Page 11 of Harper

“Axe-throwing?”

“Yeah.”

“Hunter and Tanner are entering, too.”

“Tanner’s only fourteen.”

“He probably won’t win, but you know Tanner. He can’t resist a challenge.”

“That’s true.” I nod. “Hunter has a good chance.”

She shrugs, still smiling at me. “So do you.”

I take a step closer to her, lowering my voice. “Will you root for me, Harp?”

“Instead of my brothers?”

I don’t hesitate. I nod earnestly, looking deeply into her blue eyes.

“Okay,” she whispers. “I’ll root for you, Joe.”

Her encouragement makes me bold. “And meet me after?”

“After?”

“After the medal ceremony? We can take a walk over to Yakutania Point.”

She tilts her head to the side. “Are you asking me out, Joe Raven?”

It’s my turn to blush, but I don’t look away from her. I own my feelings. I hold her eyes as I nod again. “Yeah. I am.”

Her lips wobble, and her little pink tongue licks them before she grins at me. “It’s about time.”

Then she turns and walks over to the bleachers where she joins her little sister, Parker, little brother, Sawyer, baby Reeve, and her dad.

***

I come in second to Hunter Stewart, but I don’t care.

All I can think about is Harper saying, It’s about time.

All I want is for this stupid competition to be over so I can spend the afternoon with her.

“Joe,” calls my mom when the awards ceremony is finally finished, “your aunt Hannah ordered pizzas for lunch, and then we need your help cleaning up.”

My heart drops. I don’t want to help clean up. I want to go to Yakutania Point with Harper. But my mother is a single parent and saying “no” to her doesn’t come easy to me. Hopefully Harper won’t mind waiting.

I jog over to the bleachers.

“Hey!” I say to Harper, nodding hello to her brothers.

“Congratulations!” she says, clapping her hands. “You were great!”

“Hunter was better,” I say, looking at her older brother with respect.

“It was close. You did good, Joe,” says Hunter. He turns to his younger siblings. “Harp and Tan, you guys ready to get going?”

Harper looks at me, then back at her brother. “I have plans. I’m staying. You guys go ahead.”

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