When I reached Harper's side, she had paused her photography, her brow knitted into a frown directed my way. "Seems like you're not scared of my dog anymore," she asserted boldly, her bright blue eyes glinting with a mix of curiosity and challenge. I glanced at the dog, now happily splashing in the water, its fur dripping with droplets that sparkled in the sunlight.
For a fleeting moment, my worries about Roman—who seemed intent on stirring up trouble—faded from my mind. Turning my gaze towards him, I noticed him lowering his hand, leaving me puzzled before I shifted my attention back to Harper.
"How about we build castles?" I proposed, raising an eyebrow, trying to think of a way to pass the time and evade the swirling tension in the air.
"No, thank you. I'm not a kid," she declared, her tone firm, despite the playful spirit of youth that surrounded us. It was amusing; she was very much a child at five years old, while I stood at the precipice of adulthood at nineteen.
