“Is everything okay with the three of you?” Patricia gestured at the heavy drapes Nell and Evie had just walked through. Harper crossed her arms.
“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”
Patricia’s eyes drilled into hers, ripping apart the lie without uttering a word. But she didn’t address it. Instead, she pushed Harper’s hair behind her ear.
“It’s not just you and Nell who need to get used to things being different,” she said softly. “I’m sure Evie will come around. Just give her time.”
Harper’s arms tightened over her chest. She struggled to see how that would happen. Other than asking her to get over the most traumatizing thing she’d ever been through, and not even the cruelest part of Harper’s mind could fathom doing that.
“Is that all you wanted? To tell me that?” Harper asked tightly. “Or did you actually have something for me to do?”
Patricia didn’t react to her tone. Not beyond her smile softening.
“Someone’s here for you. In the hall.” She squeezed Harper’s shoulder. “Get rid of her. Girlfriends aren’t allowed in here.”
Harper’s heart skipped a beat. Maya was here? Why? She was working a shift that evening.
Had something happened? Something good? Or bad? Probably bad. Otherwise, she would have texted. Wouldn’t she?
Jesus Christ, Harper,chill.
“Come on,” she muttered. “There’s no harm in Maya being here. The Lotus isn’t even open yet.”
When Patricia pursed her lips, amused, Harper’s eyes widened.
“I mean, she isn’t my girlfriend,” she rushed on. “We’ve only just started dating, and we haven’t really discussed it, so I don’t even know why you would say that.”
Patricia raised an eyebrow. Andsmirked. Patricia never fuckingsmirked.
“Sure.” She walked away, heading for the staff door. “Get rid of her.”
She was gone before Harper could respond. Or object. Agree?
Whatever.
Harper hurried through the drapes and into the entrance hallway, but stopped after only a few steps.
It was empty. The entryway and wardrobe both.
Frowning, Harper looked over her shoulder. She’d just had the thought that maybe Patricia was trying to develop a sense of humor and failing at it when something brushed against her wrist.
With a loud squeal, Harper spun in place. Maya was standing right behind her, having materialized literally out of nowhere.
“Dammit. You startled me.” Harper took a deep breath, willing her heart rate to slow down. “Where the hell did you come from?”
Maya’s gaze lowered. She took a tiny step back.
“Sorry. Evie walked by and… I didn’t want her to see me.” She gestured at a shadowy corner of the wardrobe, speaking as though every word burned her tongue. “I guess I overdid it.”
Harper’s shoulders sank. She stepped closer and put her arms around Maya’s waist.
“You didn’t overdo anything. You just surprised me.”
She raised herself up on her toes, giving Maya a kiss. Just a quick, light one, meant to dismiss that pained look in her eyes.
That intention died as soon as their lips met. Instead of ending it after a second or so, she leaned into it, warmth pooling low in her stomach when Maya sighed and relaxed. They’d only been apart for a few hours, and somehow it felt like days had passed.
Harper was so fucking screwed. If this was their version of the fun phase, going any further would give her a goddamn heart attack.
