“It’s my fault. I invited her. I didn’t think she’d show up wasted.”
Harper threw her arms up in the air and her head fell down in defeat. “Why wouldn’t she? She’s always wasted.”
“She wasn’t when I invited her.”
“She wasn’t when I spoke to her earlier either… I told her not to come, so really, it’s my fault. I basically challenged her to show face.” Harper inhaled deeply and looked toward the door. “You should go and get her home, so you don’t miss any more of your party.”
He cupped her face again and brought his gaze to hers. It broke his heart to see the disappointment and guilt in her hazel eyes. She was always so damn hard on herself. She had no reason to be. Her mom wasn’t the easiest person to deal with, and while Milo hoped Judy would one day get her life on track, that didn’t seem to be anytime soon, and Harper couldn’t take it personally. “I can’t leave unless I know you’re good.”
Her lips parted. He wanted to sweep her up in his arms and carry her to bed, shut the door and lock the world out. When it was just the two of them, nothing mattered, and the universe seemed to settle into place.
Her head rested against his forehead, and she exhaled. “I’m good.”
Even though she said she was okay, he didn’t want to leave her. He still wanted to wrap her in his arms and force the world away until her tears were dry and her lips were smiling again.
“Harp?” Olivia’s voice floated through the house. Milo let his hand fall and stepped back just as Olivia and Isla came into the kitchen.
Olivia’s eyebrow arched. “Oh!”
“I was just leaving.” Milo squeezed Harper’s arm and walked out the door, knowing she was in good hands.
Chapter 12
The party went on as if Mom hadn’t showed up. No one mentioned the disaster that was her mother, for which Harper was eternally grateful for the small town that continued to look the other way when necessary. After Milo left and Olivia and Isla came into the kitchen, they convinced her to rejoin the festivities.
Tom had been none the wiser that Mom had even showed up, which was just as well. He was having a blast, and Harper didn’t want that taken from him for any reason.
Milo had returned, told her that Mom was off to bed and then Harper hadn’t seen him much since. She’d tried searching him out a few times, but her attempts were futile. She’d given up. This was his party, and he deserved to spend it however he wanted. If he wanted to be near her, then he would find her. It’s not like she was hard to find.
She sat around the bonfire, Tom on her left roasting marshmallows, and Mrs. Garrick on her right observing everyone. She had a blanket around her legs and a sweater wrapped tightly around her shoulders. Harper didn’t want to think about her illness or that she didn’t have much time left. She’d rather focus on the present moment.
She grabbed a stick and handed it to Mrs. Garrick. “You can’t sit around the bonfire and not roast a marshmallow.”
Mrs. Garrick took the stick in her hand and attempted to shift forward. She had difficulty, and Harper jumped up to help her get into a comfortable position. “Thank you, dear.” She placed her stick over the fire and a smile lifted at the corner of her lips.
Harper got her own stick and placed a marshmallow on the end before holding it over the fire. “Do you know the first marshmallow I ever roasted was at your house?” Her eyes drifted from the flames to Mrs. Garrick’s blue eyes. “I was only seven, but it was one of the best summers of my life.”
“We had a lot of great summers, didn’t we?”
“Too many to count.”
Mrs. Garrick stared at the flames for a long moment. “It’s what makes this easier. I’ve been so lucky. I lived my life, and then I got to live my life again through my kids and then my grandkids. I’ve lived many lifetimes, and every one was better than the last.”
She pulled the marshmallow from the flames, and Harper got her a square of chocolate and two graham crackers to complete her s’more. She took a bite and closed her eyes as if she was savoring every single second. Her chest rose and fell as she held the last of her s’more. “I’m worried about Isla.”
“You don’t have to worry about her,” Harper said. “Me and Liv will take care of her. Charlie’s Angels, remember? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for that girl.”
“You’ve always been a good friend, and she’s so lucky to have you in her life. But now that Olivia has Shane and you have Milo.”
