Page 17 of Make You Mine

Piper

Iran into my house in time to hear my text notification go off.

I glanced at it, anxiety churning within me. It was from Ren. He was checking on me. I picked it up to text back, but I couldn’t—not now. I was too humiliated and embarrassed even to face a message on my phone.

I had let my emotions take over, revealing too much too soon. Actually, I’d revealed things I should never reveal to anyone. I was an open book. I was too trusting, talked too much, and never knew who I should believe in. I sank onto my couch, overwhelmed, wishing the earth would swallow me whole.

How could I ever face him again?

I couldn’t, not ever. I’d have to find another fake boyfriend to fake out Ren, who had just faked out Richard for me. What the hell had I been thinking?

I was thirty-eight years old and acting like I’d been transported back to high school. No, that wasn’t it. I’d been a lifelong doormat whose weak ways were now catching up to her, and it had to stop. I could stand up for someone else with no problem. But when it came to myself? Forget it.

I had been too much of a wimp to tell Richard off for good and insist that he let me have Cody because we both knew he belonged with me. Richard liked Cody just fine, but Cody loved me, and I loved him. I was the one who had wanted to get a dog. Richard was simply along for the ride. I should have never let him be the one to sign the damn papers.

Burying my face in my hands, I felt the weight of every wrong decision I’d made lately piling up on me. But I didn’t want to cry anymore. I’d done enough of that for today and the past couple of months, too, if I were being honest with myself.

Nimbus and Smog, as if on cue, darted into the parlor and hopped onto the couch on either side of me. Each headbutted one of my arms as they purred their brains out. They hated Richard. From the first cat turd we found in his shoe, I should have known. Animals could sense evil. They tried to tell me. Why didn’t I listen to them?

My phone buzzed on the table with another message.

I hesitated for a moment, then reached for it, fingers trembling as I swiped up to see the message. His words glowed on the screen like tiny little beacons of hope. Stupid, freaking dumbass hope.

Hot Neighbor: Not stalking you, just wanted to add an addendum to the last text. I’m a good listener if you want to talk, and you never have to feel embarrassed about a damn thing. Not with me.

I stared at the words, my mind racing through a myriad of possibilities about what I should text back. I wanted to explain myself. But, damn it, if wanting to be understood wasn’t the root of a lot of my problems. It made me too open, too free with my heart. I couldn’t do it anymore.

The fear of further humiliation held me back. Nimbus and Smog must have sensed my inner turmoil as they nestled closer.

I took a deep breath. Ignoring him would accomplish nothing. Slowly, I typed a response, trying to strike a balance between honesty and self-preservation.

Me: Thank you for letting me vent. You are very kind. I’m sorry for running off.

I hit send and placed the phone down on the table. That sounded like something a well-adjusted, normal, human woman would text back, right?

Focusing on my future was what I should be doing. My bakery was almost ready to open, and man-stealing, lying Dana or not, I was still happy about it. I had this house to finish decorating. I had two awesome cats and a great family. And I’d get my freaking dog back, too. Richard couldn’t keep him forever. He was just trying to control the situation, and he would get over it once he realized I could not be controlled—not anymore and never again. The point was I had a lot to be grateful for, and screw Richard and Dana for trying to ruin it.

“Argh!”Frustrated with myself, I let out a mini scream, which sent Smog running up the stairs. Nimbus, a fan of drama, hopped onto my lap and curled up.

Just as I began to take another deep breath, my phone buzzed again. It was Ren. Reluctantly, I picked it up and read his message:

Hot Neighbor: Don’t apologize. Heading to Coffee Cabin. I’ve haven’t tried it yet. Can I grab you something? To cheer you up?

Oh shit.

I blinked. “I think he’s going to come over here, Nimbus. What do I do?”

Without thinking, I texted him back.

Me: My family owns the Coffee Cabin. You’ll love it.

Ambiguous answers were always a great tactic when you didn’t want to make a choice.

I held my breath, waiting for a reply. I should have been relieved when I didn’t get one, but because I was a hopeless romantic, I was disappointed instead. Damn it.

My grandparents owned the Coffee Cabin, a cute little drive-through coffee hut designed to resemble a mini log cabin. It was located in the corner of the massive parking lot of the Honeybrook Inn, which they also owned. Once it became clear that locals would walk or jog by to grab their morning coffee, they’d put in a few covered outdoor sitting areas. Hopefully, he’d sit there and drink his coffee. But if he didn’t, The Coffee Cabin was real close, so he’d be here soon.

My baby sister, Eliza, ran the place for my grandparents. Maybe I should call her and ask her to keep an eye out.Or not. She was nosy, just like the rest of my family, and I didn’t want anyone to know about Ren.

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