When the phone rang, Harper groaned as she picked up the insistently vibrating device and answered it reluctantly.

“What’s the gig this time?” Harper mumbled as Ivy handed her a steaming cup of coffee.

After a few minutes of back-and-forth with Kim, Harper hung up and sighed, drinking more coffee while Ivy sat down across from her, helping herself to focaccia bread and spreading on some garlic butter. 

“So, what’s up? Something new to promote?” Ivy asked curiously, stirring her tea. 

“Something about nature-inspired organic snacks,” Harper replied, sipping her coffee. “Kim sounded way too excited about it.”

The morning sun filtered softly through the trees, casting dappled golden light onto the forest floor. The air was crisp and fragrant with the scent of pine and damp earth, a gentle breeze stirring the last autumn leaves. Inside the cottage, the kitchen was bathed in warm light as Ivy and Harper sat at the small wooden table, their steaming cups of beverages between them. They ate their fill of the freshly picked fruit, cheese, and bread, and as their tummies filled, Harper steered the conversation back to last night. 

“How’re you feeling today, by the way?” Harper asked, her voice low and gentle. Her dark eyes were intent on Ivy, searching her face for any lingering traces of yesterday’s distress. “Are you… feeling any better about everything with Maze?”

Ivy nodded, a soft smile curving her lips. “A lot better,” she admitted. “Thanks to you.” She reached out, her hand brushing Harper’s briefly before pulling back to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you last night.”

Harper’s gaze softened as she leaned forward, covering Ivy’s smaller hand with hers. “You don’t have to do it alone, Ivy. You can come to me for anything, anytime.”

Ivy laughed, the sound light and a little self-conscious, though she didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, she gave Harper a gentle squeeze. “Careful, I might hold you to that.”

Harper grinned, opening her mouth to respond, but the sound of a car crunching up the gravel path outside stole the moment. Ivy’s head turned toward the window. “I’ll see who it is,” she said, slipping her hand from Harper’s and heading to the door.

The sound of Ivy’s cheerful voice carried back into the kitchen a moment later, mingled with another voice—one Harper instantly recognized. Her stomach tightened.

Kim.

Ivy returned first, her expression warm and welcoming as she stepped aside to let Kim into the kitchen. Kim followed with easy confidence, her camera bag slung over one shoulder. She stopped short when she spotted Harper at the table, her sharp eyes darting between Harper and Ivy like she was piecing together a puzzle. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face.

“Well, well,” Kim said, setting her bag down and crossing her arms. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Harper. And still wearing yesterday’s outfit, no less.” Her tone was light, teasing, but the glint in her eye made Harper bristle.

“Ivy offered me coffee,” Harper said flatly, standing up and moving toward the counter as Ivy handed Kim a steaming mug.

Kim accepted it with a grateful nod but didn’t miss a beat. “How generous of her. Though I’m sure, the… hospitality went both ways.”

Harper rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Why don’t we go check out the site?” she said, her voice clipped. “Ivy’s got enough to do without us crowding her kitchen.”

Kim’s smile widened as she caught the edge of Harper’s tone. “Sure thing,” she said, sipping her coffee. She turned to Ivy. “Thanks for this. I’ll leave you to it.”

The two women stepped out into the morning, the cool air a welcome contrast to the simmering tension in the kitchen. The woods were alive with the soft rustle of leaves and the distant murmur of the stream. Kim fell into step beside Harper, her long strides unhurried.

“So,” Kim began, her tone casual but laden with implication. “You stayed the night, huh?”

Harper stiffened but kept her eyes on the path ahead. “Ivy needed someone last night,” she said curtly. “She was upset, and I wasn’t going to leave her alone like that.”

“How noble of you,” Kim said, her voice lilting with mock admiration. “But, tell me, how far did this noble effort go?”

Harper stopped in her tracks, turning to glare at Kim. “Nothing happened. I was there as a friend, only a friend. Ivy was crying over Maze, and I stayed to comfort her. That’s it.”

Kim raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical but amused. “Right. And I suppose it was completely platonic when you held her all night, too?”

