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Five months ago, it was because I was hurting for my friend. She'd just lost her father, and I couldn't imagine the pain she was going through. I didn't want to.
I'd always viewed Willow's family as perfect. Happy. Loving.
When that image shattered...
Today, the cloud of doom surrounding me has nothing to do with the pain I felt for Willow and her family. Not even in the slightest.
Right now, it's all about me.
Just me.
Because that's the only person I have to worry about. The only person I'm responsible for.
Little. Ole. Me.
Flying solo.
All my friends are coupled up. At the start of the summer we were an inseparable group of four fun-loving, single women. And now, the three of them are happier than I've ever seen them, in love with the Graham brothers—yes, they fell in love with brothers—and I'm showing up to these parties by myself.
I'll be the third wheel today.
I've mentally prepared for it. I tried to give myself a world-class pep talk on the drive here, but it doesn't seem to be working. The closer I get to the front door, the faster my heart beats. The more my hands shake. The weaker my knees start to feel.
My gut says to turn around and forgo putting myself through the next few hours of torture. Of having to watch my friends smile and swoon over the men in their lives. Of being the invisible bystander in their lives.
"You gonna stand here all day?"
Shit. I've been seen. There's no running away now.
So much for being invisible.
I feel the moment he gets close enough to reach out and touch me. His scent wraps around me, my eyes closing of their own volition, as I inhale deeply.
"Piper?"
The way he says my name has always twisted me up in knots. The depth of his voice. It's strong yet a little gruff. Always confident. Almost like he knows the effect he has on me.
"Yeah. I'm going in."
Tucking my hair behind my ear, I straighten my shoulders and open my eyes to find him standing in front of me. He stares down at me, his expression laced with concern. Or maybe it's pity.
"You okay?"
Yes. No. I can't tell him that, though. He wouldn't understand. Guys like Julian Chambers don't have issues with relationships or finding women. They practically fall at his feet. He probably has to use his baseball bat to scare them away.
Tall, handsome, with the body of a sex god, and the talent to back it up. The most amazing eyes I've ever seen. They’re dark brown, similar to the rich color of a mocha, with a hint of copper around the irises.
But that's not what first attracted me to him. It didn't hurt that he was easy on the eye; don't get me wrong. It was his protective and caring nature that cemented my crush on him.
But that's all I've ever let it be. A crush. Because he's so far out of my league I don't stand a chance, and only an idiot would purposely throw herself at a man who has no interest in her.
"Fine. Thanks for asking."
I attempt to brush past him, but my feet falter when his hand lands on my arm, and I damn near tumble to the ground.
This day just keeps getting better and better.
