Page 102 of Shortcake
“You know you’re more than just someone living in our basement.” Deep cerulean eyes gazed back at me. I knew he meant that. Even if he couldn’t bring himself to tell Harper about us yet, I could feel how deep our connection was.
But I couldn’t help the lump from forming in my throat. “Not to Harper, I’m not.”
Again, he shook his head. “Not true. I think you’re probably Harper’s best friend here in town. That’s why I’m so afraid to tell her about us. I don’t want her feeling like she can’t trust her friendship with you or that she might lose you.”
“Honestly? I’m nervous about that, too,” I admitted.
Smiling down at me, he dragged his finger over my bottom lip, popping it free from where I nibbled it between my teeth. “And I’ll admit, I enjoy our little bubble. Just the two of us. We don’t have to deal with the town. Or anyone at my work or your work knowing. Or your scary ass brothers.”
My grin widened and I lifted my brows at him. “You’re the sheriff. How scary are my brothers when you can arrest every one of them.”
His laugh vibrated against me as I held him close. “True.”
Our quiet laughs faded after a moment, and we were still left with the reality facing us. “What are you going to do about Harper?” I whispered.
Sighing, he took my hand and dragged me away from the stairs.
Gus and Eleanor, not reading the room, followed us excitedly into the kitchen. “I’ve been thinking,” Conrad whispered, “About canceling Harper’s grounding.”
“Canceling it?” I repeated. “It’s not exactly a subscription box, Conrad.”
“I know. I know. But she’s been so good these last couple weeks… make out session and butt squeeze aside. And I couldn’t help thinking about the stuff you said about you as a teen and how the moment your mom started listening and trusting you more, your behavior issues got better.”
I nodded slowly, soaking in his words. He was asking for my advice.
Withparenting.
On the same night that I’d been so damn certain he was going to blame me for that make out session and not talk to me for the rest of the night.
Man, this evening was not turning out the way I thought.
In the best way possible.
“I… I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” I said carefully. “Although it might send the wrong message if you cancel it now that I found her making out with Adam.”
Conrad swiped a hand down his face before leaning against the kitchen island counter. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… they were just kissing, right? I mean, that’s what teenagers do. They make out. Hell, I did way worse than grab ass at age sixteen.”
I flopped into the barstool at the counter. “I was no saint, either. Obviously.”
“So I’ve heard.” He winked, then pushed off the counter, crossing to the cabinet next to the fridge. “I think it’ll be good for her, though. She can actually enjoy the last couple weeks of summer before school starts. Like you said, forge some friendships that aren’t based in drinking or partying. It’s like she can have a fresh start and maybe starting at her new school in a couple weeks won’t feel so scary.” He grabbed a couple wine glasses from the highest shelf. “Though… I might make her sweat it out for tonight. Especially after her little stunt at the bookstore today.”
I nodded slowly, mesmerized by the flex of his bicep as he twisted the corkscrew into the bottle’s cork. “It’s a good idea, Conrad. She’s a good kid, despite a couple bad choices. I think lightening her prison sentence would go a long way.”
“Exactly,” he said, as the cork popped out of the bottle of cabernet. “It’s not like she snuck out of the house to see him. Sure, it was a little manipulative of her to go hide in the history section of the bookstore—”
“Yeah, Elijah’sgotto fix that section. It’s like make out point back there.”
“Maybe you should bring it up to him next time you’re in the store,” Conrad said, eying me carefully.
It felt like a carefully set trap that I was about to charge right into.
“I was thinking about that, actually…”
“About Elijah?” Conrad asked, all traces of playfulness gone from his face.
I rolled my eyes. “No. Well… yes. But I was thinking maybe you and Elijah should go have a beer.”
“Why the hell would we do that?”
