34HarperCoasting
Harper
Coasting
Harper was soaking wet, shivering, and unsure of what she was supposed to be doing. Police people periodically asked her things, and she thought she answered them appropriately, but she wasn’t entirely sure. Ash had put his jacket over her, but it was now as wet as the rest of her.
Ash had his arm around her shoulders and walked them slowly through a strange cement space.
It seemed like a train station had a baby with a warehouse.
Another shiver shook her entire body as they neared a more standard set of double doors.
She looked down at her bare feet and wished she’d kept her shoes on.
She had stopped being able to feel her toes, and the cement felt like it was radiating cold through her soles.
Ash checked his phone as another message came through.
“OK,” said one of the police officers. “Well, we’ll just have you wait here until they’re ready to take your statement.”
“No,” said Ash. “We’re done. You can take our statements when it’s convenient for us.”
“What? No. Detective Caine said—”
“Detective Caine can say whatever she likes. We’re going this way.”
Ash pushed through the doors, and Harper realized they were on a quiet street somewhere. A black car pulled up, and two men got out. They had the serious-faced look of security professionals.
“You can’t leave,” protested the officer, following after them.
“You’re not treating Harper appropriately,” said Ash without turning around.
The car door was opened, and Harper got in.
“The paramedics will bring her some blankets or whatever.”
“Contact my lawyers or visit me at a more convenient time,” said Ash. “Goodbye.”
It had never occurred to Harper that anyone could simply tell the police goodbye.
“This isn’t your car, and who are these people?” Harper felt lost as the car began to move.
“They belong to Rowan,” said Ash. “Thanks, Teddy,” he said, leaning forward to speak to the two men in the front seat.
“No problem,” said the man in the passenger seat. “But Rowan says he’s going to need an explanation when he gets back.”
“Yeah, I’ll text him after Forest. I need that detective’s email address. I see now why he just emailed her.”
That clarified very little for Harper, but she was too busy shivering to try and ask more questions.
What seemed a very short time later, they pulled up at Ash’s condo and were ushered inside.
The doorman kicked some people out of the elevator for them, and within moments, they were in Ash’s bedroom.
Harper watched as he buzzed around the space at seeming hyper-speed, and then he moved her into the bathroom where the tub was filling with hot water and bubbles.
“OK,” he said, “we’re just going to undo this.” He began to unbutton her blouse.
“I left my purse somewhere,” said Harper.
“Piper has it. Romeo’s gone to get it from her.”
Harper nodded. She had no idea how those things had occurred, but it seemed like Ash was taking care of it.
“I wish I had my clothes here,” she said.
“Yes, so do I,” he said, nodding. “You should probably move in with me. It will really be easier.”
“That’s true,” said Harper. “I hit Emma with a Hydro Flask.”
Ash paused in unzipping her pants.
“It made a really loud noise. And then I punched Stephanie.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to get married?”
“When you say that, it does make me concerned for your mental health.”
“Yes, but if I learned anything over the last few months, it’s that watching you traumatize people is hilarious. And if I’ve learned anything over the last few hours, it’s that the police would give me a lot less shit if I put a ring on it.”
“I think you’re having poor impulse control,” said Harper through chattering teeth.
“No, I said it when we first met, and now I’ve had time to think about it. I think it’s a good idea.”
“Did you not hear me when I said I punched Stephanie?”
“Yeah. I wish I had that on video. Meanwhile, I punched Mason, so you know... we’re probably not getting invited to the next birthday party.”
Harper giggled and then shivered violently. Ash pulled her pants down, underwear and all, and maneuvered her into the bath.
“Ohhhhhhhh,” said Harper, sinking down into the water. “It’s so hot.”
“Good,” said Ash. “You stay there. I’ll be back with hot chocolate.”
“OK,” agreed Harper, and Ash nodded sharply.
The door closed, and Harper stared at the rapidly filling tub. She wasn’t sure how Ash had gotten them from disaster to penthouse quite so fast. The water climbed up past her boobs, and Harper let out a sigh as all of her extremities began to uncramp.
He wanted to marry her. He probably wasn’t serious, but it still sounded nice. He might have been serious about moving in together, though. She would definitely be taking him up on that. It really would be so much more convenient.
A few minutes later, there was a soft tap on the door, and Ash came in carrying a mug on a saucer. When he opened the door, she could hear the sound of voices coming from the living room.
“Your hot chocolate, m’lady,” he said, shutting the door.
“Oh, yay!” said Harper.
He set the cup on the tub surround and sat down next to it.
“Ash, you said the police could talk to your lawyers. But do you have lawyers?”
“I called Vivian, Rowan’s girlfriend, and got her to connect me. She works at a law office. At least for the next few days.”
“Oh. OK. Because I may also have punched Cooper. So I might need a lawyer.”
“Yes, Piper told me. I’m so jealous! I wasn’t there for any of the good stuff!”
“I feel like I punched a lot of people today,” said Harper.
“I know the feeling, but I don’t think two is that many.”
