"No, I know you're not.I just— I want it for you.I want you to know that this is— this is it now.This is us."
"It might take me some time, but I really want to get there."
"We'll work on it together."
They broke apart at the sound of Tanya coming thundering down the stairs.
"Tanya, wait," Alana called after her.
Tanya skidded to a halt in the hallway."Oh.Oops.Sorry, I didn't—"
Emmett chuckled, and Harper said, "It's okay, sweetie.What do you need?"
"Nothing.I was only coming to see you."But she backed away toward the stairs with a big smile on her face."I'll let you guys talk."
"It's all right," said Emmett."You don't need to go."
"We're not—" Harper began, but Tanya just laughed.
"I know, but I want you to be.I'm going back up."
They smiled at each other after she'd gone.
"I don't want them feeling like they have to stay out of the way to give us time alone together," said Harper.
"No, but that's something else we'll have to work on together.We will need some time just for ourselves.And we can do that without them feeling like they need to stay out of the way."He pressed a kiss to her lips."It's something we can figure out between us—as a family."
Harper closed her eyes and reveled in the word.
He ran his hand over her hair."We're going to make it, you know."
She opened her eyes."I want to believe we will."
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Harper was fiddling with her earring, trying to get it to fasten, when her phone rang.She set the earring down on the counter and smiled when she saw Shelley's name on the display.
"Hey, girlfriend," she answered."What's up?"
"Nothing, just making sure that you're still coming tonight."
"Of course I am.Why wouldn't I?"
"It struck me that you might duck out on us."
"Not at all.I'm looking forward to it."
"And you're coming with Cash, is that right?"
"I am."
"You didn't ask Emmett?"
She made a face."No, I didn't.It seemed wrong to ask him.I know that's how it works for all of you guys, but we're not… I don't know, we hadn't talked about it, and it didn't seem… So…"
"It's okay," said Shelley."I'm not trying to interrogate you.I was curious, that’s all."
She let out a short laugh."I know.I think I'm more annoyed at myself.He's home alone tonight, so I could have asked him, but I didn't.And besides, the girls are both staying with friends, so he can have a peaceful evening to himself.I don’t want to drag him out to give me a ride to the restaurant and then hang around, waiting to pick me back up afterward."She stared out the window as she spoke."If I’m being honest, I could tell you that I'm really looking forward to the day when I come out on a girls' night and get to send him a text to say come pick me up at the end of the night, the way all of you ladies do with your men.But… we're not there yet.And you know what?Maybe we never will be.I don't know if I'd feel right calling him to come out and get me and leave the girls at home."
