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"Thanks for explaining everything to me, Piper," Gary clutched her upper arm and sent her a warm smile.
They stood close, like they knew each other well. Too well. His head tilted down intimately beside Piper’s and she looked up at him, appearing very concerned as she bit her lip and asked, "So, you’re not mad at her for standing you up?"
He shook his head. "No, of course not. After you just told me what happened to her, I understand her reservations. No hard feelings." He held up his hands as if that proved it. "I swear."
Obviously relieved, Piper’s chest heaved as she puffed out a breath. Then she threw herself at him and hugged him hard, closing her eyes as she rested her face on his chest. "Thank you. Thank you so much, Gary. You have no idea what this means to me. She’s a great person, she really is. She’s just going through a hard time right now."
Lifting her head, she glanced up at him from between a thick set of long lashes. "Do you think you’ll see her again if she feels ready in few months?"
Gary backed up at that question, looking too uncomfortable to answer, though that was answer enough for Mia. No way would he want to go out with her again after hearing what had happened. Too much baggage. Too must disgust.
Though she didn’t blame him, she was relieved she didn’t have worry about filling any expectations. But along with the relief came hurt. She backed away from the metal, gated wall separating them, not sure what to do … what to think. Piper had just told him her tragedy. It made her wonder. Had her roommate gone around to everyone and explained Mia’s problems? Had she told Drew?
Shuddering, she wondered what Drew thought of her now. He hadn’t mentioned his knowledge of her past either time they’d spoken on the phone since Piper had cut his hair. But then, Mia had been too busy on both occasions berating him to give him the opportunity.
Oh, God, she’d yelled at him, accusing him of being awful. And all this time, he might’ve known what she’d done to the one person she loved most in the world.
It was a sobering realization. She wondered what his initial response had been. Disgust? Loathing? Pity? She could handle the first two. It was exactly what had been plaguing her for three years. But pity? No, that was all wrong. Every time someone told her they were sorry about what happened, the guilt and blame slammed into her a hundred times stronger. It sliced into her and choked her with self-hatred and regret.
Irritated, yet relieved Piper had canceled her date for her, Mia drove home, consumed in misery. She wondered how often her roommate had butted in where she didn’t belong for Mia’s benefit. Suddenly annoyed, malevolence toward Piper grew for the first time in over three years.
Just as quickly, Mia shoved the aggravation aside. Piper was only trying to help, and Mia hated her for it? It was a good thing both Gary and Drew didn’t want anything to do with her anymore. She didn’t deserve to move on. She didn’t need any kind of happiness. Not when she was such a mess.
Chapter Twelve
The Lakeside Elementary end-of-the-school year concert took place in their gymnasium on the first Friday during their last month of classes.
Drew resituated himself in his metal folding chair for about the fiftieth time in the past minute. And his nephew unknowingly kicked him in the knee for about the hundredth time. He glanced over and scowled at the boy’s mother while Felix continue to wiggle on her lap.
"How much longer?" he asked Mandy. She glanced briefly at her watch. The program hadn’t even started yet and his butt was already numb.
"Five minutes," she announced.
"Where’s Jeff again?" he asked. This wasn’t fair. Why did he have to get stuck watching a few hundred off-tune kids sing "’Til we meet Again," when the father to two of them was off who knows where, getting to sit through business meetings. Lucky jerk.
Amanda sent him a dirty look, probably because he’d just reminded her of her husband’s absence. "He said he had a meeting in Denver."
"He said," Drew repeated, noticing she hadn’t worded it, "He’s in Denver for a meeting."
Amanda glowered and then glanced at her son. Eyes softening, she brushed a few messed hairs off Felix’s dark forehead.
Drew wanted to apologize for his mood, but then someone turned off a few rows of lights and piano music began. The concert was ahead of schedule, thank God.
As the curtains opened and a class full of kindergardeners dressed as sunflowers began to sing, he thought of Mia. Her call still bothered him.
He knew he should be relieved. Jeff wasn’t che
ating on his sister. But he hadn’t told Amanda about the call. Something felt off about it.
Worried about Mia, he’d called five times before he gave up that avenue and drove over to her house, willing to even talk to her roommate again to see her. But she hadn’t been home and neither had Piper. He knew he shouldn’t despise Piper anymore, but he still tasted bitter repugnance when he thought of her. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever get over the fact he thought she’d been ruining Mandy’s marriage, not the way he’d gotten over fearing Mia was doing the same thing.
His sister elbowed him in the side and leaned close. "Lucy’s class is next. She was almost in tears tonight when we put her dress on her and it was too small. I swear that girl sprouted up a foot overnight."
Drew glanced to his left to watch the way Amanda smiled in pride. She seemed so relaxed tonight as she focused on her children. He’d been worried she’d fall apart if Jeff ended up being unfaithful. But he realized now how he’d underestimated the power of motherhood. Merely watching a kid grow was enough to keep Mandy happy and satisfied.
Envious, he wondered if he’d ever experience that total contentment of being a parent. With Mia hating him as she seemed to, he wasn’t too optimistic. Not that he blamed her for putting an end to their shaky start. Even though the Jeff/Piper thing ended up being a false alarm, it probably would’ve been too awkward between him and Mia to make a go of things. Amanda’s disapproval—oh, and she would disapprove—would cause enough strain to scare anyone off.
Drew loved his sister to death, but she’d never kept it a secret when she didn’t like one of his girlfriends. They usually gave him the typical Dear John the first time they met her. He should probably resent her for that, but he’d always been too relieved he didn’t have to see that particular woman again … until Mia. He didn’t like the thought of Mandy scaring Mia off.
