Harper stund at her parents doorstep, exhaustion etched across her face, the carefully marked the exposed bandages on her loured hand deeper into her sleeve, madding sure nothing looked super fous before finally knocking ||
“Who’s there?” her mother called from Inside
When Mi
back “She wrmed and sho
copened the door and saw tha
| saw Harper, her jaw dropped. “Harper? You actually come back? I th into the house. “Miket Harper’s really beret||
hought you were prest saying that to get pun off your
“What? No way” Mr. Coulson jumped up from his recliner and bustled to the door
He grabbed
Harper’s suitcase while Mrs. Coulson linked arises with her daughter, practically dragging her inside ||
“So you actually came home. What happened with Dylan =†)
“Mom.” Harper rut in quickly, “”“1 was in a car accident. I have annesia, 1 dont remember anything about him.“]]
Hearing about the accident, her mother immediately ided to Inspect her for injuries.
ph my dedi Are you okay? Why didnt you call us? We should get you in the. Peterson right away–||
Harper everfully evaded her, not wanting her to discover the burns. “Tin totally
tally fine now, seriously.
- y. The doctors in New
a deep breath. “About
“1 made a linge mistake,” she continued softly. “I wasted years olnessing over someone who was never going to love me hack She took a deep. that arranged marriage you mentioned–I know I’ve lieen difficult about it. Em ready to meet him now,”
+1
Her parents exchanged glances before bursting into laughter. Mrs. Coulson pulled Harper into a gentle hug]
“Honey, there’s to arranged marriage. We completely made dial up,” she admitted. “We were desperate to get you away from that Rodriguez guy. how miserable you were
We could see
father joined the hug. “You can date whoever you want–just not that emotionally constipated trust fund kid who’s been stringing you along for years. You deserve someone who actually shows up for you.
Hearing her parats confession. Harper’s eyes welled with tears as she hugged them tighter.
71 shouldve listened to you guys all along. Maybe this memory loss is the universe hitting the reset button. Fin done with that chapter of my life.”
Over the next couple of days. Harper enjoyed being home, ready for a fresh start. She sent out several job applications and quickly received an interview invertation from Scott Industries!]
“Mom, heading out for that interview! Harper called toward the kitchen while slipping on her ankle boots||
Her nunther poked her head out, spatula in hand. “Knock ‘em dead, sweetler“]
Standing outside the Scott Industries building downtown, Harper realized she was early and decided to grab coffee at the trendy cafe across the street
“Order number 6277 the barivia cali
Harper reached for her drink, accidentally brushing against another customer’s hanit.|||
“sorry about that,” she said, quickly withdrawing and double checking her receipt. It definitely said 627 ||
Leaking up in confusion, she found herself staring into a pair of striking blue eyes ||
The man smiled, holding up his cup. “Mine’s 126. They’re a dig ott:“||
inter cup. “My bad” Mixed up the orders. This one’s yours:||
The arista appeared with antarr cu
Hager accepted the coffee with a p
polide smile, “No worries.||
*Tis Tyler Scott,” the man said, extending his hand. “I work at boot Industries, Judging by the portfolio under your arm, we might be colleagues so
theper shook his hand, noting his firin griji, “Harper Coulson. Nice to meet you. –]
Tyler’s expression flickered will recognition before returning to neutral
Good luck today. The design team is pretty chill.” he said before heading toward the east ||
Neithe, expected their next encounter to come so quickly
When Harper walked into the conference room for her interview, she nearly dropped her portfolio seeing Tyler sining at the center of the interview panel. She momentarily blanked on her prepared introduction
Tyler, absorbed in his phone, looked up when he noticed the silence, equally surprised to see her.
everyone.” Harper recovered smoothly. “I’m Harper Coulson, with a BA from RISD and formerly a senior designer at Rodriguez Group in New York-
The interview west brilliantly, and they quickly settled on a start
date:]]
As Harper was gathering her materials to leave. Tyler caught up with i overseeing all the design departments.[]
her in the hallway. “Small world, huh? I’m actually the Executive Creative Director here.
“since were going to be working together, how shout grabbing dinner? There’s an amazing That place around the corner.
Tyler’s eagerness caught Harper off guard. Thanks, Mr. Scott, but I actually have plans tonight-
With your boyfriend?” Tyler asked, then immediately looked like he regretted the question
Though confused by his interest, Harper answered simply, “No, not with a boyfriend.”
Tyler visibly relaxed at her response, a subtle smile playing at his lips. No boyfriend was definitely promising news.
