Free Breeze of Life by Kirsty Dallas Page B

nothing less.”
    She chuckled. “You didn’t answer me.” I knew I hadn’t, and I wouldn’t, because what I wanted and what would happen were two very different things. “Honey, you and Harper have built a relationship like it should be built, friendship first. You have a strong foundation. All you have to ask yourself is, do you want to take the next step?” Of course I did, but I wouldn’t.
    “You’re thinking too hard, sweetheart. If you overthink it, you will complicate it. Relationships are complicated enough without adding unnecessary stress to them, and life is too short for that sort of crap. You don’t want to spend too long thinking about it only to discover when you’re finally ready to take the step, the opportunity has passed.” Thankfully our meals arrived which broke the deep and meaningful conversation that was causing more of those ‘Harper’ feelings and emotions to churn within me.
    I grabbed a bottle of water and some hot chips as we made our way back to the tattoo studio. Harper was finished and paying the bill. I had no idea how much the afternoon had cost him, but no doubt it was expensive. Harper never had a problem spending money though.
    “So, do I get to see?” I asked as Harper grabbed the hot chips from me like a starved animal.
    “Later.” He nudged me towards the door. “I told the boys we were going to go crash down at the camp grounds. They’re going to come down for a few drinks,” Harper explained.
    “We’re camping?” I balked. Yoshi laughed loudly from the back of the shop as he cleaned up his station.
    “You’re a braver woman than my wife, she hates camping.”
    “So do I!” I growled.
    “Come on, we’ve had some epic camping adventures and this one’s going to be just as epic, even more so.” I shook my head at Harper’s pathetic attempt to win me over on the whole camping idea. I stood stubbornly still, my feet rooted to the ground, my angry gaze settled on Harper’s eyes that twinkled with amusement.
    “No, all of our camping adventures have epically sucked, in fact, the last time our tent collapsed in the middle of a storm, I was stung by a blue bottle and I got a flat tire. I swore I would never go camping again!” Harper took my hand dragging me forward.
    “That was just bad luck. There are no storms around tonight, the weather is perfect, we’ve got my car and it never breaks down, and if a blue bottle stings you I promise to pee on it.” Before I could protest with all the outrage I could muster, Harper pulled me out the door. “See you tonight,” he called out over his shoulder. The guys all responded with a positive grunt and shout and I realized it was highly unlikely I would get out of Harper’s planned camping adventure.
    True to his word, Harper had filled the back of the car with all our camping needs except for cooking and eating utensils. We picked up some fish and chips, and a few beers then headed for the camp sites. Harper, of course being Harper, managed to wrangle an unavailable spot right on the ocean front and had the large tent up in no time at all. He laid down a foam mattress and our sleeping-bags, carefully arranging our backpacks to one side. I knew he was making it orderly and comfortable for my benefit, perhaps an attempt to smooth over my angst at having to camp. Harper built a fire within a small rock pit and, as the sun began to sink, he sat down and pulled me to his side. Talk was casual and comfortable, just like old times and when Harper asked me what I bought in town, I remembered the friendship bracelets. Rummaging through a bag I pulled them out and sat down at his side once again. He grinned as I carefully tied the onyx stoned leather bracelet around his wrist and then he helped me tie the amber stoned bracelet around mine. We held them up together until I finally began to laugh.
    “I feel like a ten-year-old again.” Harper wrapped his arm around my shoulder.
    “You certainly don’t look like a