Page 33 of From the Start

“He should be ready to go in an hour.”

“Okay.” She nods as she searches for a chair. “I’ll wait with him.”

“Go away,” her dad mumbles. “Let me sleep in peace.”

“Dad!” She smiles down at him. “You’re okay.”

He scowls. “My arm is broken.”

“Remember what you told me when I broke my arm in fourth grade?”

“What?”

“Better a broken arm than a broken ass.”

I bite my tongue before I laugh. I think I’m going to like Henry.

“I’m…” Henry breaks off to yawn. “I’m going to sleep for a while.”

Dr. Allens opens the door. “Come on. You can handle his paperwork while he sleeps.”

Harper bites her lip as she contemplates her dad. She’s obviously reluctant to leave him alone. I place my hand on herlower back and steer her toward the door. “He’s not going anywhere.”

When we reach the hallway, I thank Dr. Allens and she rushes off without a backward glance.

“Shall we get a coffee while we wait? The cafeteria coffee isn’t bad. It’s not Parker’s coffee, but it’s drinkable.”

“I don’t want to leave Dad.”

“Not a problem,” I say and stop in front of Moira. “We’re going for a coffee in the cafeteria. Can you let us know if anything changes with Harper’s dad?”

She directs her answer to Harper. “Of course, honey. You go have a break.”

Harper wrings her hands but I grasp one and lead her to the cafeteria. I wait until we’re seated with our coffees before I speak again.

“It’s a broken arm. He’ll recover.”

“You don’t get it. It’s the only arm he can use.”

Is he missing an arm? “What?”

“There’s a reason I live with my dad and it’s not because I’m young and immature.”

The blow hits me, but I ignore the pain in my chest. “Why?”

“Ugh. Why do you want to know this?”

I reach across the table to clasp her hand. “I want to know everything about you, Harper.”

“Maybe when you realize how boring my life is, you’ll leave me alone.”

“Nothing about you could be boring.”

“Really? I don’t have millions of dollars to jet off to fancy locations for vacation.”

“Neither do I.”

“Or a billionaire brother to rely on.”