Pretend You're Mine(102)
By the time the first stirrings came from the living room, the bacon was crisping — in a pan that had not been used to brain a criminal — and the coffee was ready.
It was a new day.
CHAPTER FORTY
September, October, November...
“I’m impressed, Harpsichord,” Aldo whistled through his teeth as they rounded a corner on the path. “A few months ago, you couldn’t run the length of a football field, and now look at you.”
Harper rolled her eyes at the nickname and tossed a smug look over her shoulder. “I could say the same about you,” she teased, enjoying the pace he set.
“Yeah, but I’m a perfect physical specimen. I’m designed to run no matter how many legs I have. You were a late-sleeping desk potato.”
She gasped, her breath forming a cloud in the brisk morning air. “Desk potato?”
“Someone who doesn’t watch a lot of TV but spends all their time sitting at a desk.”
“Where do you come up with this stuff?”
He tapped his finger to his temple. “It’s all up here. All the secrets of the universe.”
“Let’s see if those secrets of the universe help you move a little faster.” She picked up the pace. Aldo was right. A few months ago, the thought of a five-mile run before 7 a.m. would have had her pulling pillows over her head. And now, here she was, feeling her legs come to life beneath her as her feet skimmed the surface of the jogging path.
She and Aldo hit the park once a week together for a longer run. The man was a freaking machine. His physical therapists were thrilled with his progress and her heart warmed at the fact that she no longer saw frustration lining his handsome face. Love was the ultimate motivator.
Gloria and her genuine sweetness had worked wonders on the depression that had threatened to envelope him. The woman had probably single-handedly saved him from murdering or being murdered by Mrs. Moretta.
“Now you’re just showing off,” Harper laughed as Aldo sped by. “Don’t let your leg fall off,” she called after him.
“Gotta get there before sunrise!”
Harper lengthened her stride and caught him on the down slope. In a mile, the wooded path opened to the lake and the perfect view of the sunrise. It was her favorite part of the day, when she got to see those colors bleeding across the sky into the waters of the lake. She felt like the sunrise was a gift from her parents, telling her everything was going to be okay. That life was beautiful and it would be crazy to waste a moment of it.
“So, you ready for Luke to come home? Next week, right?” Aldo asked, conversationally. The sprint had taken nothing out of him.
“I’m trying not to think about it too much, so only every half second or so,” she sighed. “We didn’t have much time before he left, but I still feel like I’ve been missing a limb — no offense — for the last six months. I’m excited and terrified and everything in between.”
“Terrified?”
“Our relationship has lasted seven months. Six of those, he was on the other side of the world. What if he doesn’t like me anymore? What if everything is different? What if I can’t handle the reason he didn’t tell me about Karen?”
Aldo stopped and put a hand on her arm.
“What’s wrong? You need a break?”
He smirked. “Do I look like I need a break?”
His olive complexion glowed with healthy exertion. His hooded National Guard sweatshirt and track pants covered all the hard plains of his body, every inch earned with hard work and dedication.
“No. You look like you could breeze through a half marathon if you wanted to.”
“Damn right. And stop worrying. You two have what it takes to make it.
“I love you, Aldo.”
Surprise lit his eyes.
“Not like that.” Harper rolled her eyes. “You’re the closest thing to a brother that I’ve ever had and I love you.”
“Well, shit. I love you, too, Harpsichord,” he said, gruffly.
“Don’t say it because I said it!” She punched him in the arm.
Aldo put her in a headlock and ruffled her hair. “I didn’t, dummy. You’re the little sister I never wanted.”
They started forward, slowly working their way back up to speed. “So, you planning to surprise Luke when he comes home?”
Harper snorted. “Can you think of anything he’d hate more? No. In fact, he told me he doesn’t even want me to meet the bus. He wants to meet me at the house.”
“You know why he wants it that way.”
Harper sighed. “I do. But it still hurts my heart to think of him coming home with no one there to greet him. It’s been so long. I don’t want to waste the time it would take him to drive home. Ever since he told me that he’s coming home, every second feels like half an hour. I just want him here. I want to look into his eyes and ...”