Harper’s jaw tightened, a flush creeping up her neck. “I slept on the sofa bed,” she shot back, her tone defensive. “I didn’t even—”

“Did you?” Kim interrupted, her smile widening as she leaned in slightly. “Sleep on the sofa bed, I mean. Or was it Ivy’s bed?”

The blush that bloomed across Harper’s face was all the answer Kim needed. She let out a low chuckle, shaking her head as they resumed walking. “Relax, Harper,” she said, her voice teasing but oddly soft. “I’m just messing with you. Mostly.”

The woods were quiet in the early morning. The soft light of dawn filtered through the canopy, painting the forest floor in hues of amber and gold. The air smelled of earth and fallen leaves, and a cool breeze rustled through the underbrush. Kim walked beside Harper, her camera bag slung over one shoulder, her expression thoughtful as her boots crunched against the gravel path.

“So,” Kim began after a moment of silence, glancing at Harper from the corner of her eye. “You’re really falling for her, huh?”

Harper stiffened but kept her gaze forward. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, come on.” Kim let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You can try to deny it all you want, but you’re not exactly subtle, Harper. The way you look at her? Like she hung the damn moon. It’s sweet.”

Harper sighed, shoving her hands into her jacket pockets. “She needed someone last night,” she said quietly. “I was just there for her. That’s all.”

Kim stopped walking for a moment, turning to face Harper with an arched brow. “And that’s all it’s going to be? Because, honestly, I’m not sure you can handle being her friend. Not with the way you’re already so wrapped up in her.”

Harper stopped, too, her jaw tightening as she met Kim’s gaze. “Ivy’s going through a lot right now,” she said evenly. “She needs support, not… whatever you’re implying.”

Kim’s lips quirked into a wry smile as she started walking again, forcing Harper to follow. “I’m not saying you’re wrong for wanting to be there for her. Hell, Ivy’s a great person—kind, sweet, the whole package. But Harper, she’s also vulnerable right now. And if you’re not careful, you’ll end up breaking her heart—or worse, getting yours shattered in the process.”

Harper’s steps faltered, and she glanced down at the dirt path beneath her boots. “You think I don’t know that?” she muttered. “You think I haven’t already thought about all the ways this could go wrong?”

“Then why are you still sticking your neck out?” Kim asked, her voice softer now, though her sharpness hadn’t completely dulled. “If you’re so aware of the risks, why are you still so damn determined to stay close to her?”

Harper didn’t answer right away. The two of them reached the stream, its waters glinting in the morning light as it babbled softly over smooth stones. Kim crouched down, inspecting the site with a practiced eye, while Harper remained standing, staring at the rippling water.

“Because she deserves someone who actually cares about her,” Harper said finally, her voice low. “Someone who won’t treat her like an afterthought or a prop. And if I can’t be that person… the least I can do is make sure she knows she’s not alone.”

Kim stood up, brushing her hands off on her jeans as she turned to face Harper. Her teasing demeanor had slipped away completely, replaced by something quieter, almost somber. “That’s noble of you, Harper,” she said. “But you’re not exactly an impartial party here. You care about her—you want her. And if you’re not honest with yourself about that, it’s going to mess with your head. And hers.”

Harper clenched her fists, the muscles in her jaw working as she tried to keep her emotions in check. “I’m not going to do anything to hurt her,” she said firmly. “I’d never…”

“I believe you,” Kim interrupted, her tone sincere. “But intentions only go so far. Feelings get messy, especially when one person wants more than the other. And Ivy… she might not even realize what she wants right now. That makes things even messier.”

The woods seemed quieter as the conversation deepened, the rustle of leaves above their heads punctuating the tension between the two women. Kim walked a few paces ahead, her long strides confident, as if she were in control of the very air between them. Harper, however, was dragging her feet, her coffee mug clutched tightly in one hand as if it might ground her.

“You know,” Kim began, her voice casual but her tone sharp, “you’re playing a dangerous game here.”

Harper sighed heavily. “Oh, here we go.”

Kim turned, stopping in her tracks to lean against a nearby oak tree. The bark was rough against her jacket as she crossed her arms and gave Harper a pointed look. “Don’t roll your eyes at me, Harper. I have to keep tabs on every aspect of your life, and it just dawned on me… You’ve got unresolved business of your own. Or have you conveniently forgotten about your situation?”

