Wrestling Harmony (The Kingsley Series)

by Brandi Kennedy

  “Absolutely. And Harmony?”

  “Yeah?”

  “I can’t say goodnight for obvious reasons. So instead, I’ll say … think of me?”

  Harmony smiled, her heart skipping as she filled with excitement. “Always,” she answered.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  They didn’t talk that night, but when Harmony woke in the morning, she had three missed texts from Xander from the night before. One was simple, just checking to see if she was still awake or not. The second text came thirty minutes later; it was a photo of his hotel room, with the bed nicely made and the blankets turned down for the evening. Against one pillow, he’d propped a folded piece of paper with a giant winking face drawn in marker, and the caption read: This bed is just too big for one man alone. Goodnight, Harmony. The final text hadn’t arrived until only a few minutes before Harmony’s alarm had gone off, and was a sweet good morning.

  You know how much I hate to fly, he’d written. But I woke up thrilled to get ready for the airport this morning. If it means I’m flying home to you, I’ll take it. Good morning, beautiful.

  Smiling, she slipped out of bed and carried the phone with her as she went about her morning routine. By the time she was fully dressed and in her kitchen, she and Xander had confirmed his flight time by text, and he had boarded his plane, telling her that he’d text again when he landed. There was some time before she needed to be at the airport, so Harmony waited until Xander had said he had to turn off his phone, and then she made the call she’d been so nervous about – the one to her parents.

  “Hey, Mom,” Harmony said, trying to sound cheerful as her mother picked up the call.

  “Well, good morning! What a pleasant surprise to hear your voice this early,” Eva chirped, her usual morning cheer bringing a genuine smile to Harmony’s face. “What’s got you up so early?”

  “I’m picking Xander up from the airport in a little bit,” Harmony answered. “But Mom, I wanted to ask you about some stuff before he gets home.”

  “Oh,” Eva said, her voice growing serious. “Let me get my coffee to the table, honey.” There were small noises as Eva settled in; the quiet screech of the chair against the floor and the barely audible thump of the coffee cup settling on the table. Eva swallowed, sighing, and said, “Ah, now that’s better … okay, what’s my little girl needing my help with? Ask away.”

  “Well ... how long do you think a couple should date until they get serious together? Like, when they should maybe meet each other’s parents?” Opening the refrigerator, Harmony pulled out a bottle of orange juice and shook it slightly, watching the pulp mix with the juice before taking a glass down from the cabinet. As she poured the glass and replaced the juice in the fridge, she listened to her mother’s voice on the phone.

  “I’m not really sure there’s a certain time frame,” she said. “And you know, Harmony, I think that kind of thing just depends on the couple – who they are as people and who they are when they’re together. Some couples just seem to fit together naturally and everything falls into place, and others will struggle a bit more, making things work as they go if they think it’s worth the effort. And it’s harder for some couples than for others, of course.”

  “Well, I guess there isn’t a right time for a couple to get serious then, either, is there?” Harmony asked. “Like, there’s not really a time frame?”

  Eva sighed quietly. “I don’t think so, not really. But I’ve seen it go fast like it did with Cass and Drew, and with Mac and Cameron ... and that was fast for me, because you know your father and I weren’t officially together for years. It took us a long time to work things out, so it seems like our dating days went on forever.”

  “I bet it felt like forever for you, didn’t it?” Harmony laughed, thinking back on the many times she’d heard her parents love story.

  “We’d been interested in each other for a while, and we were best friends for the longest time. But it seemed there was always a reason that we couldn’t be together, whether it was a good one or not. Eventually, we just decided there was nothing to do but try it and see if it worked. And it took us a while, but it worked.”

  “Is it better because it was slow, Mom?”

  “I don’t think that’s what makes things good for Adam and me,” Eva said softly, a smile in her voice. “Look at your Aunt Carrie; she met her husband just after we’d all graduated from high school. They were married within a month, and they were happy as clams until he had his accident.”

  “But is it harder to make it work when it goes that fast, do you think?” Harmony moved around the kitchen, toasting bagels and spreading them with cream cheese as she waited for Eva to speak again.

  “I think it can be harder that way. But if it’s worth it, then you do it. I can’t imagine how many more years Adam and I would have been together by now if we’d just thrown caution to the wind and decided to give it a try. Then again, maybe if we hadn’t grown so much together in the waiting, we might not have wanted it bad enough to actually make it work.”

  “What would you think if it was one of us?” Harmony asked, sliding her finger through the cream cheese on her bagel and bringing the thick spread to her mouth. “Like, if it was Drew and Cass; what if they just barely met and decided to move in together or something?”

  Eva laughed heartily. “They did, remember?”

  “Yeah but they were getting married by the time they moved in together, Mom; they only lived together until the wedding was planned.” Carrying her plate to the bar, Harmony pulled out one of the tall bar stools and settled in with her breakfast.

