by Score, Lucy
“I have to go to the base this weekend for some meetings and training. Will you be okay here by yourself?”
“You’re not coming back tonight?”
He shook his head and sipped his coffee. “No. I’ll be home tomorrow night. Late.”
“Okay.” Harper eyed him, waiting.
“Okay.” He looked at her, still sexy as hell with sleep creases across his face, and then nodded. “I’m gonna go pack a bag.”
Harper watched him leave and sighed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
He was being a huge coward. Luke accelerated onto the highway, his mouth set in a frown. When his CO called yesterday afternoon about the basic combat refresher training, Luke suggested their pre-mobilization team meet on Saturday to prep for Sunday’s training. He couldn’t face a weekend alone with Harper. He might die from the blood supply being cut off to his brain.
He thought about kissing her good-bye but had regained his wits and casually wished her a good weekend from the safety of the other side of the kitchen island.
He was doing it for her own good, he told himself. She wasn’t the kind of girl who would just have a fling and then move on. Harper deserved better than that. So he would just keep his distance from her for the rest of the month and they would part as friends.
Friends who could have had some serious benefits.
He slapped his hands on the wheel of the truck. “Get it together, man.”
Focus on the job, and everything else will be fine.
***
Harper decided to at least pretend to be productive and tackled the laundry first. So she gathered up all the dirty clothes, towels, and sheets she could find and headed downstairs to the basement.
It wasn’t as creepy as she had expected. Small windows at ceiling level ringed the perimeter and allowed morning light to filter through. As promised, a washer and dryer sat in the corner next to a dingy laundry sink and a serviceable countertop.
Harper dropped the heaping laundry basket on the floor and started the first load. The modest setup lacked the usual clutter of a well-used laundry area. There were no mate-less socks or shrunken and forgotten tshirts. Just detergent, bleach, and dryer sheets.
While the washer kicked to life, Harper surveyed the rest of the basement. As the rest of the house, it was empty except for a few boxes and plastic totes.
There was a small room with a door, probably some kind of storage closet, on the other side of the stairs. She wondered if it was full of Luke’s high school yearbooks and childhood memorabilia. Harper tried the doorknob and found it locked.
The knob was new and keyed. Maybe that’s where he kept firearms. She hadn’t noticed any guns around the house. It was more than likely that he stored them safely under lock and key.
Harper spent the rest of her morning bustling around the house. She opened windows to let in the fresh spring breeze while she swept the hardwood floors and dusted the woodwork. She folded and put away two loads of laundry and remade the bed.
She was sweeping last year’s leaves off of Luke’s front porch, fantasizing about the cold roast beef sandwich she was going to make for lunch, when someone called her name.
A tiny brunette stood on the walkway halfway between the sidewalk and the porch. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her. A colorful floral scarf was tied around her neck.
“I’m sorry to bother you, but Ty told me where I could find you.”
Harper leaned the broom against the railing. “Gloria, right?”
The woman nodded. “I wasn’t sure you’d recognize me. We weren’t …”
“Formally introduced?” Harper supplied.
Gloria gave her a small smile. “Exactly. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by.”
“Not at all! You’re giving me the perfect excuse to quit cleaning.” Harper stepped off the porch. “Do you have time to come inside?”
“Um, sure. If you’re sure you don’t mind?”
“I would love some company. Especially if you tell me you haven’t had lunch yet, because I’m starving.”
“Oh, um. I don’t know if I should …”
“Please? I’d love to have some company,” she repeated. Harper had seen this before. When a person’s right to make decisions had been systematically stripped from them for so long, it was hard to start making choices when the freedom to do so was returned. She turned and started for the porch. “Come on in.”
Harper led the way back to the kitchen. She grabbed two plates from the cabinet and put them on the island. “Can you grab the bread for me?” Harper gestured to the loaf on the counter and busied herself unpacking sandwich ingredients from the refrigerator.