“Milo and I are just friends,” Harper said.
“For now.”
Harper went to argue, but for some reason her words stuck in her throat.
“I’m afraid she’ll never find happiness again.”
“She’s happy.” Isla always had a smile for strangers, and for the most part was upbeat and perky.
“You and I both know she hasn’t been truly happy since that disaster with Nolan. I don’t think she’s ever forgiven herself.”
Harper couldn’t argue. It was why Isla hadn’t had a date since she and Nolan broke up and why she was an expert on vibrators. “I think she’ll get there in her own time.”
“I hope so. I’m just sad I won’t be around to see it.”
“But you will,” Harper said. “You might not be here physically, but a piece of you will always be with Isla. And besides, we all know you’ll weasel your way into front row seats from your view above to keep a watchful eye over all of us.”
“Damn straight.”
“What did I miss?” Isla asked as she sat down in the empty chair on the other side of her grandma.
“Only a delicious s’more, and no I’m not sharing.” Mrs. Garrick had only taken one bite, but she held onto that s’more like it was a lifeline. She might not have been able to eat it, but that didn’t matter. The reward to a s’more had always been getting to eat it but thinking back to that first time and all the times after, it was more than just the eating. It was so much more. It was about the cool night breeze off the bay, the warmth of the fire after a day in the sun, and the friends beside her.
Harper took a second to take it all in as she knew Mrs. Garrick was doing. Happiness filled her heart as she saw the chocolate outlining Tom’s mouth and the permanent smile on his face after a day of slip and slide, water balloon fights, and all the chocolate and marshmallows he could eat. She looked at Mrs. Garrick and Isla then across the fire to Olivia who was curled in Shane’s lap.
This. This was what it was all about. The little moments that in the end would be the big moments. At seven, she never thought that moment would be a memory she’d hold with her for her entire life, but it was. She never realized how something so simple could not only mean so much but helped shaped her as a person. She remembered vowing to have s’mores every summer that year, and she had. She might not have remembered why, but that desire to have a s’more had been strong the minute the weather turned warm.
Her lip quirked at the corner as it dawned on her that Milo made sure every Memorial Day party he had, from the very first one, there were s’mores. He’d been contributing and helping her honor the vow she made at seven without even knowing. Or did he know? She’d always assumed the s’mores were just another part of the summer tradition, but what if it was more than that? What if Milo did it for her?
Her heart clenched at the thought, but she quickly forced the thought away. Even if he did have s’mores at his party with her in mind, it was because she was his best friend. There was nothing more to it. So why did a part of her wish that there was?
She sensed him before she saw him or heard him. Her eyes snapped up and landed directly on him. He’d put a hoodie on since the last time she’d seen him.
“We all enjoying the s’mores?” he asked.
“Yes!” Tom cheered, and the smile that filled Milo’s face tugged at Harper’s heartstrings.
“Is there any left for me?” Milo joked.
Harper held up her stick. “You can use mine.”
Milo moved to
ward her; his eyes locked on hers as he took the stick in his hand. His finger brushed hers, and she felt it to her very core. “Thanks.”
Isla grabbed the bag of marshmallows and handed them to Milo. He took two out—typical—and put both on the stick. He bent down in front of the fire, the flames highlighting the strong lines of his jaw. Since all the chairs were taken, he sat back on his heels not even bothering to get up.
Harper squeezed to the left side of her chair. “There’s room for you here.” They’d shared chairs together many times, nothing was different, except for the fact that they had sex…twice. But who was counting?
He hesitated for a second but finally sat beside her. He kept to his side, which was an impossible task considering the size of the chair. Every now and again his thigh pressed against hers. She could feel his warmth radiating off him and wrapping around her like a familiar blanket.
She wanted to snuggle into his side—something she wouldn’t have thought twice about before, but things were different now, whether they wanted to admit it or not. She wanted the best of both worlds, but it was hard to maintain their usual sense of normalcy now that she knew how he could make her body feel with a simple look.
