Chapter 158: A Promise in the Air

Harper’s POV

The moment I opened my eyes, I remembered.

Justin was coming home today.

I smiled straight into my pillow, a soft, warm blush spreading across my face. After weeks of him being away at NHL development camp, I was finally going to have my man back in the same city—in the same house—where I could actually touch him instead of settling for phone calls and FaceTime screens.

And I fully intended to make his first night back unforgettable.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and immediately called Mia.

She answered on the third ring. "Good morning."

"Good morning. I need a favor."

"That sounds dangerous already," she drawled.

I laughed softly. "I need you to help me with the documentary."

"I knew it."

"I’m serious! I’ve already finished most of the editing, but I need your eyes for the color grading and some of the finer visual details. I want it looking really polished before we put it out."

"Send it over. I’ll help."

"Thank you, Mia."

"Of course."

I was about to hang up when she suddenly went dead quiet. Then, through the receiver, I heard the unmistakable sound of a mischievous, slow laugh.

"So..." she purred.

I narrowed my eyes at the ceiling. "So what?"

"How are you preparing for your man’s grand comeback?"

I burst out laughing, covering my face. "Mia!"

"What? It’s a completely serious question!"

"You are so ridiculous."

"No, I’m not! Your man has been grinding away at camp for weeks. He’s coming back today. I need to know what the master plan is."

I rolled onto my back, staring up at the white ceiling as my heart did a little flutter. "Well..." I smiled. "I’m going to wax."

Mia literally screamed into the mic.

I started laughing uncontrollably. "I’m going to get my hair done," I continued. "I’m going to take a long full-body shower, do my absolute best skincare, everything."

"Girl!"

"We have to spice things up!"

"You are terrible."

"I am a woman in love."

"You are a woman with plans."

"Exactly."

We both started laughing so hard that I had to pull the phone away from my ear to catch my breath. Then, an engine rumble outside caught my attention.

"Oh! Wait. Let me go get something."

"What?"

"You’ll see!"

I hurried out of my room and headed downstairs just as I heard a heavy vehicle pulling up outside the front curb. My eyes widened in instant panic.

"Oh my God."

"What?" Mia asked urgently through the phone.

"My package."

"What package? Harper, what did you buy?"

I didn’t answer. I practically sprinted toward the front door. I had ordered something with Prime delivery specifically because I needed it before Justin’s flight landed. And there was absolutely no way I was letting my brother or sister catch a glimpse of the label.

I whipped open the door just as the delivery driver was walking back down the steps. "Thank you!"

I snatched the brown box and sprinted right back inside.

Mia was laughing hysterically through the phone speaker. "RUN!"

"I am running!"

"Don’t let anybody see that!"

"I know!"

"You bad little girl!"

I slammed my bedroom door shut behind me, locked it with a sharp click, and sank against the wood.

I quickly ripped open the tape and opened the box. My cheeks immediately flushed bright red.

"Oh..."

Mia started cracking up all over again. "What is it?"

"You know exactly what it is."

"Show me! FaceTime me!"

"No way!"

"Harper!"

I laughed nervously as I pulled out the sheer lace lingerie and the ridiculously sexy nightwear set I had ordered. It was definitely more daring than anything I normally wore, but staring at the delicate fabric, I shook my head with a grin.

"Okay. This was a very good decision."

"I knew it!"

"I need to hide this immediately."

"Destroy the evidence!"

"That is exactly what I’m doing."

I ripped apart the Amazon packaging, shoved the box into a dark trash bag, then wrapped the lace clothes inside an ordinary-looking shopping bag. I tucked it deep into my tote bag and zipped it firmly shut.

Nobody needed to know. Especially not Noah—I would never hear the end of it.

I walked downstairs with the tote casually slung over my shoulder. Mom was in the kitchen pouring coffee.

"Mom?"

She looked up. "Yes, sweetie?"

"Justin is coming back later this evening."

"I know."

"I want to spend the next few days with him over at his place."

Mom nodded gently. "That’s fine, Harper."

I smiled, feeling relieved. Then she paused, looking at me with a sharp, maternal gaze.