She handed Gloria a cutting board and ripe tomato. “Would you mind slicing this?”
While Gloria carefully sliced, Harper started to build the sandwiches. “Roast beef okay with you?”
“Sure. But you really don’t have to go to all this trouble.”
Harper coated slices of bread with mayonnaise. “Well you’re helping. So what brings you to Luke’s unfurnished abode?”
Gloria’s soft laugh floated through the kitchen “It is kind of spartan.”
“I don’t know if he’s a minimalist or what.”
“Commitment phobic?”
“Even when it comes to furniture, it seems,” Harper agreed. She handed Gloria a plate with a sandwich and pickle spear. “Water or soda?”
“Water, please.”
Harper filled two glasses with ice water and joined Gloria at the island. They ate side by side in companionable silence for a few minutes.
“Harper, I just wanted to thank you,” Gloria said suddenly.
“You’re welcome, but it’s just a sandwich.”
“Not just for the sandwich, which is really good, by the way. For helping me with Glenn at Remo’s. It’s been going on for so long, or at least, I’ve let it go on so long that I felt like everyone had stopped seeing me. It took me seeing the situation I helped create hurt someone else to realize that it had to stop. And I’m sorry for that.”
Harper traced a finger over the fading bruises on her face. “It was worth it if it helps you build a life you want. How are you?”
“I’m okay,” Gloria pushed her pickle around the plate. “I’m staying with my mother for now. And I pressed charges.”
She picked up her sandwich and took another bite.
“That’s very brave of you.”
“It would have been braver had I done it years ago.”
“Life moves pretty fast. There’s not a lot of room for coulda, shoulda, woulda,” Harper said, patting her hand.
“Sometimes that’s all I can think about. How different my life would be if I had gone to college or never started dating him.”
Harper nodded, “Maybe now you have that chance. To see what your life would be without him in it.”
“It’s hard. I don’t really have any friends left. I guess it’s not easy to be friends with someone who keeps making the wrong decision over and over again. Eventually everyone has to decide whether or not it’s worth it to keep trying.”
“So what are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to get a job, find a place to live, and be worth it.”
“Sounds like a good plan to me. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“Wanna be friends? I’ll understand if your answer’s no, considering I got you punched in the face.”
“I got myself punched in the face, and it got me waking up staring into the beautiful eyes of Luke Garrison. I think I owe you a lifetime of friendship.”
Gloria laughed. “I went to school with Sophie and Luke. He’s a good man.”
“Yes he is,” Harper nodded.
After lunch, she walked Gloria to the door.
“It was really nice officially meeting you,” Gloria said. “And one more time for the record, thank you and I’m sorry.”
“And again, no thanks or apologies necessary. I fully plan to be BFFs wi
th you and we should have dinner sometime soon,” she said, opening the front door.
“Did someone say dinner?” a male voice asked from the porch. A barrel-chested man in shorts and running shoes took the front steps in a single bound. His thick dark hair curled at the ends and a white-toothed grin split his face.
Harper noticed a pink tinge warm Gloria’s cheeks. “Hi, Aldo,” she said shyly.
He took off his sunglasses. “Hi, Gloria. How’s it going?”
She blushed deeper.
“You must be Aldo because Gloria called you that,” Harper said, extending her hand.
“And you must be the famous Harper.” He had a strong, warm grip. “I thought I’d stop by while my best friend is out of town to see why he forgot to mention that he has a live-in girlfriend.”
“And make sure I’m not some kind of psychopath?”
“You know the saying. Bros don’t let other bros date psychos.”
“I’m actually not familiar with that one. Is there some kind of test I have to take?”
“Why don’t I give you the test at dinner? Monday. Here. I’ll grill burgers and dogs.”
“Gloria, I feel like I should confirm that this gentleman actually is a friend of Luke’s before I agree to let him cook dinner in Luke’s house.”
Gloria nodded. “He is.”
