I wave her off. “Join us, Harper. Please.”
Blue eyes connect with mine. I can see her weighing her decision, probably thinking about our kiss. We haven’t been together since then, and seeing her like this brings it all back.
The sweetest of kisses.
It’s like it erased the time we weren’t together with one moment. Sure, I had my share of women over the years. Situation-ships, if you will. We both knew what we wanted going in. And that was that we didn’t want more.
I couldn’t bring myself to want more from anyone. Notwhen the only woman who mattered is sitting across from me.
Harper.
She’s wearing a pair of black leggings, a white T-shirt, and a black jacket. Even in that, she’s fucking stunning—all that blonde hair sweeping down in soft waves over her shoulders.
“Okay.”
“You can sit next to me.” Sadie pats the plastic black booth seat next to her, and Harper drops down next to her.
“Thank you.” Harper smiles at Sadie, and the way my daughter looks at her? It’s like she hung the moon. “So it’s pizza night, huh?”
“Yes.” Sadie extends a crayon to her. “And coloring.”
“I like coloring,” Harper tells her.
“Me too. Can you draw a rainbow?”
Harper nods. “Do you like rainbows?”
This is the one thing I always remembered about Harper. She’s a natural at connecting with anyone she meets. It’s why Sadie doesn’t hesitate in inviting her to sit down next to her. It’s one of the many,manyreasons I fell for her all those years ago.
Sam challenges me in a game of tic-tac-toe while Sadie and Harper draw pictures. I can barely get a word in edgewise since they’re chatting her ear off, mainly about school things. It’s like they’re in their own club because they know everyone.
It’s the cutest damn thing how much my girls like her.
Paul brings out the pizza and salad and I divvy it up between the girls. “Remember what I said?” I eye both of them.
Sam rolls her eyes. “We have to eat our salads.”
“You don’t like salad?” Harper asks, grabbing her own helping.
They both shake their heads, talking over each other. “It’s too wet.”
“And slimy.”
Harper looks at both of them. “Well, salads are one of my favorite foods.”
“Really?” Sam asks.
Harper nods. “Yes. So you better eat up before I eat all of yours.”
Both girls start gobbling down the leafy greens in front of them.
“How did you do that?” I ask. “That would have taken me all night to do.”
She shrugs. “I guess I’m a magician.”
“Can you always come over for dinnertime?” I laugh.
Sam looks up, cheeks puffed out before she swallows. “Can Harper come over for dinner every night?”
