“Bullshit.”
He said it so calmly it didn’t register for a full second.
“I’m not leaving you with a car that barely runs.”
“Luke, that’s not your concern.”
He sighed. “You’re my concern and that extends to any metal container that you strap yourself into and hit highway speeds in.”
She was equally touched and annoyed by his gesture. Was it worth fighting over with seventy-two hours left together? She sighed. “When will it be done?”
“Should be done tomorrow end of day.”
“Two days? What are they doing to it?”
“Anything it needs.” He cut off her outraged reply with a hard kiss on her mouth. “Now get in the truck.”
“Fine, but don’t even think for a second that you’re paying for this,” she yelled at his retreating back.
“Truck, Harper,” he called over his shoulder.
She climbed in in a huff.
“Listen,” Luke said, sliding the key in the ignition. “I want you safe when I’m not here to keep an eye on you. I’ve gotten kind of attached to you being alive and in one beautiful piece.”
“Don’t you think you’re being just a little overprotective? Especially for someone who is basically breaking up with me in a matter of hours.” They backed down the driveway into the street.
“Can we talk about something else for a minute and then you can go back to complaining?”
She rolled her eyes and sighed. “By all means.”
“I saw you started packing last night.”
She had. It was just some clothes tucked into a bag and a few boxes of odds and ends. “I didn’t want to leave it all until Friday. Too depressing.”
“I know you’re planning on leaving and I was thinking maybe you could stay a few more days. After I’m gone.”
Harper shot him a look, but his gaze was fixed on the road. “Why?”
“It might be a little hard on my family if we both leave the same day.”
“You haven’t told them yet?”
He shook his head. “I couldn’t think of the right way to do it. Dad’s always wanting to tell me about something great you’re doing in the office. Mom’s always shoving baked goods at me for you.”
“That’s kind of sweet.”
“Yeah, you try crushing their dreams with the truth.”
“So what are we going to do? I’m not just supposed to disappear one day, am I?” She watched the tidy neighborhood slide past her window and forced the lump in her throat to release.
“I did something I never do and asked Sophie’s advice.”
“I’m suddenly intrigued.”
“I told her I didn’t want either one of us coming across like a jerk.”
“Good call.”
