I got two more water bottles out of the fridge and handed her one.
"It's nearly lunch time. How about I make something?" I looked at Harrison. "Are you staying?"
He shook his head and drained the rest of his water. "No, I have to get back to the shop. Arien is alone there."
"Thank you for your help."
He studied me. "No problem. Call me if you run into any more problems."
"I will."
Something passed between us and I knew we'd turned a corner. We were on the same side and maybe friends rather than wary allies.
"I'll see you soon," he said finally. He turned to Merry and took a card out of his pocket. "If you need anything or you get tired of Callum's insanity, call me and I'll come save you."
She laughed a little and took the card. "Thank you. That's...sweet."
"You say that now, but I've dealt with him nearly every day for a year. You may decide that I'm the lesser evil."
Her smile widened. "Thank you, Harrison."
And just like that, I didn't like him quite so much. "Be careful on your way back to the Bean," I said. "Let me get you another bottle of water for the road."
Harrison's smirk returned when I took another water from the fridge and threw it at him. This time a lot harder and faster.
Merry gasped as the bottle whizzed through the air and landed in Harrison's palm with a thump.
"Thanks," he said. He winked at Merry and sauntered out the front door.
"Um...did he make you mad?" she asked.
"Not really, but we like to give each other a hard time."
"Okay, so it's a guy thing. I get it."
"Do you want to watch TV or take a nap while I cook lunch?" I asked.
"Can I hang out in here?"
That pleased me a great deal. "Of course."
Maybe things between us weren't as hopeless as I feared.
Then, I saw her hand rest on her pocket where she carried the stunner she'd used on Marcel earlier. My stomach knotted.
Maybe I was in denial.
