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“Where are you staying tonight?” Piper asks, her voice skeptical.
“Upstairs. In my apartment.”
“No, you’re not,” I say, the words spilling out before I can stop them. “You have no electricity.”
Harlow just shrugs. “So? It’ll be like camping. I’ll open some windows. I have flashlights. I can sleep without power for one night.”
“You can stay with us,” Piper suggests.
“You’ve already got Layna in your guest bedroom,” Harlow points out. “And she was supposed to be staying with me anyway, remember?”
Harlow scowls at the mess of dirty, wet footprints spread across the pretty, white tile and fans herself with her hand. Since the power went out, taking the air conditioning with it, the air in here has gotten a little stagnant. Georgia in April means humid air, surprise thunderstorms and mosquitos. I can’t let her stay here with no electricity.
“You’re welcome to stay with us for as long as you need,” Luke says. “Besides, we’ll be home late tonight anyway. You and Layna will practically have the house to yourselves.”
“I need to finish cleaning this mess,” Harlow says. “There are still a few hours of daylight left.”
“And then you’ll come stay with us?” Piper asks.
I can see Harlow wavering. I know I should stay out of it. I barely know Harlow. She’s barely an acquaintance, even if we did sort of grow up together. But I can’t stand to see the defeated look in her eyes or the sad slump of her shoulders. She’s always so optimistic. Seeing her so down has me wanting to fix this for her.
“I can fix it.”
All eyes turn to me, surprising me until I realize that I’m the one who just spoke. Harlow immediately begins to shake her head, but I ignore her protests.
“I have most of what I need in the truck,” I say, walking back toward the front door. “I might need to make a trip to the hardware store before they close.”
I don’t realize Harlow is following me until I reach my truck and lower the tailgate.
“Linc, wait,” she says, stilling me with her hand on my arm. “You don’t need to do this. I know you’re busy.”
I shrug. “I don’t mind. I just need to call my mom and see if she can keep Ella a little longer.”
Harlow looks stricken. “No,” she says, shaking her head. “I’m keeping you from your daughter. That’s not okay. You should go. I’ll stay with Piper tonight and figure something out tomorrow.”
I sigh and narrow my eyes at her. “And how do you plan to get it fixed tomorrow? You need electricity to run the vacuums and fans that you’ll need to dry this place out before mold sets in. Do you have an electrician on speed-dial?”
She huffs out a sigh. “No.”
“And you know they’ll charge a premium for it being a weekend,” I say. “And it being such short notice will automatically make it an emergency call which will cost even more.”
Harlow’s shoulders sag.
“I can fix it,” I say gently. “Just let me help you.”
I don’t know why I’m being so insistent that she take my help. It’s not like we’re close friends. And I can tell she hates the idea of needing help almost as much as she hates the idea of accepting it. But I can’t stand the idea of her losing her business or having to spend even more money to fix a problem that I know I can help with.
“Okay,” she says with a small nod. When she raises her head to meet my gaze, the sadness is hidden behind a determined expression. I almost smile at the sight. But then she speaks.
“But I’m paying you.”
I shake my head as I begin pulling items from the back of my truck. “No need. I’m just helping out a friend.”
When she doesn’t respond, I finally turn to see her watching me, a strange expression on her face.
“Why?” she asks. “You don’t really even know me.”
I want to laugh at the question because it’s ridiculous. Of course, I know her. I’ve known her since we were ten years old. But it’s true that we’ve never been friends. Not really. Not until her best friend started a fake relationship with mine last year. And I still don’t know her as well as I’d like to if I’m being honest. But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t paid attention. I know her favorite soda and how she takes her coffee. I know that she played in marching band in high school and looked cute as fuck in that uniform. I know she prefers salty snacks to sweet ones and French fries are her weakness. I also know she’d think I was crazy if I said any of that out loud. So, I don’t.
