Something weird ticks in my memory about the first time we met. When Harper ran into me just outside these doors.
Harper glances over her shoulder and shrugs, lifting her eyes back to me. “Oh, sure. Doesn’t everyone know Jade? I do have a membership here too.”
I frown. “Um, yeah, but you two were just hugging like you know her personally.”
She laughs uncomfortably “Well, actually, Jade and I are friends. She was my college roommate and we played ball together. It’s her place I was crashing at until I met you…”
Harper stops, her lips pursing, and she gives a dismissive wave “Anyway…about my news. I got the job! You’re looking at the new fulltime sideline reporter for KOGN!”
Harper throws her hands in the air and twirls in a circle like she’s dancing the hokey pokey, her bright smile a dead giveaway of her happiness.
“That is fantastic, babe,” I praise, using the opportunity to swing my arms around her back to pick her up and spin her around. She gasps in delight, wrapping her hands behind my neck before kissing me hard on the mouth.
A whistle coming from one of the Seattle football team players down at the weight station has Harper stiffening in my arms and then wiggling down to her feet. I let her go without argument, even though I’m sad at the loss, but understanding. We’ve talked about this before, although it was prior to her getting the job.
Now that she’s a full-fledged Seattle sports broadcaster, we don’t technically need to hide our relationship if we choose not to.
It’s one of the things we should discuss tonight. Over dinner.
“This is cause for celebration. Let’s go out tonight. We’ll eat. Drink. Talk Seattle sports. And then…” I bend at the waist and place my lips near her ear. “I take you home and give you your just reward.”
Harper lets out a nervous laugh. “That all sounds wonderful except for one small problem.”
I tilt my head. “What’s that?”
“I’m flying back to Spokane to get packed and to say goodbye to my family before I start my new job next week. I’ve already found a cute apartment to rent that’s mostly furnished.”
“I can come with to help you.” The words naturally tumble from my mouth. “You don’t have to do it alone, you know.”
Based on her expression, you’d think I’d just insulted her. Her face twists in confusion, lips pinching into a frown, and her brows knit together.
“No! It’s totally fine. Better that I do it on my own. It’ll be quicker. I’ll just give you a call next week, okay?”
Harper rises on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on my cheek and spins around. She hoists her hand in the air to wave at me when I grab her wrist and yank her back around. I think I’m done with the chasing and hiding for now.
“Nah. You can do better than that one. If I’m not going to see you this weekend, it’s gotta be more like this.”
I duck my chin and seal my mouth with hers in a hard, exploratory kiss. My tongue probes between her lips and with a hot slide of my tongue, I suck hers into my mouth.
When I finally drop her wrist, contentment steals over me and I give her a wry, crooked grin.
“Cat got your tongue, Miss Conrad? Didn’t you say you have somewhere to be?” I tease, as Harper’s cheeks turn pink, and a strangled sound erupts from her mouth.
“Gah! You’re so bossy.”
She turns in a huff and just as she’s two steps away, I snap the towel, my perfect aim landing on her ass.
She lets out a sharp gasp and whips her head back, glaring me down with a menacing look.
A bark of laughter bursts from my chest. “That’s why you call me Big Man, isn’t it?”
This I say loud enough for others to overhear. I laugh even louder when she storms out of the gym, but not before she flips me off for everyone to see.
That’s my girl.
My stubborn, brilliant, independent, sexy-as-fuck girl.
Scratch that.Girlfriend.