Chapter Five: Brendan
Sitting in my dark living room, I listen to the festivities next door as I slam back another glass of whiskey. I don’t know how many I’ve had, but it hasn’t been enough yet to drown out the pain. Harper’s sweet voice seeps through the walls as she laughs, sings, and chats with her guests. I can imagine her gliding around her living room in that dress— that fucking dress that I wanted to tear off her body. I know I could put some clothes on and go over there. I’m invited. But what would I say to her? What has she told her friends and family about her asshole neighbor? Besides, I don’t want to be with a houseful of people. I just want to be with her.
I rub my forehead confused by my own thoughts. Why is she getting to me? She’s so wrong for me. She’s…happy. I would just ruin her. Christmas every year would be a battle. Eventually she’d hate me. Every woman I date does. I’m not made for romance. I’m not meant to be in love. Loneliness suits me. I’m used to being miserable, but I’d hate myself even more if I brought Harper down with me. The best thing for Harper is for me to stay the fuck away from her.
I put the glass down and climb the stairs to go to bed. As I lie staring at the ceiling, I let my thoughts drift and imagine what making love to her would feel like. My eyes close as my lips slide down the length of her body. She smiles, gazing up at me with the prettiest eyes I’ve ever seen, her silky hair splayed around her. My eyes soak in every feature, quickly replaced by my lips, my tongue, my mouth. Gripping her ample breasts, I massage them, as my tongue dances with hers. I move down the length of her body, kissing every spot until I get to the best part. As I dip down between her legs, she claws my shoulders and twists her fingers through my hair, writhing and moaning my name. She whispers, "make love to me, Brendan," so I enter her, closing my eyes from the sheer pleasure of being inside of her. As her breathing intensifies, I move in deeper, until we climax together.
I open my eyes. Fuck.
~~~
Monday evening, as I pull into my driveway, my eyes annoyingly shift to Harper's house hoping for a glimpse of the stunning beauty. As much as I want to, I can't stop thinking about her. Her curves, her smile, those eyes. I want to run my hands through her silky hair. Actually, I want to run my hands over everything of hers. If only she wasn't my extreme opposite and I wasn't a stubborn prick. I avoided interaction yesterday, but here I am again, hoping to see her. She’s nowhere to be seen sadly.
After putting the car in park, I step out and begin the walk up the sidewalk when I hear a faint female voice. I look around, then up when I hear my name.
“Hi.” Harper waves at me from the roof.
“What the hell are you doing up there?”
She lifts a string of Christmas lights. “Decorating. The snow finally melted. Bummer I couldn’t do it before my party, but better late than never. Do you want some on your side?”
“Harper, that is not safe. Get down right now.”
She crosses her arms. “You’re not my dad, Brendan.”
“No, I’m not, but I’m not interested in seeing you splattered on the sidewalk.”
“Overreacting. I’ll be fine. Now, I have plenty of lights. Do you want some on your side? It will be more balanced that way.”
“No, I do not.” Shaking my head, I continue my walk but freeze when Harper screams. I look up in time to see her sliding toward me. I rush to catch her, barely making it as she falls into my arms, and we both tumble to the ground. After the shock passes, I sit up to inspect her. "Are you okay?" Her eyes are closed. "Harper? Talk to me." I want to shake her, but refrain in case she's seriously hurt. I dig in my pocket for my phone keeping her as still as possible. With trembling hands, I dial 911 and feel for a pulse, exhaling with relief when I find one.
“911, what is your emergency?”
“My neighbor, she fell from the roof. She doesn’t seem conscious.” Harper’s eyes start to flutter as I speak. “She’s coming to I think, but we need an ambulance.”
“Is she bleeding?”
I scan her body quickly. “I don’t think so, but she fell pretty hard. I caught her, but I don’t know how hurt she is.”
“Someone is on the way.”
“Thank you.”
I hang up and brush her hair from her face. "Harper? Can you hear me?" Her eyes flutter open but close again. “Come on, open your eyes.” She shifts slightly and moans. “Don’t move. Help is coming.”
I sit on the cold ground holding her and trying to keep her comfortable until the paramedics arrive. As they approach, I explain what happened and how she’s reacting. One of the paramedics kneels and opens her eyelids looking in each eye while the other takes her blood pressure.
“Is she okay?”
The paramedic looks up at me. “She’s stable, her pulse is strong and steady, but her eye movements are abnormal. Not sure if she had a seizure. Let’s get her to the hospital.”
“Okay. Um, I guess I’ll go with her. I’m her neighbor, but I don’t know who to call for her. I’ll just run and lock her door.”
“Okay, sir.”
I run inside her place, thankful to see her keys hanging on a hook by the door. After grabbing them and locking her door, I watch them carefully get Harper on the gurney and put her in the back of the ambulance. I climb in beside her and hold her hand. I hope she’s okay. She’s so independent and headstrong. Shaking my head, I brush her hair from her forehead. She should be able to ask her neighbor for help, but why would she? I’ve been nothing but a jerk to her.
As we start traveling, Harper is silent and unmoving. It's freaking me out that this vibrant, smart mouthed woman is motionless. I suddenly crave her singing Christmas songs that just last week I found annoying. I want her smiling at me, prodding me with her teasing. I want her to be okay.
At the hospital, the paramedics take her out and wheel her inside, explaining what happened to a nurse. I hover behind, not sure what to do now. They start to wheel her to a room, but Harper mumbles and her eyes flutter open again. She sits up and looks confused. I rush to her side as she focuses on me.
“I’m here, Harper. Can you speak?”
Her brow furrows. “Brendan?”
I nod. “Yeah. How do you feel?”
“What happened?”
“You fell from the roof.”
“Roof?”
I squeeze her hand. “Does anything hurt?”
“Where are we?”
“Hospital.” She groans in response. “I didn’t know what else to do.”
“I’m fine.” Her eyes shift to the nurse. “Vertigo.”
“Vertigo?” he repeats.
“Yeah, heights cause it sometimes. I got too close to the edge.”
“What does that mean?”
Harper looks at me. “I have vertigo. I get really dizzy and lose my balance.”
“So you got on a roof by yourself?”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“I never know when it’s going to happen.”
“Exactly the reason you shouldn’t have been up there.”
“I have to live my life, Brendan.”
"You scared the shit out of me. You tumbled down, and I barely made it in time to catch you. You could've been seriously hurt."
“Please don’t be mad at me.”
“Mad?” Gazing down at her, I immediately calm down. She’s so beautiful, and right now all her tough talk is replaced by this slightly scared and vulnerable woman. “I’m not mad, Harper. I’m worried. That’s different.”
“Thank you for getting help.”
“Of course.”
The nurse steps closer. “Let’s get you an x-ray and make sure you’re okay. Are you still dizzy?”
“Just a little.”
He starts to roll her away, but I quickly follow. “Can I call someone for you?”
“No. I don’t want to worry more people. You can go if you want. I’ll figure out how to get home later.”
She waves as she’s wheeled down the hall. I glance around wondering what to do with myself. One thing’s for sure. I’m not leaving her here alone.