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"Where's Max?" Brady asks. "I thought you were watching him."
"I am. He's over—" I point to the spot Max and I were occupying and find it mysteriously empty.
"Cleo's going to kill you."
Shit. I don't have time for this. I need to talk to Alexis, find out what happened and where Piper is. When I turn back around, she's gone, along with the rest of the group. Searching the crowd, I don't see a single one of my friends anywhere.
"I need to," I start, but Brady's gone too.
Everyone's fucking gone.
I'm standing in the middle of the living room surrounded by strangers, talking to myself, staring at the front door, and willing it to open.
It doesn't budge, so neither do I.
Ten minutes turns into twenty and then thirty. By the time an hour has passed, and Piper hasn't shown up, I let go of the little bit of hope I was still holding on to. Making my way through the kitchen and out to the backyard, I find my friends around the bonfire, dancing.
Happy and content.
Micah has his jacket draped around Alexis' shoulder. Finn is kissing Lo as they sway to the music. And Declan is feeling Kendall up without shame. Colt and Kane are grinding on a pair of girls dressed like slutty cats who look like they're about to pass out. And Brady is sitting quietly in a chair, watching me, watching my friends.
After a few minutes, I move closer, taking the seat next to Brady, ready to rip the wig off my head. I wore it for Piper, and since she's not coming—
"Where's your hammer?"
Her voice is like music to my ears. Soft, sultry, turning me rock hard. She's standing behind me, her hands on my shoulders as she leans in and whispers in my ear. I attempt to turn my head and look at her—I need to see if she's wearing the dress or not—but she won't let me.
"I left it in the living room I think."
"That's a shame. After all, who is Thor without his hammer?"
"It's not the hammer that makes the man; it's the woman." Damn. I sound insightful all of a sudden. Five minutes ago I couldn't even form a coherent thought.
"Really? And here I thought it was the other way around. The man completes the woman."
"Maybe it's just better if they're together. If they make each other happy."
"Even if they fight? Even if one of them is overly eager, and the other doesn't know how to communicate?"
"It could be worse," I suggest, turning my head to where she's leaning in close so I can get a whiff of her sweet, sweet scent. I inhale deeply, letting her sunshine warm me from the inside out, and hold my breath.
"Care to elaborate?" Piper nudges me when I don't finish my thought.
"People who love each other fight. They disagree. They shut each other out. When you love someone, it's always better to be miserable together than apart."
Piper's gasp is audible. I chose my words carefully. I don't want to scare her away, but I want her to know.
It took losing her to realize that I've loved her for years. That loving her is the reason I was scared to pursue her. My feelings were overwhelming, all-consuming, and hard to accept until I didn't have her in my life anymore.
Longest week of my life.
"I'd rather be miserable with you too," she finally says, moving around to stand in front of me.
She looks gorgeous in her dress. I knew she would. It's snug across her middle, and the flow accentuates her hips and, if she were to turn around, I'm sure her ass. But mostly, I love the sweeping dip in the top. My mouth is watering at the sight of her, and I'm afraid my costume won't be able to conceal my excitement. Not that I care what anyone else thinks.
She'smypretty girl.
"You look gorgeous."
