Page 15 of My Last Dance

He frowned. “Who said anything about arguing?”

I shot him a deadpan look.

“Fine.” He sighed. “Let’s call a truce?”

My eyes flashed up to his. My mind flashed through all the times he’d said this through the years.

I was shaking my head in an instant. “Truces always get us in trouble.”

He shot me a wicked grin. “Lucky for you, it’s summer. I’ve got lots of time for trouble.”

“I need a minute,” I blurted out.

With a calm nod, he pushed open his truck door and stepped out.

Laying my head in my hands, I forced myself to breathe and think through my options. Maybe it was the fact that I smacked my head on the airport ground earlier, but I couldn’t stop my mind from spinning. I just felt so lost and completely overwhelmed.

Being locked up in a car with Kappy for four hours sounded like hell, but it’d probably be the easiest and safest way to get back home. Maybe I could just pretend to sleep all four hours back…

When I opened my eyes, I yelped and grabbed my chest because Kappy was waiting right outside the passenger side window, staring at me with his signature grin.

“What are you doing?” I yelled through the glass.

He shrugged his large shoulders. “Giving you a minute. You done?”

“Creep.” I rolled my eyes and shoved the door open, whacking his shoulder in the process.

“That was mean, Piper,” he responded, rubbing his arm.

“You were staring at me,” I said, trying to push past him.

He laughed. “I was waiting for you to stop overthinking.”

“Yeah, well, about five therapists are waiting for that too, so get in line,” I huffed.

But while speed-walking up to the porch, my foot slipped on the slick grass and my body slammed down to the ground.

My ears rang as I stared up at the dark night sky in utter disbelief.

This day just got worse. How the hell was it still getting worse?

Sitting up, I craned my neck to look at my backside and whimpered. I was completely coated with wet mud.

Kappy’s laughter filled the air.

“I can’t catch a fucking break,” I wailed, bringing my knees up and laying my head against them.

“God, that was funny,” he blurted out.

I picked up my head to glare at him. “Truce. Off,” Trying to stand, I slipped back down, making him laugh harder. “I could be hurt, you know.”

“Nah, you’re an athlete, you’re fine,” he said, still chuckling.

“A little help?” I asked.

But instead of reaching out to help me, he sat down on the damp grass next to me.

“W-what are you doing?”

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