Page 55 of You Saw the Best In Me

I hold the door open for her and follow her inside, pointing her toward the principal's office.

Harper’s eyes light up when she sees both of us together, coming to her defense. I’m taking a risk, letting Karina into this side of my world, but I feel she’ll be good for Harper.

“Karina! What are you doing here?” Harper hugs her first and turns to me next.

“I’m apart of Harper’s Army. We all know you didn’t deserve that suspension. I need you to do me a favor, okay?” she says, Harper hanging on to her every word.

“Anything,” she smiles, and the secretary hands me papers to sign.

I listen over my shoulder as Karina tells Harper to bite her tongue and let me do the talking.

“Sit next to me, and we’ll listen to everything they say. It’ll make your case better, and you know Maverick won’t stop fighting until your name is cleared,” she suggests gently, and Harper agrees.

If only it were easy to get that kid to listen to me. I’m thankful that Karina can talk sense into her, making me sound like I’ve got everything under control.

The principal calls us in and looks between Karina and me with an eyebrow raised.

“I asked to meet with you again because Harper told me her side of the story, and based on her recollection of events, I’d like us to sit down and discuss it further,” I say, doing my best to sound calm and collected.

“I understand, Mr. Carter, but the suspension can’t be undone,” she shuffles papers on her desk, barely glancing in my direction.

This woman isn’t going to make this easy, and I’m annoyed by her lack of empathy.

“That’s not what we’re asking for. Harper was trying to avoid the situation and was pulled in the middle of the girls who were fighting,” I informed, and finally, she glanced up at me, her glasses on the end of her nose.

Karina and Harper exchange a high-five behind me, and I have to keep myself from smiling.

“My hands are tied here. Your sister was described as being involved in the fight by witnesses. I can’t change what’s already happened,” she reiterates, and I can feel Harper getting antsy behind me.

“Is there anything we can do to keep this from affecting the rest of her time here? I don’t want this unfortunate miscarriage of justice to follow Harper through the end of the school year,” I ask, trying to bargain slightly.

“Mr. Carter, I assure you that our staff is professional, and nothing will interfere with Harper’s education,” she stands, ending our conversation.

I shake her hand and thank her for the time, following my girls out of the office.

They’re quiet until we reach my truck, and Harper is the first to break.

“God, she’s such a bitch!” she yells, throwing her backpack in the backseat.

“Harper, we knew that this might happen. At least we tried,” I remind her, and she rolls her eyes.

“Can we go get ice cream?” she whines, already pulling out her phone.

“Is that okay with you?” I ask Karina, and she nods.

I head toward the diner, resting my hand on Karina’s leg again as we drive, and a sense of calm has fallen over all of us. The silence is refreshing, with the light hum of the radio serving as background noise.

“Are you two dating now?” Harper pokes her head up to the front, and we exchange a slight smile.

Can’t get anything past the smartest thirteen-year-old known to man.

“I knew it! I knew you liked her. This is so exciting!” she squeals, and I don’t interfere.

Karina shakes her head and shrugs, clearly okay with letting Harper come to her own conclusion.

Sometimes, it’s easier to let her imagine whatever scenario she’s got in her head, and it can’t hurt to let her be happy.

After ice cream, I drive a disappointed Harper back to Grams’ house.