“Wanna be friends? I’ll understand if your answer’s no, considering I got you punched in the face.”
“I got myself punched in the face, and it got me waking up staring into the beautiful eyes of Luke Garrison. I think I owe you a lifetime of friendship.”
Gloria laughed. “I went to school with Sophie and Luke. He’s a good man.”
“Yes he is,” Harper nodded.
After lunch, she walked Gloria to the door.
“It was really nice officially meeting you,” Gloria said. “And one more time for the record, thank you and I’m sorry.”
“And again, no thanks or apologies necessary. I fully plan to be BFFs with you and we should have dinner sometime soon,” she said, opening the front door.
“Did someone say dinner?” a male voice asked from the porch. A barrel-chested man in shorts and running shoes took the front steps in a single bound. His thick dark hair curled at the ends and a white-toothed grin split his face.
Harper noticed a pink tinge warm Gloria’s cheeks. “Hi, Aldo,” she said shyly.
He took off his sunglasses. “Hi, Gloria. How’s it going?”
She blushed deeper.
“You must be Aldo because Gloria called you that,” Harper said, extending her hand.
“And you must be the famous Harper.” He had a strong, warm grip. “I thought I’d stop by while my best friend is out of town to see why he forgot to mention that he has a live-in girlfriend.”
“And make sure I’m not some kind of psychopath?”
“You know the saying. Bros don’t let other bros date psychos.”
“I’m actually not familiar with that one. Is there some kind of test I have to take?”
“Why don’t I give you the test at dinner? Monday. Here. I’ll grill burgers and dogs.”
“Gloria, I feel like I should confirm that this gentleman actually is a friend of Luke’s before I agree to let him cook dinner in Luke’s house.”
Gloria nodded. “He is.”
“Since elementary school,” Aldo supplied.
“Good enough for me. 7 o’clock here okay for you, Gloria?”
She saw the hesitation on Gloria’s face.
“Please tell me you’ll bring your apple pie. I’ll be your slave for life,” Aldo pleaded, taking her slim hand in his.
Gloria bit her lip. “I’ll bring apple pie.” She turned back to Harper. “I’ll see you Monday, Harper.”
“See you, Gloria,” Aldo said, leaning against the doorframe.
She hurried past him, down the walk, but smiled the whole way.
“It’s nice to see her smile,” he said. “So, Harper, if that is your real name, tell me about yourself.”
“Want to come in?”
“Normally, not until I know whether you can be trusted. But I’m four miles into my eight and I could use some water.”
Aldo was indeed Luke’s best friend from elementary school, Harper learned. The two ran wild in the summers together, played football together, and in their senior year of high school, they signed up for the Guard together.