  “Well, honey, I don’t suppose I’d have cared either way,” Eva answered. “There are plenty of things that this old woman can be old-fashioned about, but marriage doesn’t have to be one of them. If my children are happy, then their mother is happy. For me, I wanted the commitment before I lived with Adam. I wanted to know that we were in it for the long haul. But you’re all different people and you each like different things, Harmony. You live different lives, and you have your own personalities.”

  “That’s for sure,” Harmony laughed.

  “And that’s okay. You’re individuals, and I can’t just expect you to all act the same way or do the same things, or follow the same timeline of events. That wouldn’t be fair of me.”

  Finishing the first half of her bagel, Harmony grinned devilishly as she said, “And what if one of us got pregnant?”

  “Well, Harmony, I guess we’ll see what the circumstances are then, won’t we? What makes you ask me all these questions though? Are you pr—“

  “No! No, I’m not, Mom, I promise,” Harmony laughed. “But I do want you to meet Xander. We’ve gotten a little more serious, and … well, I really like him.”

  “I know you do, honey, I can tell. Whenever I’m with you, you’ve just got your cell phone in your hand the whole time, texting like there’s no tomorrow. It’s a miracle your thumbs don’t fall off. Does he feel the same way?”

  Harmony sighed and swallowed the bite of bagel she’d been chewing. “I think so. He actually is the one who suggested trying to set something up so that he could meet everyone. He says he wants to do a barbeque or something at his house.”

  “Oh,” Eva said quietly. “So this is getting a bit serious with him, then? You really like him?”

  “I do,” Harmony answered. Remembering the conversation she and Xander had the night before, she couldn’t help smiling. She had really begun to think that she might love Xander, but she’d been holding off, choosing not to say anything just yet.

  “And you think this will stick for a while? That it’s going to last, and he’s going to be someone important to you?”

  “I do,” Harmony said again, finishing the last bite of her breakfast and sliding off the stool to carry her plate to the sink.

  “Then I think it’s time your father and I get to meet this boy, and I think he’s very gracious to have invited us to his home,” Eva said. “You don’t see that
very often these days.” As she spoke, Harmony could hear her moving around, probably finishing her coffee and beginning to make breakfast for Adam and Evan, the only other family members still living in the big Kingsley house.

  “Then you’ll come?”

  “Of course. Is this meant to be just meet the parents, or –“

  “He wants everyone to come,” Harmony broke in, bending down to slide her shoes on.

  “Wow, he’s going all out, isn’t he?” Eva asked curiously. Harmony could imagine her face, green eyes intelligent and alert, her short hair smooth and shining, one dark blonde brow raised in question.

  “I think he is,” Harmony answered simply at first, debating whether she should tell her mother everything, or if she should just wait to see what happened when Xander was introduced to her family. Still, Eva’s silence told Harmony that she hadn’t kept her secret very well. “He is definitely going all out,” Harmony continued. “And he’s doing that because he has asked me to move in with him, Mom.”

  “Oh honey!” Eva exclaimed, her voice high with emotion. “Are you ready for that? Are you going to do it?”

  “I’m not sure yet. But that’s part of the whole thing about him meeting everyone. I can’t live somewhere that you guys wouldn’t feel welcome, and I’ve talked about it with him. And he says he gets it. So he’s asked me to set something up to get everyone together at his house.”

  “And he just wants to meet everyone all at once?” Eva laughed. “Does he know how big our family is? That’s quite a lot to jump into.”

  “Yeah, but so is moving in together,” Harmony answered, laughing. “Clearly, he isn’t afraid of taking big steps.”

  “So you’re going to do it, then?”

  “I’m thinking about it.” Grabbing her keys and her purse, Harmony stepped into the hallway of her apartment and turned to lock the door. “But I don’t know yet, and I haven’t said that I would. We’ve talked about it a little bit though.”

  “And how is that going?” Eva asked.

  “So far we’ve just sort of acknowledged how short of a time we’ve been together, and that we want to be sure that if we take that step, we’re doing it right and we’re thinking it through enough.”

  “That’s very sensible. Do you think this weekend would be good for this? Or do you want more time to plan something?”

  “Actually, he won’t be flying out again until next week, so this weekend is perfect,” Harmony answered, leaning her back against the wall beside the elevator. “I have to go, Mom, the call will be cut off when I go in the elevator. Will you call the others and let me know if they can do it?”

  “You’re on the way to the airport?”

  Rolling her eyes, Harmony laughed. “Yep, I’ll be on my way there in just a few minutes. His flight should be here in an hour, but I wanted to be there a little early just in case.”

  “Well, you go and enjoy the day with him. I’ll call you tomorrow about this weekend, okay?”

