“You should wait for Harp for dinner.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. We both knew I was more than capable of putting away two dinners, and had done so on multiple occasions just this week. She snatched the plate away from me and went to put it back in the cupboard.
“Ma,” I groaned, reaching out to snatch her plate from where she’d left it on the counter, managing to get in two good mouthfuls before she twisted my ear to steal it back.
“You’re a damn animal. Now get out of my kitchen.”
“This is my house.”
“While I’m here, it’s my kitchen.”
My eyes flicked to her fork, and she shielded the plate away from me protectively.
I groaned. “Fine. I gotta go pick him up, and then I’m eating as much pasta as I want.”
“Sure, dear. Now go. I’ll be here just… cleanin’.”
Ma had been coming around most evenings this week, and I was getting suspicious that it wasn’t me or Harper she was here to see.
“Behave yourself.”
“Don’t know what you’re referrin’ to.”
“Mmhmm.” I grabbed my keys. “Love you, Ma.”
“Love you, Bear Bear.”
“I want to drive.” Harper spoke through the open window as I pulled the car into the loading zone.
“Alrighty.” I put it in park without questioning him so we could switch sides.
He adjusted the seat to be much closer to the wheel, and then we were off, heading in a direction that did not lead to either of our houses.
“Where are we goin’?”
He gave me a brief glance and then smirked as he revved the engine. I swallowed. The way he weaved through traffic had my hand shooting up to grab the handle above the window as he swerved the car through gaps barely big enough for us to pass through. Was this how recklessly he rode his bike?
It didn’t take us long to get to our destination, even though it should have, but I was already feeling nauseous as we pulled to a sudden stop.
Harper was out and handing the keys to the valet attendant as I stumbled out after him, heaving in fresh air, barely finding my feet before my car was zooming away from us.
The gold and gleaming sign in front of him announced that we were at Giardino Dell’eleganza. I didn’t know a huge amount about high society in Harborview, but I knew about food, and this place was elite.
I’d never been here because it booked out months in advance and cost more than I could justify on one meal.
“Baby.” I rushed to catch up to him, feeling my stomach twist for a whole new reason. “I’m, uh… not really dressed for this.”
I looked down at my sweat shorts and gym tee. I was wearing slides, for fuck’s sake. I doubted they’d even let me through the front door.
He turned to smile at me. “It’s a good thing you won’t be wearing that, then.”
Unsure of his meaning, I followed him to the grand entrance and lobby. Giardino Dell’eleganza was on the fiftieth floor of the hundred-story building. Everything above it belonged to The Emerald Horizon Hotel.
Harper retrieved a sleek black card from his pocket as we entered the elevator, tapping it on a scanner before pressing the button for the top floor.
We were surrounded by glass walls that faced out over the city that was shrinking as we rose. My stomach seemed to shrink along with it, much like the lights of the ceaseless traffic as we left it all behind.
By the time it stopped again, we were accompanied only by the stars above and the distant city lights winking like colorful stars below.
