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“Of course not,” he said.
“You act like you’re fighting,” Harper said.
“Who’s fighting?” Warren ducked his head into the hallway from the living room. “Hal! Thanks again for helping today.”
“No problem.” Hal moved past Harper and clapped Warren on the shoulder. “Where should I start?”
* * *
Savina leanedagainst the wall before sliding down it and plopping on her butt next to a sweaty and red-faced Harper. “How are you doing, sweetie?”
“I’m hot, I can’t stop sweating, and,” Harper sniffed her armpits, “I freaking smell. Thank God Nathan is working at the clinic. We haven’t been dating long enough for him to see me like this.”
Savina laughed. “Nathan is adorably in love with you. I doubt a little sweat and stink is gonna scare him off.”
Harper grinned. “I mean, I am pretty great, right?”
Savina slung her arm around Harper’s narrow shoulders and kissed the top of her head. “You are. And I’m only partially saying that because you’re related to me.”
Harper laughed, and Savina tugged on one short pink-coloured lock of Harper’s hair. “But seriously, are you okay? I know it has to be hard seeing your childhood home packed up like this.”
There was a soft woof and Harper’s dog, an old shepherd cross named Winston, limped into the living room. He laid down beside Harper and rested his head in her lap. She stroked his head, smiling at the way his tail wagged.
“It’s a little difficult, but the fact that I’ll still be living here with Nathan makes it much easier to accept.” Harper stared around the empty room. “Before I got together with Nathan, and even for a bit afterward, I was upset that Dad had sold the house to Nathan as part of the clinic purchase. I mean, it made sense since it’s right next door to the vet clinic, but still… it was hard to fathom Dad not being here, you know?”
“I do,” Savina said.
“But I think Dad will be much happier living in town in the condo. He’s as excited as a little kid about his new place,” Harper said.
“I think so, too,” Savina said.
They sat silently for a minute or so before Harper said, “Are you and Hal fighting?”
“No,” Savina said. “Hey, how is the new vet Nathan hired working out?”
“Dr. Yale is doing well. She’s only been at the clinic for a week, but Nathan says she’s smart, confident, and great with the clients - both human and animal ones.”
“Your dad said she’s fairly new, just graduated last year?” Savina said.
“I think so.” Harper poked her in the arm. “Stop changing the subject. What’s going on with you and Hal?”
“Nothing,” Savina said.
“Horseshit,” Harper said, sounding so much like Warren that Savina couldn’t help but laugh. “What did you fight about?”
“We didn’t fight, we -” She cut herself off abruptly. She couldn’t tell Harper she slept with Hal. She was close with her niece but not ‘share details of her intimate life’ close.
“Oh my God,” Harper squinted at her and lowered her voice. “You slept with him.”
Savina’s mouth dropped open, and she didn’t have a chance in hell of denying it. Still, she gave it the old college try. “I… no, we didn’t.”
Harper rolled her eyes. “I’m not a little kid, Savina. I recognize an “I fucked a guy, and now I regret it’ look when I see one. I saw it on my own face a few times before I met Nathan.”
“I don’t regret it,” Savina said.
Harper studied her and then nodded. “Good. You shouldn’t. So, why are things so weird between you now?”
“Because it happened last night, and I sneaked out of his house at four this morning while he was sleeping.”
