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“No, it’s best I do. But thanks, I appreciate it. I should be able to find this trail on my own now.”
“I come up here a couple times a week. I’ll get your number and text you.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll walk you down.” Colton turned to me. “Wait for me at Peak Place. I’ll catch up with you.”
He didn’t give me any chance to argue, just turned me around and gave me the slightest nudge to get me walking.
“You know I punched him in the face when I found out he was sleeping with Kinsley behind my back?”
“You what?”
“Yeah. We were at a stupid duck parade at the retirement home, and one of the seniors let it slip. Apparently, everyone knew but me. I saw red and almost broke his nose. Everyone wondered how I could do that to my best friend.” He cocked his head. “Wasn’t that hard.”
I could understand.
“He’s… really protective of Piper. Too protective. He wants her to date, but when it happens, it’s never good enough. I get it.” Colton shrugged and adjusted the straps of his backpack. “Same, you know? I didn’t think he was good enough for my sister, but I got over it. He will, too.”
“We’re not dating,” I said honestly. “We’re not strictly friends, either, but that’s down to her. I’m not going to push her into anything.”
“That’s the way to do it. She’s the most headstrong out of all the girls. Always has been. She wants everything to be on her terms, but if you can change her terms, you’ll get there.” He smiled at me.
“Thanks.”
“You ain’t gonna make Josh like you, though. But that was good back there. Always a pleasure to see someone being called on their shit, even if he is my best friend.”
“Nah, I just… I dunno. I don’t want to make it awkward for Piper.”
“Piper can handle her brother. Don’t worry about that.” He slapped me on the shoulder when we reached the bottom of the trail. “Just worry about you and her.”
“I think I have to worry about my deadline first.” I laughed. “Thanks for walking me back down. You didn’t have to.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t want to come in the first place. I only came because I knew Josh would be on his period.” He shrugged off his bag. “I’m going to Piper’s to see if she’s got any food.”
“She’s closed today.”
“Oh, fuck it. Think she’s got any leftovers?”
“Probably.”
“I can work with that.” He grinned and headed for his car. “Don’t let him get you down.”
I held my hand up with an assurance that I wouldn’t and went back to my car. I finally had a phone signal again, and I saw I had two texts from Piper.
PIPER: I did it!!! I got the recipe right!!!!! For the cupcake!!!!
PIPER: Come over and try it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The second text was topped off with a string of cupcake emojis.
ME: Will it save until tomorrow? Have work to do.
Her reply was quick.
PIPER: I’ll put it in the fridge. It’s not frosted yet. How was the hike? Are you done already?
ME: Yeah. It was good.
The lie tasted bitter as I hit send.
I hated lying to anyone, especially to her, but it was her brother.
What was I going to say?
Oh, no, it was shit because your brother was a fucking prick to me so I left early?
Nah.
I was going to leave it.
And hope he’d come around eventually.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN – PIPER
RULE FIFTEEN: WHAT—AND WHO—YOU DO IS NOBODY ELSE’S BUSINESS.
I was going to kill him.
I was going to absolutely fucking kill him.
I didn’t care. I was so over it. I was so over the slyness and the bullshit that I was going to walk in there and wring his neck with my bare hands.
“Joshua!” I rammed my fist on his door. “Joshua!”
The door opened and Kinsley’s eyes widened when she saw me. “Piper?”
“Is my brother here?”
“It’s my house,” Josh said from somewhere behind her. “What?”
Kinsley darted to the side, letting me in.
“What is wrong with you?” I exploded, advancing on him with my finger directed right at his chest. “Has your brain short-circuited? Have your manners broken up with you?”
He stared at me. “Please, come in.”
“Don’t you fucking dare snark at me!” I jabbed my finger through the air. “What goes through your brain that you look at Maverick and think you need to be a fucking asshole, huh?”
Understanding dawned on his face, followed by a cool mask of indifference. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“The hike. This morning. Where you were all supposed to be goddamn nice to him and help him settle into town with some friends because he knows nobody. You had to open your stupid mouth and upset him, didn’t you?”
“What did you say?” Kinsley sighed. “Josh, we talked about this.”
“I didn’t say anything,” he lied.
“Colton told me everything!” I yelled. “He came to the bakery after he walked him back to his car, after Mav had told me the hike went well, and told me how you treated him. That you didn’t even greet him, you grunted at him, and you told everyone how I apparently have a terrible taste in men!”
