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“Harlow,” the woman replies warmly. “It’s so lovely to see you! And who’s this?” she asks over Harlow’s shoulder. Harlow pulls back and steps aside.
“This is Nico. He...” She looks over to me like she’s not sure how to introduce me but settles on, “We work together.”
“Well, hello, Nico. Come in, both of you. Callen’s excited to see you.”
We follow her into a sitting room, and Harlow is in the arms of a man in a wheelchair before either of them even speak.
“Harlow, my love,” he murmurs as they hold each other for a minute. “It’s so good to see you.” She stands up again, and he looks over to me. “Hi, son.” It’s clearly meant as a welcome greeting, and it’s kind of jarring to hear it with warmth rather than in a taunt. More jarring than the scars covering his head.
“Hi, sir. It’s lovely to meet you both.”
“He didn’t even flinch. Where did you find him, Harlow?”
She rolls her eyes. “You’re not Quasimodo, Callen. I keep telling you that.”
“Nico works with Harlow,” Pearl explains to her husband.
“He gave me a lift,” Harlow adds. “Sawyer is gutted he can’t be here.”
“We know. We’ll see him another time. Take a seat, both of you. What’s going on?”
“Literally nothing,” Harlow replies as we sit next to each other on the sofa and Pearl perches on the arm of Callen’s chair.
“Oh, really? Because I think you’re keeping something from us.” Harlow’s face goes white. “Sawyer mentioned you’ve finally taken a fancy to someone.”
“Oh.” She breathes out in relief. What did she think Pearl was going to say? “I guess so. Maybe.”
“And it’s not this hunk?” Callen jokes, gesturing to me. “The other guy must really be something.”
“Callen, don’t embarrass her,” Pearl chides half-heartedly.
“His name is Ezra, and Sawyer shouldn’t have mentioned anything. It’s still new.”
“You’ll bring him next time,” Callen says without a hint of question in his voice, and Harlow sighs.
“Fine. If he hasn’t gotten sick of me by then, I’ll bring him.” I’m pretty sure she’s joking, or at least pretending to, but Callen frowns.
“You are perfect, dear girl. Anyone would be lucky to be given the chance to woo you. Don’t ever forget that.”
“Thanks, Callen.” I get the feeling he’s told her that many times, but it still seems to mean a lot to her.
“Tea, anyone?”
“Let me help.” Pearl says it’s not necessary, but I insist as I stand to follow her out.
“Well then, I won’t say no to a strapping young man in the kitchen.”
“Keep your hands off my wife,” Callen objects playfully as we leave.
“Thanks for bringing her,” Pearl says when we’re alone in the kitchen. “He loves to see her.”
“Of course.”
“You like her, huh?” That takes me off guard.
“Uh...”
“It’s okay, you don’t need to spill your secrets to this old lady. I know the way a smitten man looks at his woman, and I’m not surprised. She’s something special.”
