Pretend You're Mine(81)
You’re beautiful when you’re mad,
Luke
To: lucas.c.garrison282@us.army.mil
From: harpwild@netlink.com
Re: Puppies and fluffy things
I’ve been hypnotized by fluffiness. I’m feeling much less murderous. Perhaps you would like to take this opportunity to explain why you didn’t feel that I needed to know the details of “the incident?”
Let me give you some examples of ways you could have broached the subject.
Bragging You: So babe, I totally rocked life-saving today and dragged Aldo’s ass out of a firefight after he was partially blown up. What did you do today?
Subtle You: I’d love to video chat with you tonight, but I’m just really worn out. Worn out from carrying my best friend out of a literal battlefield with guns blazing. It really wasn’t a big deal, tell me more about your crocheting circle.
Normal Human Being You: Aldo was (insert appropriate military terminology here) by an IED. I was able to get to him and get him out under fire, but it was pretty freaking scary. I miss you and think you’re the most beautiful, incredible, kind, smart, funny woman in the universe.
Love,
Harper
To: harpwild@netlink.com
From: lucas.c.garrison282@us.army.mil
Re: Puppies and fluffy things
Thank goodness for puppies. Stand by for an official apology.
I, Lucas Charles Norbert Garrison, am solemnly sorry for not delivering pertinent facts to one Harper Lee Sue Ellen Wilde, hereafter known as “hot girlfriend.” The technical and medical term for my mental state was “freaking out” and I had no idea how to put into words what happened to not freak out hot girlfriend. The immediacy of the situation required me to put more energy into figuring out whether Aldo Moretta, hereafter known as “Lard Ass When He’s Unconscious,” was alive and going to stay that way than reporting the fuzzy details of the encounter. However, moving forward, I swear to do a better job of communicating all things, including those of life and death importance as I’d be really pissed too if you didn’t tell me something like that.
Miss your smile,
Luke
To: lucas.c.garrison282@us.army.mil
From: harpwild@netlink.com
Re: Puppies and fluffy things
Solid apology. I deem this email fight over. Attached please find an olive branch in the form of a picture of my boobs.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Harper huffed and puffed her way up to the third floor under the weight of an ottoman. Making it to the top of the stairs, she took the final steps into Gloria’s new one-bedroom and collapsed on top of the ottoman in the middle of the living room.
“You’re going to be in amazing shape just from bringing groceries home,” Harper gasped. “I can’t believe we got the couch up here ourselves.”
Gloria laughed from the tiny kitchen where she was unpacking brand new dinner service for four.
“I can’t believe it’s mine,” she said with a happy sigh. “I can put something on the counter and it will still be there when I come back. I can watch anything I want on TV. I can lounge around naked all day if I want!”
Harper sat up and surveyed the apartment. Scarred hardwood floors, a handful of cracks in the plaster. But the view of Main Street Benevolence was straight out of a painting. Gloria was three floors over Dawson’s Pizza and the living room’s huge bow window overlooked the police station and Common Grounds Café.
She was walking distance to work and the grocery store.
“This is pretty perfect,” Harper agreed.
“Want a drink?” Gloria offered.
“For the love of God, yes! Please!” Sophie’s voice was muffled by the box of kitchen miscellany she was hefting. She dumped it unceremoniously in the middle of the kitchen floor and collapsed onto a dining chair. “That’s literally the last thing. You’re all moved in.”
Harper jumped up and reached into her bag. “Wait, Gloria! Put the can down. We can’t let the first drink in your very own home be diet soda.” She pulled out the chilled bottle of champagne she had picked up on the last car trip between Gloria’s mom’s and the new apartment.
“Nothing happier than the sound of champagne being uncorked,” Sophie said, clapping her hands. Harper poured the bubbles into coffee mugs and handed them around.
“I’d like to make a toast,” Gloria announced. “Thank you both so much. It means the world to me to be independent, but it’s even better to have you two as friends that I can depend on if I need to.”
“Aw! Cheers,” Harper said, clinking her mug to Gloria’s.
Sophie left shortly after to go rescue Ty from Josh who had decided he was a dog like Bitsy and would only go to the bathroom outside. Harper stuck around to help with some of the unpacking.