Page 43 of Fool Me (Timberline Peak #1)
CHAPTER
THIRTY-ONE
ATLAS
Being away from the clinic for a few days means everything is still backed up even though it’s only Tuesday.
It’s another short week, with the Fourth of July on Friday, and I’m back-to-back with patients and calls about dogs freaking out over the fireworks already. So, I opened early on my own, trying to cram six days of work into four and skipped my normal Tuesday workout.
But it came at the cost of not seeing Harlowe and James at the gym this morning, which has quickly become my favorite part of the week after moving back, because even if Harlowe and I didn’t have plans for a fake date, I got to see her, without fail or prompting, every Tuesday.
Lately, she’d taken to teasing me about my slutty little tank tops while she eyed my shoulders.
Now that we’re together for real, it shouldn’t matter because I don’t have to make up excuses to spend time with her.
But I still hate missing out, because those moments gave me a feeling of belonging beyond the clinic.
Just like my weekly walk next door to hang out with Denver and the guys.
After six weeks back in Timberline Peak, it feels like I never left.
I’ve found little things that made me love it here again, and I’ve been lucky enough not to run into my brother.
Like yesterday, when I snuck out at lunch to meet Harlowe and Echo just a few miles from my house where she was doing human remain detection training with him. I brought them lunch, and they met me at the parking lot for a quick bite before they headed back out to keep tracking.
But after spending three days with her in California, I’m having withdrawals, and it doesn’t help that she’s expecting a busy week. Tourists are flooding into town for the holiday, which means she’ll probably get called into work more than a normal week.
Friday is the light at the end of the tunnel, because she’s not on call for the actual holiday. Baring any serious emergencies that would require all hands on deck, we get to spend time together with our friends as a real couple for the Timberline Peak fireworks.
The door to the clinic opens and my mom walks in with coffee in hand. “I saw your car out front on my way to the General Store. What are you doing here this early on a Tuesday?”
“Just trying to get caught up.”
She slides the coffee across the counter. “That’s right. How was California?” She tries to sound excited, but something is off.
“Mom,” I warn.
“I’m trying, Atlas, but it’s a bit odd. She was your brother’s girlfriend, and I’d just hoped . . .” She nibbles her lip. “Is that why you haven’t come to dinner since Canyon came home?”
“No. I haven’t come to dinner because last time you ambushed me and crossed a clearly-set boundary.”
Her shoulders fall. “It’s hard having a family split in half. That’s no excuse, but I just thought enough time had passed.”
How do I tell her that Canyon is unredeemable in my eyes? That would crush her. It’s the reason I’ve never given her all the details about our falling out in the first place. She knows enough to understand the severity of his betrayal.
“That’s no excuse, and it’s not as simple as time passing, Mom, you know that. He hasn’t changed and I don’t think he ever will. He hurt me.”
Sadness and regret pull her eyes to the ground. “So, it’s just always going to be like this. You two living in the same town but never being together.”
“I don’t know.” And I truly don’t. I believe people can change, I just don’t think my brother will, and it’s not just up to me anymore.
“If it changes for me, I’ll let you know, but don’t force us together again.
I want to see you and dad more, but if I feel like every time we meet up is going to be a rehashing of the past or a stop on the give-Canyon-another-chance tour, it’ll keep me away,” I tell her honestly.
She doesn’t hide the pain that causes, but nods.
“Why don’t you and dad come over for dinner next week?”
“I’d like that.”
“Me too.”
“Will Harlowe be there?”
“I’d like her to come, but only if you promise not to make it uncomfortable for her.”
“I can do that.” She says it with a conviction that makes me believe she really wants to make this work, even if it’s awkward for her.
We spend a few more minutes talking about California, our plans for the Fourth of July, and the upcoming prep she’s doing for Founder’s Day before she leaves with a hug and a promise to bring her famous cowboy potatoes.
The week goes about as we expected. On Tuesday morning, while we were at the gym, Harlowe got an alert about a rafting accident that required Echo’s tracking skills. Thankfully, they found the missing person with only minor injuries.
