Page 116 of Passed Ball

"It's a damn good thing opposites attract." She laughs, turning us towards the exit and leading us outside.

"The sign's less dramatic than I expected." I take it from her, holding it up to examine it.

"Yeah, well, you seemed like you had plenty brewing without me shoving you over the edge," she quips, her tone light but laced with knowing.

"Shopping first and then we can delve into all my issues."

Harlowe leads us through the parking ramp to her rebuilt International Scout.

"I can't believe you drove your baby into the city for me. Does your dad know?"

She snorts, her smile bright. "Of course he does. I was going to rent a car for the trip and he told me if I didn't have faith in all the work we put into the old girl to take him out to pasture now." The sparkle dulls a little at the last few words.

I hook her pinky in mine and squeeze. The last few years have not been kind to Harlowe and I'm not talking about the superficial wound of heartbreak--that was the least of the damage her ex, Canyon, left in his wake. He destroyed Harlowe's entire world in the blink of an eye and walked away unscathed.

Good fucking riddance.

The tailgate swings out to the side, the dusty blue paint gleaming like it's brand new instead of a restored, off-road truck.

"Sounds like James." I slide my bag into the open back and step aside as Harlowe shuts the door, leaning against it. I take the spot next to her. "How's your dad doing?" I ask.

She shrugs. "Some days are better than others. Mostly for me. He's adapting better than I would have, but there's still a lot of pain after PT. Every time I catch those grimaces that he tries to hide, I want to track down Canyon and--"

I take her hand in mine, squeezing it gently to ground her.

Her dark laughter echoes off the concrete pillars. "I don't even know what I'd do--what I'd say if I saw him again. I'd like to think I have something truly devious and scathing to throw at him, but I'd probably punch him and end up with an assault charge. Wouldn't be so bad if I knew it wouldn't disappoint my dad."

"Let's hope he stays the hell away from Timberline Peak for good, and you never have to find out," I say, voice firm.

"His parents are still in Wyoming. I'm bound to run into him at some point. Hazards of a small town."

And I hate that for my friend almost as much as I hate him.

"Enough about him; he's not worth it. You're going to let me style you and I can't wait any longer. Get your sweet ass into Phantom. Let me know if you need a boost."

I roll my eyes dramatically. "It was one time, and I was wine drunk."

She laughs, sounding less burdened. I push off the tailgate and round the passenger side. As smoothly as I'm able to, I make the giant step up into her car.

"Look at you." she says, her voice teasing. "I could hardly see the panic on your face."

"I hate you."

"Nah, it's all love, babe."

We make the drive out of the city, heading inland, and stop in one of our favorite towns about thirty minutes from home. It's not as boujee as Napa, but still has an eclectic mix of boutiques and restaurants.

The inland heat is about ten degrees warmer, a noticeable shift from the cool coastal breeze of the Bay Area. I shrug off my jean jacket and let the heat from the sun warm me as we grab an open table in a quiet corner of Gott's.

Harlowe tilts her head, scanning my face with a mix of curiosity and warmth. "You look happy. It's in your eyes--they're softer. Your shoulders too. Like you finally put down some of the weight you've been carrying."

I tip my wine to my lips, stalling, hoping she won't press. But her gaze stays steady, patient, and far too knowing.

"It's him, isn't it?" A sly smile creeps across her face. "And it's not the sex. You really like him."

I hang my head, hiding my silly grin. I guess we're just diving right in.

"He's . . .everything." It sounds cliché, but I can't think of another way to explain it. Xavier makes everything in my past fade away, like he's the missing piece I didn't know I was searching for. "Being around him is disorienting. All the things I thought I wanted suddenly don't matter. He makes me forget, and all I see is him."

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