Page 12 of Harper

“What plans?” asks Hunter, his eyebrows furrowing.

“I’m helping Ms. Clearwater straighten up,” she lies. “I volunteered at school.”

Hunter looks over his shoulder at my aunt, then nods at his sister. “Okay, then. Hey, Joe, would you mind making sure Harper gets home safe?”

“No problem,” I say, trying not to look too eager.

“Thanks,” he says, looking down at Sawyer, who’s five years old. “Shoulders or back, little man?”

“Shoulders!” yells Sawyer.

Mr. Stewart took baby Reeve home a little while ago, so there are only four Stewarts left. I watch as Hunter puts Sawyer on his shoulders and Tanner offers a piggyback ride to little Parker. The four of them exit Smuggler’s Cove, leaving me and Harper behind.

“You ready to go?” she asks.

“I can’t yet,” I tell her. “I’m supposed to stay and help clean up.”

“Oh,” she says, her smile dimming a little.

“But it won’t take long!” I assure her. “Give me half an hour?”

“Sure,” she says, standing up from the bleachers. “I can help, too.”

“No,” I say, wanting to be chivalrous. “You relax. I’ll be done quick. I promise.”

I race back over to my mom and aunt, asking what they want me to do first.

“Sit down,” says my mother. “The pizza’s here. Have some lunch.”

I glance at Harper, then back at my mom. “Can’t. Harper and I are taking a walk to the point. I’d like to do my share now so I can get going.”

My mother scans my face, then looks over my shoulder at Harper, who waves at her from the bleachers.

“Hm. Harper Stewart?”

I nod.

“You finally asked her out, huh?”

I give my mother a look.

“Cody and Leo,” she says to her brothers, “Joe, here, has a date.”

“A date?” teases Uncle Leo. “With who? Who wants to go out with this ugly kid?”

My mother gestures to the bleachers with her chin.

“Stewart girl, huh?” says Uncle Cody. He looks at me. “You in love, usguq?”

I know he’s half kidding with me and probably expects me to shuffle my feet in the dirt and say no. But I can’t lie about this. About her. I just can’t.

“Yeah,” I murmur, my eyes locked with his. “I am.”

“Okay, then,” my uncle says softly, nodding his head with approval. He slides his gaze from me to Harper, then back to my mother. “Let him go. I’ll do my share and the boy’s.”

“You’re an old softie, Cody.” My mother chuckles softly at her brother, then nods at me. “Go, then. Be careful, huh?”

“I will!” I promise.

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