Page 17 of You Saw the Best In Me

I’m certain that she purposely wanted to go to the hospital for attention, but Harper is convinced that her health is worsening. I must keep them both happy, so I suck it up and continue our Sunday dinner tradition.

I ring the doorbell, groceries in hand, when Harper sees me through the screen door.

“Jesus, Mav. You’re so late,” she rolls her eyes at me, opening the door and walking toward the kitchen.

“Hi to you too, Harp. Hi Grams,” I bend down, kissing her on the cheek.

“Don’t mind her. It’s that time of the month,” she whispers, and I immediately shake off the thought.

“Ready to make cheeseburgers?” I ask, and Harper already has seasonings and a salad prepared.

“As I said, you’re late.”

She is full of attitude today, and I try to step around her teenage hormones.

“I’m sorry, Harp, the store was crazy busy today. I’m here now,” I say, handing her a bottled Starbucks drink and a bag of her favorite chips.

Her smile is back, and she hugs me tight. There’s the girl I know.

I start unpacking the food, putting aside everything we’ll need for tonight’s dinner and filling the fridge with the staples I picked up.

“What in the hell is this?” Harper holds up the cat toy, and I can’t help but laugh.

“It’s for the prank war. I plan to make Karina’s cat lose its shit,” Harper gives me a thumbs up and places it back on the counter.

“Who’s Karina?” Grams asks, walking into the kitchen from her spot in front of the TV.

“Mav’s neighbor, they’re in a prank war. He’s so totally in love with her,” Harper declares, shooting me a playful smile.

“I am not. The woman drives me crazy,” I defend myself, but both exchange a look before bursting into laughter.

“Riiiight. That’s why you went to her apartment at midnight to tell her how crazy she makes you?” Harper teases, and my face burns with embarrassment.

“That is not where I was. I needed some air,” I counter, but Harper and Grams don’t believe it.

“Finally, a woman. I was starting to think he was a bit fruity,” Grams says to Harper, and they both cackle at my expense.

“If you two want premium health insurance, you’d better cut the shit and stay out of my love life,” I warn, but they don’t take me seriously.

“Oh, so there is a love life we should be sticking our noses in?” Harper tosses the block of cheese at me, and I throw an onion at her.

I can’t believe she knew I had left, but she was sleeping in the living room. No matter how quiet I was, I should’ve known she’d hear.

I’m pissed she brought it up in front of Grams, though. The last thing I need is her thinking I sneak off to do shit when Harper is over at my house.

The three of us cook dinner together, my personal life declared off-limits as I listen to more updates on the love triangle that has swept the eighth grade off their feet, and Grams pulls me aside after we eat for a talk.

This ought to be good.

“I’m sorry about the other day, Mavvy. Harper should mind her business, though; I was fine,” she says, digging in the fridge for a beer — something she’s not supposed to have.

“Grams, you need to be better. She shouldn’t have to see you like that,” I take the beer from her, drinking half of it in one sip before letting her finish the rest.

She rolls her eyes but drinks it.

“I know, I know. But you’re no saint, sneaking over to do dirty things with your neighbor? What kind of impression does that leave on a teenager? You don’t get to judge me and my choices,” She shakes her head at me, and I won’t admit it to her, but she’s right.

“That’s not what happened,” I stand firm, hoping to end this narrative once and for all.