Chapter Twenty-Three #2
He sighed. "It doesn’t, and I think we know that better than most. I'm glad you talked to the girls. But..."
"But it doesn't change things."
"Not immediately. No."
"It's okay," she said. "I don't expect that us exchanging those beautiful words is going to change anything practical right now."
"Saying the words might not change what happens today or tomorrow, but I for one don't want to downplay them. I never thought I'd say them again — not to anyone other than the girls."
She leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I didn't mean to underplay them. In fact, I'll say them again because I can. I love you, Emmett."
The humor that shone in her eyes was just one of a thousand reasons why it was so easy for him to say, "And I love you, Harper."
Her smile faded. "But what I meant was, I'm still going back to the cottage tonight."
He nodded. "And that's probably for the best, for now at least."
"You know how you were worried that I might not like you having told the girls that you love me?" He smiled. "I love saying those words. Well, I'm afraid that you might not like that I told Blane before I told you."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, crap, how did that go?"
He chuckled. "It went well, really well. He talked me down when I was panicking that I couldn't see a way."
"He did?"
"Yeah. And he was right. It might be difficult right now, but with time, things can change.
The girls — or, let's be honest, Alana — have had to get used to an awful lot in a very short space of time.
I haven't dated anyone since Emily. Then all of a sudden, you went from giving her a ride home from rehearsals to dating her dad and living in her house.
Blane suggested that maybe we should take things more slowly, that this—you going back to the cottage—doesn't have to be an ending, more of a readjustment. "
She nodded, but he could see what she was thinking.
"He wasn't using it as a way to get you out of the house."
"Are you sure about that?"
"A hundred percent sure. You need to get used to the fact that Blane's okay with you. If he weren't, you'd be in no doubt about it."
"Well, okay then. I suppose it's about time I started taking him at his word."
"It is."
She checked her watch. "And on that note, what do you say? Do you think we should go and set the girls' minds at ease?"
"Yeah, I do. We can all have dinner, and..."
She shook her head, and he knew she was right when she said, "You all can have dinner.
It's ready to go. I'll make you a plate before I leave if you like.
" She gave him a sassy smile. "Or if you prefer to do it yourself, I'm sure you're capable, but I'm going to head back to the cottage.
I think the girls need you to themselves tonight.
They should be able to talk about how they feel without me in the room. "
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer, brushing his lips over hers once, twice, three times, before leaning back to look in her eyes. "I wish you didn't have to go, but you're right."
She pretended to preen as she said, "Aren't I always?" Then her smile faded. "In fact, don't answer that. We both know damn well that I'm not. But for now, I'll come inside, say goodbye to them, and... If nothing else, I'll see you on Friday night — opening night."
All he could do was stare at her for a moment. "That's three days away, Harper. I can't imagine..."
"Neither can I. And maybe I'll find an excuse to come over before then. Or maybe you'll find that you need something, or the girls do. And Emmett, you must promise you'll call me if you need anything at all, anything that I can do."
He reached up to trail his fingers down her cheek.
"Don't look at me like that," she said as she covered his hand with her own. "You'll make me cry. You're still allowed to need me, you know, even though I'm not here."
He rested his forehead against hers and looked down into her eyes.
"It's not about need, Harper. I need to get that through to you.
Yeah, I've needed you. I don't know what we would have done without you.
But like you said this morning, the needs have fallen away now.
What's left is want. And I do want you; I need you to be clear about that. "
He hadn't meant it that way. But when her pupils dilated and a hint of pink touched her cheeks, he shifted in his seat. He had to laugh when she waggled her eyebrows and said, "I'm glad to hear it. I'm looking forward to you being healed enough for that part."
He chuckled and pressed another kiss to her lips. "I am, too."
~ ~ ~
As she drove back to the cottage, Harper stared out through the windshield at the mountains.
She was... happy. Coming back here to the cottage was the right move, even if it did feel like a loss of sorts right now.
When she stopped to think about it, this was a very sensible move.
And she wasn't just telling herself that as some kind of consolation, that she wouldn't be sleeping under the same roof as Emmett and the girls anymore. It was true.
Things had moved so fast. Because of the circumstances, they'd behaved like a family. She was right there, and Emmett couldn't do for himself. Of course she'd stepped into the role, but in the grand scheme of things, it made more sense for her to grow into the role, naturally.
Tanya would be fine, no matter what happened. But Alana had been far more open than Harper had believed. And Emmett... she knew she was wearing a big, goofy smile, but she didn't care. Emmett loved her — and she loved him.
She looked up at the sky. It wasn't dark yet. The sunset was still fading, but the first few stars were starting to appear. She gave a little wave through the windshield. "Don't worry, Emily. I'll do my best to take care of him and your girls."
She doubted anyone would believe her. But that one big star seemed to twinkle brightly back at her.
She didn't need anyone to believe her. It wasn't as though she'd ever tell anyone.
She smiled. Although, maybe one day she would. Maybe she'd tell Emmett. And maybe she'd tell the girls. And then again, maybe not.
Everything seemed quiet up at Jim's house when she passed. But when she turned into the small driveway of the cottage, she was surprised to see a truck parked there — Blane.
Her heart sank. She wanted to believe what Emmett had said — that if Blane wasn't happy with her, she'd know about it. But perhaps that's why he was here; perhaps he'd come to tell her.
She sat up a little straighter. She had to stop doing that.
Had to stop waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Okay, it had been her reality throughout her time in foster care as a kid.
And life had come back to kick her ass regularly ever since.
But at some point, she needed to start trusting people.
