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“That doesn’t mean I didn’t miss you.”
At my words, Piper looked away and took a bite of her scone. She licked the icing off her fingers and my stomach tightened. I had missed her. More than even I realized. Sitting beside her solidified everything I felt all those years ago. My heart ached for her. My body longed to touch hers. Nothing had changed between us. Our connection was still just as strong as ever. It took every ounce of strength I possessed not to kiss her right then.
I slid closer to her on the bench, slowly reaching for her hand again, but she pulled it away quickly.
“Logan,” she said sadly. “Don’t. It’s too soon.”
“I’m sorry,” I said quickly. I moved away from her again and breathed deeply. I didn’t want to push her away again. I just wanted to spend as much time with her as possible before she left town.
“It’s not because I don’t want to,” Piper assured me. “It’s just… so much has happened and…”
“And I messed up,” I nodded. “I know.”
Piper took another bite of her scone and looked away. It felt like she was hiding something from me, but I didn’t push. She would tell me when she was ready.
We sat in silence for a few more minutes, neither of us wanting to break the familiar comfort we had sunk into. I drank my coffee until it was gone and Piper finished her second scone. The sun was high in the sky by the time we spoke again.
“I should probably get back,” Piper said, standing up. “My parents will wonder where I am.”
“How long are you in town? Can I take you to dinner?” I blurted out. “I owe you that much, at least.”
Piper smiled and shuffled her feet. She played with a loose curl. She looked more uncomfortable that I’d ever seen her, but the smile never left her lips.
“Sure,” she said hesitantly. “Dinner. That’s fine. I’m here for the rest of the week.”
“Tonight?” I asked.
“Okay,” Piper nodded.
She turned and walked through the square. I watched her sashaying hips until she disappeared.
Fifteen
Piper
“Will you please stop looking at me like that?” I snapped. After enduring Audra’s judgmental glare for nearly twenty minutes I was ready to be rid of her for the night.
“Like what?” Audra asked. Fake innocence dripped from her lips.
“Like I just killed your puppy,” I said with a glare of my own.
“I just don’t understand why you’re doing this,” Audra said with a shake of her head.
“Well, you don’t have to,” I said.
“Piper…” Audra began. She slowly got off the bed and walked over to me. I stood in front of the vanity mirror, teasing my curls and adding finishing touches to my makeup. Audra stood behind me and watched me work. She didn’t speak. I pretended like I didn’t see her standing there until it became too much to stand.
“What?” I snapped, finally turning around to face her. My stance must have been a defensive one because Audra immediately took two steps backward.
“Retract the claws, okay?” Audra said. She held her hands up in a surrendering gesture. “I just want to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I’m not getting myself into anything,” I argued. “It’s dinner. With an old friend.”
“He’s not just an old friend,” Audra said. “And you know that.”
“Of course, I know that,” I told her. For the first time all evening, I let my confidence slip away. My head sagged and I stared at my feet which were crammed into high heels a size too small. I hated how easily it was for me to become emotional. In New York, I was strong. I didn’t allow any weakness to seep through. In Bradberry, though? It was like everyone and everything could see straight down to my raw, vulnerable soul. I was exposed and no one knew that better than my sister.
“Talk to me,” Audra said softly.