Her body practically went up in flames earlier in the kitchen right before he took her against the refrigerator. And when he touched her… Her inner thighs tingled at the memory. It was pure torture sitting next to him, unable to kiss him or touch him the way she wanted to.
She focused her attention on the flames, and out of the corner of her eye caught Tom grabbing for two more marshmallows. He immediately noticed her eyes on him, and he froze. A smile spread across his face, and he covered his mouth with his hand, but that didn’t muffle the giggles that rose to the surface.
“I think you’ve had enough,” she said. “You’re not going to be able to sleep with all that sugar.”
“Oh, just let him have one more.” Milo’s breath glided over her ear like a tender caress.
“Yeah, let me have one more,” Tom said.
Harper glanced over her shoulder at Milo whose face was much closer than she realized. Their eyes locked, and her breath caught in her throat. Milo tilted his head and pouted his lip. “Just one.”
She rolled her eyes and gave him a shove to the chest before turning back to Tom. “One more.” Tom cheered his victory and quickly slid a marshmallow on his stick.
Dusk turned to night, and there were only a few stragglers left. Isla had left to bring her grandmother home and Milo had promised her something about the beach. She’d have to ask him later. He had abandoned their shared chair to walk people to their cars and wave them off. Though, she knew he was really checking to make sure they were sober and okay to drive.
A cold breeze flittered through the air, and Harper pulled on her sweatshirt. Olivia and Shane were heading out and she walked them to their car.
“Have you put any more thought into those flyers?” Liv asked.
Harper sighed. “Do you ever take a day off from pestering?”
“No,” Shane said without skipping a beat which earned him a playful elbow to the stomach.
“You know how I get when I think something is a good idea, and this is a good idea. You deserve to get your name out there, to get more customers. Don’t sell yourself short.”
Harper inhaled, knowing if she didn’t agree, Liv would find a way to make it happen anyway. “Fine. I’ll make the damn flyer.”
Olivia clapped and bounced up and down before throwing her arms around Harper’s neck. Her shoes put her at only a few inches shorter than Harper, so Harper didn’t have to bend down quite as much as she would have if Olivia was barefoot.
“Thank you,” Shane mouthed behind her, and Harper held back a laugh. She was sure Olivia had vented plenty to Shane about Harper’s unwillingness to try a new idea. Harper still wasn’t convinced it would do any good, but she guessed it couldn’t hurt to try.
She said goodbye to the happy couple and went to the backyard to pick up a few bottles and plates left behind. She dropped them in the garbage and made one last round through the yard. The slip and slide was still set up, and Harper had a feeling it wasn’t coming down anytime soon. She wouldn’t be surprised if she woke up to find Milo and Jasper taking turns with it.
Day had been completely consumed by night and other than a few streetlights and the moonlight glittering across the bays surface it was pitch black. She stood on the front lawn for a second, listening to the calming laps of the water hitting the bulkhead before heading in.
It had been a long day, and she couldn’t believe it was still the same day that she’d brought Tom to breakfast at the diner. That seemed a lifetime ago. She kicked her flip flops off at the door and walked into the living room. Jasper sprawled out on the too-small loveseat, and Milo was propped up on the couch.
“Where’s Tom?” she asked.
“Passed out in my bed. I managed to get him to wash his face before he smeared chocolate all over my pillowcase.”
“Why didn’t you put him in my room? I was going to sleep on the couch.”
“It’s no big deal. The couch has never bothered me before.”
She wanted to suggest that he could share her bed, but with Jasper home, she kept that thought to herself.
“Thank you,” she said. “I’m surprised he was even tired after all that sugar he had.”
“Did you see how many turns he took on the slip and slide?” Jasper asked. “He’s going to sleep like a baby tonight.”
