Page 3 of How To Not Need You

I glance over my shoulder. Luca catches me looking and gives me an entirely unapologetic thumbs up. "Traitor."

"I heard that!" he calls across the café.

"I wanted you to!"

A few people chuckle. Harper shakes her head into her coffee.

"I swear half your entertainment comes from annoying people."

"Only the people I like."

"Comforting."

I slide into the chair opposite her and set my coffee on the table. “What are you working on?”

Harper glances down at the notebook beside her coffee. “A shopping list.”

I blink. “Seriously?”

She smiles at my surprised tone.

I glance down at Grace in the pram that looks as though it costs more than my car. Her tiny face is bunched up in an expression that looks like mid-poop. Ok. Avoiding the little munchkin until I can be sure.

"You remembered her socks today."

Harper follows my gaze. "Only because Alexander dressed her."

"Smart man."

"Very." She taps her pen against the page. "I also need to remember nappies, formula, coffee"

"You've already got coffee."

"I'll need more."

“That makes sense. There’s no such thing as too much coffee.”

"Grace slept through the night."

I nearly spill my drink. "No."

"Yes."

"You lucky bitch”.

"I know."

"I'm happy for you."

"You don't sound happy."

“I’m incredibly jealous of your good night’s sleep.”

She laughs. "I've become one of those parents."

"The ones who casually mention their baby slept through the night just to watch everyone else suffer?"

"Exactly those ones."