“Good and I say this with all the love in the world, but the life you were living before Phillip was crap. Now before you go to protest that, let’s remember that I did the same thing for years. I might have acted like I was happy, but I wasn’t. I was scared. Men scared me because they made me feel and open up, and I hated doing that because I knew that they had the power to hurt me.”
Reese tried to look away but Harper was right there, holding her gaze as she said, “I didn’t want to give anyone any power over me, but then I fell in bed with Jakob and…” She smiled as her eyes glazed over. “He rocked my world. I tried and tried to push him away, but he wasn’t going anywhere. I was convinced that I was made to sleep with whomever I wanted and that was how I was going to be happy, but when Jakob left for weeks on end, I found myself completely discombobulated without him. I missed everything, even the way he ate soup. It was scary, and I thought that maybe I was losing it. When he got hurt, I lost it at the thought of losing him. He was it. He was my dude. He made me want marriage and kids as long as it was with him. I needed him. I chose taking a chance and gave up loneliness… and I made the right choice.”
Reese closed her eyes tight. “And I am so happy for you, but I am not you.”
“No, you’re not. You’re Reese Allen, owner of the most prestigious dance studio here. You have the business side of things, Reese, but what about your heart? When you close your eyes, who do you want to open them too?”
Phillip.
Tears pooled in Reese’s eyes, and she had to look away as she slowly shook her head. “He scares me.”
“Good, love is scary as hell but that means it’s real.”
“He has the power to destroy me, wreck me completely, worse than Kevin.”
Harper shrugged her shoulders. “Be thankful for that. It means you’ll give him every piece of you and it’s up to him to keep you safe and love you, which I believe he’ll do. He loves you, Reese. I knew that from the first time I saw you two together. He has it bad for you, and I really don’t think he will ever hurt you.”
“I am still so scared. I don’t even think I want kids or marriage, and I think he wants that.”
Harper smiled. “Love is about compromise. No one is saying you have to get married now, or even have a kid. I bet all he is asking for is your love, and you have the power to give it to him. Worry about the other stuff later. Love him, build a foundation, and maybe it will come. For me it came quickly because I got pregnant but, once it came, I was ready. You aren’t one to turn away from a challenge, Reese. You go head first into things with all the determination to win. Love him and see what happens. You are trying to find a reason to not allow this to work because you are scared. Stop it. Find your courage, find the person who left a very promising job and started Reese Allen Company, and love the hell out of him.”
“I don’t think I can.”
“Don’t think, do. I know you can. You are resilient, Reese, and I believe in you. Now believe in yourself, believe in Phillip, and believe in your love because love conquers all. All you need is love.”
“What are you, a fucking hallmark card?”
Harper shot her a grin, wrapping her arms tight around her as she kissed her softly on her temple. “I’ll be anything you want as long as you go back to smiling the way you have since he and Claire came into your life. You know what I think is funny?”
Reese bit into her lip as she looked up at her. “What?”
“That’s you say you don’t want kids but Reese, you love Claire like she is yours. You say you don’t want to get married, but four days ago, you had a partnership with Phillip. I saw you two at the party. You were practically finishing each other sentences when you talked about Claire and how y’all planned on going to the beach this summer. I love how much you have changed since you’ve met him. He brings out a greatness in you, and it’s beautiful to see. You know what else I think?”