Chapter 192

Judy’s POV

“Well, isn’t this cozy,” Harper said loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear. My eyes immediately went in that direction, as did everyone else’s. My eyes grew large when I saw Nan tensing at the table with Chester seated in front of her.

My heart hammered in my chest.

I knew Nan and Chester were going on a date tonight; I was part of the reason why Nan agreed to go out with him so easily. I didn’t know they would be at this restaurant though and I certainly wasn’t thinking Harper would show up and ruin everything for them.

“Harper, what are you doing here?” Chester asked, his tone was low and dangerous. I had never heard Chester sounding quite so pissed off before. He was typically a happy and carefree guy, but in this case, he sounded royally furious.

“What am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here? I barely see you in the last 2 weeks and now I find out on a date with another woman??” Harper growled; her arms folded across her chest.

I raised my brows at her words; she knew that Chester had found his mate and Chester made it clear to Harper that they were not together. Chester had made it clear to her that they were not together. So, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about. I could see the horror on Nan’s face all the way from the other side of the restaurant and my heart shattered for her.

“I ended things with you weeks ago,” Chester reminded her. “Who I am going out with isn’t your concern. It never has been… you were just a warm body to fuck, that was it.”

His tone was cruel, and it was meant to make Nan feel better about his past relationship with Harper. Even I knew he was trying to make it sound like his relationship with Harper was nothing more than sex. But it had the opposite effect on Nan; I watched her face redden and she was trying hard to keep the tears from pouring out of her eyes, though it was obvious she wanted to cry. Chester didn’t seem to notice though because he was too busy telling Harper off.

“We’ve broken up before and we always get back together. Chester, I love you. I choose you as my mate, when are you finally going to open your eyes and choose me too?” Harper asked desperation in her tone.

My eyes never left Nan’s reddening face; she flinched at Harper’s words and many around them gasped.

“I will never choose you as my mate, Harper,” Chester growled, his was at his white end and I could tell he was pissed and desperate to get her away. “When will you get that through your head??”

“It isn’t fair,” Harper cried. “Why her? I know she’s your mate, but I have been with you for years. I stood by you when your mother died…I was there when you graduated culinary school. I helped you get the job at the Landry Mansion. I stood by you with every woman you brought home and fucked, and I barely even batted an eye because I knew at the end of the day, it was me you always returned to. Even after you met your mate, and went on a date with another woman, you still fucked me that night.”

Nan was flinching with each word spoken, but Chester was too wrapped up in his argument to notice how much pain she was in. She was desperate to find an escape out.

“Is that Nan?” My mother asked, finally noticing the girl at the table with Chester.

“Yeah,” I whisper. “She found her mate.”

“Oh, that poor girl,” my mother whispered. “Finding her mate and then having this happen.”

I nodded in agreement as I turned my attention back to the scene Harper was causing.

“I was the one that’s always been there for you, Chester. You told me I was the only one who truly understood you,” Harper was crying, and Nan was desperate to keep herself from crying. I could practically feel her heart breaking and I hated that it was happening to her. “You told me that you could see yourself with me long term.”

“I was drunk when I said that—”

“It doesn’t matter!” Harper snapped. “Drunk words are sober thoughts spoken out loud. You meant what you said, I could see it in your eyes. You love me, Chester.”

“I don’t!” Chester snapped; his wolf was ready to take charge. “You have no idea what you are talking about!”

“The fuck I don’t!” Harper shouted. “I know you better than anyone. Especially better than this hussy!”

Before I could grasp anything, Harper grabbed Nan’s wine glass and splashed it at Nan’s dress, making everyone gasp.

Nan shot to her feet, her eyes red with unshed tears and her face flushed with embarrassment. Even my parents gasped; my mother let out a sad sigh as she saw Nan’s distraught and broken expression.

“She doesn’t deserve you. She doesn’t know you. She could never love you the way I love you,” Harper continued, pointing her red fingernail manicure at Nan’s face. I couldn’t exactly see Chester’s face because his back was turned towards me, but I knew he was looking at Nan, he was now seeing how upset she truly was and the fact that her dress was now stained, didn’t help matters.

Nan was standing to her feet, her body trembling. I knew she was about to make a run for it.

My mother tapped the table, getting my attention.

“Go to her,” she said softly.

I glanced between her and my father.

“Are you sure? I feel bad bailing on dinner,” I told her; this was an important celebration, and family had always come first to me.

As if reading my thoughts, my father nodded his head.

“Nan is family too,” he told me. “You should make sure she’s okay.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice; I stood up quickly and started towards their table while Nan was having an internal battle.

“You’ve crossed a line, Harper,” Chester said, his tone low and deadly; their voices got louder as I got nearer. I could see some of the security and management making their way through the restaurant as well, wondering what the commotion was all about and ready to de-escalate the situation.

“You can’t honestly say you don’t have feelings for me, Chester. I have always been there for you… I have always loved you. You can’t deny that we have history together.”

For a moment, Chester didn’t say anything. That was a huge mistake because that was the moment Nan’s face fell, and the tears sprang free from her eyes. I was there before Chester even noticed the expression on her face.

I wrapped my arm around her, startling her. I turned her way from Chester so he wouldn’t see her face.

“Bathroom,” I told her softly. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

Chester’s eyes met mine and I could see the real reason why he hadn’t said anything; he was fighting his wolf. His wolf wanted to spring free and tear Harper apart and he was trying desperately to keep that from happening. I felt relieved knowing that was the real, but I don’t think Nan understood that as well as I did. She took his silence as him accepting Harper’s words and agreeing with her.

That was also the reason he didn’t notice Nan’s sunken and hurt expression because he was too focused on keeping his wolf under control. Chester had an Alpha wolf, which meant they were harder to control.

“Deal with this,” I told Chester, hoping to get through to the man and not the wolf. “Or you’ll lose you forever.”

Chester’s true eyes flashed for a moment when he finally noticed Nan and how her shoulders were shaking. She was silently crying, trying to keep it so he didn’t hear, but now he could see it. A panicked look flashed through his eyes and soon, his wolf was returning, and I could see the hatred and anger he felt towards Harper.

As we passed her, I couldn’t help but whisper, “If I were you… I’d start running.”

With those words left in the air, I guided Nan away and towards the bathrooms. I ignored the screaming as I slammed the bathroom door shut and locked it. At that moment, Nan completely fell apart. She started to sob loudly as she fell to the ground, her entire body quivering as she let out all the surpassed feelings she’d had that evening.

I sat with her on the ground, my eyes burning with unshed tears as I watched my best friend fall apart. I hated that this was happening; I hated that Harper was making this happen. I wanted to be friends with Harper for a long time, but now… now I couldn’t seem to look at her without feeling resentment and hatred.

I grabbed my phone and brought up my text thread with Gavin.

I sent a single text, hoping it didn’t sound like he owed me anything, but I needed this to be done.

Me: I need a favor.