Page 43 of Jump Start

“What’s going on?” he asked as he perched on the corner of the king-size bed and motioned for me to sit on the lounge chair adjacent.

I paused before speaking, needing to choose my words carefully.

“I have a favour of sorts to ask and I don’t know how to ask it.” Which was the truth. Chris readjusted his sitting position and ran his hand over his bald head.

“Well mate, just hit me with it, yeah?” His apprehension was warranted.

“Obviously, I am in love with Harper.”

“I could have told you that in week one, but go on,” he quipped sarcastically.

“Harper’s boss is a prick and she’s unsure if she wants to work there anymore. She’s not put me up to this, and pretty sure she’d have my balls in a vice if she knew, but is there anything at Echidna you could offer her? If she was interested, of course.”

“Jacko, if Harper was interested in working with us, I would create a position for her. She’s an incredible writer and we don’t have a journalist in the team. We have Holly on social media, which is crucial, but it could do with some writing and depth behind it.”

“Legit?” I shifted my position on the chair. “I didn’t expect you to go for this.”

Chris smiled. “Well, we all love Harper, and I think she would be a fantastic asset to the team, for sure.” He stood up and reached out his hand.

“I’ll have a chat with her, but if she asks me where this camefrom, I’m not going to lie, mate.” I shook his hand.

“Thanks, Chris, I know. I knew you wouldn’t.”

I left the room feeling excited for the future, but also not quite sure how Harper would take it once she found out it was my idea. I threw those thoughts to the back of my head. Now, we just had to enjoy a team dinner together with no outside pressures.

Was I being selfish for wanting her around all the time? Maybe, but I wanted her to be happy and I knew Chris was in the position to support her. Plus, everyone at Echidna loved her.

As I re-entered our room, Harper was still in the bathroom.

“You coming to this thing or what?” I yelled through the closed door, knowing it would piss her off. Not sure why I insisted on pushing her buttons so often. Probably because I loved the fire she gave me in return.

***

Harper

Just as I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup, Thomas yelled out from the other side of the bathroom door. “You coming to this thing or what?” I smiled.

“Yeah, just give me a second, geesh.” The problem with dating a race car driver was the constant impatience, always having to stick to a schedule to the absolute second.

“It’s just dinner. You know there’s no winner, right?” I snapped at him as he walked down the hotel corridor together.

“My, my, someone’s hangry,” he joked as he kissed my cheek again, making it impossible to be annoyed with him.

“You’re just trying to be cute, so I don’t lose my shit at you.”

“Is it working?” he asked with a pretend pout. I nodded to confirm that it was indeed.

Dinner with the team was always fun. I genuinely loved them so much and they had made me feel welcome since day one. I was at the bar when Chris stood next to me, briefly speaking with someone else.

“How’s it going, Harps?” he asked as he signalled to the bartender for a drink for the two of us.

“Thanks! Yeah, I’m good, how are you?”

He smiled and handed me the glass of champagne. “Have you got a minute to chat out on the balcony?”

I nodded, suddenly feeling self-conscious. As I walked behind Chris, I caught Thomas’s eyes. He winked at me and kept talking to Holly.

Chris walked ahead of me, then perched his arm on the railing and clinked our champagne glasses together. “To a great weekend ahead, here’s hoping!”

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