Jump Start

23. Twenty-three

Twenty-three

Thomas

S ince our return from Tasmania, Harper had stayed over at my house every night, spending her last few days of leave considering her next move. I hadn’t asked what choice she’d made. I wanted to give her space. It didn’t bother me either way, but I had a feeling she would be happier at Echidna, and I had to admit seeing her every day in the office would be pretty bloody good.

It was late on a Monday evening and I was putting in some extra hours on my racing sim when Harper walked into my room and tapped me on the shoulder, scaring the shit out of me. I paused the sim and turned to face her.

“Sorry, I really did try not to startle you!” she said, her eyebrows drawing together, her lip quivering, her telltale sign of being worried. I just wanted to place my hands on her face and relieve her anxiety however I could.

“What’s up, Harps?” I asked as I wrapped my arm around her hip. She looked a little flat, her golden hair was tied up in a ponytail and her face lacked expression.

“You alright?” I asked, waiting for her response. She leant into the side of my seat and put her arm around the top of the headrest.

“Guess I’m just nervous about tomorrow’s interview. Can we talk?” I nodded and jumped out of the sim set up, quite ungracefully as well.

“Sure, what’s on your mind?” I led her out to the lounge, and we sat at opposite ends. I was starting to feel uneasy for some reason.

“I just wanted to let you know what I’d decided so you weren’t surprised or whatever tomorrow. I have a few conditions for Chris, but I would like to accept his offer and resign from the Daily. ” I couldn’t help but smile, though I tried to keep my feelings as neutral as possible.

“I think it is a positive step forward for me, but I am worried about something. Us. Seeing each other every day…we will get on each other’s nerves. I promise you that.”

I smirked; we already did get on each other’s nerves.

“I know that we already do, and I appreciate you even putting this idea in Chris’s head, but what do you think?” Her face was hopeful, yet full of questions.

I considered my answer carefully, pausing and moving a few beats closer to her on the couch.

I picked up her hand.

“Harps, the way I see it, I am away a lot of the year. You’ve just been coming with me a bit this time around. You would be in the office, in your own space, and if you wanted, I would give you space at work too. I am fine with it. I don’t see a problem.” I concluded by grabbing her hand and placing it on my lap. She took a deep breath in and let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing and the apprehension on her face seemed to lessen.

“We just didn’t have the best start. I guess I’m afraid of it going back to that, for some reason. Even though you’ve not given me any reason to think that. ”

I knew where she was coming from, but if anything, I felt more myself with her than I had with anyone in my life. She was a balm for my insecurities. Because of her, I saw things I never thought possible slowly forming in my future. Maybe I should tell her that.

“Harps, I know the start of us was a little rough, and I will always accept the full fault for that. But I want you to know, I’ve never been so sure of anyone the way I am of you. You make me feel loved and you make me laugh and there’s no one else I’d rather have roast me on a day-to-day basis. I love you.”

Her face became briefly unreadable, but I could see the glassiness in her eyes. She smiled and wiped a shy tear from her cheek.

“That’s all I needed to hear. I love you too.” I felt relieved that I could give her the validation she sought. I was not the most articulate bloke, but I thought I knew how to make her happy.

I would never stop trying.

I kissed her softly, which slowly progressed to something a little more heated. She led me towards my bedroom and the shower. I was certainly feeling like the luckiest bloke in the world.

***

Both of our alarms went off at the same time, waking me from a deep sleep. I was okay at mornings, but Harper was absolutely not.

I hopped up out of bed and turned on the bedside light, which was met with a “What the fuck is wrong with you?” from her side of my bed. Another rough start. Not uncommon.

I continued to brush my teeth and eventually trudged down to the kitchen to make my smoothie. If the sound of the blender didn’t wake her up, then nothing would.