Page 159 of Until the Last Star Fades

“He’s not?” Grimacing, Piper halted her Tigger impression. “This is Benjamuffin Fagan, right? Didn’t his brain explode with happiness?”

“Nope. We were FaceTiming this afternoon, before I knew the Elstree thing was mine…I said I might be moving over, and he rattled off these weird excuses why I couldn’t live with him—”

“Oh, Rye!” Wincing, Piper rubbed her forehead. “Did you ask to move in?”

“No, but why didn’t he…you know…offer? If he’s missing me as much as he says—”

“Rye, stop! All this long-distance shit has warped your brain.”

“No, it hasn’t!”

“It has! Look, don’t hate me, but I agree with Ben. I know you shacked up post-op, but it’s wayyy too soon to live together properly. You’ve only been dating for like, eight months or something—and half that time, you’ve been on opposite sides of an ocean.” Piper popped open a box of Pocky; the chocolate-coated sticks were her favorite Japanese snack.

“I know, but—”

“And doesn’t he live in a dump with some girl and her cat?”

Riley pouted. “Yeah, Spencer.”

Piper snapped a cookie stick in half, chewing through her response. “I remember him saying her flat was barely big enough for one person. Rye, it’s cramped as fuck.”

“I can do cramped! I’ve done it for the past four years.”

“But it’s a different story when there’s three of you. Ugh, it’s the worst! Trust me—I’m living that nightmare right now.”

“I thought you liked your roommate and her boyfriend?”

“I do, but we’re constantly stumbling over each other, lining up for the stove when we cook.” Piper swallowed and shook her head. “He eats all my Chef Boyardee, she hogs all the shelf space in the bathroom, and don’t even get me started on sex. It’s a good thing I’m having none because the walls have ears. I feel like I’m in the middle of a three-way every time they do it.”

Hmm, she has a point. “Ben suggested moving in with Alex and Mark because they have a bigger place with a spare room.”

“Ooh, do that! God, imagine bumping into Mark frickin’ Keegan in the hallway after he’s had a shower! Whoopsie…his damp towel slips from his waist—”

“Pip! Stop drooling!” Riley giggled. “But seriously…it’s like Ben wants to keep me at arm’s length.”

“No, it’s like he wants to take his time, not rush into anything. That’s what you should want, too…especially after Josh.”

Ah…shit. She’s scored another one. Riley sighed. “Yeah…”

“I know being long distance has been hard and you miss him, but please don’t read into every little thing he says. To me, it sounds like he’s being honest. There’s no room at the inn—period!” She crunched another Pocky. “Seriously, do you really want to move into that clusterfuck?”

“That’s what Mom said—sorta.”

“You should be glad Ben’s with it enough to realize you wouldn’t be happy there.”

“Yeah, that’s true.” Riley checked her phone, wishing there was a message from Ben…just something to back up Piper’s advice.

“So, when are you gonna tell him? I’m surprised you didn’t call and wake him up.”

“I would’ve, but I was still mad at him…”

“Imagine his face when you tell him! Oh, wait! You know what’s even better?! SURPRISE him—in person!”

“What, just show up on his doorstep? Don’t tell him I got the job?”

“YES! I’ve always wanted someone to do that for me.” Piper swooned. “It would be sooo romantic.”

“Not if Spencer answers.”