Page 87 of Pining for Pierce

“Nothing. Everything’s fine. I mean… it’s better than it was…” I stop talking, looking at Pierce, who shakes his head, smiling at me.

“I think what Harley’s talking about is the accident we had last weekend.”

Were we supposed to keep that a secret, too? Pierce didn’t say anything, and Ben was always going to find out eventually. Besides, it was Pierce who told him. I just let my mouth run away with me.

“Accident?” I can hear the urgent fear in Ben’s voice, and it brings a lump to my throat.

“Yeah.” Pierce holds me a little tighter. “We were on our way back here, when a truck pulled out of a turning just outside the town. It was raining, although that’s no excuse for what he did, and…”

“Shit,” Ben says, interrupting him, and clearly giving up completely on monitoring his language. “Are you guys okay?”

“Thanks to Pierce, we are,” I say. “He did something, although I don’t know what, but he was amazing.” Pierce blushes, and I smile up at him.

“What did you do, Pierce?” Ben asks.

“I just dropped the bike, and grabbed Harley,” he says, like it was no big deal. “We kinda skidded along the road a bit, and then came to a stop.”

“It wasn’t quite that straightforward,” I say.

“Somehow, I didn’t think it would have been.” Ben sounds intrigued and I snuggle against Pierce, resting my hand on his leg.

“Pierce is right about the skidding along the road part, but what he didn’t tell you was that he was underneath me. I still don’t know how, but after he dropped the bike, he somehowgot me up on top of him and held me there. He didn’t let go of me… not even for a second, even though it meant he was the one being dragged along on his back.”

There’s a pause before Ben coughs and says, “You did that?”

“Of course,” Pierce says. “What did you think I’d do?”

“I don’t know, but I’m not sure I’d have been that selfless.”

“Yeah, you would. Besides, it was an instinct.”

“Either way, I’m grateful, man. Thanks for protecting Harley like that.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Pierce says, his blush deepening. “Although I should probably warn you, we haven’t told your parents yet.”

“Okay. But I imagine you’ll see them before I do.”

“Probably. But I thought I’d warn you, just in case.”

“Fair enough.” He pauses. “Was there anything else, or did you both call just to tell me about the accident?”

“No,” Pierce says. “We called to tell you there was a reason we were out together on a Saturday evening… and it wasn’t because I was sketching.”

“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Ben asks.

“I’m saying we’re together. I know this might not be what you wanna hear, and I’m sorry it’s taken us so long to tell you, but I love your sister very much.” The tension is pouring off of Pierce as he speaks, and although I expect him to wait for Ben’s reply, he adds, “We’ve been friends nearly all our lives, Ben, and I realize this could make it difficult between us, but…”

“Difficult? Difficult? Why on earth would it be difficult?”

I can’t tell if Ben’s being sarcastic, and I glance at Pierce, to find he looks just as confused as I feel.

“For the reason I’ve just given,” Pierce says. “We’re friends, and…”

“I know,” Ben says. “Which is why I’m relieved you two have finally worked things out.”

Pierce turns to me, frowning slightly, and I shrug my shoulders. “What do you mean?” I ask.

“Oh, come on, Sis. You’ve loved Pierce for so long…”

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