16
HARLOW
She was in the sound booth talking with Nora, the rink’s best DJ, who wanted to know everything—simply everything—about being in a Bon Jovi music video, when Matt found her.
“Was he cool?” Nora perched on her stool, wide-eyed.
“Yeah, he was cool. Really cool.” Harlow turned at Matt’s touch, the morning’sGazettein hand.
“They ran the story. Not as favorable toward the rink as I’d like, but ... Hey, Nora, how are you?”
“Amazing. I’m breathing the same air as someone who touched Jon Bon Jovi.”
“What?” Matt said, his attention on the article. “I never met Bon Jovi.”
“Not you, McFly.” Nora tapped Matt’s forehead. “I’m cuing up JBJ’s greatest hits for this afternoon’s session.”
“Knock yourself out.” Matt passed the Friday, April 3Gazetteto Harlow. “Rachel wrote the story herself, and by the way itreads, she’s known about the eminent domain strategy for a while. When I talked to her, she acted like theGazettewas neutral, only reporting the news as it came. But clearly this is a well-written, well-researched piece in favor of progress. Which tells me the domain story was in the queue, waiting for the right time, probably alongside the Starlight’s obituary.”
“How long have you been dealing with the press, Matt? Of course she knew.” Harlow reached for his hand. The one with the bruised knuckles. “Have you heard anything from the man you hit? Do you think he’ll file charges?”
“Dale? No. He cares too much what people think. It’s one thing to get punched in a near-empty diner. It’s another to have it appear in theGazettebecause he filed charges against a Hollywood star. AgainsttheLieutenant Striker.”
“You didn’t have to hit him on my account.” Yet his passionate defense of her made her look at him, and even herself, in a new light.
“Yes, I did. I’d do it again, Harlow. Just call my name and—”
“I’ll be there.”
“I would.” Matt said, eyes on the newspaper. “You can count on me.”
There was a catch of emotion in his voice that popped the sound booth’s atmosphere and filled Harlow with a confident warmth.
Nora made a small commotion with a stack of CDs, then hollered toward the door as she rushed out. “What? Spike, you need me?”
Harlow glanced at Matt with a laugh. “She thinks you’re getting mushy.”
“Mushy? Naw, just a guy talking to a girl. His friend.”
“Exactly.” Harlow reached for the newspaper with waves of the shy sixteen-year-old crushing on Logan Howard. “Do you think you should apologize? To Dale?”
She scanned theGazette’sbold headline:THE STARLIGHT TO GIVE WAY FOR PROGRESS.
“I’ll apologize if he does,” Matt said.
“It never hurts to go first, Matt. Hey, this article says he’s one of the town councilmen.” She looked up. “You might consider going first. He could make trouble for the petition.”
“Maybe, but I’m not the only one who knows he’s a jerk. As for the petition, Mary finally got them posted in the courthouse and the post office. Tyler finished the flyers. I’m going to pick them up.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead. “See you later.” He paused at the door. “Did I just kiss your forehead?”
“You did.” He was doing it, drawing her in, gaining her trust, making her feel like she was wanted in his world.
“I don’t know why,” he said. “I can’t say habit because I kiss no one that way. Not even Granny.”
“It’s fine. Let’s not make a thing of it.”
“You’re acting weird.” He exhaled. “Are things going to be weird?”
“Just go.” She shooed him out the door. “Get the flyers. Forget it. And, Matt, for the record, I’d be there for you too.”
