Harley shaking in his boots.”
“Traitor,” Harley teased.
Murphy turned her palms up. “Hey, he has hot single friends.”
Harley looked at Ben and said, “I think this one needs both of us looking after her, or she’s going to get herself in trouble.”
“Maybe that trouble can be with Fletch.” Murphy waggled her brows. “Or that big, broad, and broody guy who came in with you a few weeks ago, Porter.”
“Don’t you have customers to tend to?” Harley said, remembering the way Piper’s face had lit up when Felicity had brought up Porter in the hospital.
Murphy tapped Ben’s arm and then backed away, making the call-me signal with her hand to her ear.
Ben shook his head and said, “Please tell me we weren’t ever like that.”
“I was gone for years and have no idea what you were like then, but since I’ve been back? No way. We both knew who we wanted. We just had to play the game until they came around.” Harley thought about that for a second and amended his comment. “Well, I had to. You got in your own damn way, waiting for the right time to suddenly make itself known before coming clean to Aurelia about how you felt. If it hadn’t been for Bea, you might still be waiting.”
“And if you hadn’t hurt your ankle, you’d be keeping me company.”
Harley cocked a grin and said, “Let’s hear it for babies and bandages.”
Piper’s phone rang on her way to Harley’s house early Wednesday evening, and Talia’s name flashed on the screen. Piper knew exactly why she was calling. Her sister liked things tied up in pretty ribbons with perfect little bows, while Piper was cool with frayed edges and knotted strings. They’d disagreed often when they were younger, but her oldest sister didn’t argue—she reasoned—while Piper’s approach was more visceral and usually involved a loud voice. Their disagreements almost always ended with Talia looking at Piper like she was some type of alien with whom she simply couldn’t relate and walking away. They’d gotten better at communicating with age.
She answered on Bluetooth. “Hi, Tal. What’s up?”
“You know what’s up,” Talia said, sounding exasperated. “Every time I text you about how things went with Harley the other day, you reply with ridiculous texts that I don’t understand.”
Piper chuckled. As Piper had matured, she’d learned how to argue more rationally, but Piper would always be Piper, and in addition to frayed edges and knotted strings, she liked to rile up her siblings from time to time.
“Come on, Talia. I thought ‘Can’t text, I’m in a meat coma’ was very clear.”
“Yes, if you’re on the keto diet!” Talia complained. “I know you guys worked things out, but did you find out why Harley wasn’t sleeping with you?”
Piper turned onto the road that ran past the marina and realized if it weren’t for Talia, she might still be stuck in a quandary with Harley.
Either that or she would have tied him to the bed and had her way with him.
“Yes, I did, but it wasn’t because he wanted to take control of me. He wanted to know that he was special to me and not just another guy I banged.” She glanced at the gift on the passenger seat and said, “That’s kind of sweet, right?”
“That’s really sweet, and he is special, right?”
“Yeah, Tal. He definitely is.” She expected to feel a shiver of weirdness with the admission, but nothing tainted the happiness she felt.
“Oh, Piper. I’m so happy for both of you! Harley has been in love with you for a long time, and I always knew you’d fall in love despite yourself.”
“Whoa, let’s slow the love train, sis.” She didn’t know if Harley was in love with her, but she had no doubt that they were falling for each other in a big way. She’d been experiencing all of the characteristics of falling for a guy that her sisters had drilled into her head over the last couple of years—the fluttery feeling in her stomach, heart palpitations when they kissed, wanting to be with him every second, and feeling off when they were apart. But she didn’t need the pressure to get married that she knew would come if her family got wind of how powerful her feelings were. She turned down Harley’s street and quickly changed the subject. “How are things with Derek and Jonah? Will they be at Mom’s for Mother’s Day next weekend?”
“They’ll be there, and they’re doing great. I’m so glad we opened the center. Jonah