Harper didn’t let it go. She grinned with a mischievous glint in her eye. “So how did you two meet?”
Alex was looking over the menu, so I answered for us. “We work together at the hospital. I’m a nurse in the TICU, and you know that Alex is a surgeon there.”
“Oh, that’s awesome! That makes a lot of sense,” Harper replied. She cocked an eyebrow at me. “Having a medical background makes it easier to understand how Alex’s brain works, since that is what he thinks about 99% of the time.”
I laughed. Harper did know Alex well. “I’m not going to argue that point.”
Alex threw his hands up in defeat. “Okay, okay, I get it, I need to expand my horizons.”
Harper chuckled. “I’m not trying to corner you, Alex. You know I’m similar. But I’ll admit it is nice to be able to enjoy other parts of life.” She smiled up at Andrew.
I couldn’t help but ask, “How did you guys meet?”
Andrew smiled proudly at Harper. “She’s the doc at the community health center in Keokuk—where we live. It was just going to be a short-term gig, but then she saw my tractor and decided she never wanted to leave.”
Harper looked down, bit her lip, and blushed. “He does have a nice tractor.”
There was a slight pause; then we all burst out laughing.
Alex managed to get out, “I’m going to take that in the literal sense.”
“Well, that is exactly how I meant it,” Harper countered with feigned indignity.
“I know at least three guys back home who caught their wives with the same trick,” I added, earning another round of laughs.
Harper sat up taller. “I can drive the tractor as well as any of the hired hands, and this fall I’m learning how to operate the combines.”
“Harper, Ineverpegged you as a farm girl.” Alex took a sip from his water glass. “I mean, I know you hike with Astrid, but this is completely different.”
Andrew grinned. “You should see her ride a horse. It took a little practice, but now it’s like she has been doing it her whole life.”
“You guys have horses?” I asked. That was one thing I missed most about home.
“Yeah, we have two,” Harper answered. “Ginger and Ace. Horseback riding is probably my favorite thing about the farm. Do you like horses?”
“I never had any growing up, but my friend Becca did, and we would ride hers all the time.”
“Becca rides horses?” Alex interjected. “I didn’t picture her as a country girl either.”
“Well, we are from small-town Montana.” I shoved his shoulder, loving the way his arm felt under my hand. Solid. Strong. “There wasn’t a whole lot to do there.”
“What part of Montana?” Andrew asked.
I was thankful he asked the question—it made me feel more like a part of the group instead of the outsider who’d tagged along. “Gardiner,” I said, sipping some water. The restaurant was overly warm, and my cheeks were flushed.
“Oh, the country is spectacular there!Yellowstone is one of my favorite places,” Andrew responded with enthusiasm.
Surprised that he knew of my small hometown, I perked up. “Yeah, it is. My dad is the museum curator there for the park. It was a pretty incredible place to grow up.”
“I have never been there before,” Harper added.
“Me neither,” said Alex, “but I’d sure like to go some time.” He squeezed my hand.
I blinked. Had he just implied that he wanted to meet my folks? That would be a whole next-level relationship—and he hadn’t even called me his girlfriend when introducing me. However, if anyone were to look at us with our hands clasped and our legs touching, they’d think we were a couple.
The waitress came and got our order, and in no time the pizza came out. The evening proceeded with wonderful conversation. There was playful banter, questions, and laughing as we all got to know each other better. The trepidation I had felt earlier was completely gone. I liked Harper. She was kind, but also direct and confident. I could see why she was friends with Alex, and truth be told, I hoped we would be friends as well.
As the meal ended, Harper and I excused ourselves to the restroom to freshen up. I was washing my hands as Harper was reapplying her pink lip gloss when she said, “Emma, I just want you to know that I’ve never seen Alex this happy. I know we just met, but I can already tell that you are very good for him. Thank you for bringing some life to his life.”
