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“That’d be great!” Talia smiled on screen as Piper watched Walker’s face fall a little before he regained his composure.
“Yeah, totally cool.” Walker bobbed his head. The next question was directed toward Piper. “What about you?”
“I’m coming!” Piper plastered her signature smile on her face to reassure him and watched Walker’s mood lighten a little.
“Okay, then, I want you to know I had absolutely nothing to do with the next thing we have to tell you, and I’m actually very opposed to it now that Carter isn’t coming home.” The image on the screen jerked to the side as Talia shoved Walker’s shoulder, mumbling something Piper couldn’t quite hear. Piper furrowed her brow and looked over at her brother, who just shrugged, as unaware as she was.
“I may have volunteered you for something,” Talia started carefully, clearly trying to lace her voice with innocence. “Well, Amala and I really were just trying to do something nice for someone, and—”
“Spit it out, already. I’m on the edge of my seat!” Carter interrupted. Piper was thankful for her brother’s interjection because she could already feel her stomach dropping with whatever news she was about to get hit with.
“Okay, fine,” Talia grumbled. “We told Leo’s mom that you had plenty of room in your car to drive him home to Archwood for Thanksgiving.”
Piper’s mouth dropped open, and her next words came out in a garbled, stuttering mess. “W-what? No. Leo? But I… I can’t. We don’t—that’s not even—”
“Woah,” Carter chuckled. “Take a deep breath, will you?”
“I can’t be trapped in a car with Leo for that long.” Piper shook her head frantically.
“Why?” Talia asked at the same time as Carter. Walker muttered something under his breath and got a scalding look from his wife in response.
Because he kissed me, and I can’t stop thinking about it. “You saw how we were at that bar. We’ll murder each other!” Piper said.
“But you’re in his show. How is that any different?” Talia argued.
“Hold on, his show?” Carter turned to Piper with a devious smile. “You neglected to mention that it’s Leo’s show. I thought you said you were just kissing the gay guy.”
“I am just kissing the gay guy!” Piper yelled. It came out too loud and flustered. Too much of a tell for her entire family. All eyes stalled on her for a moment before someone finally spoke.
“Leo’s directing,” Talia explained, the corner of her mouth pulling up as she looked over at Walker, who just ran his hand through his hair—one of his stress tells. “If you can deal with each other five days a week at rehearsal, I’m sure you can handle being in a car together for six hours.”
“But I have to leave after rehearsal, so it’s going to be late. We’ll be driving in the dark.” Somehow this statement was supposed to help her cause, but all it did was make her brother incredibly suspicious.
“Afraid of the dark?” Carter’s tone had an undercurrent of accusation.
“I just mean it’s not safe,” Piper replied quickly.
“Yep!” Walker nodded on screen. “Totally agree. It’s not safe at all. You should come on your own.”
“Walker,” Talia hissed. “If anything, driving with Leo will be safer. Having another person to keep you company at night is a good plan.”
“Yeah, I don’t want you driving alone,” Carter agreed and tossed Piper a knowing smirk. Her brother was way too good at reading her, but even his smirk fell away a second later as he touched her shoulder. “Really, though. I don’t want you to go alone. I didn’t know you were going at night.”
Out of anyone, Carter knew how much Piper hated driving, especially long distances. Driving at night made it that much worse. Drunk drivers were out at night more than any other time of day, and her family would always be hyperaware of that fact. Carter was much more confident in his driving than Piper was, so he usually drove when they made trips back to Archwood. She could see the guilt on her brother’s face clear as day: he hadn’t quite thought it through when he’d decided to go home with Stella for Thanksgiving.
“It’s okay,” Piper gave in, not wanting to burden him or make him feel bad for wanting to spend Thanksgiving with someone he loved. “I’ll go with Leo.”
“Great!” Talia grinned. “I’ll let his mom know he’s good to go. He wasn’t planning on going home at all because his car is broken and he can’t afford the gas. Lucia tried to give him the money, but he’s too stubborn to take it. I figured if we worked it out so he could get home for free, then both parties would be happy.”
“So… he doesn’t know he’s going with me yet?” Piper bit her lip. “I don’t have to tell him that, right?” The thought of having to offer Leo anything at all was painful. He already thought she was a spoiled rich girl, and she didn’t feel like telling him that she knew he couldn’t afford a trip back home, let alone swooping in with the solution.
“Lucia will tell him herself as a surprise,” Talia supplied.
“I’m sure he’ll be elated,” Walker added with a sarcastic scoff.
“What is your problem?” Talia chastised, turning to glare at her husband.
“Piper driving in the middle of the night with Leo Diaz. That’s my problem. You know what I think about this, and you won’t listen to me.”
