She Loves Me (Harmony Pointe #3) - Melissa Foster Page 0,9
the bottom riser, holding on to the railing as if ready to flee. “Uncle Harley, did you go to the store today?”
“Crap,” Harley said. “Sorry, honey. I didn’t have time, but there should be more apples in the drawer.”
“Gross,” Jolie said, and she moped back up the steps.
“Let me guess,” Piper said. “You need me to go to the grocery store?”
“Only if you don’t want the girls to starve.”
Jiggs pushed his snout into Harley’s cheek, and Harley petted him.
“Should I let him out before he pees on you?” Piper asked.
“You can try, but he won’t go,” Harley said, stroking the dog’s back. “He’s used to going on an afternoon walk.”
As if on cue, Jiggs lifted his chin, the leash hanging out of his mouth, and he whimpered. Both he and Harley looked at Piper with pleading eyes.
“Of course he is,” she said with a sigh.
“And an evening walk before bed.” Harley stroked Jiggs’s back and said, “Right, buddy?”
Piper rolled her eyes. “I really need to have a talk with your mother about how you were raised. Remind me to warn your future wife to be prepared for spoiled kids and dogs.”
Jiggs barked and crawled across Harley’s stomach, staring up at Piper with his big dark eyes, his floppy, pointed ears adding another pleading dose of cuteness. When he cocked his head to the side at the same time Harley did, she had to laugh.
She grabbed the leash and said, “What have I gotten myself into?”
A few hours later they ordered pizza, eating around the coffee table so Harley wouldn’t have to hobble to the kitchen. Piper made a list of their schedules and realized there was going to be a heck of a lot more to helping Harley than she’d thought. At least she’d remembered to pick up his truck when she’d taken Jiggs for his walk, so that was one less item for her list. But it was the little things that were giving her more of a hard time. Harley had asked her to help him to the bathroom earlier, and when she’d handed him the crutches, he’d said they were annoying. He hadn’t liked her snappy comeback: They’re not the only thing that’s annoying. He’d grabbed the crutches and hobbled to the bathroom, but she’d felt guilty, and when he was done, she’d helped him back to the couch. It was strange seeing Harley unable to fend for himself. She wanted to tough-love him back to his strong, capable self, but knew she couldn’t do that when his ankle was so messed up, which meant she was stuck with feelings she wasn’t sure what to do with.
“My soccer sleepover is Saturday night.” Jolie looked at Harley and said, “Can I still go?”
“Why wouldn’t you be able to go?” Harley asked. “Are you planning on robbing a bank between now and then? Going to get thrown in the slammer?”
The triumphant light in Harley’s eyes, and Sophie’s giggle, told of the funny-uncle status he thought the comment would add to.
Unfortunately, Jolie’s shoulders slumped. “I mean because I need a ride there and back and you can’t drive.”
“But I can,” Piper said, and she added Jolie’s soccer sleepover to her list.
“You don’t mind?” Jolie asked tentatively.
“Of course not. I’m happy to pitch in. Harley, do you have a sleeping bag she can use?”
Piper looked at Harley, who shrugged. “Okay. No sleeping bag,” she said. “What time is the party?”
“Right after our last game, which is at two,” Jolie said.
“Two o’clock soccer game and then the party—got it. This will be fun. I haven’t been to a school soccer game in . . . well . . . ever.”
Harley chuckled, and then his expression turned serious. He turned his glassy eyes on Piper and said, “Piper was too busy fixing people’s drywall and helping the church paint over graffiti, and whatever other repairs needed doing that a teenage girl could handle.”
Piper was stunned. How did he know about the things she’d done while he was away at college? It wasn’t like they’d hung out together back then. And why was he looking at her like he could see her thoughts? She tore her gaze away, picked up a slice of pizza, and chomped into it, wondering what kind of superpowers were in those pain meds.
“Jo, can you get me a phone number to touch base with the parents who are hosting the party?” Harley asked.