Page 56 of Emergency Exit
“You can stay with me,” said Ash, and Rose glared at him.
“And what about Harper?” demanded Rose. “I’m sure she’s staying with you.”
“Oh,” said Ash. “Uh…” He looked at Harper as if seeking help.
“I have an early morning meeting,” said Harper, which was true. “FEMA waits for no one, or even West Coast office hours. So I was going to stay at my place. You and Ash can make popcorn and watch Jaws.”
Rose and Ash looked equally relieved.
“Did he tell you that was our favorite movie?” asked Rose, with a smile.
“Yes,” said Harper. She figured putting it in his dossier counted as telling her. “And since I have literal nightmares about being eaten by a shark, you should feel free to enjoy it without me.”
“Really?” asked Ash. “I find the rubber shark hilarious.”
“I always preferred Deep Blue Sea,” said Rowan.
“I’ve never actually seen that one,” said Ash. “I’ve heard it was good. I just like all the seventies fashion in the original Jaws. The muttonchops alone are worth the re-watch.”
“I’m so old,” murmured Rowan.
“To be honest, if we’re just picking shark movies,” said Rose, “I like The Meg. Jason Statham is hot.”
“Yes, but I can watch him in movies without sharks,” said Harper.
“That is a good point,” said Rose.
Rowan began to chuckle again, his shoulders shaking.
“OK, Mom,” said Ash, shooting Rowan a sour look, “it’s settled. You’re staying with me. Harper’s getting a good night’s sleep so she can talk to the scary government people in the morning, and Rowan is going to go home and tell Vivian we’re all nuts. Go pack a bag.”
“If you really don’t mind...” said Rose, looking guilty.
“FEMA’s not that scary,” protested Harper.
“Well, all right.” Rose hurried toward the house, and Harper wondered if she ought to go with her.
“Tell me again about the break-in at your office,” said Rowan.
“Nothing was taken,” said Ash with a shrug. “It’s fine.”
“You going to be OK having Mom staying with you?”
“Yeah, no problem. She’ll probably just rearrange all my shit and try to paint my bathroom orange or something.”
“Isn’t your bathroom already orange?”
“It is burnt sienna,” said Harper, feeling the need to defend Ash’s colorful condo.
“Totally different,” agreed Rowan, flashing a grin at Harper, and once again, Harper saw the resemblance to Ash. “Color runs in the family,” he added, gesturing to the pink house before them. “Yesterday, Vivian said she was so glad I hadn’t painted my house brown. I’m lucky she’s fine with the turquoise in mybathroom.”
“I knew I liked her,” said Ash.
“Yeah, I think Mom would, too, but that was a pretty hard shutdown.”
“You invited her into Vivian’s space with zero warning and no way to exit,” said Harper. “I’d be intimidated, too. What if Vivian hates her? There wouldn’t be any place to go.”
Both Ash and Rowan were staring at her.
