Page 40 of Game Over
“But… I…” She couldn’t believe this. A job opportunity less than twenty minutes from home? Could she get that lucky?
“Don’t worry about Drew,” Jude said, holding two fingers up to order coffee from the waitress behind the counter. “I told Carolyn that you were watching your boyfriend’s nephew this summer and wouldn’t be able to start until September.” She chuckled. “And you’re not going to believe this.”
“What?”
“Deke is her landlord.” She rolled her eyes. “He owns the freaking building where she rents space for her business. Small world, huh?”
“Yeah, small world.” Harper was still trying to process everything. Her best friend was giving her a way to stay, an opportunity to build a new life with the man she loved. The means to support herself and still work with kids. It almost seemed too good to be true.
“Why aren’t you excited?” Jude asked, frowning. “This means you get to stay! That is what you want, isn’t it?”
“Of course it is.” She smiled at the weary waitress who stopped by to fill their mugs. “I just, um, haven’t heard from Deke since I left, so I’m not sure where he stands.”
“Deke loves you, girl. Are you kidding me? He’s gonna be thrilled.”
Harper wanted to believe that, but there was only one way to know for sure.
***
Deke was sitting on a bench outside of his shop, taking a breather after a hectic morning, when the sun got a little brighter. Harper was standing over him, a smile curving her lips. That could only mean one thing: a job offer. Which meant the end of the road for them. He told himself he should be happy for her, but dammit, his gut was churning at the thought of letting her go again.
“Hey,” she said, sitting down beside him.
“Hey.” He wiped the scowl off his face, reminding himself not to be a selfish bastard. She’d worked hard to become a teacher and had earned the chance to put those skills to use in a classroom. “How’d the interviews go?”
“Good.” She nodded. “Really good, in fact.”
“Not surprised.” Anyone who met Harper loved her. “I’m happy for you, Harper. Really.”
He hadn’t touched her and she hadn’t reached out to him. If she planned to stick it out with Drew the rest of the summer, he had no idea how the hell he was supposed to keep his hands to himself, but he’d have to try. If they allowed their intimate relationship to continue it wouldn’t just be difficult to let her go. It would be impossible.
“So, um, you know that tenant you have in Lamar?”
He frowned. “I have a lot of tenants in Lamar. Which one?”
“A day care centre. Carolyn, the lady who runs it, has offered me a job.”
He shifted slowly, facing her, as he tried to process what she was telling him. “She offered you a job? In Lamar?” His heart started beating double-time as he wondered if it was possible for him to get that lucky.
“Yeah.” She set her hand on his thigh, looking up into his eyes. “It’s not teaching, but it is working with kids. She’s looking for a manager because she wants to cut back apparently. And in a couple of years she might be looking for someone to take over the business.”
He tried to read her expression. Was she making this sacrifice for him, for their relationship? She was over-qualified for the job she described and it probably wouldn’t pay as much in the short-term, but the future potential seemed promising. Would it be enough to make her happy… and want to stay with him?
“Say something,” she said, sounding nervous. “I want to know what you think about this.”
“It’s your decision.” He wanted to tell her it was the perfect solution, but he didn’t have the right to tell her what to do. “And your career. You’re a teacher. Are you sure this will make you happy? You won’t feel like you’re settling?”
Her eyes slipped from his. “I thought you’d be excited about this. Why do I get the feeling you don’t think I should take it?”
He swallowed, trying to find the right words. He couldn’t afford to screw this up, not with everything riding on her decision. “I think you should do whatever’s going to make you happy.”
She stared at him a long time before she said, “At the hotel you made it sound like you were looking for a solution to our problem. We have one and now you don’t seem too thrilled about it. Is that because you’re having second thoughts about us?”
“Goddammit.” He hauled her against his chest when he felt like he couldn’t breathe anymore. “Are you serious? No, hell no. Why would I be having second thoughts about us?”
She tipped her head back to look at him, her eyes brimming with tears. “I just don’t want to force—”
“Harper,” He silenced her with a kiss, “I love you, baby.” He looked into her eyes. “I. Love. You.”
