Chapter 48: Get the Truth Out of You
** Eli **
The last couple of days of the week passed agonizingly slow for Eli. The meetings at his own company were too boring compared to the eye-opening experience of learning Harper's game design, and the usual entertainment for his downtime was too bland compared to the thrilling fun of hearing Harper's roller coaster screams. The only solace he managed to find was the text she sent him on Thursday, ecstatically telling him about her project approval and promotion. That had kept him delighted for quite a while.
And now, he was glad that Saturday night had finally come. As he walked down the hallway toward Harper's door at their usual meeting time, he felt his spirits brightening by every step — he had been waiting all this time to say congratulations in person to her promotion.
The thought gave him pause. When was the last time he had felt so genuinely invested in someone else's personal business?
The door swung wide open upon the lightest knock, giving him no more time to ponder further. "Good eve— Wow!" Harper gasped as soon as her eyes landed on what he was holding in front of him. "Aww, you brought me flowers? Thank you ... They are gorgeous!"
Yep, definitely spirit-brightening to see her pleasantly surprised like that. Eli smiled. "Congrats again on all the good news at work." He handed over the large bouquet of lilies, sunflowers, and roses.
"You shouldn't have, this is supposed to be about me thanking you." Harper chuckled somewhat embarrassedly, then sniffed the flowers. "But I do love it. It smells so incredible."
She thanked him again and gave him a big, warm hug. Over her shoulders, the sweet fragrance of the lilies blended into her scent of honey and vanilla, and Eli felt tempted to agree that everything smelled incredible indeed.
"It'll look so perfect as a centerpiece for the table," Harper said when she pulled away. Turning back, she headed toward the living room, and Eli followed her to find a full set of delicacies laid out already, waiting for his arrival.
"Wow," he said, halting in his tracks.
She had obviously cleared up a lot of space just for this. The small dining table had been extended, moved to the very center of the living room, and laden with various hors d'oeuvres. A charcuterie board of an assortment of cheese took the center, surrounded by trays of crackers, fruits, and miniature sweets. A bottle of sparkling rosé sat chilled on the side, and a pair of flameless candles danced on each side of their seats. Soft music hummed somewhere in the background, swaying in the air with a soothing rhythm.
A classy yet cozy setting, totally befitting Harper's style. That feeling from the night at the park suddenly returned — an easy, pleasant closeness that made one feel right at home.