Chapter Four #2
“Things aren’t always going to go as smoothly as they did tonight.
I’m sure I’ll irritate Kash at some point, because I can definitely be annoying.
I’ve gotten used to living alone. And Kash is almost a teenager.
They get moody. And you’re probably just as used to being on your own, with no one else to help you with Kash.
We’ll figure it out. Give each other space when we need it.
This is going to work, Harper. We just have to put in the effort. ”
“Yeah. But I want to be clear that you don’t have to keep buying us things. We’re good, Linc. We might not have a lot, but we have each other.”
“And no one can ever take that away from you. What time do you work tomorrow? Kash wasn’t sure when I asked.”
“Not until noon. But that means I won’t be home for dinner. I get off at eight.”
“Okay. Depending on what time Kash gets up in the morning, maybe we can make you something to bring with you.”
“He’s an early riser. Which I am not,” Harper said with a small grin.
“Then you can sleep in, and I’ll make sure he eats a good breakfast and gets out to the bus on time.”
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll get up.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I’ll be up anyway. Sleep in for a change.”
“So you’re a morning person too?” she asked.
“You have no idea,” Linc responded before thinking. He didn’t think she meant two or three in the morning, which was when he usually woke up.
“We’ll see,” she said with a small shrug. “Is there anything I can do while I’m down here? Any chores? I want to do my fair share of stuff around here.”
Linc wanted to tell Harper that she did enough. Working her ass off, taking care of Kash, shouldering all the responsibility for him on her fragile-looking shoulders. But he wasn’t about to say that. Besides, he’d already told her that she could help around the house instead of paying rent.
“Sure. Anything you see that needs doing. Vacuuming or sweeping is almost useless with these floors, but there’s always the trash to take out and recycling.
Maybe you can swing by the transfer station on your way to work some days with the big boxes I’ve broken down or with other trash.
Lord knows with the amount of reno this house needs, I’ve got a lot of trash for the dump. ”
“Of course. And I can cook. On the days I’m not working.”
“I’d like that,” Linc told her, meaning it. He’d never expect her to cook for him, but he wouldn’t turn it down either, if she felt like tinkering in his incredibly outdated kitchen.
“I’ll also do mine and Kash’s laundry.”
“He already asked if I had a washer and dryer and told me he’d take care of that for himself.”
“He did?”
“Yup. Mumbled something about not wanting you to mess up his new clothes?”
Harper chuckled, and the sound made Linc relax.
“Do you really think this will work?” she asked. “We don’t even know each other. Not really.”
“Yes,” Linc said firmly. “We’ve both got Kash’s best interests at heart. If that doesn’t make us a team in this, I don’t know what will.”
“Yeah.” Harper looked him in the eyes once more. “We should talk about what happened back in high school.”
“No, we shouldn’t.”
“Linc, I was awful,” she protested.
“It was decades ago. I hold nothing against you, Harper. I admit that having you living next door to my mom wasn’t something I was thrilled about at first. But you’re a different person now, as am I.”
“I am a different person. And I’ll do everything in my power to prove it to you.”
“You don’t have to prove anything. I know how different you are, because if you weren’t, Kash wouldn’t be the amazing, kind, caring kid that he is.”
Every muscle in her body seemed to sag at his compliment. “Thanks,” she whispered.
“Not blowing smoke up your ass, Harper. Just stating facts.”
“I still appreciate hearing it. Being a single mom is hard. Some days it feels as if I’ve screwed everything up, and others I couldn’t be happier with how things have gone.”
“Understandable,” Linc agreed. “But speaking of school . . . do we need to talk about Kash and present-day mean girls and bullies?”
Harper sighed.
“I’m not saying this next thing to be cruel . . . but the first time you and your friends called me Rinky-Dink Linc was when I was in the seventh grade.”
Harper winced and turned away from him. But since it was dark outside and there were lights on in the house, Linc could see her unhappy reflection in the floor-to-ceiling windows.
“He’s skinny, Harper. Sticks out like a sore thumb with his red hair. And that’s not even including the fact that he’s into science, is a member of the robotics club. He’s also new to the area. To the school. If he’s not being bullied, I’d be shocked.”
“I think he is,” she admitted in a low tone. She had her arms wrapped around herself defensively. “But he won’t talk to me about it.”
“I’ll see what I can do. Get him to open up.”
She turned her head and met his gaze. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“Stop, Harper. Don’t go there. We’re starting new. From today. I admit it took me a few years to get over my anger at you and your friends, but anger serves no purpose now. I lived my life and you lived yours. Our paths have crossed again, and we’re starting over.”
“You’re being very gracious about this,” she said.
He shrugged. “I learned the hard way that life isn’t fair. That when push comes to shove, holding grudges is useless. You have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going, no matter what. It’s either that or lay down and die.”
How the conversation had turned so serious, Linc wasn’t sure. But he regretted steering it in the direction he had. The last thing he wanted was Harper asking about the accident that took his career and caused his less-than-restful nights.
“There’s not much we can do about the bullies, but we can make sure Kash knows we’re here if he wants to talk, and that he can rise above whatever shit they’re saying to him,” Linc said firmly.
Harper still looked uncomfortable, and Linc knew she was thinking about some of the things she and her girl posse had done and said to him. But he truly was over it.
Before tonight, he would’ve said there was no way he’d ever want to get friendly with Harper Bates.
But now? With Kash’s help, he saw a completely different Harper.
Insecure, tired but determined. He wanted to help her, almost as much as he wanted to help her son navigate the muddy waters of middle and high school.
For someone who’d never wanted kids, Linc found himself looking forward to spending more time with the preteen. To encouraging his love of science and seeing where his interests might take him. What kind of man he’d become.
Linc had a feeling he’d do amazing things with his life.
“I didn’t want to come home. Back here to Rockville,” Harper admitted. “Thought it was a failure. That everyone would see me as a failure. I mean, I didn’t exactly do anything I set out to do when I moved to New York.
“But you know what? I’m glad to be here.
Even though my dad’s extremely hard to please and there was no way I could continue to live with him, I love him, and I’m glad to get to know him better as an adult.
I think Kash can flourish here, more so than in New York, as long as he can find a good friend group and stay away from the bullies.
And even though my job isn’t anything I wanted to be doing, I’m proud of myself. ”
“You should be,” Linc told her. “I’m going to turn in. Make yourself at home. Watch TV, get a snack, do whatever you want in the house. You aren’t going to bother me.”
It was early, way too early for him to go to bed, but Linc was feeling the need to put some space between him and Harper.
He didn’t like her body language, closed off and stressed.
It was taking all his control not to take her in his arms and give her a huge hug.
If anyone needed one, it was Harper Bates.
But he wasn’t going there. They were friends of a sort. That was it. She wasn’t his to soothe. Nor was he a shrink, even though Lord knew he’d seen his fair share over the last several years.