But I don’t move to the door.
And she doesn’t shift away from the counter.
We just…stare at each other.
“Do you, uh, want to?—”
“Yes,” I blurt.
We both freeze again and fall silent.
“I didn’t even finish the question,” she says quietly.
“It’s still a yes,” I reply just as quietly.
She inhales sharply.
Then exhales slowly, seeming to war with herself. Eventually, a decision is made and she tilts her head to the far side of the room. “Plates are in that cabinet.” A beat. “Do you want a beer?”
“Sure,” I say, snagging the plates as she moves to the fridge. “As long as you don’t mind me drinking when you can’t.”
“It’s fine. I don’t really like beer all that much, anyway. This is left over from the last time I hosted Game Night, so you’re doing me a favor by drinking them.” She shrugs one slender shoulder. “They’re just taking up space in my fridge.”
I chuckle as I take the bottle. “Well then I’ll do my part in clearing out the fridge.” I jut my chin toward the food. “You first, Harp.”
“That’s okay?—”
“You’re growing a human. That means first dibs for the foreseeable future.”
“I’m not going to argue that,” she says with a smile.
“Good.”
She serves herself and I do the same, making sure to leave plenty for her if she wants seconds, then bringing my plate to the stools at the counter and sitting next to her.
This is playing with fire.
But we have to find a way to coexist peacefully.
Even as I’m thinking that, my brain is blazing with warning.
Because that’s not why I’m here—even if I don’t want to admit it.
“What’d you do today?” I ask once she’s made a dent in her plate. “Aside from giving Smitty every detail of your life.”
Her mouth curves. “Smitty did demand some details, but he was mostly his normal sweet self.”
“I don’t think that Smitty is often described as sweet.”
“Maybe not.” She forks in some rice. “Well, with anyone aside from Kailey, that is.”
“That’s true enough.”
Though, I have seen the man go soft with all the women he considers his.
Including Harper.
Fuck, but I want the freedom to do that.
