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“Yeah. That might have been what pushed her over the edge. She didn’t want to wake up one of the chaperones in the middle of the night, and she was afraid her roomie might lock her out if she left, so she took refuge in the bathroom and calledme.” And it’s not like she could tell Piper that she interrupted when she didn’t know Erin was now seeing Graham.
“That’s a hard one.”
“For sure. We talked through some options. She ended up texting a chaperone who, of course, didn’t answer. So, we stayed on the phone until they were done. Then Piper told the guy he had two minutes to get dressed and leave, or she was calling hotel security to throw him out.” Erin kneaded the knotted muscles in her neck. “It’s a shame because she was getting along with this girl up until this. Now she’s afraid she’s ruined the friendship, and the rest of the trip will be hell.”
“Piper didn’t do anything wrong.”
That didn’t matter. “I told her to talk to her roommate once she’s sober and not hungover to say that can’t happen again. If things go bad, she can ask the chaperones to change room assignments for the rest of the trip.”
“At least she wasn’t wanting to get on a plane and come home.”
“Oh, she was thinking about it until I pointed out how she’d probably regret that later. Especially if she had to stay home with her father for the semester.” Which was playing dirty, but Erin had panicked at what it would mean for Piper to come home now—for both of them. “Doing a year abroad was her decision. She needs to give it a chance. Adulting is hard, but I can only do so much from across the ocean. Hopefully, she can sleep, and things will be better than she expects tomorrow—or she can make a new friend. She usually bounces back pretty quickly. But when she crashes, it can be so far and fast that it’s hard to see the light when you’re at the bottom of that pit.”
“I imagine it’s hard on the entire family.”
“It is. Neither Phil nor I have experienced severe anxiety or depression. I might get down for a day or two, but I can’t relate to what she’s feeling. I just do my best to help her get through it and keep from crashing.”
“You’re her go-to person.”
“I’m not a professional, but I try to give sound advice. I am glad she’ll tell me what’s going on—usually. We have an agreement. If she goes to a dark place, she has to talk to me and then wait forty-eight hours before she can harm herself.” Though Piper could break that promise at any time. “I’m sorry to bring the mood down.” She rubbed the muscles in her neck and shoulder again.
“No apologies. Your daughter needed you.”
“I appreciate your understanding.”
“We should sit out on the deck and unwind with a glass of wine. I swung by the Bundt cake store and picked up something for dessert.”
“I love those.”
“I know. When I was looking for you on the USO’s Facebook page, I saw your comment on a post about a fundraiser they did. Since you were bringing dinner, I thought I’d do my part.”
“After that phone call, I can use wineanddessert.”
He poured two glasses. Outside, he lit the citronella candles and set one on the glass-top table beside his wine. “I know something else that might help you relax.” He straddled the chaise and patted the space in front of him in invitation.
Once she sat, he began to massage her shoulders and neck.
“That feels divine.” She sighed and melted under his touch. Her head lulled as he worked on the knots.
He ran his thumbs along either side of her spinal cord from her scalp to her shoulders. “Let me know if it’s too hard.”
“It’s perfect. You’re good at this.”
“Two of my groomsmen gave us a couples’ massage class as a wedding gift. In part, because one was dating the massage therapist and partly because they thought it’d be kinky.”
She laughed. “And was it?”
“The first class was basic massage. Bethann and I took the next two more advanced classes. Those took things up a level, but not in a kinky way. Turned out to be the best wedding gift ever.” He gently kneaded his way down her arms.
With that lead-in, and the fact she didn’t have to look him in the face, this seemed like the opportunity she needed for them to address an aspect of this arrangement they hadn’t discussed. Sex could well come into play if they dated for months. “Remember how I told you I hadn’t been out with anyone or kissed anybody but my ex in several decades?”
“I do. Same here.”
“Well, I haven’t been intimate with anyone in a long time. Like over two years.”
“I see.”
Now, she wished she could see his face to try and gauge his reaction. “You don’t have to worry about STDs or pregnancy. But there’s something else that I should tell you.” Her mouth had gone parched, and her heart beat against her chest so hard he could probably feel her body shaking. “My experience is rather limited.” Understatement. “Okay, really limited. Phil is the only man I’ve ever been with.” She took a sip of her wine to fortify her courage, trying to be the new, empowered Erin and shake off the shackles of her past to go after what she wanted in a relationship.
