Page 54 of Emergency Exit
“Ah! Shit!” Startled, Ash snatched at his phone, but it slipped through his fingers and into her lap. He grabbed for it again but just ended up planting his hands all over Harper’s thighs. His palms were warm and firm, and his fingers seemed to curve over the tops of her thighs in a distractingly perfect way. Startled by her reaction to Ash’s touch, Harper grabbed his phone and shoved it at him.
“Your phone always scares you,” she said breathlessly.
“It’s usually on vibrate,” said Ash, sheepishly. “But my mom overrides it.” He swiped up and put the phone back to his ear as he returned his other hand to the wheel. “Hey, Mom.”
Harper couldn’t hear the words, but his mother’s tone sounded frantic.
“Uh… Mom? Slow down. What? OK. Um. I will be right there. Just stay in the car.” He hung up and looked at Harper with a worried expression. “Someone broke into her house!”
17
Harper
Our Kind
Harper felt the car pick up speed, and a few minutes later, they were pulling into a pink stucco house in a quiet neighborhood. A woman in a puffer coat got out of the BMW in the driveway as Ash parked.
“I called Rowan,” she said, looking guilty. “I know you said you were coming, but I thought it was sort of his area.”
“It’s fine,” said Ash. “Mom, why don’t you wait with Harper in the car?”
“Oh, you’re with Harper! Why didn’t you say?”
“Mom, it’s fine. Just wait here with Harper.” Ash’s mom looked very uncomfortable, and Harper didn’t think she would be getting into the car. Ash hurried toward the backyard, and Harper got out.
“Hi, I’m Harper.”
“Rose,” said the woman with a nervous smile. She had short sandy hair and hazel eyes the same color as Ash’s. “Sorry to interrupt your date.”
“It’s OK. We were just deciding to go back to the Batcave and eat eggs. We peopled too hard.”
Rose’s eyes crinkled up in amused appreciation. “Yes, that happens to me, too. But it’s the holiday season, so I try to power through and show up for extra meetings.”
“Meetings?” asked Harper, puzzled.
Rose took a deep breath. “I’m a recovering alcoholic. I go to AA meetings to support and get support. People sometimes need extra help during the holidays.”
Harper didn’t think she’d ever heard anyone be that open about being in recovery.
“Yes, they do. That’s really great that you’re spending your energy to help other people.”
“Tommy and I like to double team. He gets the coffee, and I get the donuts. You know, Tommy, right? He says you make Ash laugh.”
Harper smiled. “I do know Tommy. He has the best shoes.”
Rose smiled. “I didn’t tell him that you and Ash were pretending. Are you sure you’re OK with fake dating or whatever ridiculous thing Ash says? It’s been worrying me.”
Harper appreciated that Rose was being so direct, but she was unprepared for total honesty.
“I’m all right,” said Harper, hesitantly. “Ash is my friend.”
“Yes, he clearly thinks the world of you,” said Rose. “But sometimes—”
Whatever Rose was about to say was cut off by the roar of a motor, and a blue car pulled up behind Ash’s black Porsche. The vehicle was swoopy and low to the ground, which Harper guessed meant it was expensive, although she didn’t know what the logo of a little rearing horsey on a yellow shield meant.
“Oh, there’s Rowan. I did tell him Ash was coming.”
A man got out of the vehicle, unfolding out of the low-slung car in a way that showed off how tall he was. With his dark hair, Harper didn’t see the resemblance to Ash. He had a square-shouldered, purposeful walk that Harper envied. It made him look like he knew exactly where he was going.
