Page 96 of The Cupcake Standard

Her smile could have drawn blood. “That and a whole lot more.” Her dark eyes went back to him. “Remember the first time we went skinny dipping?” Those eyes flicked to Rhonda and Liam, pretending to include them in the story. “Remember the meteor shower that night?”

I stopped listening and watched Derek. All I could see was the pain in his eyes. She used her words like claws, leaving gouges so deep it was several long seconds before the blood even welled up. What kind of person does that? And she’s supposed to be a friend?

“Hey,” I said, interrupting her. My voice stayed even but was laced with steel. My smile, sickeningly sweet, dripped with poison. “Remember how Derek helped you pick up the pieces after that record label guy tore you to shreds?”

Her jaw dropped. “How dare you—”

“Or how about the day you boarded that bus, choosing your career and yourself over the one and only Derek Elgin?” My grin never wavered, tone as pure as honey.

Piper stared at me, nails digging into the tablecloth. Her teeth clenched and her eyes narrowed as I prepared for an attack.

Then Rhonda started laughing. Full-on, doubled-over, banging-on-the-table laughing. Liam joined her, while Derek just shook his head, patted my leg, and kept eating. I relaxed a little, sitting back in my seat.

Confusion written all over her, Piper looked from one to the other. “Did I miss something?”

Rhonda wiped her eyes, trying to calm down enough to breathe. “Oh, man, it’s just…” The laughter hit her again. “It’s just hilarious watching someone else go through it.” Liam caught her eye, and the fragile hold on her composure broke once more.

Finally, she calmed down enough to talk. “Oh, sorry about that. Avery is…” She trailed off to look at me fondly. “She’s very protective of Derek, and she knows him well. You were hurting him just now, Piper, bringing up old memories that caused him pain, so she shut you down. I know all about that.” Her smile was small, apologetic and directed at me, then gathered a fierce edge as she turned it on Piper.

“When I first learned about Avery, I was not onboard. Neither were my parents.” Guilt shone in her eyes as she glanced at me. “I’d met her the day before, and Avery put me in my place in front of my friends. So I decided to return the favor.”

Taking a sip of water, she paused. “But Avery met every challenge we threw at her. Not only did she outshine all of us in her Armani dress, but it was clear she and Derek are made for each other. She won Dad over instantly. Then at dinner, we—” She stopped, swallowing to regain her composure.

My heart went out to her, my new friend. I reached over and patted her hand—thankful she’d realized her behavior was wrong.

Her grateful smile was still tinged with guilt. “We skipped Derek as usual when we went around the table with our updates. But Avery wouldn’t have it. When Derek spoke up, I cut him off…” This time, she met Derek’s eyes. “I was jealous of the attention or something. Either way, my behavior was inexcusable, and I’m sorry.” Her apology was heartfelt.

Derek nodded at her as one corner of his mouth tipped up.

She went on, telling about me giving my mother’s book to her and her mom. “Then she sat down and asked about dessert.” Rhonda squeezed my hand. “I decided the next day that I couldn’t handle someone like you for an enemy, so I damned well better try harder to be your friend.”

I put my elbows on the table and buried my face in my hands. “I’m never going to live that one down.”

Derek stroked the back of my head. “Nope.”

Rhonda pointed her fork at Piper. “Moral of the story is, be nice to Derek, or you gotta deal with her.” She popped a bite of eggs into her mouth.

When I met Piper’s eyes over the table, I knew things weren’t over between us. But she wasn’t the first shark I’d swum with. And I hadn’t lost a limb yet.

Things were smoother after that, though, with lines clearly drawn. Liam and Rhonda were definitely on board with me and Derek being together. So we spent the rest of the time chatting about what had happened since Piper ditched them. I really wanted to bring up the way she’d left Derek but I managed to keep that impulse under control.

Then they started reminiscing. Of course, a lot of the stories involved Derek crushing on Piper, but that had been a norm for their childhood—I could deal with it. There were a few more moments of gritted teeth and clenched fists when Piper got overly familiar, but she seemed to sense when she overstepped. Rhonda helped steer the conversation back on track. Overall, I felt like I understood a new piece of him after we were done—Liam and Rhonda, too.

Piper had to leave all too soon. Oh darn. “Can I have a minute, Derek? For old time’s sake?” She shot him her best puppy-dog-eyed look, then sauntered into the hallway.

He stood up, leaning down to brush a kiss against my cheek. “I promise I won’t run off with her. I might come back with lipstick on my cheek, but know that it won’t be consensual on my part, okay? I’m yours. And I promise to tell you all about it afterwards.”

I shot him a quick salute. “Aye, aye, Captain.”

He shot me the finger as he walked away, and I laughed.

Rhonda looked bemused. “I never did hear why you call him Captain.”

With an evil grin, I began, “Well, I was reading this romance novel about a pirate…”

* * * *

Back in our room, we set down the last load of presents. Derek shook his head. “I can’t believe you told them that story.”

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