Page 308 of Untouchable

Epilogue

Mink Creek, Colorado

In May,Parker somehow convinces Harp to go on a double date. It’s nothing short of a miracle, but then again, miracles hardly seem in short supply these days.

The evening is unseasonably warm, one of the first real days of summer. Parker loves the way Mink Creek comes alive in the summertime. He loves Mink Creek all the time, especially now that he has Harp, but there’s something about the energy of the town at this time of year that is intoxicating, a tumbling rush of people and activity surging like a river at its high water mark.

Keeping up with his social calendar is a little more challenging now that he’s no longer living in town, but the switchbacks and rough roads up to Storm Mountain are as familiar as the contours of his own face.

They are meeting up with Mindy and her girlfriend, Mandy. Over the spring, Mindy had volunteered more often at Haven Home, and the two had become friends and begun to date. Parker is thrilled Mindy has finally found a partner she actually wants to stay with for more than a few weeks—though it was a surprise to both of them that this partner had ended up being a woman. One of the things Parker likes most about Mandy, though, is the friendship she and Harp have formed as they’ve bonded over the work they are doing at the shelter.

“I’m so excited,” Parker says, grinning broadly as he takes Harp’s hand and tugs him through the restaurant to the back patio. It’s too nice of a night to stay inside, and the air is soft, still warm from the lingering heat from the day. “Thank you for doing this. I know this kind of thing—” He gestures to the busy restaurant around them. “—isn’t really your favorite.”

* * *

"Cut it out,"Harp says gently. "I promise I want to do this. I'm not just humoring you."

"I mean, it's okay if you are," Parker offers. "It means a lot to me either way."

"That's really nice of you, but it's not like this is the worst thing ever. This place has incredible steaks, I love Mandy, and if you don't have a meal with Mindy soon, I'm afraid she's going to take me hostage."

Even though Parker and Mindy still see each other most days at work, Harp knows the two friends miss spending off-hours time with each other ever since Parker moved into Harp's cabin.

And Harp really does like seeing Mandy. It's easy for him to find things to talk to her about, and having her around seems to have blunted the edges of Mindy's more acerbic qualities. In fact, ever since the two of them started dating, Mindy has seemed to welcome Harp's presence.

Hell, she even laughs at his jokes sometimes now.

Hm,Harp thinks. He wonders if, from the outside, Parker's presence in his life has done the same things for Harp's less desirable characteristics.

He's more patient now, less afraid, gentler with himself.

I guess love'll do that to you, Harp thinks.

Mindy and Mandy aren’t there yet, so Parker and Harp settle at a table near the fire. They don’t need its warmth today, but Harp knows Parker likes the cheery flicker of the light.

“I do miss her,” Parker says. He darts his hand out, squeezing Harp’s arm. “I mean, not that I don’t love living with you—that’s perfect, of course—”

“I know what you’re saying,” Harp reassures him, smiling gently. Parker grins.

“You’d think seeing her every day at work would be enough,” Parker continues. “But since someone won’t watch The Bachelorette with me—” He pokes Harp in the arm.

"Listen, I caved and bought a tv—give it time," Harp teases.

Harp had forced himself not to think about how crowded the restaurant is as they made their way to a table, but now that they're seated, he feels the familiar pinpricks of anxiety at the back of his neck.

A server somewhere drops their tray and all of Harp's muscles tense at once.

Instead of trying to keep up his end of the conversation or pretending like nothing is wrong, Harp closes his eyes. He refuses to let fear rob him of a nice evening. Not tonight. Not on my watch.

Instead of flagging down a server so that he can power-drink the anxiety away, Harp forces himself to remember his therapist's affirmations.

Parker is here and I am safe—even if I do have a panic attack.

There is no reason for me to have a panic attack here.

The cognitive restructuring had felt hilariously weak when Harp first started therapy, but here at the five-month mark, Harp has learned the value in repetition. He can almost believe it now when he tells things like this to himself.

When Harp opens his eyes again, Parker is watching him intently.

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