Page 11

11

ARYA

“I’m sorry you’re going through this.”

Harrison turns to face me more directly. “Thanks. I shouldn’t have dumped it on you.”

Truthfully, I kind of like it that he did. “I don’t mind. Talking can be helpful.”

“It was. So thanks. Should we head back?”

“Okay.”

We rise and stroll back the way we came.

“Do you have brothers and sisters?” he asks me.

“I do. I have an older sister, Grace. She’s married and still lives in Fargo. I miss her.”

“Yeah.”

“And I miss my dog sister.”

“Dog sister?” He grins. “You mean Roxy?”

“Yeah.” I smile too. “She’s so funny. And you have a brother you mentioned, and Everly... and another brother?”

“Yes. Noah. He’s younger. He plays hockey in San Diego.”

“And your nephews... they both play hockey?”

“Not exactly. JP—who you met—plays for the Golden Eagles. Théo used to play, but now he’s the general manager of the Condors.”

“Huh. He’s your boss?”

“Yep.”

“Couldn’t he just give you a permanent gig on the team?”

He laughs. “He could. But he won’t, unless I deserve it.”

“Harsh.” I pause. “I’m teasing. I’m not really a proponent of nepotism.”

“I get it. But our family has been involved in hockey forever—my dad played too, way back. Nobody ever got ahead because of our name. And none of us would want that.”

“That’s really... admirable.”

Christ on a cracker. I’m liking this man—and his family—more and more. “What did you mean when you say they’re messed up, though?”

“Long story. My dad remarried not that long after his first wife died. My mom’s twenty years younger than him. That caused some bad feelings for Mark and Matthew—his sons from his first marriage. They’ve never liked my mom.”

“Oh no. That must be hard.”

“Yeah. I wasn’t totally aware of it all when I was a kid, but as I got older I clued in. That caused tension between all of us, for a long time. Then... well, I might as well tell you, it’s not secret. The media had a feeding frenzy when it happened. My dad apparently borrowed money from Mark and Matthew, from the trust fund they inherited from their mom. He was supposed to pay it back and he hasn’t, and now they’re suing him.”

“Oh my God. Okay, yeah, that could cause some family drama.”

“You have no idea.” But he smiles.

“Do you think... his Alzheimer’s has something to do with that?” I ask hesitantly.

“I do now. We’ve been working on trying get this mess figured out. Funny, yesterday, at my parents’ place when they gave us the news, we never talked about that. But Mark and Matthew need to know too—he is their dad.”

We arrive back at the street where we crossed Ocean. I stop to brush sand off my feet and put my shoes back on. He offers me an arm to steady myself.

Mother of cake. I really like this man.

“How did you get here?” he asks. “Can I drive you home?”

I don’t answer while I think about this and we walk toward Ocean Avenue. I really like him. He seems like a good guy. But I don’t trust my instincts anymore. “I’d rather not. I took an Uber here. I’ll take one home.” I pull out my phone.

“That’s crazy,” he says. “That could be dangerous.”

“I’m careful.” Although he’s right, I also know the danger of giving out my address to someone I don’t really know that well. I bring up the app.

“Seriously, just let me drive you. It’s no trouble.”

Pushing doesn’t make me feel any better. “Please. This is what I prefer.”

He goes silent and when I glance at him, he looks... hurt. “Okay,” he says slowly. “I get it.”

He doesn’t get it. At least, I don’t think he does.

A car will be here in a few minutes. Perfect. We stop at the corner.

“Thank you for dinner,” I say. “It was amazing, with all the different wines. And thanks for opening up about what’s going on with you.”

“Thanks for listening.”

We stand on the street corner shadowed by a big tree as traffic passes by. Neither of us says anything else as our eyes meet. He moves a little closer. I want him to kiss me.

A car pulls up at the curb. It’s my Uber.

I smile. “Gotta go. Thank you again.” Since he hasn’t made a move, I do, going on my toes to brush my lips over his.

I check out the car, slide into the back seat and have the driver say my name, then wave at Harrison as we pull away.

I lean my head against the side window. I should have let him drive me home.

No. He may have been hurt that I didn’t trust him, but my safety is more important than his hurt feelings. I can’t get sucked into stupid decisions by worrying about how others feel or what they think of me.

Except I’ll probably never hear from him again because of it, and damn, I like him. I like him a lot.

I dig through my purse and find my phone. Might as well deal with it now.

I type in a message to Harrison.

Thanks again for a really nice evening. I had fun.

He doesn’t reply. After a few minutes, I tuck my phone away and sigh, staring at the city lights flashing by outside the car.

At home, Taj is there, watching Disasters at Sea on TV.

“Hey,” he says, looking up. “How’d your date go?”

“Well.” I drop my purse, then hear my phone buzz. “It was good. Until the end.”

I pull out my phone. Now Harrison has replied.

Did you really?

I sink down onto a chair.

Yes, really.

Honestly? I thought you were brushing me off.

I nibble my lower lip. I knew he thought that. I don’t want him to think that.

Honestly? I wasn’t.

He sends me a smile emoji.

Okay, then. When can I see you again?

Before I can answer, I get another text.

Shit, I’m going out of town. We’re back Saturday.

I tap in my reply.

So... Saturday, then?

Another smile emoji.

Great.

A big smile tugs at my lips. I look up to see Taj watching me with raised eyebrows. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” I set my phone on the coffee table. “It is now.” I grimace. “I didn’t want him to drive me home, and he was a little...”

“Pissed?”

“No.” I shake my head. “If he’d been pissed about it, I probably wouldn’t see him again.”

“Good girl.”

“He was more hurt, I think. He thought I was giving him the brush-off, and I wasn’t, I was just being careful.”

“He doesn’t know about what happened.”

“No. And I’m not going to tell him. Anyway, I texted him to let him know I did want to see him again. So we’re going out on Saturday. He’s away on a road trip until then.”

“You really like this dude?”

“I do. I mean, we’re just getting to know each other. He seems great.” I purse my lips. “I’m just still... gun-shy, I guess.” I pause. “He told me about some bad news he just got about his dad. We talked about it and I felt touched that he would open up to me about that. But then I thought, what if it’s a big story designed to soften me up and make me feel sorry for him?”

Taj squints. “Ah, Ary.”

“I know, I know. I can’t help it, though.”

“I get it. Just take things slow... there’s no harm in going out and having some fun. It’s up to you how far it goes.”

“Right.” I nod. “Good advice. Well. I’m going to bed. I have a ten o’clock class tomorrow.”

I wash my face and get ready for bed. Then, in the dark, under the covers, I relive nearly every moment of our date, remembering the way Harrison looked at me, how he seemed nervous at first, which I was too, the vulnerability he revealed when he talked about his dad.

I want to believe in him. I really, really do. I just don’t know if I can.