Arlo looked shocked for all of one second before he grinned again. “Using those business skills your parents gave you, I see. You do remember us.”
“Fuck off,” I growled. “I use nothing they gave me.”
“You’re still their son. Nothing will ever change that.”
My palm slammed on the counter and I abandoned my post to get in his face.
“I told you toleave.”
“I’m starting to think I want you to make me.”
My fists clenched again. If I made him, then people would see. If people saw, then they would have questions.
But Arlo knew how to push my buttons like no one else did, and I needed him gone.
I was sure that things couldn’t get any worse. But before I could do anything else, the door opened behind him and I caught a glimpse of blonde hair.
No. Not now.
Just moments ago, I’d been excited to see her. I’d wanted to hear about how her grocery trip went, but now, I wish she’d stayed home.
Arlo looked over too, and when he saw Piper, his eyes stuckto hers. I thought he’d realized she was a friend of mine and he was going to use that against me.
“Piper MacMillian, is that you?”
I froze. He knew her? Byname?
She stopped the moment he said her name. Her eyes dragged over him and they went wide. Her entire body froze.
She knew him. And she didn’t like him.
The feeling was mutual.
“A-Arlo.” Her voice shook. “How the—what are you doing here?”
“Visiting an old friend.” His eyes cut to me and her gaze followed.
Piper’s entire expression shifted. Her lips moved downward and her eyes narrowed. She wasn’t just afraid. She was angry.
The ice in her stare pierced me to my core.
“Hey, how old are you now?” Arlo asked her.
Piper shook her head and took a step away. “That’s not any of your business.”
“You have to be legal now, right? You still look as hot as ever.” He reached out, and I knew there was no way I was letting him touch her.
Too many things happened at once. Piper shrank in on herself and Arlo almost made contact. The thin thread holding my sanity together snapped.
I grabbed his wrist before he could touch her.
“Don’t you fucking dare.” The words came out low and gravelly. This was a voice I hadn’t used in years.
It wasn’t just out of character for me, it was a part of me I’d erased. But I knew what he was like behind closed doors. I knew what all of them were like, and this was the only language they understood.
I felt slimy. I felt angry. I felt like that kid that ran away.
None of this I’d ever wanted to feel in Strawberry Springs.
