am or what I’m doing, you’ll always have a piece of my heart right here with you.”
I leaned towards him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and hugged him tightly. “I love it.”
“Feeling better?”
“Much.”
“Good.” He stood up and extended his hand to me. “We better get downstairs before your brother eats all the dessert.”
I took his hand and got out of the bed. “I think you’re safe. Nobody likes Mom’s pumpkin pie like you do.”
Before we headed downstairs, Max leaned down and gently pressed his lips against mine. It was just for a moment, but everything around us stilled, like we were the only two people in the world. When he pulled back, he looked down at me and smiled. “Merry Christmas, Harper.”
“Merry Christmas, Max.”