On Wednesday, there was another call. This time they were searching for a missing hiker that wandered off after a little too much cannabis. He was lying in the meadow counting stars when Echo and Harlowe found him. Another happy outcome.
On Thursday, it was a lost pet that triggered a lost camper.
That one nearly broke me. An eight-year-old boy wandered away from his campsite to chase his dog, who’d been startled by fireworks.
It wasn’t far from where Morgan was camping and she’d immediately gone silent when she received that alert during our dinner at Jude’s.
I’d dropped a few twenties on the table and drove her straight to her house, not letting go of her hand until we were in her driveway.
It had taken a few hours, but they found both the boy and the dog before morning. Other than being shaken and cold, he was okay.
She needed the day off and I was glad we had plans with her friends today to help lift her spirits after the long night. Honestly, I needed it too.
First up is floating down the river, something I haven’t done since I was a teen, but Harlowe in a swimsuit is something I could definitely get behind. I pull up to the tiny purple house to find Echo lying on the front porch while Harlowe kneels in the grass, pumping up her paddleboard.
God damn, I think I fall for Harlowe a little harder each time I see her. And now is no exception. She looks like summer and fun and mine .
“Take it Easy” by the Eagles is playing from her phone as she bounces on her toes, singing along to the lyrics without a care in the world, holding the pump in place.
The fringe on her favorite white cut-off denim shorts brushes against the back of her legs as she sways. And when the board is inflated, she stands, putting it on her shoulder, showing off her toned body in a red bikini top that is surely going to get me in trouble today.
I stand against my truck at the curb, waiting for her to turn and spot me. When she does, her smile nearly knocks me out.
After last night’s call, I was nervous that she would struggle—that it was too close to Morgan’s and was going to take her back to that dark place she’d just fought her way out of.
I’d barely slept last night waiting to hear the all clear on the scanner app I’d gotten so used to having on in the background when she was on call.
My therapist would probably tell me that wasn’t a healthy habit. But my anxiety would have to deal, because not knowing if Harlowe was okay was worse than the crackling scanner.
She stops in front of me, leaning the paddleboard against the bed of the truck before pressing up on her toes to meet me halfway for a kiss. When she pulls back, there’s a new flush to her cheeks. I like that just a simple kiss from me could do that to her.
“Damn, I’m glad we saved those shorts from staining.” I whistle.
“I didn’t hear you pull up.”
I loop my arm around her, trapping her against my chest and toying with the strings hanging down her spine. “Can’t imagine why with the Eagles concert in your front yard,” I tease.
“Did you enjoy the show?”
“Very much so. But I have a serious question. This bikini, do the bottoms also have ties?”
She rests against me so easily, her hand on my chest, fitting against me like a piece I didn’t realize I was missing. Her fingers skim under the rolled edge where the sleeves of my shirt are cut off and she looks up with a glimmer in her blue eyes. “Why is that important?”
“Just wondering how many times I’m going to fall in the water today because I’m too busy staring at you when I should be focused on my balance.”
She sucks on her cheek like she’s struggling to keep a straight face. “Don’t worry, Doc. I’ll rescue you.”
“I like the idea of getting to see you in action.” My hand slides into her back pocket, squeezing. We should load up the truck and go, but I’m in no hurry to share her with our friends. “Did you hear anything about the job?”
She shakes her head and holds her smile in place. “But I didn’t expect to—not with the holiday week. I’m not worried.”
“Good, you shouldn’t be.” My lips brush her temple and I sigh. “We should probably get going. Can I help you with anything?”
“Load this while I grab my bags?”
“Of course,” I say, letting her go and grabbing the board.
She tosses herself in the back and lets Echo in. The truck is packed like we’re heading out for an entire weekend away, not just the day. Looking over her shoulder, I see her take inventory.
“Got everything?”
“Yeah.” She slides her palm into mine. “Everything I need is right here.”