Page 56 of Wishing Hearts

“I dunno about that,” I say, tucking my face against Harrison’s neck and inhaling the man. “I think you and melon are a perfect match.”

“That so?” he asks, hands gliding up my wet back.

“Mm. You smell good enough to eat,” I say, nipping his skin gently.

“Like you just did?”

“Mhm,” I hum, memories still fresh.

Harrison chuckles. “Let’s get out of here before we prune.”

I nod, and Harrison and I step out of the shower. We towel off, and once inside Harrison’s bedroom, the man picks out a set of clothes for me. I raise my eyebrow at the sweatpants he chose—sans underwear, mind you—but Harrison simply gives me a grin.

“All right,” I mutter, tugging them on, followed by the soft blue t-shirt.

Harrison and I settle downstairs on the big couch in his living room. Winnie, of course, is asleep in her bedroom, and Harrison’s parents left over an hour ago, after supper finished. Tigger, who slipped out of Winnie’s room to follow us downstairs, jumps atop our laps on the couch. Her backside ends up on me, and Harrison gets her happy, tongue-lolling face in his lap.

From what Harrison told me, the dog doesn’t usually leave Winnie’s room at night except to go to the bathroom, but the little girl must be resting comfortably if Tigger decided to join us instead. She’s a smart dog, particularly in tune to Winnie. I think she knows exactly when her tiny human needs her and when she doesn’t.

“Can I ask you a question?” Harrison says once Tigger settles. He pets along her head and neck, a rhythmic, almost unconscious motion.

“’Course,” I tell him.

“What was your longest relationship?”

“A guy named Mitchell,” I answer, giving Tigger’s leg a rub. “We were together nine months before he called it off. You?”

Harrison swallows before answering me. “Wyatt.”

“The guy from Plum Valley,” I say, remembering that tidbit of info.

He nods.

“What happened?” I ask gently.

Harrison takes a beat before answering. “We were together for two years. He moved in with me during the second one. And then I found out he was in love with someone else. His best friend. The one he was raising a kid with.”

I wince, and Harrison catches it.

“Yeah,” he says, shaking his head. “I should’ve seen it coming. The signs were there.”

“Hey, somethin’ like that is not your fault,” I say.

Harrison keeps going, like he didn’t even hear me. “You know the funny thing? He wasn’t even a bad boyfriend. I know he cared for me. That he tried to be what I needed.”

“But it wasn’t enough,” I fill in.

Harrison laughs a little harshly. “No, it wasn’t. I think that’s why it hurt so much, you know? I thought we had something good. But I was his second choice. I was always his second choice.”

“Harrison,” I say quietly.

He shakes his head again. “I’m afraid…” He cuts off, looking at me sharply, his blue eyes swimming. “I’m afraid you’re going to feel like that, Sam. Like my second choice because of Winnie.”

“Hey,” I say, grabbing his hand and squeezing it tightly. “It’s not the same thing.”

“It is,” he says.

“It’s not. I’m not tryin’ to compete with your daughter, Harrison. We’re not even in the same race. I will never be mad at you for puttin’ her first. Never. All I ask—”

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