Free Maybe Forever (Missing Pieces Book 1) by Keyanna Butler Page A

would want to be with Jamie at a moment like this, and you’ve always wanted to go, so I figured it would be nice to do it together.” Dakota’s eyes narrow slightly, but he recovers.
    “That would be pretty cool for you to come, actually, Mom,” Jamie says quietly and then looks at Dakota, feeling guilty.
    “We’ll talk about it,” Harper says, swallowing the awkward in the room.
    “I think that’s really cool,” Dakota says and picks up his glass of lemonade. “Sounds really fun. Something you can all do together.” He takes a sip, his face completely straight.
    “Glad you approve, Dakota,” Aiden replies smoothly. There is silence for a few seconds.
    “Well, thank you, everyone, for the gifts. They really are great. I appreciate the love,” Jamie says, trying to diffuse the tension. Everyone murmurs their “your welcomes.” Harper gets up from her seat.
    “I’ll go slice up the cake.”
    “I’ll help you,” Dakota says, and Casey goes to follow them.
    “I’ll get the plates for you guys,” she says, and they disappear from the living room. Aiden takes Jamie aside as Mason and Bianca talk amongst themselves.
    “So I wanted to tell you while your mom was here, but this seems as good a time as any. I have another present for you.” Jamie looks curious. “I know I haven’t been around as much as I should have, and I’m really sorry for that. I can’t even imagine how long it would take to make it up to you, but I plan on trying the best that I can. And I think the only way I can do that is by being closer to you.” Jamie’s eyes narrow.
    “What do you mean?” Jamie asks.
    “My company is opening a branch here in Blue Moon, and I asked if I could be in charge of running it. I’m moving to Blue Moon,” he says.
    “What?” Jamie says.
    “What?” Harper says from behind them.
    “What?” Dakota says from behind her.
    “Are you fucking kidding me?” says Casey from behind him. Jamie looks at his dad, trying to figure out what he could possibly be thinking.
     
    ***
     
    Harper
     
    “What are you thinking, Dakota?” Harper says when Dakota emerges from the bathroom. It’s the end of the night, and everyone has said their goodbyes and last birthday wishes to Jamie. After Aiden’s announcement, things got pretty uncomfortable for everyone. After about a half hour, everyone decided to leave for night. After Jamie and Bianca and Mason helped cleaned up the place, the three friends retired to the porch and Dakota and Harper decided to head up to bed. Harper could feel that Dakota’s mood had changed from the moment Aiden walked in the door, and she hated that he had the power to do that. Something had happened between Aiden’s arrival and Aiden’s leaving, and Harper wanted to know what.
    “I’m not thinking anything,” Dakota says softly. Harper brings her knees up to her chest and wraps her arms around them, looking up at Dakota as he gets into the bed next to her.
    “Don’t do that, Dakota. We need to talk about what happened today.” Dakota rubs between his eyes.
    “There’s nothing really to talk about, Harper,” Dakota says.
    “I know you’re not okay with what’s happening, so tell me. Tell me how you feel about Aiden moving here.” Dakota sighs deeply.
    “I think it’s great Aiden wants to be closer to Jamie. It’s something Jamie has always wanted no matter how much he pretends that he doesn’t.” Harper nods her head, agreeing with him. “But I also know Aiden is a dick, so he probably has more on his mind than just strengthening his relationship with his son.”
    “What, like strengthening his relationship with me?” Harper asks.
    “Yes. I know that’s what he’s up to. He’s going to try to steal you away from me.” Dakota removes his T-shirt. He lays on his side facing her and holds his head up with his hand.
    “I love you, Dakota,” she says. “So as far as I am concerned, he can’t steal me away because I belong to you.” They stare at