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Matthew
Piper’s attitudeand behavior has me feeling furious, but I resist the impulse to reach out and grab her arm as she leaves. I’m pissed at her and pissed at whatever dickbag thought he could get away with putting his hands on her. It’s probably a good thing she didn’t give me a name, as the urge to rip his head off and shit down his throat would have gotten me into trouble. I’m not sure I could have resisted that impulse.
And that’s the last thing I need right now. I have to avoid trouble, even if it’s for Piper.
Still, as I pace my room in an effort to let my anger subside, I can’t help consider going after her. I can’t remember when I’ve been this worked up before, this full of seething rage. Even stalking back and forth like a caged beast, my feet wearing an imaginary ditch in the carpet, is doing nothing to ease the angry tension flowing through my body. Nor does grumbling and cursing to myself under my breath.
I think back to the look on her face when I pointed out the bruises. The deer in the headlights expression was obvious, but there was something beneath it, something I almost missed. It was fear, the kind of fear a person gets all the way down to their bones. I’d seen a lot of guys with that look in their eyes while I was a POW, so I know it well. The deep, chilling dread that just eats away at your guts. It’s nothing like the irrational fear you get when you see a spider or a rat, it’s what you experience when you’re afraid of something that can actually cause you suffering. I know without a doubt that whoever hurt Piper wasn’t just a customer, and yet for some reason she’s convinced herself to just be brave and handle it herself…
My pacing stops and I stare at the door. It’s still open because she didn’t bother to shut it on her way out.
Perhaps I should go after her after all. My anger is finally drifting away and without it charging me up, I might be able to get her talking. Maybe she just needed a calmer approach. If I just apologize for freaking out, she would surely accept my offer to listen and then maybe I can actually help her. I’ve almost got myself convinced, and then the final words she spoke as she left my room come back to me, echoing in my head and flaring my temper up once more.
And talk to your mother!
All desire to be civil towards Piper is scratched away, despite my instinctive impulse to keep her safe. The sting of her comment is too fresh for me to be of any use to her right now. I stalk to the door and slam it shut so hard it’s a wonder the whole house doesn’t topple like something out of a cartoon. The little outburst doesn’t make me feel any better.
What was with that shit about my Mom, anyway? I talk to her! I talked to her just this afternoon when she came by the shop to remind me about our family trip tomorrow. In fact, that’s all I seem to be doing, talking to my mother. That and avoiding Piper while pleading with Leo to let me do some real work at the shop. Oh, and let’s not forget having gut wrenching, hellish nightmares that keep me from sleeping for most of the night!
The thought of tomorrow’s trip doesn’t ease my frustrations at all. I knew it was going to be a challenge, but after fighting with Piper tonight, it’s like going to be even worse. If there was any way I could get out of going, I would, but there’s no way that’s going to happen. My Mom is looking forward to it too much. it’s all she’s been talking to me about for the last week. Well, that and the stupid welcome home party next weekend. Another event I have zero interest in attending.
But right now, my chief concern is the thought of being stuck at a resort for two days with Piper. Hell doesn’t even begin to describe what that’s going to be like.
Stomping back to the bed, I throw myself down on the mattress and try to get comfortable. The blankets are all tangled up and I struggle with them for what feels like an hour before I let out a feral snarl and toss them to the floor. I just sit for a few minutes, panting and grunting at the thought of all of the stubborn women in my life that I have to deal with. Eventually, I calm down and retrieve the wadded blanket, straightening it over myself as I flop down irritably against my pillow.
I know I’ll feel better if I can just get some more rest, but I can’t imagine that working out in my favor.
I’m still too annoyed with Piper, and yet, as the minutes tick into hours, all I can think about is someone hurting her. The thought continues to unsettle me. I argue with myself to let it go, but I just can’t. Somebody needs to pay for laying their hands on her. Somebody needs to be taught a lesson.
But what do I do about Piper? I thought the best thing for her was for me to stay away, but I haven’t stopped second guessing that decision since I made it. I want to protect her, but what if I’m the most dangerous thing in her life? How can I protect her from myself?
I glance over at the clock after giving up entirely on getting any sleep. It’s almost 8am anyway, so I might as well get up. Sighing, I fling off the covers and head for a shower.
