“Yeah, it’s a bit weird, right?Dante wanted to show that the love that comes from God is pure but that when it gets into our hands, we have a tendency to screw it up.Love can be abused by us mere mortals.Like love too strong could be lust.Or love, when abused, can drive a guy to wrath.”
His words hit very close to home.Harper nudged him forward again so she could take a closer look.There were so many details to take in.She could see elements of the story she remembered.
“Who did it for you?”
“Junior.He found Cujo and me when we were thirteen, spraying the back of his studio with a dollar-store aerosol can.”
Harper laughed.“You were a child vandal.I can see that somehow.”
“Yeah… all Cujo’s fault… the worst trouble I ever got into was with him.But Junior taught me everything I know.He did all of this over two years, as soon as I was old enough.”
“Well, he did a spectacular job.I wish I could have met him.”
“Me too.He was something else.Half my size, but could kick my ass from here to New York.If I can be half as good as he was, I’ll be happy.”
Harper put her arms around Trent’s waist, leaning against his back.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered into his skin.His hands covered hers.
“It’s all good.Junior had time to make his peace with the world before he went, and man did he have the craziest life.He gave me three amazing gifts—my ink, the Road Runner, and a career I love.All things considered, I love the guy.”
Harper had a feeling that, from everything she had heard, Junior had felt the same way about the highly loveable man sitting in front of her.
Trent pulled her arms tight around his front and sighed.The sun had turned the sea into a sparkling aquamarine.Parents ran by the waterline, chasing toddlers covered in melted Popsicles and carrying little plastic buckets.Couples walked hand in hand, stopping periodically to kiss each other or to simply stare into each other’s eyes.
“This feels good,” Trent said, turning to her with a soft smile, “if you know what I mean.”She did because she felt it too.
“It’s normal,” she said, kissing him softly.
“I like normal.I’m good with all the other stuff we’ve got to work through, but normal can be pretty spectacular.Just being here with you, on a beautiful day.This feels good.”
For the first time in years, Harper allowed herself to think maybe everything was going work out the way it was supposed to.
Cujo grabbed them pizza for dinner, complemented by the beers everyone was drinking clandestinely from plastic cups—everyone but Trent, her personal designated driver.The festival was in full swing now, and the crowd was growing larger.The music blasting from the main stage down the beach inspired Pixie and Lia to drag Harper up to dance, even though she preferred not to.
At the end of the night, driving in his car with the windows rolled down, she breathed in the fresh air.She closed her eyes, yawned, and let the hum of the engine lull her.
“Wake up, sleepyhead.”Harper opened her eyes, surprised to find herself parked outside her apartment.Wow, a full day of beach, sunshine, and Trent could really knock a girl on her ass.The clock on the dashboard read eleven o’clock.
“Guess you exhausted me today,” she said, raising her arms and stretching as best she could in the limited headroom.
“That was the plan.”It was as normal and all-American as you could get.
Harper couldn’t contain her yawn.“Sorry I passed out on you.”She looked down and realized she was still wearing the giant tarp of a hoodie Trent had loaned her as the night had cooled off.
“No worries.You were cute while you were sleeping.Let me help you get your stuff out of my trunk.”
Walking around to her side of the car, Trent opened the door and helped her out.
Harper started to pull her arm into the hoodie to lift it over her head.“I should give you this back.”
“Nah.Keep it.It looks good on you.”He helped tug it back down and then pulled the huge hood over her head.
Laughing, Harper pulled it back so she could see.“Jackass.”
“As I said this morning… so I’ve been told, Miss Connelly.So I’ve been told.”
Trent carried her bags to the door.
