“You don’t have to be scared alone.”
Another clap of thunder and Harper grasps my thigh. Her short nails dig into the skin under the hem of my shorts. I should hate how the warmth feels. How her touch can still make me feel things I thought were long dead inside of me.
But I can’t.
Because it’s Harper.
The only woman I’ve ever cared about. The only woman I’veeverloved.
“I’m hoping it blows over soon,” she whispers.
Glancing down, I see her eyes are squeezed shut. This isn’t the first time I’ve been with her like this. Harper has hated storms since she and her sister went camping outside and she woke up by herself during one. Apparently her sister didn’t want to sleep in the yard, so she went inside without telling Harper.
She’s been scared ever since.
One of the endless things I know about the woman sitting next to me. Even after all these years, even after leaving her, I still remember.
Another boom shakes the room. Harper burrows herself into my side. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, I hold her close. I’m thankful she’s not looking at me, because I couldn’t hide the smile exploding on my face if I tried.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. I rub my hand up and down herarm, trying to get her to stop shaking. “Do you need to tell me your favorite things?”
She laughs, her warm breath seeping through my T-shirt. “I don’t know if that will be a good enough distraction.”
“It always used to work for you.”
Harper tips her head up, resting her chin on my shoulder. Her blue eyes are clouded. Before, I knew exactly what to do to get her through storms. Not something I can do here, crammed under a desk. I could keep her calm through the worst of it.
“Things have changed.”
“Tell me anyway.”
I don’t need the reminder that things have changed between the two of us. One phone call and my entire world blew up all those years ago. I’m living with that reminder every day.
“The beach.”
I smile, resting my forehead against hers. I can’t help it. I have to be close to her. “You always loved the beach.”
“I miss it. Nashville is not close enough to the beach for me.”
“Why didn’t you move home then? After…you know.”
Harper pulls back, her blue eyes wide open.
“I couldn’t. I…” Harper licks her lips. “After you left, I needed a fresh start at a new school. By the time I got myself together and made it through that whole school year, I realized I had friends here. A life. Leaving would have been too much for me to take. I’d had enough change, so I stayed.”
“I don’t need any more change in my life,” I agree.
Cupping her cheek, I brush my thumb over the soft skin of her cheek. She doesn’t pull away from me. Her teeth are biting her bottom lip.
The storm rages around us, but Harper doesn’t seem to notice anymore.
Perfect.
“Did you mean it?” Harper asks.
“Mean what?”
“What you said the other night?”
