Page 12 of Redeeming Harmony

“Life sucks, pinky-pie,” Harper said, her voice muffled.

“Oh, sweetie. I’m sorry, I know returning home isn’t what you wanted.”

Harper stepped back. “No, it’s not that. I mean, yeah, that sucks major nut waffles, but I’m talking about the fight I just had with Dr. Henshaw. The one that Dad had to break up like we were a couple of tweens.”

“What?” Addie led her to the couch. Like always, she looked impossibly stylish and effortlessly beautiful. She wore a burgundy pencil skirt and a cream coloured shirt with a ruffled collar and sleeve cuffs. On Harper, it would have looked like she was channelling her inner pirate. On Addie, it looked elegant and sophisticated. Her auburn hair was in a twist, and she wore her usual pearl necklace. Her burgundy heels matched her skirt perfectly.

“Christ, I look like a homeless person next to you,” Harper said. She’d taken the time after she stormed out of the clinic to change from her leggings and hoodie into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with the words, ‘I’m your Huckleberry’ printed across the chest, but she still looked sloppy and disheveled compared to Addison.

She’d be upset about it if she weren’t so used to it. She’d long given up on trying to match Addison’s superior sense of style.

“Your hair looks great,” she said to Addison.

Addie smoothed her hand down Harper’s ponytail. “I love the blonde. When did you do this?”

“Just before I left. Impulse decision,” Harper said. “As always. Dad hates it.”

“I love it,” Addison said. “It makes your eyes look so blue.”

“It also washes out my skin and,” she bent her head so Addison could see the top of her skull, “I’ve already got roots.”

“A new stylist is renting a chair at Curl Me Crazy,” Addison said. “Her name is Melinda, and she’s fantastic. You should book with her when you get your roots done. She’s having trouble booking clients because she’s from Willington.”

“Why did she move here?” Harper asked.

“I’m not sure. Tell me about this fight with Dr. Henshaw.”

Fifteen minutes later, Harper had shared everything that happened from the moment she met Nathan on the side of the road last night. She leaned back against the couch and said, “Am I the spoiled brat Henshaw says I am?”

“What? Of course not.” Addie toyed with the strings on the multiple friendship bracelets that hung around her wrist. “But I will say you probably didn’t make the best first impression on Dr. Henshaw.”

“I don’t care what type of impression I make,” Harper said.

“But you care that he thinks you’re a spoiled brat,” Addie said.

“No, I don’t, I just… fuck!” Harper stared up at the ceiling. “I’m attracted to him.”

“Yeah, I know,” Addie said.

“Shut up. You do not.” Harper threw a throw pillow at her.

Addie laughed. “You have that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“TheI really want to bang this guylook.”

“I have a look?”

“You have a look.”

Harper groaned. “I hate that he’s so hot. I don’t want to be attracted to him. I hate him.”

“You barely know him,” Addison said.

“You can hate a person you barely know,” Harper said. “Especially when they’re trying to take your dad’s livelihood.”

Addison didn’t reply, and Harper said, “You think I’m being a drama queen, don’t you?”

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