Harper groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “That’s ancient history,” she muttered. “It’s been months since I even talked to her. There’s no way she’s going to suddenly reappear and stir the pot.”

Kim arched an eyebrow, her expression unimpressed. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that. But let’s say you’re right, and she doesn’t magically pop up to make things worse. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re still technically not available. And if Ivy is this torn up over a girl like Maze, what do you think will happen if you start throwing your hat in the ring while you’re still dragging that baggage behind you?”

Harper bristled, her jaw tightening as she tried to keep her frustration in check. “I told you,” she said through clenched teeth, “there’s nothing left between me and her. It’s done. Over. And for the record, I’m not even thinking about Ivy like that.”

Kim straightened, her arms still crossed as she pinned Harper with an unyielding stare. “Say that again,” she said, her voice dropping, “and this time, look me in the eye.”

Harper’s shoulders sagged, and she finished the last of her coffee in one long gulp, buying herself time. She ran a hand through her hair, mussing it up further, and let out a defeated groan. “Fine,” she muttered, refusing to meet Kim’s gaze. “Maybe I am thinking about her like that. Just… a little.”

Kim snorted. “A little? Harper, the way you look at Ivy could fuel a romance novel. Don’t kid yourself.”

Harper glared at her, but the flush creeping up her neck betrayed her. “Okay, fine. Maybe more than a little. But I’m not rushing into anything. Ivy needs time to get over Maze first.”

Kim laughed, the sound echoing softly through the trees. “Harper, Ivy’s been hung up on Maze for years, and they’re not even officially together. What makes you think she’ll ever just magically be ‘over’ her? If anything, this little heartbreak might make her cling to Maze even more. Absence makes the heart grow fonder and all that.”

Harper’s grip on her empty mug tightened, her knuckles turning white. The thought of Ivy running back to Maze made her shoulders tense, and her jaw clenched as jealousy flared hot in her chest. “I’m not going to let that happen,” she said, her voice low and determined.

Kim shook her head, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips. “Careful, Harper. That possessiveness of yours is showing.”

“I’m serious,” Harper said, her tone sharper now. “I’m not going to sit back and watch her get hurt again.”

Kim sighed, pushing off the tree and resuming their walk. “Look, if you’re really serious about Ivy, then be upfront with her. Tell her how you feel. But something tells me you’re not ready for that conversation.”

Harper didn’t respond, her gaze fixed on the path ahead as they approached the edge of the woods. Kim glanced at her from the corner of her eye and shook her head, muttering, “Talking to a brick wall.”

The two of them started walking back toward the cottage, the crunch of their footsteps filling the silence between them. Kim glanced over at Harper, her expression softening. “Look, I get it,” she said. “Ivy’s amazing. And I’m not saying you should stay away from her. Just… tread carefully, okay? For both your sakes.”

Harper nodded, her throat tight. She didn’t trust herself to speak, not with the weight of everything Kim had said pressing down on her.

After a moment, Kim’s familiar teasing smile returned. “Besides,” she added, nudging Harper with her elbow, “you’re way too broody to be Ivy’s type. From what I gather, she’s into the calm, gentle type, soft mascs as they are called, not someone who’d scare off a puppy with one glare.”

Harper snorted despite herself, shaking her head. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, Kim.”

“Anytime,” Kim said with a grin. But as they neared the cottage, her tone turned serious once more. “Just think about what I said, okay? You might thank me later.”

Harper didn’t reply, her gaze fixed on the cottage ahead, where she knew Ivy was waiting. Kim’s words echoed in her mind, a quiet reminder of just how high the stakes were.

As they stepped into the clearing, the scene had already come alive with activity. Several cars were parked along the dirt path, and crew members were unloading equipment, their voices carrying on the crisp morning air. Kim paused, handing her empty mug to Harper with a smirk. “Here. Go get Ivy ready while I handle the crew.”

Harper accepted the mug without a word, her thoughts still tangled as she turned back toward the cottage. Kim watched her retreating figure for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she turned toward the bustling crew, her gaze flicking back to the cottage one last time.

A faint smile tugged at her lips, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “Poor Ivy,” she murmured under her breath. “She doesn’t even see the storm heading her way.”