Page 144 of Almost Ours
“Hey, Ryan,” he said around a yawn, heading straight for the fridge.
That was… not the reaction I’d been bracing for.
At the sink, Harper stood with a steaming mug of coffee in her good hand, her left arm still in the sling. It had only been a couple of weeks since the incident with Reid, and she had at least a month of recovery ahead. Connor dropped into the chair across from me, Harper setting a plate of toast and scrambled eggs in front of him before lowering herself into the seat beside him.
He looked up between us and frowned. “Why are you guys being so weird?”
Harper shot me a glance, then turned back to him. “Because… there’s something we wanted to tell you.” Shehesitated for a second, then squared her shoulders. “Ryan and I are dating.”
Connor blinked, glanced at me, then shrugged and went back to shovelling eggs into his mouth.
“That’s it?” I asked. “You’re okay with this?”
He paused long enough to look between us like we were the crazy ones. “Well, yeah. I’ve pretty much known this entire time. Doesn’t really change anything.”
Harper’s mouth fell open, mortified. I couldn’t help it–I chuckled and reached over to ruffle the back of Connor’s neck. “Guess we didn’t do a great job hiding it.”
Connor shot me a look. “Ya think?” Then, with a grin that was all boyish mischief, he added, “I’m glad you guys are together. I think it’s awesome.”
Something in my chest loosened at that, the relief hitting me harder than I expected.
“So,” I said, leaning back, “you ready for the last game of the season?”
Connor’s grin was instant. “Well, yeah–until spring hockey. Don’t forget tryouts start in a couple weeks.”
As Connor polished off the last of his eggs, Harper glanced at the clock and then to me. “We’ve got time before the game. Want to stop by Benny’s for a pre-game treat and say hi?”
Connor’s eyes lit up. “Yes! Cinnamon buns!”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “Lead the way.”
By the time we reached the bakery, the smell of fresh bread and sugar hit me before we even stepped inside.
The moment we stepped inside, Benny let out a dramatic gasp, flinging his arms wide. “Oh, thank the heavens! My darling Harper has returned!”
Harper laughed, shaking her head. “It’s just a visit, Benny.”
“Visit, schmisit!” Benny said, rushing over to clasp her uninjured hand. “Do you have any idea how much chaos you’veleft me in? Absolute pandemonium! The bread is overproofing, the muffins are mutinying, and don’t get me started on the croissants!”
“Cool it, Benny,” I said, grinning as I stepped in front of Harper like a protective wall. “She’s still on the injured list.”
Benny’s gaze flicked from my face down to where my arm had slipped easily around Harper’s waist. His eyes narrowed just slightly, a slow smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Ohhhh…” he murmured, drawing the sound out like he’d just uncovered the juiciest secret in town.
Before he could say anything else, Connor piped up from beside us, completely matter-of-fact. “Yeah. Mom and Ryan are dating now.”
Benny’s mouth dropped open in mock shock. “Datingnow? Did they actually think we didn’t already know? The only thing missing was a banner strung across Main Street announcing it.”
Harper groaned, her cheeks turning pink, while I just shook my head, biting back a laugh.
“But seriously, Harper, when are you coming back? The bakery is falling apart without you.”
She smiled warmly at him. “Soon, Benny. I promise.”
I couldn’t help but notice how her face lit up when she talked to him. The bakery was more than just a job for her–it was her second home, her passion. Seeing her like this, alive and fighting to regain her life, made something shift inside me.
The stands were already startingto fill by the time I finally made it to my seat beside Nina. It had taken me a solid ten-minutes just to get there–every single person in the building seemed to stop me on the way to the stands.
