Page 42 of Red Hot Harmony

“Oh…”

“See what I mean?” My shoe was tapping restlessly against the floor.

“No, I actually don’t.” He cleared his throat. “What do you mean?”

“What about Ally?”

I heard an exasperated sigh, almost felt it through the phone. “Ally’s here with me. We’re going to finish this season and turn in.”

“I’m a crappy mother, aren’t I?”

“Why would you think that?”

“I just find this whole situation not very maternal. Me spending the night with a man while my kid is at home sick.”

“Okay, sweets.” Harper inhaled sharply. “You need to breathe.”

“I am breathing.”

“No, you're not. You’re hyperventilating.”

“No—”

“Nuh-uh!” There was a pause, then he went on. “Ally has a sore throat and a runny nose. These things happen, believe it or not. She’s also home with an adult. AKA your bestest friend, Harper, who’s happy to babysit his favorite goddaughter whenever, especially when you stock your fridge with my favorite cherry soda. So you need to stop worrying about her and let yourself enjoy your night with the man who’s clearly ready to kiss the ground you walk on.”

I had nothing to say to that as my head conveniently spun too.

“I swear to God,” Harper growled. “If you don’t make an honest effort to get laid tonight, I won’t speak to you for a month.”

“Why are you so intent on getting me laid?”

He groaned. “Because I want to live vicariously through you.”

“I don’t know if I’m disturbed or flattered right now, Harper.”

“Definitely flattered.”

“Hey, did you decide what you want to do about the lamp?”

“You seriously want to know what I’m doing about a broken piece of furniture while a hot man is waiting for you to make up your mind about whether you’d like to engage in naughty activities with him?”

“Your safety is important to me, Harper.”

“I’ll be fine. I merely don’t see why I should pay a shitload of money for shipping something so heavy back and forth if he said he’d be in L.A. next week. I’ll just meet up with him.”

“Okay, but if you need me to go with you, please let me know.”

“You really think the worst of everyone.”

“Not everyone. What if he’s some serial killer?”

“He’s not.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I looked him up on social media.”

“Oh.”

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