“Since elementary school,” Aldo supplied.
“Good enough for me. 7 o’clock here okay for you, Gloria?”
She saw the hesitation on Gloria’s face.
“Please tell me you’ll bring your apple pie. I’ll be your slave for life,” Aldo pleaded, taking her slim hand in his.
Gloria bit her lip. “I’ll bring apple pie.” She turned back to Harper. “I’ll see you Monday, Harper.”
“See you, Gloria,” Aldo said, leaning against the doorframe.
She hurried past him, down the walk, but smiled the whole way.
“It’s nice to see her smile,” he said. “So, Harper, if that is your real name, tell me about yourself.”
“Want to come in?”
“Normally, not until I know whether you can be trusted. But I’m four miles into my eight and I could use some water.”
Aldo was indeed Luke’s best friend from elementary school, Harper learned. The two ran wild in the summers together, played football together, and in their senior year of high school, they signed up for the Guard together.
“So, do you know Gloria?”
“I actually just met her officially when she stopped by.”
“Rumor has it she moved out and is pressing charges.” He toyed with the water bottle Harper gave him.
“Rumor has it,” Harper agreed, smiling innocently. “How long have you known Gloria?”
“Since forever. She was a sophomore when we were seniors. Glenn was bad news back then, too.”
“Yeah, the years don’t seem to have mellowed him.”
“Heard you had quite the shiner.”
“Please. You should have seen the other guy,” she snorted.
“Wish I would have been there.”
Harper stayed silent and let him sulk.
“So how long have you been into Gloria?”
“Since I heard her sing in the school musical.”
Harper grinned as he stared at his water.
“How did handsome football star Aldo not win the girl?”
He shook his head. “I never took the shot.”
“Maybe now you can pull the trigger.”
Aldo leveled his gaze at her. “I like the way you think, Harper.”
“Bring your A game to dinner Monday, sport.”
“‘Sport’? Are you serious?”
“Let the lousy nickname contest begin.”
***
That night, after a dinner for one of canned soup and a BLT, followed by pretending to watch TV, Harper curled around Luke’s pillow in bed. She picked a shirt Luke had worn, which she purposely didn’t wash with the rest of the laundry, so she could still catch his scent. She had gone to bed an hour ago and was still staring at the ceiling.
Thinking. About him. The way he could look into her with those eyes that didn’t miss a thing. His jaw, usually set in a firm line, was perpetually covered with a 5 o’clock shadow. And that body, hard muscle under inked lines begging her hands to—
Her phone signaled a text from the nightstand jarring her from her fantasy.
Her pulse kicked up a notch when she saw Luke’s name on the screen.
Have a good day?
She’d play it cool, she decided. Really good. You?
A few seconds later, he responded. Not bad. Getting ready for bed now.
Hopefully it’s more comfortable than your couch. She included a winky face. That was still playing it cool, right?
Funny. What are you still doing up?
Thinking about you.
A minute passed and then two before her phone dinged. Same here. For a fake girlfriend, I can’t get you out of my head.
Harper did her best version of a horizontal happy dance and then counted to thirty before she responded.
What do you think that means? She nibbled on her thumbnail from the time she hit send until he responded.
It means I’ve spent more time regretting my decision to stay away from you than convincing myself to stick to it.
Then don’t stay away. Come over to the dark side.
Cute. I just don’t want you to get hurt.
We both know there’s no future. What’s the harm in enjoying the present? Her screen dimmed and then turned off. A minute ticked by on the bedside clock before, finally, another text came in.
Get some sleep, baby. I’ll see you tomorrow night.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
It was a restless night’s sleep with dreams of Luke. The next day, she only had to drag her thoughts back to the present — away from all things Luke — every thirty seconds or so while she puttered around the house.
She still hadn’t heard from him by the time she dusted every nook and cranny of the banister, cleaned the inside of the first floor windows, and finished her murder mystery. She was debating on whether or not she should text him when her phone rang in her hand.
