Page 105 of Redeeming Harmony

As if hearing her thoughts, a loud boom of thunder shook the sky, and she winced when lightning flashed across the sky and rain fell in hard, icy pellets. Shit, freezing rain. The roads would be ice rinks by the time she tried to drive home. Just her luck.

She knocked again. She could see the warm glow of lights behind the blind in the living room, and Nathan’s truck parked in its stall, so she knew he was home. She didn’t think he’d be avoiding her unless having to shell out two thousand bucks for an old mutt of a dog with a bad hip was enough for him to be annoyed with her. She wouldn’t blame him if he were, but that’s why she was here, right? To tell him how thankful she was and to give him the eight hundred bucks and assure him she would pay him back the rest even if she had to give him twenty dollars at a time.

Or you could ask your dad for the money and pay Nathan back immediately.

She could, but she’d already had to borrow money from her father numerous times since she returned home, and she hated to borrow more.

Or you want an excuse to keep in contact with Nathan, even if he doesn’t want to sleep with you anymore.

The icy rain was needle pricks against her skin. She pulled up her hood, wishing she’d worn a jacket instead of just a hoodie, and huddled against Nathan’s door as she knocked a third time. She was freaking out over nothing. Nathan hadn’t returned to the house this afternoon because after Winston’s horrible owner had left, an emergency had come in.

She knew that. She’d seen it for herself. She’d waited only half an hour before hauling ass over to the clinic. Nathan was already prepping for emergency surgery for a cat who’d swallowed a needle. She’d gone back to the house, cuddling Winston and trying not to cry as she waited for Nathan to come by after work.

Only he hadn’t shown up. Her dad had come home after the clinic closed, and she’d told him what happened, unable to stop entirely from crying but at least not outright bawling like a baby. They’d eaten supper, and she’d escaped to her room with Winston, staring at her phone like a love-struck teenager before finally caving and texting Nathan.

He hadn’t replied. Hell, he hadn’t even read her message. She wanted desperately to call Addison, to tell her exactly what happened and obsess over Nathan’s silence, but Addie and Preacher and her parents were in New Cassel visiting Daniel in rehab.

Finally, just before nine, she’d dressed in a hoodie and jeans and went downstairs. Her father sat in the living room chair, beer in one hand and remote in the other. As Winston settled at his feet, she’d kissed his cheek and told him she was going out. He hadn’t asked questions, just told her to be careful driving and, if she drank too much and needed a ride home, to call him. He would pick her up no matter the time, no judgment or questions asked. The familiar refrain from her teenage years had almost made her cry.

A powerful gust of wind nearly knocked her off Nathan’s front stoop. She staggered back, grabbing onto the handrail to stop herself from tumbling down the steps. What the fuck was she doing? It was almost nine-thirty, a horrible storm was rolling in, and Nathan hadn’t opened the door. Did she need any more proof that she needed to go the fuck home?

She turned and stumbled down the two steps. They were already icy, and she dreaded the drive home. If her fucking car would even start. It was still making that weird -

“Harper?” Nathan shouted over the thunder.

She turned, squinting up at him. He stood in the doorway wearing just a pair of athletic shorts, and despite her absolute belief that he was finished with the whole friends with benefits thing, desire shot through her like a stray bullet. Fuck, would she ever not want him?

“Come inside!” Nathan winced as ice pellets bounced off his bare chest. She joined him in the house, and he shut the door and locked it, the howling wind muffled enough that she could hear her ragged breathing and the pounding pulse in her ears.

“Shit, that storm is terrible,” Nathan said. His dark hair was wet, and water droplets clung to his chest hair, and she wanted to lick away the water sliding down his abs.

He glanced down at his body. “Sorry, I was in the shower. Come into the kitchen.”

She followed him to the kitchen. He moved a box off the chair. “Sit down, Harper, before you fall down.”

She sat, shivering wildly even though the house was toasty warm. With a frown on his face, Nathan quickly made them both cups of green tea. She sipped at hers as Nathan used a towel to dry his upper body and hair.

He eased into the seat beside her and took a drink of tea. “You okay?”

“I’ll pay you back,” she said before fumbling for the money she’d stuck in the pocket of her jeans. “I have the eight hundred right now, and it’ll take me a while to pay back the rest, but I swear I will, Nathan. Are you good with me doing a payment plan or -”

“Harper, stop.” He put his hand over hers, folding her fingers over the wad of cash. “I don’t want the money.”

“You have to,” she said. “You have to take it, Nathan.”

“No, I don’t.”

“But it’s a lot of money, and Winston is my dog, not yours and… why won’t you take the money?”

“You’re my friend, and I want to do something nice for you,” he said. “I can afford the two grand, Harper.”

Right. Because he was an adult who had his shit together, and she was a complete wreck.

“I’d like to pay you back,” she said.

“I know, but I’d like you to consider it a gift,” he said.

They stared at each other, neither willing to back down before Harper sighed and looked away. “Thank you, Nathan. It means a lot to me. Winston is…” her throat burned, and she swallowed hard before sipping more green tea. “Anyway, thank you.”

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