I go back to sipping the last of my wine, prepping for the next round of light banter and sibling shots, but Ace suddenly seems nervous. He lowers his voice so Harper can’t hear as he asks, “Are you sure you don’t mind covering for me this weekend? It’s a big ask, I know.”
“Well, if you really want to trust your successful and somewhat bougie doggie daycare business, with a long list of clients who schedule time for their pampered pooches to come play, to my hands, who am I to disagree?” I ask, feigning concern for my own abilities. Honestly, I am a little nervous. I don’t usually spend a lot of time with dogs, besides Kevin, and I don’t want to fuck this up for Ace. But then again, the only way I’d fuck up is by over spoiling the dogs.
He presses his lips together, seeming on the verge of changing his mind, and I rush to reassure him.
“Ace, you’re going out of town for two days, and I only have to cover Saturday for like seven hours. I think I’ll manage. It’s not like you’re leaving me with children to be responsible for.”
Ace looks stricken. “These are children! Of the four-legged variety, but to their owners, these are their babies.”
I lift a wry brow, glancing down at Kevin who is treated like a baby in Ace’s hands. “I know, Ace. We’ve covered this. If I can handle you, supervise the staff at my job—hell, considering I’ve managed to keep Elle out of jail her entire life—I think I can manage a few hours of cuddles and playing fetch.”
We both know the biggie of those accomplishments is keeping my BFF, Elle, safe and sound. She was always a bit of a wild child, though I admit I was a big reason for that. We played at daring each other to do crazy things for years and mostly managed to avoid trouble. Of the legal variety, at least.
She’s settled down quite a bit now that she’s married and a mother. And living in London, on the other side of the world from me.
I miss her, of course, but one advantage of her lifestyle now is that she’s able to fly ‘home’ at least three or four times a year, and we always have at least one girls’ day reserved for her visits. Plus, we Zoom frequently.
Ace seems placated, but I’m sure he’ll have a list of doggie clients, their human parents, and their favorite toys and treats prepared for me. I don’t blame him. I’d do the same thing if he were showing up at my job. I guess the detail-oriented, control freak, hard-ass gene runs through both of us.
I smile, knowing I’ve reassured him for now. I want him to be able to enjoy himself. He and Harper both deserve it. “I think the real question is, are you ready for this weekend?”
Ace’s head whips around so fast, I’m afraid he’ll end up in a neck brace. But he doesn’t seem to feel any pain when his eyes land on Harper, who’s humming to herself as she does the dishes. He smiles dreamily, his voice dropping. “Yeah, I’m ready.”
I gawk, trying my best to not spoil things for him. Publicly, it’s just a weekend away for the two of them. A rare event, to be sure, but I didn’t realize that the true reason is a surprise. “She doesn’t know, does she?” I whisper, my eyes wide.
He shakes his head. “I only told you because I needed someone to hold down the fort. She has no idea, and I want to keep it that way.” He pinches my lips together to keep me from saying anything else that might tip Harper off.
Elle will always be my best friend, no matter how many miles or time zones separate us. But I like Harper a lot and enjoy spending time with her. Mostly, I love the way she makes my brother so happy, especially after She-Who-Will-Not-Be-Named nearly destroyed him. I can’t wait for Harper to be his bride and my sister-in-law.
“Have you talked to Mom and Dad?”
Ace nods. “Yeah, Harper’s too. They all gave their blessing, and Harper’s mom is super excited. I just hope she can keep quiet for a few more days.”
I don’t know Harper’s parents, but our parents are not easily won over. They are hard-working people who’ve earned everything they’ve ever received, and though their hearts are big and filled with kindness, they’re protective of Ace and me.
But anyone can see that Harper is perfect for Ace, so I’m not surprised they’re on board with Ace’s plan.
“Look, you know how I feel. I’m so happy for you,” I tell him earnestly. “As for Harper, I guess if she’s decided you’re good enough, I’ll support her idiocy,” I tease with a sad shake of my head.