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He shook his head and laughed. “Okay, I have to ask. Do you really not come to funfairs at all? Except for the food, of course.”
I shook my head.
“How is that possible?”
“I just don’t like fast rides. Or any rides. I like my feet on the ground. I don’t even really like planes that much to be honest.”
“Funfairs are like a classic part of growing up, though. Surely you came when you were a kid?”
Oh, no. He was going to make me tell the story, wasn’t he?
I wiped my mouth and fingers. “Okay, look. When I was six, I almost fell off the teacups, and I’ve just never been able to do it. The fact you even got me on that rollercoaster is a miracle in itself.”
“She’s not lying.”
I froze at the sound of my brother’s voice. What was he doing here? And why was he talking to me?
I wasn’t talking to him.
I was still mad at him.
Maverick’s gaze flickered between us before finally settling on Josh. “I’m sorry?”
“She’s not lying,” Josh repeated from behind me. “Dad told her to keep her butt on the seat, but she didn’t listen and climbed on the chair before he could stop her. She got to her feet right as the guy who does the spinning spun us, and it was only because Grandma grabbed her legs that she didn’t go flying over the top.”
Mav raised his eyebrows. “That… Why does that make complete sense to me?”
“Hey,” I said to him. “Rude.”
“I can just see a tiny you doing that.” He shrugged, then met my eyes for a brief second. “Do you want to join us?”
Why would he say that?
“Hopefully not,” I muttered.
“Don’t be petty.”
“That was her nickname when she was about ten,” Josh said, sitting at the end of the table. “Petty Piper.”
“Okay. If we’re just going to sit here and bash me, I’m going to take all these fries and go and eat them by myself.” I pulled the tray over to me. “In fact, I’ll probably do that anyway because this—” I motioned to my brother. “—is not making me happy right now.”
Josh reached out to me. “Please?”
I looked at his outstretched hand and then up at him, raising an expectant eyebrow.
“I’m sorry,” he said, looking between us, then settling on Maverick. “I’m pretty protective of her, and—”
“Overprotective,” I corrected.
A hand covered my mouth from behind, and I frowned. “Oo at?” I asked into the palm.
“Be quiet a minute,” Kinsley said. “I know that’s hard for you but try.”
All right. Sheesh.
At least she removed her hand from my mouth so I could eat.
Josh shot me a look. “I judged you. Wrongly. Instead of speaking to Piper or actually getting to know you, I let my preconceived notions make the decision for me, and that was a mistake. I apologize.”
“Apology accepted,” Maverick replied straight away. “It’s fine.”
I frowned and went to open my mouth, but Kinsley glared at me, so I changed my mind.
Wow.
“It’s not fine.” Josh shook his head. “I realized after Piper left my place yesterday that you spoke up on the hike because you really do care about her. I didn’t like you, and you knew that, but you did it anyway, and I really respected you for that.”
“It is fine,” Maverick said, wiping his hands. “You fucked up and you’re owning it. I’m not going to be pissed because you realized you were wrong. I’m just not that kind of person.”
Ha.
I told him he was just a good person.
Ner-ner.
Petty Piper, indeed.
Josh turned to me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have acted the way I did. I forget sometimes that you don’t need me to look after you anymore, and I should have come to you first.”
“You’re right. You should have.”
“Piper,” Kinsley groaned.
“No, Maverick might be a nice person, but I’m not. I’m not happy.” I folded my arms across my chest. “You can’t just show up and expect me to forgive you for treating someone I care about a lot like shit, Josh. You’re thirty, not thirteen, and you were extremely immature.”
“I was. You’re right. I can’t take it back, though. All I can do is apologize and hope that’s enough.”
It was enough, but I wanted to make him sweat.
“Not right now, no.”
Maverick laughed. “Petty Piper. I get it now.”
“You shut up,” I muttered, pouting. “Don’t make me change my mind about liking you, because I will.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Yes, I will.”
“I’ll just show up with food. That’s exactly the way to your heart.”
“How about that,” Josh said. “He does get you.”
“Oh.” I stuck my middle finger up at my brother. “Fine. I suppose I can forgive you. This time.”
Kinsley rolled her eyes. “There won’t be a next time. He’s learned his lesson.”
“We’ll see.”
Silence hit for a moment, then Maverick said to me, “I still can’t believe you stood up while the teacups were moving.”
