Page 21 of Pining for Pierce

“Hi,” I say.

“Hello. I’m really sorry to bother you so early.”

“That’s okay.”

“I wouldn’t have called like this, but I’ve just been asked to sit in on a couple of parent-teacher conferences after school tonight. The teacher who should be doing them is off sick, and… well, you know how it is.”

“Sure.”

“The thing is, I’m gonna be late getting home, so I won’t be able to get to you until around seven. Do you think you’ll be able to change the reservation? Or do you wanna cancel tonight, and re-arrange for another day?”

I think about that for a moment… but not a very long moment, turning and leaning over the roof of Harley’s car, running my hand across its shiny surface as I shake my head.

“I’m sorry, Monica, but I can’t see you anymore.”

There’s a second’s hesitation before she says, “I’m sorry?”

“I said…”

“I heard what you said. What I don’t understand is why?”

“I know you’re gonna hate me for this, but there’s someone else.”

The pause is a little longer this time. “Are you saying you’ve been cheating on me? Or cheating on her with me? Is that it? I mean, we’ve only had one date, so if she’s…”

“It’s not like that,” I say, interrupting her.

“Then what is it like?”

I take a moment, trying to think how to phrase my next sentence. “She’s not someone I’ve been dating, and she’s not someone I’ve just started seeing, either. She’s someone I’veknown for a really long time, although oddly enough, I’ve never thought of her romantically before now. I’m…”

“Are you fucking serious?” she says, raising her voice slightly. “You think I wanna hear your life story? Now?”

“Probably not. I’m sorry, but…”

“Forget it, Pierce. I don’t wanna know.”

“Okay.”

I hang up and immediately delete her details from my contacts list, feeling relieved. That’s not just because I won’t have to see her anymore, but because I’ve worked out what was wrong with her… and all the others.

Sure, some of them were genuinely ditzy, or incredibly demanding… or just plain annoying. There’s no getting away from that. But the fundamental drawback they all had was that they weren’t Harley.

I put my phone back in my pocket, resolving to call Archer later so I can cancel my reservation, shaking my head as I turn back around and glance up at the doctor’s office, realizing how blind I’ve been…

I’ve been out there searching for perfection, wondering where to find it, and it’s been here, staring right at me all along.

Chapter Five

Harley

It’s been a horrible week, although not in the same way as last week. That was mostly about work. This has been about me. And what makes it worse is that it’s only Thursday, so it’s not over yet.

As if it wasn’t bad enough seeing Pierce with Monica on Saturday evening, I had to go and accept Kaiden’s invitation to have drinks with him on Monday. I know I’d resolved to stop pining for Pierce and start living my life, but did I really have to say ‘yes’ to the first man who asked?

It seems so.

In which case, why did that man have to be Kaiden?

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