Page 68 of Bittersweet

“Okay. Or I could come inside now for some coffee.”

“Oh.” She shook her head. “I am exhausted. It was a very long day at the shop. Tomorrow would be better for me.”

“Are you sure?” He leaned close, as if he was going to kiss her, as if nothing had change between them.

She swallowed hard and laid her hand on his chest to dissuade him. “I’m not ready for that.”

Brett grinned at her, which made her stomach turn. “Well, don’t make me wait too much longer.” He backed away, then turned to walk to his car, stopping halfway down the sidewalk. “Things will be better than before, Harper. You’ll see.”

“I believe you.” She didn’t, but she needed him to leave. Her racing heart only calmed when Brett got into his car and finally drove away.

Harper yanked her phone from inside the purse. “Vanna?”

“I heard it all,” Savannah said. “Get over here right now.”

“I’m on my way.”

27

On Saturday morning, after two nights camped out on Savannah’s couch, Harper felt very much in the way as her friend packed and prepared to head to Traverse City to be with her parents. She wanted to go back to her own apartment, though she still worried what Brett might do.

“I’m going home tonight.”

Savannah gave her a disapproving look. “You can stay here as long as you want. He doesn’t know where I live.”

“I can’t live in fear.”

“Harper, you need to go to the police and show them what you found.”

“It’s a gum wrapper, Van. Anybody could’ve dropped it.”

“It’s their job to figure that out.”

“What if he’s innocent?”

“What if he’s not?” Savannah stared her down. “Do you really want to take that chance?”

“If I accuse him of this, and he didn’t do it, he could get very angry with me. Then, I might have something to worry about.”

Savannah quieted, thinking that over.

“And honestly, I don’t think he’s capable of something like this.”

“Did you tell Logan yet?”

Harper shook her head.

“He needs to know.”

“I’ll tell him.”

Savannah crossed her arms over her chest.

“I will.” Harper went to the bathroom to apply her makeup for the day. “I made plans with Brett to go out for coffee next Friday when he gets back from a work trip. I’ll try to get information out of him then.”

Savannah was suddenly at her side. “That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.”

“No, it isn’t.”

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