I don’t know how much longer I’ll be in town, but it might be weeks.It could even turn into a long-term residency in my parents’ basement, if things don’t go according to plan.But do I even have a plan besides waking up each day and trying to make sense of life via caffeine and fiction?
I don’t have the emotional bandwidth to get into all these unsavory truths right now.I just want to eat petite appetizers and hear about other people’s lives, for God’s sake.
“Yes, Claire,” I say, unable to hide the annoyance in my voice.
“What’s with the attitude?”she snaps.
I shake my head, trying to choose my words with care.“You ask me with this tone in your voice—”
“Tone?”A haughty laugh escapes her.“Would you prefer I use some other voice that isn’t my own?”
I can already see where this conversation is headed.And to me, it seems like every conversation with her ends this way.I am infinitely tired, and the family reunion has barely gotten started.
“That’s not what I meant to say.Let’s go try some appetizers, can we?Apparently Piper’s boyfriend-slash-partner is a chef, and she made some new marshmallow thing—”
“Her new store is the cutest.Have you been there yet?Well, of course not, you’ve been in Chicago.”She tuts softly as though scolding herself.“I get coffee there sometimes.It’s so cute.”
I pop on a smile, determined to make it through this grand opening party without a sisterly quarrel or a nervous breakdown.Grinning and bearing it seems the best approach for now, so I nod enthusiastically.“I’d love to go sometime.”
I wait for her to invite me, to sayhey, we should go together.
But nothing comes.
And just as I’m about to force the stuck words past dry lips, Paul pulls Claire into a conversation, which allows me to take a deep breath and wander off on my own.I love my family, I do.I just kinda sorta feel like I’m in an emotional vise when I’m around them.
Now that I’m not thinking about all the ways in which my life seems like a disappointing report card, I can see the partygoers here.I spot Piper Keegan herself, her bright smile drawing me in.
And then I’m hit with the freight train of realization.
If Piper is here, her older brother Griffin will be here.Right?
I wouldn’t say I was in love with Griffin back in high school, but I would have failed out of a few classes if he’d asked me to.We’d been friends, in the way that quivering, horny teenagers are “friends” with any boy until there’s the slightest chance of something more happening.
I wave at Piper drifting her way through the crowd.She’s beside a man I can only assume is Gru, unless that’s not his name.She looks positively delighted to see me, and I could crumple at her feet with gratitude.
It’s nice that there’s someone in town who’s happy I’m here.
“Casey Hart?What are you doing here?”Piper has me in a tight hug as soon as I’m within reach.I smile so hard it fills my body, which was sorely needed.There’s something about seeing old friends.Piper was a year behind me in school but we’d always meet up at the playground after school and role play witchy princess stuff based on the books we checked out at the library.
“I came for a random visit and look at what great timing I had.Piper, this is incredible.”I gesture to the barn, to the people milling around us.“I’m so proud of you!”
“I didn’t do this alone,” Piper says, her grin widening.“I want you to meet Kru.”She reaches for her partner and beams as she brings him to me.I don’t think my ex ever presented me to someone else like Piper presents her six-foot treasure with a lobster tattoo.“Kru, meet Casey.She’s a longtime Bayshore friend who’s been living in…”
“Chicago,” I supply for her as I shake Kru’s rough hand.His fingers are scarred from what I can only surmise are kitchen accidents.“It’s so good to meet you.”
The three of us chat for a minute about the project, the marshmallow shop, and Kru’s first year in Bayshore with the restaurant.I’m so proud of them I could cry.And then conversation turns to Piper’s family.
“Is your mom here?”I ask, glancing around.“I heard about the fire at the bakery last year.I’m so glad she’s been rebuilding.”
“Oh yeah, she’s here.”Piper pushes up onto her tiptoes, looking around the barn.“She’s over there with Griffin.See?”She waves enthusiastically at them, then points to me.
Heat flares through me at the mention of his name.As soon as my eyes land on his hickory tresses, his broad, athletic shoulders, his easy grin as he turns and spots me, butterflies begin swarming my belly.
Griffin Keegan was hot in high school.But now, as a pro athlete?
He’s in the upper stratosphere of hotness.He took a one-way hot air balloon to Hotsville, location: the clouds.As he saunters our way, a champagne flute in one hand, his biceps are bulging like he’s mid-workout and I have to remember to scrape my jaw off the floor.
“Casey Hart?Is that you?”His jovial, booming voice wraps around me like a blanket and suddenly I’m squeezed into a big hug, my face mashed against his hard chest.Every nerve ending in my body is lit up and I’m too euphoric to even think.Could I live here permanently?He smells like aftershave and the woods and something so deeply masculine and free.I think my panties are literally wet.The hug ends too soon and I’m left gaping up at him, still unable to form words.
