I think we’ve shared a few in the short time we’ve known each other.

“You two grew up together?” he asks.

“Yeah, just east of Calhoun Road. You’re familiar with that area. I’ve seen you at parties over there.” Her eyes narrow in his direction. “I’m just not sure who our mutual friends are.” She raises an eyebrow, leaving the question she didn’t ask directly hanging in the air.

His hand finds the back of his neck, and he scratches. The lighthearted grin now gone as he looks at her, trying to place where he’s seen her before. “It’s been a while since I’ve been to that part of town.”

“Lucas Westcott,” she starts. “That’s how I recognize you.”

“Probably.” He shoves his hands in his pockets, but I notice him glancing at the door a few times. Discomfort? Wanting to run out the door? Hungry? I can’t read his needs right now and that bugs me.

Amanda says, “Seems like quite the drive from The Pointe Estates.”

His smirk is gone. “Lucas tended to look for trouble, always managing to find it in Beacon.”

She nods, but then says, “I knew him. Met him a couple of times. He was always nice to me. I was bummed to hear about his accident.”

“Accident?” I ask, stepping closer to Harbor, but when I search his eyes, I don’t feel the timing is right to lift the lid on that topic of conversation. Not sure if it’s how he keeps looking for an escape though that’s a solid tip-off. It’s more that the pain I saw a few hours ago has returned in the current circumstances.

“Another time,” he replies quietly.

I understand the need to push certain things away. I wrap my arm around Harbor’s and lean my head on his bicep. “I’m still tired, Amanda. We’re going to head back to bed.”

“Yeah, no problem. We’ll catch up later, Lark.” Just as we round the corner, she singsongs, “Have fun.”

“We will,” I reply innocently, and then I catch her drift and giggle.

Sunshine floods the room, leaving shadows of stripes across Harbor’s body as he sits on the bed. I ask, “How was meeting the roommate?”

“I think it went well, as well as it could since she was surprised to see me.”

I sit next to him, leaning my back against the wooden headboard. “I think you made quite the impression.”

He starts to laugh. “I bet.”

Reaching over, he takes my hand and brings it to his mouth. One kiss and then two more are placed on the top of it. It’s not sexy like the idea of sitting on a bed together might summon, but it’s sweet like first kisses and the excitement of newly dating should be.

He slides down lower, settling in again. Looking up at me, he slips a wry grin into place. “So what do you want to do today?”

15

Harbor

I don’t recognize who I am when I’m with Lark, but for some fucking reason, I don’t mind the difference.