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She finally stopped making a dent in the rug and pulled her feet under her, shifting to get more comfortable. I groaned again, knowing she was about to launch into one of her famous speeches.
“Listen, I—”
She threw a hand up and I bit my tongue. “Lawson, you aren’t fooling anyone. And you never have. Well, except for maybe Piper, but that’s because she’s been too wrapped up in Hampton to see you.”
I shook my head. “I’m not trying to fool anyone.”
She laughed and continued without missing a beat. “We all know how you feel about her, so stop trying to convince me otherwise. Hell, stop trying to convince yourself.”
“I’ll stop arguing with you if you’ll let her come stay with you.”
She pursed her lips together. “You don’t want her leaving and you know it. And please, don’t try to tell me you’ve moved on. You may have put a thousand miles between you and her, but I know you never actually let her go.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes. “I know what you did.”
My eyebrows rose. “What I did?”
“You really think I believe Mom won those concert tickets? Coincidentally the day after that loser she was supposed to go with dumped her?”
My heart began to pound, but I shook my head. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ ’bout, Georgie.”
“Uh-huh.” We sat and stared at each other for a beat, a battle of wills. But I refused to cave and confirm her suspicions. Instead, I steered the conversation back to safer territory.
“She’s driving me insane!” I said, unable to keep the exasperation from my voice. “She’s messy and loud. She talks to me all the damn time. She doesn’t pick up after herself. She hates my cat!”
Georgia’s eyes sparkled. “Sounds to me like she’s just what you need.”
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. “Just what I need? Have you lost your mind? What I need is my house back. Look”—I gestured toward the front door where three random socks and four shoes lay—“every time she walks in, she leaves half of her wardrobe behind!”
Georgia stuck her thumbnail in her mouth, her lips twitching. “Maybe next time she comes in, help her ditch all of her clothes?”
I jumped to my feet and pushed a hand through my hair. “Jesus.” I turned back to where she was grinning like the Cheshire cat and proclaimed, “That’s the problem. I want to!”
Georgia’s jaw dropped. I’d never admitted my feelings about Piper to her before. To anyone. And now, there I was, telling my little sister I wanted to jump her best friend. I’d be shocked too. Thankfully, she recovered quickly and picked her jaw up from the floor. “Lawson,” she said quietly. “Tell her.”
I shook my head. “How would I even begin to start that conversation? ‘Hey, Piper, I know you just removed a bullet from someone in the ER tonight, but if you have a minute, I’d like to gut myself for you and tell you I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember?’” I squeezed the back of my neck. “Come on, Georgia.”
She pushed forward to the edge of the couch, resting her elbows on her knees. Her face was serious, the playful teasing gone. “Lawson, what’s the worst that could happen?”
“Oh, I don’t know. She could laugh in my face and tell me I’ve lost my mind.” My chest tightened. No, I couldn’t tell her how I felt. It was better to live in misery not knowing than it would be to deal with the rejection that was sure to come.
“Quit being a pussy!” Georgia’s voice was exasperated. “You’re just being a coward.”
“You’re right,” I admitted, striding to the front door. “Can we please talk about something else?” I’d just bent down to pick up Piper’s stuff when she threw the door open, nailing me in the head with the solid wood door. “Fuck,” I groaned, falling onto my ass.
“Ohmygod, I’m so sorry!” she shouted, dropping her bag before sinking down in front of me. “Crap, Lawson, are you okay?” With an arm under my elbow she helped pull me back to standing. “Go sit on the couch, let me look at you.”
She tugged the stethoscope from around her neck and gestured for me to sit down.
“No, I’m fine,” I said as I rubbed the knot that was already forming on my scalp. Thankfully, it was covered by my hair.
Georgia cleared her throat and Piper turned. “Hey, Georgie! What are you doing here?”
She shrugged, a sly smile on her face as she replied, “Just came to see my big brother. Seems he’s having girl problems. Thought I’d give him some advice.”
I shot her a look, hoping she could see the murderous thoughts that were flashing through my mind and she’d shut up. When she kept grinning and then winked at me, I narrowed my eyes.