“Tell me you’re not busy getting naked with my brother today,” Sophie demanded.
“Your brother is currently out of town avoiding me, presumably to protect himself from my incredible magnetism that drops athletic shorts with a single glance. So, no.”
Sophie snorted. “Perfect! Then you can come with me.”
“Where are we going?” Harper asked, opening the back door and stepping onto the porch.
“It’s the Annual Benevolence Not-So-Polar Plunge at the lake.”
“Aren’t those things usually in the winter?”
“I’ll fill you in on the way. You’ll do it, right?”
Some cold water would probably do her hot blood some good, Harper decided.
“Sure.”
“Great! Wear your worst bathing suit.”
Harper only had one suit, and she hadn’t worn it for a few years. She hoped it still fit.
“I’ll bring your costume and pick you up in half an hour.”
“Costume?” But Sophie had already hung up.
Harper tossed her phone on the counter and dashed upstairs to find her bikini.
***
“Okay, so, forty-five years ago, some high school students decided it would be fun to organize a Christmas cold water plunge to benefit a local cause.” Sophie launched into her explanation as she pulled out of the driveway. “I think it was a family whose house had burned down. Anyway, they were all set to do it when the lake froze over. So they decided to postpone it until the water thawed.
“Now, every year, townies get together in April, dress up like it’s Christmas, and jump in the lake. This year’s cause is a leukemia and lymphoma nonprofit.”
“That’s kind of awesome,” Harper laughed. “So what’s our costume?”
Sophie reach
ed behind her into the backseat and dumped a sweater in her lap. Harper held it up and laughed. Garrison Christmas 1987. It had misshapen reindeer flying over lumpy, snow covered hills.
“These are from Mom’s knitting phase. We still do shirts every year, but now we order them online.”
“I’m feeling Christmas-y already. So how cold is the water?”
Sophie grinned. “Well, it’s not December, but it sure as hell isn’t warm! They don’t call the lake Arctic Hell for nothing. People don’t willingly get in the water until August. I brought a bunch of old towels, though and they hand out shots afterwords and have a bonfire. It’s pretty fun.”
When they pulled into the parking lot, Harper goggled at the number of cars already there. “It looks like the whole town is here.”
Sophie nodded, “More or less. James and Ty should be here already. Ty is on duty as a cop slash lifeguard. James will do the plunge with us.”
“What about Luke?”
Sophie shook her head. “He’s never done it. Even in high school. That boy was born an adult. I don’t know if he’s ever had a day of frivolous fun in his whole life.”
Harper yelped as a face plastered up against her window. “And then there’s my idiot brother James here who’s the opposite,” Sophie said, pointing at her window.
James yanked Harper’s door open. “Let’s go, ladies! The lake waits for no one.” He was wearing swim trunks and a Garrison Christmas 1993 t-shirt with a mooning Santa on it. Obviously he was much smaller in 1993 because it was more of a belly shirt now. He had plastic light-up reindeer antlers perched on his head.
“You look kind of adorable, James,” Harper teased, getting out of the car.
James lowered his sunglasses and winked. “Damn straight.” He plopped a Santa hat on her head and tossed one to Sophie. “Suit up, sis.”
Harper and Sophie peeled off their shorts and tshirts and tossed them into the backseat before pulling on their sweaters.
Harper ignored James’ low whistle when he caught a glimpse of her white bikini. But Sophie cuffed him in the back of the head. “No poaching. I don’t want to watch Luke pound you into the ground.”
“Luke’s not here to do any pounding,” James grinned.
Harper took in the tailgating madness. It really did look like the whole town of Benevolence had turned out for the event. There were fat Santas and pointy-eared elves mingling with people dressed as stockings and Christmas trees. There was even a group of middle-aged men in red and green Speedos. She also caught a glimpse of Georgia Rae in an “I’m Mrs. Claus” sweatshirt.