Chapter Seventeen
CHASE
I followedHarper up the path to Helen’s house, feeling like I was crossing some invisible line. She was wearing a flowered dress that hugged her hips and a teasing smile that suggested she was aware of my nerves.
She paused by the porch swing, a bright look in her eye. “Relax, Chase. It’s a family dinner, not an execution.”
Easy for her to say, when it wasn’t her future being weighed and measured with every glance and comment. My collar suddenly felt too tight. I adjusted my tie as I stepped into the warmth of the Coleridge world.
Helen’s house smelled like roast chicken and fresh bread. A line of family photos led into the living room, creating a breadcrumb trail of Coleridge history. I brushed a hand over my freshly shaved jaw, already imagining Helen’s curious gaze sizing me up as more than just Eli’s friend or the resort partner. Eli sent me a text earlier stating he had to fill in tonight leading a night dive. ShouldI have been relieved or disappointed that he and Jules wouldn’t be here as buffers? Probably both.
As we entered the kitchen, Helen smiled at us. “I hope you brought your appetite.” She took the wine I’d brought and gave me a once-over that felt like both approval and a silent evaluation.
“It smells incredible,” I replied with a smile.
When we walked into the back family room, Harper stayed close, her hand lightly brushing my arm in a way that steadied me more than I wanted to admit. I surveyed the room—worn furniture that spoke of years of use, soft light, and the kind of warmth that was simultaneously welcoming and muffling.
Ben was there, more cleaned up than usual and wearing a shirt that didn’t have paint or grease stains. “Chase. Harper,” he said with a nod, his tone almost amused. “Good to see you both here.”
I nodded back. “Glad to be here.”
Austin was by the sliding door to the back patio, a beer in hand. He wore a fresh T-shirt that clung to his frame, his dark hair still damp from a recent shower. But his stance was classic Austin, quiet and watchful. He acknowledged us with a lift of his beer, his expression somewhere between friendly and skeptical.
Before I could attempt conversation, Finn barreled through the room and launched himself at me. “Chase! You’re here!” He was beaming, his face a mix of joy and mild sunburn.
He pulled me over to the couch, talking a mile a minute about a drawing he’d done of a dinosaur. Lying on the coffee table, it was a glorious tangle of crayon lines and enthusiasm. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s the most awesome dinosaur I’ve ever seen,” I replied, and a bit of the tension melted away under theforce of his excitement. Finn’s uncomplicated joy had a way of doing that.
I glanced back at Harper, who gave me a reassuring smile as if to say I was doing fine.
Ben cracked a beer and handed one to Harper. Then his green eyes lifted to meet mine as he held out a can to me.
“Sure,” I replied and took the offered beverage. “Thanks.”
“Welcome,” he said with humor lurking in his eyes. “We’ll try not to rake you over the coals too much tonight.”
That made me laugh. “Got to admit, tonight feels a little different than past Sunday dinners.”
I drifted over to Austin, standing just out of the main current of Coleridge activity. “Catch any big ones lately?”
“Not as much as usual,” he replied as he studied the leaves of the trees outside the slider. “Wind’s been kicking up. Maybe it’ll die down next week.”
I nodded, glancing at Ben and Harper’s conversation, aware of the small but significant ways these people were already fitting me into their lives. It was strangely comforting and worrisome all at once. I took a sip of my beer and glanced at Austin again. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that trip sometime.”
Austin’s eyes glinted with interest, and I couldn’t help but feel like I’d passed some minor test. “Offer still stands. Just let me know when.”
The dive trip with Eli and Jules had been a strong reminder of how much I loved being on the water—on it or under it. And Austin was regarded as one of the best fishing guides in the area. Too bad we were entering several critical phases of the resort reno. “It might be awhile, though. After the dust settles a little here. Literally.” We shared a laugh, and my shoulders loosened more.
Harper ducked out to help Helen with dinner. When the two women came back with steaming dishes, I immediately jumped in to help. I was the new guy, long-time presence in this family or not, and wanted to make damn sure I made a decent impression. And the difference tonight was profound, like seeing everything in high definition, the colors more vivid, the details sharper. I was here as Harper’s… boyfriend? At our ages, the word practically made me cringe. But I sure wasn’t here as Eli’s friend.
We sat around the large dining table, the spread a feast of roast chicken, roasted potatoes, and vegetables fresh from Helen’s garden. The plates of food went around like clockwork, a rhythm to the meal that felt practiced and intimate. I tried to take part in the easy flow of conversation, hyper-aware of my own presence and the new role I occupied. Finn sat beside me, asking endless questions about my new office and if we could build a treehouse there.
“Depends,” I said, sharing a smile with Harper as I filled her water glass from a pitcher on the table. “What’s the zoning like for treehouses, do you think?”
“Huh,” Finn replied seriously. “Not sure. You can figure out that part. But we’ll need blueprints and a crew.”
“Do you have those too?” Ben teased as he loaded his plate.
