“Good answer.” He glances at the phone. “Well, she pressed the stop button. I guess it’s time for us to join the scene.”
We each grab a chair and join them at the table. It’s small, and the four of us barely fit, but it’s enough to get a good video…hopefully.
“What was so funny?” Piper lifts an eyebrow in question. She’s always been able to do that, and would laugh anytime I tried. She said it looks like I’m blinking extra hard when I try.
“Start the video.” I bump into her shoulder. “It’ll be a good laugh to catch amongst friends.”
It’s a good thing Parker is sitting opposite of me. He looks like he wants to punch me in the shoulder.
Piper presses play and I wait a few seconds before telling them about the exchange. Parker has a scowl the whole time.
As soon as I get to the comment he made, both Piper and Paula start laughing. Parker moves his shoulders up and down to imitate the action but he doesn’t find it amusing at all. He’s usually the one who doesn’t take anything seriously.
After Piper stops the recording, she studies her brother. “Why are you so mad? It was funny.”
“I don’t know how I feel about being the butt of the joke.”
“That figures,” Paula mumbles. The only reason I can hear her is because I’m sitting right next to her. “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it.”
“You know how I am about my ego.” He holds a hand to his chest. “It can only take so much emotional turmoil.”
“You’re so full of shit.” I laugh. “Who’s up for going to Out of the Ashes? I’m craving wings.”
“I’m down,” Parker says.
“I can’t go.” Paula shakes her head. “Tristan is about to be in the studio with Crooked Halo, and who knows when we’ll be able to have another date night.”
“Go spend time with your man.” Piper shoos away her sister. “But remind him not to let work consume him. It’s no way to live.”
“Says the baby sibling who always gets her way.”
“Not always.” Piper tilts her head to the side. “I mean, I’m kind of being a rebel right now because Pierce said no. All of this is behind his back.”
“True, but you’re still doing it anyway.” Paula bends down to give her sister a hug. “Just know when Pierce finds out, because he will, I’ll have your back.”
I don’t miss the pointed look she shoots at their brother. If I had to guess it’s a subtle threat that he better have it too.
“Have fun tonight.” I wave at Paula as she walks toward the front of the building. “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”
“Or do!” Piper adds.
“I’m going to need both of you to be less gross if we’re going to the bar.” He waves his hands between us. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad y’all have figured your shit out, but all the emotions is just too much for me.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Piper stands and grabs the glasses off the table. Most of them are empty aside from Paula’s. Piper chugs it. “Beau, can you hand me that box? And Parker, take these chairs back to the other table.”
“Sure, you ask him all sweetly, but you order me. I see how it is.”
“Yeah, that’s because I get to see him na?—”
“For the love of God do not finish that sentence.”
I hand him my chair as I get up before grabbing the box for Piper. She sets the empty glasses in it, and adds the empty bottle next. “Do you need me to get anything else?”
“Nope, that’s all I need to take back to my house. We’ll need to stop there before we head to Ashes.”
“Why?” She looks fine in what she’s wearing. It’s not like they have a dress code. Not yet, anyway. If they keep on the trajectory of being the bar to hang out in, that may change.
“To drop these off.” She points at the box then moves to the tripod holding her phone. “I know you’re a good driver and all, but on the off chance we get pulled over for anything…”