"Just use protection."

I froze mid-step, my mouth dropping open. "Mom!"

She frowned, unbothered. "Why are you shouting ’Mom’ at me?"

"Because you just—"

"I said use protection," she repeated calmly.

I covered my burning face with both hands. "Please stop."

"I don’t want grandkids yet."

"Mom!"

"You two have a whole future ahead of you. Enjoy yourselves, but be responsible."

I groaned loudly into my palms. "Okay, Mom. Understood."

"Good." She went right back to her coffee as if she hadn’t just shattered my composure.

I grabbed my small overnight bag, grabbed my keys, and headed out. I had my clothes, my computer, my chargers, and the hidden tote bag.

I drove straight over to Justin’s house.

The moment I unlocked his front door and stepped inside, I started running through a mental checklist. The house was clean, but I wanted every inch immaculate. I called his regular house cleaner on the spot.

"Hi! Could you possibly come by for a deep clean today?"

She agreed, arriving an hour later. While she handled the sweeping and dusting, I took care of the romantic details. I didn’t want to spend his first night back standing over a hot stove; I wanted to focus on him.

So I ordered high-end catering to be prepped, and then placed a separate order for fresh pizza to arrive at five o’clock—right when his flight was landing—so it would be piping hot when he walked in.

I stocked his fridge with his favorite energy drinks, fresh fruit, and snacks, making sure everything looked neat.

Then, his grandmother’s name flashed on my phone screen.

"Harper?"

"Hi, Grandma!"

"I sent a little delivery over for Justin."

"What did you send?"

"His favorite homemade apple pie."

I smiled warmly. "Thank you so much, Grandma. I’ll make sure he eats it."

"You know how much that boy loves that pie."

"I definitely do."

I set the pie aside, planning to warm it in the oven right before he stepped through the door.

By the time the cleaner finished and left, the place was spotless. I stood in the middle of the spacious living room, looking around. Everything was aligned. Food, drinks, clean house, warm pie.

Then came the mood. I began lighting small, fragrant candles across the counters and tables, arranging them carefully so the house felt soft and intimate without looking like a chaotic altar.

I stepped back. Perfect.

My phone buzzed with a text from Ava.

Ava: Girl, I can literally see your candlelight setup from Mason’s balcony window across the street. What the hell are you planning over there?

I laughed, typing back fast.

Me: Nothing crazy! Just setting up a nice welcome home for Justin.

Ava: You’re making the rest of us look bad!

Me: I’m just trying to spice up the night.

A pause, then three rapid messages popped up:

Ava: You’re bad.Ava: You’re spoiled.Ava: You spoiled little brat.

I grinned at my screen.

Me: Justin made me this way.

Ava called me instantly, laughing into the line. "You are unbelievable!"

"What?"

"You’ve got candles everywhere, you’re stocking his entire fridge, you ordered custom food, you’re warming his grandma’s pie, and now you’re telling me you’ve got secret plans?"

"Maybe," I giggled.

"Girl..."

"I just want his first night back to be special, Ava."

Ava let out a dramatic sigh. "You’re hopeless."

"I’m in love."

"Same difference."

We chatted for a few more minutes before hanging up. I checked the time, and my pulse instantly spike. Justin’s flight had landed.

I pulled up his location on my phone. My eyes widened. He was already in an Uber, twenty minutes away.

"Twenty minutes?!"

Panic surged through me. Suddenly, I felt completely unprepared.

I rushed into the kitchen to check the oven—the pie was warming nicely. The pizza delivery driver was approaching. The candles were glowing softly. I ran into the living room, then the hallway, then the bedroom, checking every surface.

I ran into the bathroom and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My hair, my makeup, my outfit...

A wave of pure, fluttering nervousness hit me right in the chest.

I took a deep, shaky breath, pressing my hands to my warm cheeks. "Okay, Harper. Calm down."

I looked around the room one last time. Everything was ready. At least, I desperately hoped it was.

Because Justin was twenty minutes away, and there was no turning back now.

I swallowed hard, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Oh God... I hope I didn’t mess this up.