Page 63 of Emergency Exit
She turned around and headed back inside, stopping inside the door to check Ash’s reply.
Maybe we can both fly to Cancun next year. See you next week when you get home?
Yes, please.
Margaritas and sunshine next year, I swear.
Harper smiled at her phone.
“Message from someone fun?” asked her mother hopefully,going by with another glass of wine.
“Just a friend,” said Harper. She hoped. Friend enough to talk margaritas but not enough to keep their deal. But a friend wouldn’t be paying her money. Harper looked around the room in confusion. Why had everything gotten weird with Ash? It was supposed to have been straightforward, and now everything felt confused because of the money.
She was sitting down to dinner when her phone buzzed again.
Hey, I just realized I never wrote you a check for the ten grand. I’m sorry. I can do it when you come home. Is that OK?
Harper breathed out a sigh of relief. Ash hadn’t been avoiding her. He’d simply forgotten. Harper typed out a quick response and hit send. She just needed to get back to Seattle, and everything would be OK.
20
Ash
Honesty
Ash took a final sip from his glass and looked at Forest. He felt guilty about not telling his brothers about Emma and Harper, but Forest was obviously not being truthful either.
“But if we’re being honest,” said Ash, “can we talk about exactlyhow muchtime you’re spending with Chloe?”
“All of it,” said Rowan, blowing out a stream of smoke from his cigar. “He’s sleeping with her.”
Surprised to have Rowan rat their brother out, Ash laughed, and Forest sank down in his chair with a groan.
“Honestly,” said Forest, “if I ever wonder how Olly will turn out, I just look at you. You laugh the exact same, and you’re an even bigger child than he is.”
Ash made a face. “Bad news for Olly.”
“What are you talking about? If Olly turns out like you, I’ll be handing out cigars. God, if he turns out to be half like me, we’ll all be in so much trouble.”
“We’ll be shelling out bail money, anyway,” said Rowan.
“That horse had it coming,” said Forest.
“I still don’t think you should punch horses,” said Ash.
“And that’s why we hope Olly turns out like you,” said Forest.
“I love how he managed to change the topic,” said Ash.
“Mm-hmm,” agreed Rowan around his cigar.
“Chloeeeeee,” said Ash stubbornly. “Spill the tea.”
“I... She... It wasn’t supposed to happen.” Forest scratched his head. “I just... she’s so...”
“I think it’s great,” said Rowan, and Ash looked at him insurprise. He hadn’t expected Rowan to be supportive. Couldn’t he see that a nearly homeless nanny hopping into Forest’s bed was a complete money grab?
“She’s goofy as hell,” continued Rowan. “Do you know what she told him today? He grabbed a rock off my path, and she said it was pretty but that it was a working rock and had to stay here.”
