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“Let me take a look,” I tell her. I walk over to the laptop sitting on the desk in my living room. If everyone is going to be talking to me about this damn picture, I may as well see what the hype is all about myself. When I find the article, I read over it and shrug. “What’s so bad about it?” All it talks about is how I’m finding love. Is that so bad?
Penny screeches on the other line, making me pull the device away from my ear slightly. “Uh, yes, Piper! The man with you is nowhere near the type that needs to be on your arm, what are people going to think?”
I was perfectly content with her having her judgments of me, my eating habits and every other aspect of my life, but when it comes to Beau? That’s a line no one will ever cross with me.
“Penny, I suggest you keep the rest of your opinions to yourself unless you want to clear out your office.”
She gasps, and I can imagine her placing her hand on her heart in the most dramatic way. “You wouldn’t do that.”
I scoff. “Try me.”
There’s nothing but silence for a few minutes before she clears her throat and says, “I was thinking we could try to get more coverage of you two? Maybe out on a picnic, doing something else romantic.”
“I’ll get back to you on that, I’ll be heading to the office soon.” Then I hang up on her and go in search of the only person that matters right now.
I start at the back, where I assume he might be working his anger out, but he’s nowhere to be found. My eyes dart to the guest house and I push through the front door, cutting my gaze across each inch of space. There are still a few things of his lying around, so at least he’s coming back at some point, but he definitely left after what happened.
Is he okay? What if he was driving recklessly and he got hurt?
Without thinking I dial his number and listen as it rings, then goes to voicemail. I try two more times before giving up and walking up on my porch, flopping down onto the top step and keeping my gaze locked on the driveway entrance. Like I told Beau, this is my company. My fashion brand. I can go into work whenever I feel like it, and that’s not happening right now.
After twenty minutes pass, I pull my phone back out and try his number again — this time it goes straight to voicemail. Either he turned it off, not wanting to be bothered, or it died and something could be wrong. I bring my nails to my mouth and nibble on the ends, my gaze never leaving the edge of the driveway, and I growl in frustration.
He could have answered my call to at least let me know he’s okay. Anything could’ve happened to him since he left and I’d never know because he’s not picking up. The thought of something happening to him has an ache pushing through my chest and I let out a strangled scream into the empty field surrounding me.
It echoes, causing the birds to stir and fly high into the sky. I watch them in fascination, the movement somehow taking my mind off everything that’s happening. That doesn’t last long though, not when I now know my father found out about Beau and I. How freaked out is Beau right now?
You’d think I would be focused on how my dad is doing. After all, he just found out his best friend is romantically involved with his daughter. But I can only focus on the way Beau feels right now. I’m sure it’s hard to know that your best friend thinks the worst of you, even when they shouldn’t.
I’m going to get my dad to understand though. As soon as I talk with Beau first and make sure he’s okay. And after my father has calmed down enough to have a civil conversation of course. Having one today isn’t going to happen. He needs to calm down and be reasonable first.
When I catch sight of Beau’s truck pulling into the driveway, I jump from my spot on the steps and rush out to meet him as he climbs out. His eyes barely focus on mine as he walks through the field, completely ignoring my presence.
“Beau,” I say softly, but he keeps walking without sparing a glance at me. “Stop!”
His steps falter and he spins around, his hurt gaze clashing with mine, and my heart stutters in my chest. He shakes his head, then turns back around and pushes the door to his guest house open.
What’s happening right now?
Chapter Sixteen
Beau
Itwasstupidofme to think Piper and I could do this and keep it a secret. What was I thinking? She’s a fashion designer with a new line coming out soon, of course, someone took our picture. It didn’t take long after John left for him to give me a call, telling me to get the hell away from his daughter and never look at her again.
Instead of opening my mouth and risking my friendship even further — if there even is one anymore — I listened to my best friend rant about the image he saw in a news article about Piper. An image that included the two of us locking lips on the Ferris Wheel. Apparently, two people can’t have privacy on those things anymore.
I fall onto the couch with a loud sigh and run a hand through my hair, my gaze darting toward the window. Did Piper ever go to work, or was she waiting for me this entire time? She called, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer and eventually turned my phone off.
Alone time was what I needed — to think, figure out what my next plan would be, and if it included staying with Piper. John has already figured everything out, would it be so bad to start going public about us?
No, that’s stupid. Just because John figured it out doesn’t mean that our friendship is perfectly fine — it’s clearly not — and that should be what I’m focusing on. Is Piper worth all this fighting, possibly losing the longest friendship I’ve ever had? I don’t know and it only makes me feel guilty because she had high hopes for me, but now I’m failing her.
I’m failing everyone around me.
Maybe I should listen to John and pack my things, leave as soon as the sun comes back up tomorrow. I’ve finished the most important parts of the addition, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if I called one of my contractors up and asked them to take over. Distance could be what Piper and I both need to let these feelings fade away.
The light knock on the front door has me straightening at the edge of the couch and my ears perk up, hoping that Piper leaves if I don’t answer. My foot taps frantically on the floor, my body fighting me to move while the other part of me knows I shouldn’t. I don’t need to make the situation any worse right now.