Harper stood facing Jasper and Milo not sure where to sit. The uncomfortable feeling from earlier when she was unsure about sharing a chair with Milo came back at full force. She nodded to the television. “What are we watching?”
Milo held the remote out to her. “It’s your choice tonight.”
She moved to grab the remote but still stood with uncertainty until Milo lifted his arm. With a smile, she sat down beside him and cuddled into his side. Even though they’d done things that would forever change their relationship, right now, it felt as it always did. As if in this living room time didn’t move and life didn’t happen.
“I’m thinking a romcom,” she said.
After her day, romance and laughter were exactly what she needed.
Chapter 13
Harper followed the waitress to a table. Her date hadn’t arrived yet, so she took the seat closest to her and waited. A waiter walked by with a plate of nachos piled high with extra cheese, and Harper’s stomach cried out in desperation. She ran her hand over her cranky belly and looked around to make sure no one heard the beast awaken.
She perused the menu, that way when her date finally showed up, she’d be ready to order. Her stomach growled in appreciation.
She texted Milo a funny picture and stashed her phone in her bag. He’d been uptight and tense the last few days, even though he’d denied it, but she could tell he was lying. Something was on his mind, something that was eating away at him, and without him talking to her, all she could offer were funny roommate memes and open communication.
His business was booming and now with Hal taking on some shifts, he wasn’t overworking himself. He’d been by his parents’ house, so his mom wouldn’t be calling him to make sure he was alive every few hours. And his dad stopped pestering him about joining the family construction company when Milo put his foot down last summer and told his dad construction wasn’t his future. There’d been a little tension between the two after, though all seemed to be well now. But if it wasn’t any of those things, what could it be?
“Harper?”
She pushed thoughts of Milo to the back of her mind and glanced up at her date. She felt her eyes widen, and she immediately forced them to neutral position.
“That’s me,” she said, wondering who this guy was because he definitely was not the guy in the picture. Unless he grew a beard, lost a tooth and gained forty pounds overnight. “Jim?”
“That’s me.” He didn’t take his seat like she expected. He rounde
d the table and wrapped her in an awkward hug. Heat radiated off him but not in a sexy attractive way, but in more of a being stuck in a humid basement kind of way. She patted his back twice and he finally let go. He stepped away, the tablecloth hooked on his belt and Harper dove for the red cloth before disaster ensued.
She sighed in relief when he noticed and unhooked the material from his belt. He took his seat and held his hand up and snapped at the waitress. Oh no, he didn’t. Harper’s teeth clenched. She’d waitressed long enough to know every sort of asshole, and a finger snapper was at the top of the list.
The waitress, a petite woman with blonde hair and brown eyes, came over to the table, and Harper shot her an apologetic smile. Jim on the other hand didn’t even look the poor girl in the eye. “Whisky neat.”
“Would you like anything?” the waitress asked her.
Harper held up her water glass. “Water is fine. Thanks.”
Jim slouched in his chair and scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those lame asses who don’t drink.”
“I drink, but I also have a bit of a drive ahead of me, and I’d rather stick to water.” She had a strict rule of one drink an hour, and she had a feeling she wasn’t going to last that long.
“Suit yourself.” He picked up his menu and scanned it, making a face of disgust every few seconds.
Harper shifted in her seat, wondering why the hell she even agreed to go on this date. After being with Milo, she hadn’t really wanted to go out. She’d been content spending time with him and occasionally sleeping with him, but he’d been cranky and hadn’t touched her since he took her up against the refrigerator.
Heat pooled between her thighs at the memory, and she shifted in her seat in a sad attempt to squelch the warm sensation. She closed her eyes for a moment and refocused her thoughts. Tonight wasn’t about Milo; tonight was about Jim. She opened her eyes and focused on her date.
His brown hair was brushed off to the side and his brown eyes were dull unlike Milo’s. It baffled her how Milo’s dark eyes were so bright and filled with so much light.
All Because I Met You (Morgan's Bay, #2) Page 10
