Page 64 of Wright Kind of Trouble

“Same,” I agreed without her having to finish.

She sighed. “But I kind of want to cancel now. You’re only here for another day, and I won’t be back in Lubbock until August.”

“I know.”

“Let me text her,” she decided.

I should have pushed back. This wasn’t the bargain we’d made. But she was right. I wouldn’t see her again until August. Maybe I was being selfish, but fuck, I wanted to be selfish.

“She said all right,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Why do I feel like that isn’t all she said?”

She pocketed the phone. “Well, she said I told you so.”

“About?”

“I told her it wasn’t a date.” Harley shrugged. “And she figured out it was before I did, apparently.”

I laughed. “I want to hear that story.”

“It’s the struggle with being rebellious and having a rule follower as a daughter. She knows all the things.”

“Your mom always sounds like such a fun person.”

“You have no idea.”

“Well, we have hours before dinner,” I said. “What’s the best thing to do in your town?”

She grinned. “I’ll show you everything.”

A local’s viewpoint on their city was better than anything a tourist could manage, and we spent the next several hours immersed in her world. I loved every story and caveat and random mention about each of the locations. And as we wandered, I built a map in my mind of this Harley. The carefree city girl who could remember the name of all of her favorite ramen waiters, knew every street like the back of her hand, and insisted on trying more than one incredible coffee shop.

By the time we made it to dinner with Curt and his wife, Calli, we were love drunk. So many untroubled hours. No rival families. No obligations. No age difference. Just the girl I’d fallen for and the big city.

We spent two hours over multiple courses with Curt and his wife. Harley carried on her side of the conversation like a pro. Despite being younger than all of us, she was as smart as a whip.

Curt and I had gone to Yale, and I was pretty sure she would have kicked our asses in college. Calli enjoyed watching her school us.

Harley leaned on my arm, flushed from a glass of wine, as we headed out of the restaurant and said our good-byes to my friends.

“They’re so nice!” Harley said. “That place was insane. I can’t believe I’ve never been there.”

“Yeah, Curt and Calli are the best. They keep you on your toes.”

She laughed. “You’re not wrong.” She twirled in a circle. “What’s the plan now?”

“I should…probably get you home?” It came out as more of a question than I’d intended.

Harley faced me and wrapped her arms around my neck. “I don’t think so.”

“No?”

“You have a perfectly good hotel room in this city. It’d be a shame not to sleep in it.”

“It would be,” I said as I slid my hands around her waist.

She pressed her lips to mine, and I could taste the wine on her.

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