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Chapter Twenty-Five
RIGHT KIND OF DIFFERENT
Kenzie
I’ve gota drink in my hand, my best friends sitting on each side of me, and the flickering flames of Ella’s firepit to further relax me as I lean back in the new zero-gravity chairs she and Owen just bought.
“I’m getting one of these as soon as I’m settled,” Piper mutters.
I look over and her eyes are closed. Her wine glass is barely being held up by two of her fingers.
“Easy there, Pipe. You don’t want to be the crazy neighbor who sleeps outside after enjoying her evening a little too much,” I joke.
Ella leans forward. “Speaking of neighbors. Have you gotten the information for your new place yet now that a date is finalized?”
Piper nods. “Just got it yesterday, actually, but I’ve been so busy, I kinda pushed thoughts of moving to the back of my mind.” She pulls out her phone, clicks a few buttons, then hands it to me. “Take a look.”
I position the phone between me and Ella. The first picture is of a row of six townhouses. Each one is a different color, but they all have wooden shutters, a white front door, and a perfectly manicured yard. In the next one is a picture of a sage green house.
“Is this one yours?” I ask Piper before continuing, and she nods.
Ella leans in closer. “Is this temporary, or do you get to rent it for however long you want?”
“I can rent for up to twelve months, and then I’ll have the option of moving or buying the house.” There’s a sadness in her voice that we’re all feeling.
This might be the opportunity Piper has worked her ass off for, but that doesn’t mean the idea of her putting real roots down in LA and buying her first home doesn’t feel all kinds of wrong.
Ella points at the phone. “A pool? Hell, yes. I can’t wait to visit and use it.”
That brightens Piper’s mood some at least.
I know we’ll visit as much as we both can, but it still won’t be the same or enough.
We finish scanning the pictures and I hand the phone to Piper. “It’s going to be perfect for you.” I offer a wide smile. “And the guest room will need bunk beds. I’m not sleeping on the same mattress as Ella. I don’t know how Owen handles her tossing and turning.”
Ella laughs. “He does a better job of tiring me out. My sleep is much more sound these days.”
I give her a high five. “That’s my girl. Now, speaking of you and Owen. Did you lock in a venue yet?”
Piper and I have been going stir crazy not being able to start planning the wedding for them. I’m more than ready to see my best friend walk down the aisle toward the man that was made perfectly for her.
She grins widely and nods. “I was going to tell you guys when Owen was around, but since you asked… We found out this week that the rustic barn spot had a cancellation for December, and we are locked in for the third.”
All three of us squeal in unison.
That is, until Piper starts crying.
I reach for her. “Hey, what’s with the waterworks?”
“I might have missed the wedding.” Piper wipes furiously at her cheeks. “What else am I going to miss?”
Ella is up and out of her chair at the same time I am. We wrap our arms around our friend and hold her tight.
“You’re going to miss little things,” Ella starts, sniffling a little herself, “but we promise to make sure you’re here for all of the big stuff. Even Owen agreed that we had to take that date even though it was sooner than we originally planned. We didn’t want to chance anything else conflicting with your schedule once you’re gone.”
Piper hiccups so hard that I’m afraid she’s going to break something. I grab on to her shoulder and squeeze tight, looking right into her red-rimmed eyes. “Hey, everything is going to be okay. You’re probably going to be grateful for a break from my crazy.”
She snorts and wipes at her face again. “I secretly love your crazy and you know it.”
