“Are you listening?”
“Yes.” I wiped under my eyes and gave him my attention. “Yes, I’m listening.”
“Good. You see this?” Shockingly, the color coded blocks of my calendar is what he held between us. I nodded. “I want you to tape this up on your desk at work, somewhere everyone can see it. And the next time somebody asks you to do something that doesn’t work for you, I want you to point to it.”
“That’s it?”
“You can tell them to fuck off while you’re at it.”
“Harper,” I breathed weakly.
“What?” He raised an eyebrow. “It sounds like they could use the reminder. And it seems to me like you’re way past taking the bullshit.”
He was right. I was so over it. So over being the person everyone was so quick to bully or baby or use the way they wantedbecause they knew I would let them. But could I really be what he was asking me to be? Brash and almost rude?
I must’ve looked apprehensive, because he continued, resolve visible in the set of his eyes.
“Alta. You don’t need a formal invitation to start being the person you want to be. And you don’t have to approve it with everyone else before you magically transform. Just start doing the things that are best for you and the people who are important to you will catch up.Just be you.”
“What if I don’t even know who me is?” I asked. “Because I’m not acting like myself lately.”
His lips flattened, his glare seeming to get angrier.
“Guys,” he suddenly called over his shoulder. “What comes to mind when you think of the boss here?”
“Sweet as pie!” Gerald spoke first. “And I’d do anything for her.”
“Tough as nails!” Ryan laughed. “She’s the only person who can give Gus the kick in the balls he deserves.”
“Focused,” Jules piped up. “Girl knows how to get shit done!”
“Organized.”
“Pretty!”
“Takes care of business.”
On and on the compliments kept flowing. And yeah there were things likesweetandniceandcutein there. But they weren’t words like pushover, or doormat, or failure like I sometimes thought they ought to be. I was shocked to learn how strong they thought I was. Stronger than I ever believed.
Looking at me, Harper’s expression said, ‘Well?’
“You guys,” my voice wobbled.
Using a knuckle, he wiped under my eyes to catch the stray emotion that had just escaped. He leaned in. I thought he was going to kiss me in front of everyone, and he did. But not in the way that Iwas expecting. I still felt my entire body loosen with the softest press of his lips to my cheek.
“A boss,” he said. “We see it. How incredible you are. Now hurry up and start showing everyone else, would you? We’re tired of keeping your secrets around here.”
Silverware clinked too loudly as the silence of the room rang on. No one spoke.
It was Thursday. The day before the block party. And instead of stressing over last-minute preparations like I was supposed to be doing, I was dealing with an even bigger annoyance.
Family dinner.
Usually the weekly family dinners at my parents’ house were something to look forward to. They were a time where we could all get together and catch up, hang out, and just be. Now, however, it was just one huge ball of tension.
Ceci was glaring at Melissa across the table, Ox was glaring at me, Melissa looked helplessly to anyone who would throw her a bone, and I was intently staring at my plate so I wouldn’t have to face any of it. Not to mention it was a big day tomorrow. Not that anyone else knew. They probably just thought I asked to move family dinner from the usual Friday because I had a vacation or something.
On the bright side, something had finally gone right for me lately.
