I had to say it. "Or maybe you're wrong."
Harper's mouth tightened. "You know what?"
"What?"
"I'm kind of sorry I mentioned any of this."
"I'mnot."
"Why?" She gave a humorless laugh. "You disagree with everything I'm saying."
"Yeah, and you wanna know why?"
"Why?"
"Because you deserve the truth. I mean, yeah, I could sit here and nod along, but that's not me. And it won't solve your problems, I can tell youthat."
"Yeah, well maybe I just wanted someone to listen."
"Which I did."
"Oh sure, but then you told me I was wrong about everything."
I gave her a look. "I never said that."
"You did, too."
"No. I said youmightbe wrong. Big difference."
When Harper's only reply was a disgruntled look, I said, "But you know what?"
"What?"
"I think it's nice that you care about them."I meant it, too.All of the times she'd been riled up, it hadn't been on her own behalf, but rather on somebody else's. It was a rare quality, even if misdirected.
She rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. You do not."
My jaw flexed. "Don't tell me what I think."
"But—"
"Idothink it's nice, especially with your cousin if she's not great at sticking up for herself. But you need to save your ammo for when you really need it."
She made a sound of annoyance. "What, you don’t think I need itnow?"
"I don't know," I said. "And the way it sounds, neither do you."
Abruptly, she got to her feet. "Anyway…I should let you get back."
"To where? The job site?" I shook my head. "It's not a full-time gig."
"It's not?"
"No,myjob is to keep everything on track." I gave a rueful laugh. "When I was hired, the city told me it would take maybe fifteen, twenty hours a week. Thatfirstweek, I spent triple that." I smiled. "So now I get to coast."
Harper didn't smile back. "Yeah, well, I'm sure you've got other work to do."
I did. And I didn't.The truth was, since most of my work could be done virtually, I kept my own schedule. And I might've explained this to Harper if only she weren't already heading for the door.
