Page 99 of Pining for Pierce

“You’re feeling out of your depth?” I ask, guessing at what this might be like for him.

“Totally.”

“Well… I’ve never been in this situation either, but there’s no way I’m gonna let you drown all by yourself. Not when we can drown together.”

He smiles, squeezing my hand. “I’d never let you drown, babe.”

I lean over, and he meets me halfway in a brief kiss before we both sit back down, just as Everly brings our water.

“Heaven knows when I’m gonna get any work done,” Pierce says, taking a sip from his glass.

“I could probably help in the store tomorrow, at least for some of the time. I’ve gotta…” I stop talking, realizing I can’t do any such thing, and that in reality, I won’t even be here.

“What’s wrong?” Pierce asks, leaning closer, although I can’t speak for a moment. I’ve just remembered my parents are coming home tomorrow afternoon… and that their return changes everything. I’ll have to go back to the house, not just to check up on it, but to be there when they arrive. They’ll expect that… and have every right to. And, of course, they know nothing about the situation with me and Pierce. I’ll have to tell them. But how will I explain I’ve practically moved out? And how will they take it? Should I move back there and break it to them in stages? Would that make it easier for them to accept? “Harley?” Pierce says, breaking into my nightmare and I focus on him, despite the tears blurring my eyes. “Hey… babe. What’s the matter?”

“I have to leave.”

“Sorry?” He glances around. “Are you sick or something? Do you want me to get our food to go?”

“No, no. I don’t mean that. What I mean is, I have to leave you and go home. I can’t stay with you anymore.”

He pales, blinking hard, and shakes his head. “What the … I mean, what are you talking about? You can’t leave me.”

“I have to.”

“Why? What have I done?” There’s genuine fear in his eyes and he reaches out for my other hand, holding them both. “Is this because I’m having to do all this extra work for the exhibition? Am I neglecting you? Because if I am, I’ll…”

“It’s not that. It’s nothing to do with that, and you’re not neglecting me at all. Far from it.”

“Then why?”

“Because I’ve just remembered my parents are coming home tomorrow.”

“So?” He shrugs his shoulders, like he’d known all along. “That just means you won’t be able to work in the store, and I won’t be able to catch up with my painting this weekend, but…”

“It means more than that, Pierce. I’ll have to go back there.”

“Sure… to check on the house, maybe tidy up a little, and be there when they get home. But you don’t need to stay.”

“They don’t know about us,” I say, letting my fingers entwine with his, hating the thought of being apart. “They don’t know I’m practically living with you.”

“Practically?”

“Okay… I’m living with you. But they still don’t know about it.”

“I know they don’t, but we can tell them. You don’t have to leave me to do that.”

“But what if… what if they hate the idea of us being together, and decide they don’t want you to work for them anymore? You’d be unemployed, and you’d have nowhere to live.”

“Do you think it’s likely your parents are gonna react like that?”

“No, but… don’t you think we should maybe take things in stages? We could let them get used to the idea that we’re together and then wait a while before I move back in with you?”

“And hell could freeze over,” he says, shaking his head. “Your parents are gonna be okay with this. I know they are.”

Everly brings our food, putting it down in front of us. “Thanks,” I say, looking up, although Pierce just stares at me, and as though she’s sensed something isn’t quite right, she smiles kindly and leaves. We ignore the delicious smelling panini, and Pierce pulls my hands closer to him, sucking in a breath.

“I’ll take you to your parents’ place in the morning,” he says. “Then I’ll come back here to work, while you do whatever you need to do there. Once I’m finished here, I’ll drive over, and wecan talk to your mom and dad together. We can tell them about us, and the accident, and the exhibition, and then I’ll bring you back home.”

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