Page 135 of On My Side
“I’m a little concerned about your mental health, if we’re being honest,” Piper says, helmet under her arm. “The lack of locked doors is worrisome. Do you have a death wish—who the fuck are you?”
“Will.” He responds in a tone that shows he’s staking his claim and right to be losing pathetically to Mario Kart in my home.
“Ren’s never mentioned you,” Piper fires back, crossing her arms over her chest.
This is untrue, but I’m unable to remind her of this before they’re bickering again.
“He talks about your mom more than you,” Will snaps back.
“I’m aminor, loser. That’s a really fucking good thing.”
“Piper, do you want to borrow Leia for the night? Also, you met at Sunday dinner, stop being weird.” I raise my voice so she can hear me over the dying car noises coming from Will’s mouth.
“Yes. Thank you,” Piper responds, walking to the couch with her arms outstretched, all thoughts of her roasting a grown-ass man evaporated. Then she freezes, eyes widening. “Ren. What is that?”
I look behind me at where she’s staring. “Oh. Uh, my guitar?”
“You’re cheating on the piano with aguitar?” She truly looks like I’ve done something unforgivable.
I shrug. “I play both, and usually, I really only play the guitar at school…”
“It can’t bethatimportant to you,” she interrupts. “Because like that guy over there, you’ve never mentioned it.”
“I don’t like you. You’re mean,” Will grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest.
I sigh. “Are you going to take Leia or are you going to continue berating me for playing multiple instruments?”
“Multiple?!” she gasps. “There aremore?”
I hold Leia out to her, hoping to distract her from her distress at my infidelity. “Look how cute Leia is, Pipe.”
It works, and Piper grins before collecting Leia and putting the harness and leash she bought for her on.
“I don’t like her,” Will says as soon as Piper closes the door behind her.
“She’s a literal child,” I remind him, eyeing him. “Please don’t beef with a child.”
“Ameanchild,” he mutters.
After I beat him in six more races, and let him win the last one, Will leaves. It’s a pretty routine Sunday; chores, recording, editing, and dinner at my parents.
“Where’s Kat?” I ask as we sit for dinner. My mom glances around the table, brow furrowing when she realizes my eldest sister isn’t present.
“Probably sulking over her latest Spoons loss,” Nic says smugly. According to an excited text from Nic in the group chat, she “pummeled” Kat in Spoons on New Year’s Eve. Josh eyes her with an expression that is somehow both admiring and nervous. He knows my sister perfectly.
I notice another empty seat. “Mom, Piper’s not coming this week.”
“I know, she texted me earlier,” Mom says easily, serving Dad salad. I almost knock over my Guinness at the revelation that my mother and Piper text each other. “Josh’s friend, Brandon, is coming this week.”
“He’s also our accountant,” Hunter adds. “Josh hooked us up, and now… well. Jo’s in love with him.” Hunter sighs dreamily, resting her chin on her open palm and batting her eyelashes at her girlfriend.
“He makes taxes and bookkeeping so easy!” Jo whines.
“You’re a lesbian,” Izzy reminds her.
“Me not having to worry about taxes is not in contradiction with my sexuality,” Jo bites back.
“Ren, did you hear I beat Kat in the annual Spoons tournament?” Nic says.
