Page 161 of Almost Ours
I know yesterday was awkward and hard, and I didn’t want to overstep. But I also didn’t want to leave Connor empty handed. Inside the box, there’s a list of supplies and a little prototype of what his pyramid could look like. It’s just an idea–something to guide him.
Let me know if you need anything else.
- Ryan
I set the note down and opened the box, my breath catching as I pulled out a miniature Aztec pyramid. It was carefully crafted from foam and painted a muted stone-grey, complete with stairs leading up to a small temple at the top. Next to it was a detailed list of supplies, with little notes about why each was included.
The lump in my throat grew as guilt settled over me like a weight. Yesterday, I’d panicked. Seeing him had hurt too much, and I’d let that dictate my actions. I should have let him help.
Connor would’ve loved this.
I carried the box inside and placed it on the kitchen table, sitting down and staring at it for a moment. My heart ached at the thought of Ryan spending his evening doing this for Connor, even after I’d turned him away.
Ryan wasn’t just trying to help; he was showing me that he cared about us, in the way he knew how. And I’d pushed him away. I’d been so focused on protecting myself–so afraid of being hurt again–that I hadn’t stopped to think about what Connor really needed.
I stared at the little pyramid, guilt twisting in my stomach. He hadn’t asked for anything in return. He didn’t need to do this. Still, he had, and that made it harder to ignore the nagging voice in my head. Why had I been so stubborn?
And then there was Connor. He’d been so excited about Ryan helping with the pyramid project, so hopeful that Ryan would be a part of it. I’d seen the way his face lit up when he saw Ryan in the store yesterday, how disappointed he’d been when I told him no. I hadn’t stopped to think that, even though I was trying to protect myself, I was also protecting Connor from what–exactly? The truth was, I didn’t want him caught in the middle of something neither of us fully understood yet. Ryan wasn’t just someone who’d come into our lives and made things harder, though. He was someone who cared about both of us, even when it wasn’t easy.
Without overthinking it, I grabbed my phone and typed out a quick text.
Harper: Hey. Thanks for the supplies and everything. Connor’s going to love it. Would you like to come over after his hockey game today to help him with it? I wouldn’t mind running to the gym and getting groceries while you two work.
I hesitated before hitting send, my finger hovering over the screen. This felt like a small crack in the wall I’d built, but it didn’t feel wrong.
I didn’t know what would come of this. I didn’t know if Ryan and I would ever get back to where we once were. But maybe, this was a step in the right direction–at least for him and Connor.
With a deep breath, I pressed send.
After a bit, my phone buzzed with his reply.
Ryan: I’d love to. What time should I come by?
Harper: Around 3? I’ll let Connor know.
Ryan: Perfect. Thank you, Harper.
The speed of his response made me smile, a warmth I hadn’t felt in days spreading through my chest. I rested my phone on the counter, my eyes drifting back to the prototype. The ache in my chest was still there, but for the first time in days, it didn’t feel quite so suffocating.
When my phone buzzed,I didn’t even look at it at first. I was in the middle of sorting out logistics for a project at Shane’s new sportsplex and I figured it was just another message from him or Kyle. But when I finally glanced at the screen and saw Harper’s name, my breath hitched.
For a second, I just stared at it, my thumb hovering over the notification. She’d texted me. After almost a month of radio silence, she’d actually texted me.
My heart pounded as I opened the message and I read it three times, my brain trying to process it. She didn’t say much, yet this felt monumental. She was letting me back in, even if it was just for Connor’s sake.
I didn’t hesitate to respond.
The second I hit send, relief and excitement surged through me in equal measure. Spending time with Connor again? Hell yes. That kid had a way of brightening even the darkest days. I wasn’t naive, though–I knew this wasn’t about me and Harper patching things up, not yet. Still, it was something.
I stood there for a moment, phone still in hand, a stupid grin spreading across my face. I missed them both more than I couldput into words. Getting even a small piece of that back felt like a lifeline.
A knock at my door snapped me out of my thoughts. Shane poked his head in, grinning like he always did. “You ready for tonight? Kyle’s itching to drag us to that dive on Main.”
I rolled my eyes. “Do I have a choice?”
“Nope,” he said cheerfully. “Kyle’s in town for three days. That means three days of beers, bad bar food, and probably regrettable karaoke. You’ve been warned.”
“Great,” I muttered, though the thought of a night out with the guys didn’t sound too bad. It had been a while since I’d let myself just… exist without obsessing over Harper and Connor.