“Well, it’s two more than I’ve ever punched before.”
“I see your point. I might need to take you to karate with me so we can make sure you’re punch-ready for the future.”
“I’d prefer not to punch people, really,” said Harper.
“I will try to take care of the punching, but it won’t hurt to get some basics.”
Harper nodded. He was probably right.
“How’s the water, Princess Bubble Hair?”
Harper raised her hand and took a fluff of bubbles from her hair.
“Good, thank you. Are there people here?”
“Well, Teddy and Germany are under instructions from Rowan to camp out and make sure no Russian agents show up. Considering that I also punched a few people today is probably reasonable. Then, the new lawyer came over because it seemed prudent once I cc’d her on the email to Detective Caine.
And Detective Caine just arrived. She and the lawyer may be saying words at each other.
And then Romeo came back with your purse.
He says Piper is awesome, and he’s completely on board with your plan. ”
“Oh, good!” Harper picked up her hot chocolate and took a soothing sip. She was now warm all over and feeling better about life.
“Do I know what the plan is?”
“I’m going to hook up Mel and Piper.”
“Ah. Um... OK, well, if Romeo thinks it’s a good idea, then I’m sure you’re right, but sometimes Mel can be shy. I don’t want to make them uncomfortable.”
“Well, the New Year’s party seemed like a good time to let them nerd out in a corner together.”
“Good idea.”
“But Ash, that sounds like there are a lot of people here.”
“But they’re all people you don’t have to worry about,” said Ash.
“You’re going to stay in here and finish your cocoa, and by the time you’re all warm and toasty, your clothes will be here, and everyone will have resolved their issues.
All you’ll have to do is tell Detective Caine about Emma and Stephanie kidnapping you. ”
“Are they really going to let us get away with that?” asked Harper. She thought the police probably wouldn’t like doing it that way.
“Yes,” said Ash. “Because I’m rich, and the lawyer is some woman named Belinda who appears to think that eating cops for breakfast is the most fun a person can have. No, we’ll really only be in trouble if I don’t text Rowan and Forest an update soon.”
“Hm.”
Harper wasn’t convinced.
“You think that doesn’t sound like I’m following the rules and aren’t convinced it will work?” asked Ash, and Harper smiled.
“Yes!”
“There are separate rules for rich people,” said Ash. “People only pretend there aren’t because they like to think the world is fair. But it isn’t. I try not to take advantage of that if it makes you feel better.”
“You’re so good at knowing these things. I don’t know how you can tell. But I do like it when you explain human-ing to me,” said Harper. “Is that weird?”
Ash itched his eyebrow.
“No, but um… everything’s fine. I love you, and I like you just the way you are. But maybe… Um… Sometimes I think that maybe, well, it’s just a thought—from one neurodivergent brain to another—maybe you should talk to your doctor about getting a diagnosis for being on the autism spectrum?”
Harper stared up at Ash and tried to parse what he was saying for secret messages, and then she realized there was no hidden meaning.
Ash was giving her the courtesy of speaking directly about what he was thinking.
The problem was that he’d said a lot in a few short sentences.
Even the blunt and honest truth left a lot to think about.
He loved her for one thing.
“Do you think so?” asked Harper, taking a cautious sip of her hot chocolate.
“Um… Well… Maybe a little?”
And he thought she was on the spectrum. Was she? Was that why she sometimes felt like an alien? Didn’t everyone feel like an alien at some point? Perhaps this was one of those cultural communication things that Piper had talked about. Harper replayed that conversation.
“Huh. I think Piper tried to tell me that, too. Maybe I’ll take one of those online quizzes. Would it matter? I can’t change it, so what would be the point of getting it diagnosed?”
“That is what I said about ADHD. It turns out there were a fuck ton of things I didn’t know about how ADHD worked, and once I learned to recognize my patterns and how to work with my own brain, I got a lot fucking happier.”
“Well, I will think about that when I’m no longer freaking out about being kidnapped,” said Harper.
“OK. Well, you relax and come out whenever you’re ready. I’ll put your clothes on the bed.”
“OK, but I think I’ll be here for a little while because I’m coasting on your money.”
“Coast away, Smoak,” said Ash, grinning and standing up.
“Ash?”
He was almost to the door, but he turned back to her.
“I love you too.”
He blinked.
“You said you loved me.”
“I do,” he said, stammering slightly.
“And I love you too. I don’t think you meant to say it because you have this weird thing about moving too fast, but sometimes your neurodivergent brain says what it’s feeling before you know what words are coming out of your mouth.”
Ash gave an embarrassed laugh. “Yeah, it really does.”
“But I thought you should know that I love you too so that later, when you proofread what came out of your mouth just now, you won’t panic.”
Ash let out a gusty sigh that ended in a laugh. Then he came back to the tub and leaned down.
“I love you,” he said, staring directly into her eyes. “No, I didn’t mean to say it like that the first time, but I mean it this time.”
Ash kissed her, and Harper nearly pulled him into the tub, kissing him back. He left damp and laughing.