Reagan chuckled and took Sydney’s hand. “We’re quite familiar with messy.”
“We danced in and out of each other’s lives for fifteen years, with each time getting messier before we finally got our shit together. But if they’re worth fighting for, stick with it. You won’t regret it.” Sydney smiled at Reagan, and it was the cutest thing. Her face softened in a way Charlie hadn’t seen from the tough-as-nails attorney who had gone toe-to-toe with the SEC on the terms of her immunity agreement.
“Harper and I have only been dancing around each other for almost a year. But it’s been slow. I’ve been trying to figure out who I am since I left D. B. Graves, and Harper has some…baggage she’s trying to work through too.” Though baggage might have been putting it a little mildly.
“Everyone has some kind of baggage that they’re carrying around, but when it’s right, love finds a way,” Reagan said.
“Look at me. I was so caught up in fear that I kept letting this one slip through my fingers.” She nodded at Reagan. “Until I thought she might be gone for good, and I realized I’d do anything to make it work.”
“And I angled to get this Pentagon assignment to be statesideagain, so it’s easier for Sydney’s career. It takes a little work, but we figured it all out.” She smiled at Charlie. “And it’s worth it, right?” She faced Sydney.
“Right.” They kissed, and it was such a tender moment, Charlie’s heart ached with longing.
“You two give me a little hope, anyway. I used to be so focused on my career that I never took the time to date seriously. I had casual girlfriends I never thought aboutforeveruntil Harper. And then, the SEC swooped in and fucked things up. Granted, I’m happy they gave me the opportunity to do the right thing, but them showing up on my doorstep wasn’t in my master plan. Not that I had one.” She shook her head. The last months since moving to Key West had been the first time in her life when shedidn’thave a master plan.
“You can’t plan for everything,” Reagan said.
“Though you certainly try,” Sydney said on a laugh.
Reagan shrugged. “You can take the woman out of West Point, but you can’t take West Point out of the woman.”
“And I appreciate it. For the most part,” Sydney said with a grin.
Their give-and-take was true couple’s goals. Charlie enjoyed dinner with them and hoped that they’d stay friends once this mess with the SEC was over. She thought Harper would like them too.
When she went to use the restroom, she typed out a quick text:Having dinner with my attorney and her wife this evening. She thinks I should be done here within a week or so.
Harper:That’s great. Franky will be pleased to know her cuddle buddy is coming back.
Charlie:I can’t wait to see her. How are things at the bar?
Harper:Eh. Same old, same old. Business has been picking up though. I hired a new part-time bartender. Met a new food truck owner that does Middle Eastern street food, so they’re inthe rotation now too.
Charlie:Yum. I look forward to trying it. I should get back though.
Harper:Are you in the bathroom texting me?
Charlie:Yeah.
Harper:You’re so weird. Go have fun
Charlie wanted to send a kiss emoji but settled for a thumbs-up. Their thawing text exchanges were making her cautiously optimistic, and she could only hope that they were going to translate into Harper remembering her as the person she’d become since living in Key West and not the shell of a person that she’d been when she’d arrived.
Chapter Twenty-eight
It was December 23rd, and Harper was beginning to wonder if Charlie was going to make it back in time for Christmas. Scissor and Gavel was hopping, though, so she didn’t have time to dwell as she bounced from patron to patron at the bar and stayed on top of the tickets coming in from her servers.
While she wasn’t sure how her body or her heart were going to react to seeing Charlie, she really did miss her. Harper had gotten used to sleeping next to her and missed snuggling her warm body after they’d made love. And Andrew’s words had been rolling around and marinating in her head since they’d talked. It also didn’t hurt that he’d become a bit of a broken record about it every few days when they talked.
As the evening started to wind down, Harper felt Charlie before she saw her. It was as if there was an electric current in the air that only affected the two of them. Her arms broke out in goose bumps, and she looked up to see Charlie leaning against the doorframe, a smile slowly blooming across her face as Harper made eye contact.
Harper couldn’t have stopped her answering smile even if she’d wanted to. They needed to talk. There were a lot of things that hadn’t been said since the SEC had shown up at the door. But, God, she looked amazing. And Harper had missed her. God, she’d missed her.
She wanted to go to her, but the bar was still busy, with only a couple of stools open, and they were short-staffed because Em was out with the flu. It was also almost Christmas, which alwaysstrained operations.
So as she shook a cocktail shaker over her shoulder, she asked Charlie to come over with a subtle gesture of her head.
Neither broke eye contact as Charlie approached the bar and slid onto a seat. Harper was pretty sure that a bouquet of butterflies that they’d seen together at the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory in October—just before the SEC had shown up—had followed her home and chosen that moment to make their presence known. “Can I get you something to drink?” She hated how awkward she sounded. She had so many feelings and emotions that her work persona took over.