Page 20 of Right Side of Paradise
“You boys got a romantic night planned together or something?”
Rico choked on a laugh and Soul’s shoulder shook while I just stood there.
“What?” The old man asked, genuine curiosity marking his words. “Ain’t nothing wrong with it,” he went on to add.
“This is for Harlow, Mr. Tiny,” I told him through a smile.
“Oh…” He studied all our faces, pausing to make eye contact three different times. “I guess that makes sense. Let me wrap these flowers up nice for you then.”
“Christian, this is so sweet.”Harlow set the basket aside and wrapped her arms around my waist. Her chin rested against my sternum as she looked up at me. “Thank you.”
“Are we okay?”
“Of course we are.” She beamed and her dimples stole my attention. “We’ve been friends for twenty years, Chris. That won’t change because one of us had a bad night. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I’m finna put the burgers on the grill!”
The announcement was followed by hurried footsteps on the staircase across from Harlow’s room.
When I looked back to see who it was, they were already out of sight.
If it was Soul, I needed to get my ass downstairs immediately. He was a lot of things, but a good cook had gotten cut off the list.
“I hope that wasn’t Soul,” Harlow said in a hushed tone, putting a voice to what had just run through my mind.
We shared a smile before I reluctantly backed out of her embrace.
All she had on was a towel after her shower and I was just a man, not a damn saint. “Get dressed. I’ll be downstairs making you a drink.”
“Midori sour. Extra soda water.”
“Whatever you want, Harlow.”
She had no idea how true those words were.
Hold Up
If it weren’t for the waves, there’d be no sound at all on the patio.
Nobody except Harlow was touching their plates. And that was weird because I hadn’t cooked.
What? I knew my strengths, and they weren’t in the kitchen.
“Why are y’all looking at me like that?” the only woman at the table asked. Harlow was wearing a headscarf tied into a bun at the nape of her neck. It was one of Rico’s colorful designs and I couldn’t help but think how pretty she looked, even as the man beside me was silently fuming.
“Because I’m trying to figure out what the fuck you just said.” Rico’s glacial tone made all our heads turn in his direction.
“I said I’m putting myself out there this summer. I want to have fun. Meet someone. Or maybe multiple someones.” Harlowshrugged, taking a sip of her midori sour. “I have some things I want to experience.”
Rico was stiff beside me, but the intensity of his energy seeped into my skin before he opened his mouth again. “You’re not fucking anybody on this island, Harlow.”
“Good thing I’m not asking for permission.”
My eyes dropped to the table in time to see Rico’s grip tighten around his fork.
“What’s wrong with you? It’s not like I said I’ll be bringing them to your house.” Her eyes formed slits the longer she stared at him. While they were having their silent standoff, Christian caught my eyes, and I witnessed the hopeful light in his dim.
We’d gotten past whatever he had going on with Harlow just to landhere.
