Page 45 of Harmony

I think about her question as we enter the next store. After several moments of silence, I speak up. “I think I was ready to give cheer up because I was scared the pain wouldn’t ever leave. That if I continued on, it would have kept hurting me. I’ve healed enough now to realize I still love cheer and by not participating, I wasn’t honoring my mom.”

My heart feels lighter as I let the truth slip from my lips. I don’t even think it was a conscious decision to tell her. It just felt right.

She touches my arm gently. “I really am sorry about your parents.”

“Watch it, Tiffany. Your sweet side is showing,” I tease her, lightening the mood.

“Well, it’s a lapse in judgment. Don’t get used to it.”

We both chuckle, making me feel like a barrier that was between us has come down, at least a little bit.

From there, we keep the conversation light. We talk about school and boys but avoid anything too heavy.

“Hey, I’m going to run to the bathroom. Meet you back here?”

She shakes her head. “I’m going to go buy this.” She holds up a pair of shorts. “Meet in the food court?”

“Sure.”

Leaving her behind, I make my way down the hall toward the restroom. Once finished inside, I start toward the food court.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

I hear the voice, but I ignore it. Problem is, he doesn’t ignore me.

A hand grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop.

I glance up at the man ready to lose my shit, but before I can, another steps in, squeezing the man’s arm until he drops mine.

“You don’t touch a woman without her permission.”

I step back from them both, not sure how to feel about the man before me.

“Sorry, man.” The aggressor backs away, leaving me alone with Jared.

“Are you okay?” There is genuine concern in his eyes, making me soften toward him a little.

I still don’t trust him, but he stuck up for me. Still, a small part wonders why he is here.

“This is the second time you’ve saved me. Are you stalking me?”

He chuckles. “I wish I could say I was, but I’m shopping for my mother’s birthday.”

He holds up a bag from the engraving store in the mall. The same store that is two ahead of where we are standing.

“So you’re in the right place at the right time then?”

He smiles. “I guess so. What are you doing out today?”

“Shopping with a friend. Actually, she’s waiting for me, so I should go.”

“Wait,” he says before I can leave. “I can’t let you walk away without asking you on a date. I mean, you have to admit this is the third time we ran into each other. It has to be fate.”

“Or planned.” I wink at him. “I’m not in the place to date right now, but if our clocks ever sync up, I’ll be sure to give you that date.”

Which will never happen because you kind of creep me out,I say in my mind.

“Fair enough. I can wait for you. See you around?”

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