Page 100 of Every Little Thing

“Ugh, you both. You’re putting so much pressure on me that I’m going to cry if she doesn’t…”

Emberlynn shrugged. “I think that’s healthy. To cry when you care about someone and they leave.”

Aria gestured, moving one hand lazily in the air. “I think that’s what happens when you love someone. You care. And Ibelieve I may have said it once already that it makes you a little… uncool.”

I sighed. “Ar, where’s the cake?”

“I left it in the kitchen.”

“Great.” I pulled open the dresser drawer and tugged on a long, black wool coat, turning in the mirror to check the fit, and I slid my favorite bag up over one shoulder, and I picked up the red heels from Bright Star, tucking them into my bag. I walked past Emberlynn, and they realized my strategy too late—I heard Emberlynn’s voice strangled behind me as I threw open the window and climbed out, easing myself down to hang from the ledge, and I dropped down into the back garden, landed softly on the grass, and hoisted myself over the fence. I touched down barefoot on the path just as Gwen walked past, pausing and arching an eyebrow at me, her phone up to her ear.

“One second,” she said. “Paisley just dropped from the sky.” She lowered her phone. “Are you on the run from something dangerous?”

“Just my sister.” I knelt, pulling my heels on. “I probably lost her, though. She’s too dignified to climb walls.”

“Has too much common sense, more like. Seriously? Even when you’re in a dress? You were hospitalizedyesterday.”

I stuck my tongue out. “I’ve got a date to get to. Um…” I finished getting my heels on, standing up and tugging my shoulder strap up higher. “Wish me luck, okay? If Harper leaves again, I, uh… I’m going to be insufferably sad for a while.”

She stared at me for a while before she relaxed into a small smile. “Good luck,” she said, and when a voice came from her phone, she gestured it in my direction. “Nancy says good luck, too.”

“What, why are you on the phone with Nancy?”

“She’s helping me organize the game night tomorrow. Ostensibly. Practically, she’s crowing about how she beat Ms.Connelly’s reading this month.” A voice chattered from the phone, and Gwen half-listened. “Yeah, yeah… it was in a complimentary way.” She covered up the microphone, glancing back at me. “She says you and Harper are good together. You know how she claims she’s a matchmaker.”

I scrunched up my face for a second before I relaxed, laughing nervously. “Well, I guess if Nance says so. Can’t disagree with the volleyball superstar.” I checked my phone. “Okay, I gotta bounce. I’ll bring Harps to game night tomorrow or die trying.”

I had a lift in my step as I rounded the corner, went down the street, and ducked close to the wall as a rumble came from overhead—distant thunder. I’d left my umbrella in my backpack, and God only knew where that thing was. But I got to the dark-red roof of Hinomoto, the Japanese steakhouse with a cute little garden out front and low lights that made Harper look like something from a dream in the soft, romantic glow, standing inside the antechamber, her hands in the pockets of her suit jacket. I paused for just a second looking at her, taking her in, and I wanted to kick myself.

It was so damn obvious I was in love with her. The way all my thoughts orbited around her, how it felt like I was onlymewhen she was with me—like the sun had risen, and the world was bright.

If I’d realized it earlier, maybe she would have stayed.

And maybe she would have kept hiding everything about herself, like she had with Annabel. And she would have shrunk away more and more, like she did with Annabel, and eventually step away and leave after all.

I was gawking at her. I opened the door, stepped inside, and Harper glanced over at me and—I was such a sucker for that light that came into her eyes when she saw me.

“Hey,” she said, coming over to catch me at the door, reaching automatically to take my coat as I took it off. What a gentlewoman. I felt a little giggly. “You were able to make it okay? Still feeling all right?”

“Oh, yeah. I jumped out my bedroom window and climbed the fence.”

She faltered. “Paisley…”

“Aria was bugging me. But she did leave me a cake, so… we can have dessert together, too.”

She hung her head. “What is it going to take for you to be safe?”

I didn’t hesitate. “You staying here and letting me love you.”

“I…” She raked her fingers back through her hair, looking away, but she took my coat and turned back to the next door. “Let’s get inside. Our reservation was a minute ago.”

I went with her into the dining area, where Kim at the host’s stand beamed at both of us—we didn’t have to say a word, and she greeted us warmly, taking two menus and leading us through the dining floor and into the back, where I justknewNancy’s son Kyle who ran the shop had gotten excited having Harper back and making a reservation here, because we’d scored the best table in the restaurant. It was walled off a little from everything else, by an octagonal window looking out on the courtyard, and I felt fluttery at the bouquet of roses on the table.

“You two sit down and make yourselves comfortable,” Kim said, setting our menus down. “Your waiter will be right with you.”

“Er…” Harper scratched her head, looking between me and the roses, before she sank into the seat. “I didn’t—”

“Mrs. Park probably delivered them here.” I sat down opposite her, just… taking in the way she looked over a bouquetof roses, across the table from me, in the gentle, low lights of the restaurant.

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