Believing in them. And as she parked her truck next to Blane's, she could only hope that Blane would prove her wrong to doubt.
Blane got out of his truck and came around to stand by the hood of hers.
"Hi, Blane."
"Hi, Harper."
"What can I do for you?" she asked with a wary smile.
"I said I'd call you about tickets for Friday night. But I was passing, and I thought this might be a good time to talk to you."
"What? You thought it’d be a good time because I wasn't here, so you decided to sit and wait?"
He barked out a laugh. "Okay, so I'll give it to you straight. I figured you'd be back here tonight, and I wanted to make sure that you're all right."
She had to swallow a couple of times.
Blane frowned. "Hey, if I'm overstepping, you can say so. I can leave. I only meant—"
She held her hand up. "No, please don't take it back now.
My reaction isn't because I don't want you here.
It's because..." Her lip trembled. "Oh, screw it.
I'm just going to say it. You took me by surprise in the best way.
Thank you, Blane. It means the world to me that you'd come by like this. Emmett said that he'd … talked to you."
She couldn't bring herself to say that Emmett had told him he loved her. But Blane's small nod acknowledged that he knew exactly what she meant.
"I'll be honest. I didn't know how you'd feel about it."
"I'll be honest back. I didn't know how I wanted to feel about it--about you in the beginning.
I don't beat around the bush. And I won't about this — Emily and I were close.
" He frowned. "Shit, that sounds wrong. I don't mean anything like that.
I mean... we're the ones who know Emmett the best." He sighed.
"I mean, knew. Emily knew him. I know him. "
He surprised the hell out of Harper when he dropped his head and toed at the gravel, looking for all the world like a big kid.
"But yeah. I didn't know what to make of you at first. And I guess, like the girls, I didn't know how to let someone new in.
Didn't want it for myself, and didn't want to see Mitty in that place — with someone at his side who isn't Em.
But that was in the beginning. I've had some time to get used to the idea.
And..." He smiled. "And you make him happy, Harper.
You're good for the girls. And that's what it's all about.
" He smiled. "And you're a piece of work and I like that about you. "
She laughed out loud at that. "Oh, thank you. That might be my favorite compliment ever."
He chuckled. "Good. Because it's the only kind you'll ever get from me."
"Thanks, Blane, I figured as much. Do you want to come in? I have groceries I need to put away. They're in cooler bags, but they've been sitting out a few hours now."
"Sure." He followed her to the back of her truck and grabbed most of the bags for her. When she started to protest, he cocked an eyebrow, and she laughed.
"Okay, you win this one. I'll just say thanks, then."
"It'd make life easier for both of us."
"Then, thank you."
Once they were inside, he leaned back against the counter while she put things away.
"The reason I was waiting here when you got back is that I knew you'd be staying here again tonight.
Emmett said you'd already decided. And then we ran into Cash later, and he said he'd seen you back here with your bags. "
She rolled her eyes. "Jim did warn me that gossip spreads like wildfire around here."
Blane scowled. "He's not wrong, but in this case it's not gossip."
She raised her eyebrows. "Oh, I'm sorry, are you telling me that you big tough Navy SEAL guys are above gossip?"
"Far from it. The guys are way worse than the women a lot of the time. But in this particular case it's about concern, not gossip. You're important to Emmett. So, you're important to me now."
She stared at him for a moment, not knowing how she felt about that.
"I know that sounds like a shitty thing to say. But it's the truth so don’t take offense. It seems to me that at some point down the road, probably not so far, you'll be important to me for who you are as well. But this is how it begins," he said with a shrug.
"Fair enough. And I'm not offended. It might not be the warm and fuzzy welcome that I'd like to hear. But I know how meaningless those are. I prefer the truth. At least that way I know where I stand."
"You were a foster kid, right?"
She nodded.
He held her gaze for a long moment. "I know the women already see you as one of their own. And now that Emmett does, the guys will draw you in, too. And there's one thing about this family of ours. Once you're in it, you're in for life. Nobody's going to pull this rug out from under you, Harper."
She inhaled sharply.
"Shit, yeah, he told me about that. I shouldn't have used his words and given him away, should I?"
She had to laugh. "No, it's okay. I'm glad that he has you to talk to."
"He does. And you do now, too. Anything you need me for, I'm here."
"Thank you, Blane. So I can come at you with all my chit-chat, can I?"
He smiled through pursed lips. "I'm not going to bother to answer that with anything but try it and see. Are you all set up with everything you need back here?" He looked around the cottage. "I knew you had to be good people since Jim let you live here."
"He's a good man. I adore him."
"He is. And a good judge of character, too. Can I do anything for you before I get out of your hair?"
"I'm good, thanks."
"I'll go then. You have my number. Use it if you ever need it. I'm no shrink, but I know Emmett better than most people."
"So what, you're offering to play relationship counselor?"
"I wouldn't call it that, but if you need any insight into dealing with Emmett, I'll do what I can to help."
She pursed her lips. "To help him, or to help me?"
He shook his head at her. "From the way this thing's going, it looks to me like they both amount to the same thing now."
"Sorry, thanks, Blane. I really will try to have a little faith."
"It's okay. I'll just keep repeating myself until I get through to you."
She stood in the doorway, watching him return to his truck. He was opening the door before she remembered. "Hey, Blane."
"Yeah?"
"What about the tickets? For Friday night?"
She had to laugh when he grinned and said, "Oh, yeah. I just need the one. Slot me in anywhere. I'll drive myself and I’ll give you the money when I see you."
She shook her head with a smile.
"What?" he asked. "It's called a pretext. I know you know what one of those is."