  “Sounds good to me. Love you, Mom.” Harmony listened as her mother said her goodbyes, and then slipped her phone into her pocket before stepping into the elevator, excited to be on her way.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Waiting in the lobby just beside the baggage claim, Harmony watched the door to the airport terminal. As various crowds of people spilled through the doors, she sat quietly, looking for Xander’s wide shoulders, searching for the shine of his short blonde hair in the bright lights of the airport, anxious to see his sparkling blue eyes …

  She’d been surprised while he was gone, to realize how attached she’d grown to him and how much she’d come to depend on his close proximity. They spent the time sending texts back and forth and Xander did call her often, but there was something different about knowing that he was away, that he was out of reach.

  And then he was there again, walking through the doors in a burst of energy, surrounded by other passengers. His eyes swept the area and he found Harmony easily; he smiled and left the crowd of other travelers, walking toward her with his arms extended. She forgot her nerves; she forgot her concerns over their recent talks. Meeting him with a smile that matched the happy expression on his face, Harmony stepped forward and walked into his arms.

  “I missed you. I missed having you tucked close, right here,” he whispered, his arms pressing tight against her back, lifting her against him briefly before setting her back on her feet. Still holding her close, he tucked her head under his chin, and she laughed lightly as he sighed, her cheek pressed gently against his chest. Finally, flattening her palms over the muscles of his chest, she pushed gently and he released her, watching as she stepped slightly away.

  “Welcome home,” she laughed, looking up into his face. “You seem happy enough to be back.”

  Xander watched her closely for a moment, finally relaxing and allowing a smile to spread over his lips as he nodded. “Oh, believe me, I’m more than happy to be back,” he said, lacing his fingers with hers. “If I could have stuffed you in my pocket and carried you along without getting you in trouble at work, I would have.”

  “Well, maybe I’ll be able to make the next trip,” Harmony laughed. “And even if I can’t, my character is tied to yours, so we’ll be traveling together soon enough.”

  “Yeah, that’s true,” Xander answered, giving her hand a gentle squeeze as they walked toward the baggage carousel.

  Once they were settled into Harmony’s Xterra with Xander’s big body curled somewhat uncomfortably into the small space, he turned to her, the smile fading from his lips as his expression grew more serious. “Is it too early for me to ask you about … what we talked about?” He took her hand, settling it over the curve of his thigh as he stroked circles on the back of her hand with his thumb.

  “No, it’s not too early,” she said quietly, twisting slightly to look over at him. “I mean, I know you’re thinking of it. And I’m definitely thinking of it – I’ve thought about it a lot, actually. And I called my mom about it this morning.”

  “Okay … and what does she think of all this?” he asked nervously, his eyes focused on their entwined hands in his lap.

  “She doesn’t disapprove,” Harmony answered, smiling as Xander’s eyes darted to her face. Glancing over, she tipped her head thoughtfully, her eyes lighting with amusement. “You really thought my family wouldn’t like this, huh?”

  Xander nodded silently as Harmony slipped her hand from his and twisted the key in the ignition. “Yeah, kind of,” he said, adjusting his position in his seat.

  The Xterra roared to life in the silence of the airport garage, and Harmony backed out of the parking space, waiting until she was moving slowly forward through the garage before she reached for Xander’s hand again. “My parents are generally pretty easy-going,” she said reassuringly. “I was only slightly worried that they’d disapprove, and only because of the timing. There isn’t anything that makes me think they could disapprove of you.”

  He sighed, his lips pursed as he thought about what she’d said. “Okay, so your mom ‘doesn’t disapprove’,” he said finally.

  “And my father will trust that she knows her children. He wants to meet you, but he’s not really the guard dog type of dad, you know?”

  “Okay. That’s good, then. But what does that mean, really? For us?”

  “Well, I value their opinions Xander, so I can’t tell you that it wouldn’t have mattered if they didn’t approve. But it just means they trust me to make my own decisions. And that makes me more comfortable, more free to follow my heart,” Harmony answered, following the curve of the garage down toward the street level as she spoke. “My parents will trust my judgment. And they’ll support whatever I decide to do.” Remembering the talk she’d had with her mother about Drew living with Cass, Harmony smiled, relieved to realize how much better she felt about everything after talking to her mother.

  “Does that mean you’ve decided anything?”

  “Not yet,” Harmony answered. “All I ca
n say for now is that the answer isn’t an instant ‘no,’ which is a start. I’m just thinking things through.”

  “What about the idea of your family being willing to meet me?”

  Harmony turned her hand in his, squeezing his fingers reassuringly. “My mom thinks she can get everyone to plan for Saturday, as long as that’s good for us.”

  “Hmm. ’Us.’ I like the sound of that,” Xander said, the sunlight of the early afternoon touching his face as she drove out of the garage. “Are you nervous about it then? The idea of moving in with me? Afraid?”

  “Well, not terribly, but I think that’s mostly because it’s not guaranteed yet. I think I will be though, a little bit, if that’s what we end up deciding to do. Don’t forget, this is all still new to me, and it’s different from anything I’ve ever experienced before. Having a relationship like this at all is new to me, so taking it to that serious level is definitely a little scary.”