Page 11 of Perfect Harmony

“And you, Addison,” Lucas said, “are alsobest friends with Kira and Grace. The three of you grew up together right herein Harmony Falls and have been friends since childhood. Right?”

“Actually, there’s four of us,” Addisonsaid. “You haven’t met Harper yet. She’s an artist and she moved to New Yorka few years ago. She works at a gallery in Manhattan. She’ll be home for thewedding though, so you’ll meet her then.”

“Invitations have already gone out for thewedding, babe,” Harrison said. “We can’t keep inviting extra people, the costis already through the roof.”

Addison’s smile became strained. “Irealize that. But we have friends who could easily bring him as their plusone.”

Her gaze drifted to Grace. Gideon’s handtightened around his beer bottle. Grace didn’t seem to be paying attention, infact she looked like she was about to fall asleep, but he still didn’t like theassumption that Grace would take Lucas to Addison and Harrison’s wedding. Whywould she? She barely knew the guy.

“So, Addison, you’re a teacher at HarmonyFalls Elementary School?” Lucas set his paper plate down on the grass next tohim, and Gideon put a hand on Tank’s collar when the big dog started to stand.The dog sank back to his belly, giving Gideon a woeful look before resting hishead on his paws.

“That’s right. I teach first grade.”Addison’s fingers worried at the string of pearls around her neck. “Speakingof, I need to confirm final numbers for the career thing on Wednesday.”

She smiled at Lucas. “This is the lastweek of school and in a blatant effort to kill some time, I’m forcing a bunchof my friends to come to my classroom and tell the kids all about their jobs.”

Lucas grinned. “Sounds like fun.”

“Only if you think speaking to twenty-eightrambunctious seven-year-olds is fun.” Addison pulled at the pearls around herneck again. “Kira, you’re still going to be there, right?”

“Yep. Although I’m going to bore the socksright off those kids. There’s just no way to make being a real estate agentsound fun.”

“Tell them you have a haunted house you’retrying to sell,” Lucas suggested.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Kira said. “It’llfor sure put me ahead of Connor anyway.”

“Hey,” Connor said. “I’m bringing freemini toothpastes and floss. Those kids are gonna love me.”

Addison laughed. “Keep telling yourselfthat, Connor. Did your ER doctor friend confirm with you?”

“Yes. Jack will be there for his onethirty time slot,” Connor said.

“Harrison, don’t forget that you need to bethere right at eleven. Hazel from Grind my Beans is at eleven thirty and Idon’t want to make her wait.”

“I know, babe,” Harrison said. “You’vetold me a thousand times.”

“You’ve been really busy with work lately,”Addison said. “I don’t want you to forget.”

“I won’t. It’s in my calendar and Crystalwill remind me as well.”

“All right.” Addison had her phone out andshe was scrolling across the screen. “Who’s next… Gideon, I have you scheduledfor two, does that still work?”

“It does,” Gideon said.

“I have to follow the guy with the gun?”Connor said with a groan. “I’m gonna need to up my game, bring something morethan just toothpaste and floss.”

Lucas laughed. “Buddy, I hate to tell youthis, but the tattooed guy is gonna be the most popular guy at career day.”

The silence was broken by Harrison’s laughter.“Are you serious? Obviously, Preacher isn’t invited to this. No teacher intheir right mind would bring a guy who looks like him into their classroom. Parentswould have a shit fit if their kids were exposed to the idea of being a,” alook of disdain crossed Harrison’s face, “tattoo artist. No offense,Preacher.”

Gideon glanced at Preacher. Nothing on hisface suggested he was angry, but Gideon knew him better than anyone. The redflush on the back of his neck, the slight flare to his nostrils, and the wayhis hand clenched around his beer bottle suggested he was about ten secondsaway from showing Harrison what a broken nose felt like.

“Actually,” Addison was giving Harrison afrosty look, “I was just about to ask him if he could fill the last slot of theday.”

She smiled tentatively at Preacher. “Wouldthree o’clock work for you?”

“Babe, be serious,” Harrison said. “You can’tlet a guy like him talk to the kids.”

“I’m being serious.” Addison glared athim. “It’s my classroom and my decision who I invite to speak to my kids. I’mcertain that they would be fascinated by Preacher’s career in tattooing.”

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