“What is with this place?” I shake my head, ignoring his comment as I pack up everything in my bag.
When I’m done, most of the people have left the room, and I find Harper talking to Alice near the door.
I make my way over. “You ready to go?”
Harper turns to me and nods. “Yup, let’s get out of here.”
She doesn’t waste any time saying goodbye to Alice, and neither do I, then we’re making our way to the exit, saying a quick goodbye to Leann, and getting the hell out.
“Well, that was interesting,” Harper says, then she laughs uncontrollably before we’re even two feet out the door.
twenty-eight
HARPER
Ifelt bad for Finn, but at the same time, it was so entertaining to see his reactions to the residents’ questions. I’m used to how rowdy these senior citizens can get by now, but to a newcomer, it must be bizarre.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever recover, Harper. Melvin asked to be in a throuple with us.” He shakes his head, then he laughs too.
It takes us a few minutes to recover before we make our way to his truck. He puts the large bag in the back and comes around to unlock my door and help me up into my seat. I don’t need the help at this point, but I accept the offer, eager for the feel of his hands on me.
Once again, I scold myself because I shouldn’t be thinking these things. Maybe it’s a good thing he’s found a place to move into. Perhaps a little distance is what we both need.
“At least that’s over with. Hopefully there’s someone with less seniority than me to do it next year.”
“One can only hope.” I chuckle. “You did a great job though. I’ve never given much thought into what your job entails. I could never do it.”
He starts the truck and rests his arm along the back of my seat while he looks over his shoulder to reverse the truck out of the space. I have to look away because there’s something so innately sexy about that maneuver.
“Sure, you could.” He puts the truck into drive. “You could do anything you set your mind to.”
I shake my head. “Well first, there’s the whole blood thing. I could never handle that. Second, I’d probably freeze and not know what to do. Or make the wrong decision. Or plan and then second-guess whether it’s the right one. Either way, I’m not built for emergencies.”
He frowns as he pulls out of the parking lot. “I think you need to have more confidence in yourself, Harp.”
I’m adjusting my seat belt when he uses the shortened version of my name, and I still.
He must notice because he glances my way. “What?”
“You just called me Harp.”
Finn shrugs one shoulder. “It just came out. Is that okay?” He takes another quick glance at me.
Only the closest people in my life ever use the moniker, but I love the way it sounds coming off his tongue. “Yeah, it’s okay.”
He doesn’t glance in my direction, but he smiles as he looks at the road.
I realize something about what I’ve just said. “Wait. Oh my god. What if something happens and our child needs me, and I just freeze and I’m not able to help them?”
“That’s not going to happen.” Finn shakes his head.
“But what if it does?”
“If you’re not confident about what to do after tonight, then I’ll show you again and again until you are.”
“I was paying attention. That’s not the problem. I just think that when it comes time to use the knowledge, I won’t be able to.”
“You will, Harper.”