As Dylan reached my side he shook my hand. He wasn’t the most affectionate man, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care. Dylan was a tough nut to crack. He wasn’t what you’d call a “people person”.. It’d taken everything Harper had to bulldoze down the walls the years of being in the Marines had helped him build, but now they were expecting their first child, a daughter, and when Dylan had told me, I could hear in his voice how excited he was at the idea of being a father.
“You know she’s gonna ask,” he told me straight.
I nodded. I wouldn’t expect anything else. Besides, everyone else had asked. Why would I expect Harper to be any different?
“Alright then. Let’s get it over with and then have a beer.”
“Sounds good,” I agreed, falling in step as we headed towards the house.
I hadn’t made it up the front two steps before she was throwing herself into my arms. Dropping my bag, I caught her easily. Over her shoulder, I watched as Dylan picked up my bag and with a chuckle, bounded up the steps and left me there with her.
“Hey,” I said softly as I stroked her hair, feeling her body shudder in my arms. “It’s okay,” I tried to reassure her. I hated tears. Especially tears from women in my arms.
“She should be here,” Harper sobbed and I couldn’t argue. She should be here. But she wasn’t. And she wouldn’t be here again. And there’s nothing I could do about it. And it was fucked.
“I know,” I agreed, feeling my chest constrict.
I stood there holding Harper and letting her get it out. When I’d planned my escape out here it’d been for completely selfish reasons. I needed a break. I needed to get out of the city and take a minute just to breathe. I hadn’t stopped to think about how hard it would be for Harper. She’d been one of Cassidy’s oldest friends. Hell, she’d met Dylan at our engagement party. She was planning our wedding. She was part of Cassidy’s life and I could only imagine how much she was hurting right now.
When she pulled back, her eyes were red rimmed, her nose was running and her lips were shiny with her tears. Wiping away a stray tear with my thumb, I offered her a simple smile. I couldn’t take away her pain, but I could sympathize.
“Are you okay?” I asked dumbly.
Obviously she wasn’t but I felt like I had to ask.
“Shouldn't I be asking you that?” Harper sniffed, forcing a smile.
“Well, I’ve come to crash on your couch, so…”
“And you’re welcome as long as you like.”
“Thanks.”
“Come on in,” Harper invited, taking my hand and leading me up the steps and through the front door.
As soon as we were inside, Dylan handed me a beer and Harper a bottle of water before we all settled on the couch. The smell of something delicious was in the air and suddenly I was starving. I must’ve moaned because Harper and Dylan exchanged a look I didn’t understand as Rusty settled himself at Harper’s feet.
“When was the last time you had a decent meal?” Harper asked, already sounding like a mom.
Yeah. I couldn’t remember. Mom had invited me home a bunch of times but each time, I’d managed to find an excuse. It wasn’t that I didn’t love my mom, I did. But I just wasn’t sure I could stand sitting around the dinner table, my parents looking at me with pity.
“Your silence says it all. It’s a roast. It’s been cooking for hours. And I’m starving,” Harper explained.
It was a good thing she was here. Dylan and I weren’t talkers much and right now the last thing I wanted to do was sit around talking about my feelings, so having Harper babble was probably for the best.
“Sounds great,” I offered.
It’s amazing what a good night's sleep could do for you. I don't know if it was the country air, the stars overhead, or the silence, but whatever it was, I’d slept and slept hard. When I’d finally surfaced, I’d found a note on the kitchen counter and the house was silent. Checking the time, I wasn’t surprised. It was already after midday. After a quick shower, I made myself a coffee and sat outside in the sunshine.
Somewhere in the bush in front of me, a bird squawked and something scampered across the ground before disappearing in the undergrowth.
Around me, it was quiet and calm but my mind was a tornado. So many thoughts whirling around inside my head, I should’ve been dizzy, but it was almost like for the first time in ages I could see clearly again.
When I had a lightbulb moment, I jumped up, knocking the empty mug over and shattering it around my feet as I hurried through the house to find my phone. Powering it back up, I text Skye.
Hayden:Did you find those shoes that you were looking for?
To anyone else, it might’ve seemed like the most random text a person could get but I was hoping Skye would understand.
