Page 55 of Emergency Exit
“Mom—” He stopped and surveyed Harper.
“This is Ash’s girlfriend, Harper,” said Rose quickly, surprising Harper.
“Since when?” demanded the man, matching Rose’s bluntness.
“Ages!” exclaimed Rose. “Ages and ages.”
“September,” said Harper, belatedly realizing that Rose was trying to help by perpetuating her fake relationship with Ash.
“Since September,” repeated Rose. “They met at a birthday party. She was an instant hit!”
“I called his ex-girlfriend beige and her sister a bitch,” said Harper, honestly.
“Oh,” said Rose, sounding surprised. “I wish I’d done that. They’re both mean.”
Rowan began to laugh, his shoulders shaking in mirth. His smile made him resemble both Rose and Ash.
“Hi, I’m Rowan,” he said, holding out his hand to shake. “Where is my baby brother?”
“He went to check the door,” said Harper.
“He didn’t wait for me?” Rowan raised an eyebrow and took a deep breath as if trying to calm himself.
“OK, Mom,” said Ash, coming out of the backyard. He froze when he saw Rowan.
“I already introduced Rowan and Harper!” exclaimed Rose. “He’s happy to meet yourgirlfriend.”
“Could have mentioned you were dating someone,” said Rowan evenly.
“Uh… You know… Reasons,” said Ash, looking like a deer in the headlights. He straightened up and gave the smile that Harper now recognized as fake. “Anyway, everything’s fine. I think the wind blew a tree branch into one of the billion plant pots you have on the back porch, which tipped over and broke the door.”
“Oh,” said Rose, flushing.
“We really need to get you a porch light with a motion detector,” said Ash.
Rose looked awkwardly at Rowan, and Harper suspected that her older child had previously made the suggestion.
“That must have been really scary to come home and see abroken door,” said Harper. “Are you sure you want to stay here tonight?”
“I’ll just put some cardboard over the broken glass,” said Rose. “At least I didn’t call the police. I feel stupid.”
“No,” said Rowan and Ash at the same time.
“It’s not stupid,” said Ash firmly.
“I’m probably just paranoid since you told me about the break-in at your office,” Rose said, shaking her head.
“Your office got broken into?” asked Rowan.
“Just the lobby. They couldn’t make it past the doors your guys installed,” said Ash. “It’s fine.”
“Uh-huh.”
Harper got the feeling Rowan was suspicious of that answer.
“Mom, I think you should stay the night with Vivian and me,” said Rowan.
“Oh, no,” said Rose, backing up until she bumped into her car. “No. That’s not a good idea.” She shook her head vehemently.
