“Have I been in lust, yes, but love, I don’t think so. I have been in a few short relationships, but when I look back, they were more like conveniences for both of us. And how I know this is that it never hurt to walk away, so I think that is a pretty good sign.” Taking a breath, it’s like I need her to understand a part of me that I don’t share with people. “Do I know what love feels like—you know, that deep love people talk about and that I see now in my brother and friends? No, I don’t. Am I looking for it? Absolutely. Because there is something pulling at me, telling me it’s time to let someone behind my barrier that I have. I don’t know if it’s my age or what, but I want to have a life now that is more than just work. Don’t get me wrong, I will always be a workaholic, but there is something missing, and I think it’s someone to love and to be loved by them in return.” I swallow hard as I’ve bared my soul to her. “So, yeah, that’s my answer.”

Already I can feel my heart retreating behind that barrier again. That is much more than I have ever let myself feel, let alone tell another soul. And not just any soul, it’s Harper.

“Good answer,” she whispers and turns straight to the machine and pulls the plunger back hard, totally focused on the game. Did I want more from her? Probably, but truthfully, was I ready to hear her words on love? No, I doubt it.

I’m not ready for her to ask a hard-hitting question like that again just yet, so I make sure I win the next game and make it something light in my next question, and of course, my next pet name.

“Okay, pumpkin, ready for your question?” I watch as she almost spits out the water she was drinking from the bottle out of the drinks fridge I keep in here.

“That is so yuck. Oh my God, am I ten years old?” She dabs her clothes with the clean handkerchief I pulled from my pocket for her.

“I guess I’ll strike a line through that one on my list then.” I laugh at her reaction on a name I would never use for her, but it’s fun just pushing her buttons on this.

“Along with any other cringy names on there too. Wait, hang on, you have a list of pet names you call women?” She shakes her head at me.

“Oh, you should see it, it’s pages long. I’ve been building it for years, waiting for a chance to use them,” I say, trying to keep a straight face as she looks at me, so confused.

“Really, is that true?”