Page 82 of Terms Of Un-Endearment
I hug her back, choking back tears as a thousand competing emotions make their way from my chest. She holds me like we’re still friends. Sisters, even. With my world falling apart, Frankie’s arms are exactly the place I need to crumble until I can put the pieces back together.
Except, when she lets me go, I step back with a different perspective.
My world may be tipped out-of-balance right now, but it’s not imploding. In fact, it may be moving in exactly the direction it should be. Everything feels upside down, but in a good way.
I almost kissed Archie.
He almost kissed me.
I can’t even wrap my head around how wrong that would have been.
Or why the moment felt so right.
Chapter 29
Archie
Ican’t decide if Frankie and everyone else showed up at the exact right time or the absolute worst time. When I think about how close I came to kissing the girl who used to be my stepsister, I lean toward the right time. But when I look atPiper—who’s never been anything close to a sister to me—I want to kick every last one of the gatecrashers out of my house and get back to what they interrupted.
Not because I’m desperate for some action. That’s never been my thing. What I’m desperate for—what has me on fire—is Piper. I’m burning to kiss her in a way I haven’t felt for anyone else.
“Are you going somewhere, Archie?” Frankie asks as we walk to the front room. Dex, Britta, and Stella are already there.
“Hadn’t planned to. Why?”
“You’re all dressed up,” Dex says, answering for Frankie.
I look down at what I’m wearing, then unintentionally glance at Piper. “You all act like you’ve never seen me in trousers and a nice shirt.”
“I never have,” Britta replies.
“Me neither,” Stella pipes in. “You clean up nice.”
I force myself not to look at Piper to see if she agrees with Stella. “What’s this all about? Shouldn’t you two be in bed? It’s going on nine pm.”
I direct the last question to Dex and Britta, who are early risers.
“I told them what Dad’s done now and called an emergency brainstorming sesh.” Frankie waves everyone toward the couch. “We’re going to figure out a solution to keep you here.”
“Unless you really want to go back to Aus,” Dex quickly adds before sitting next to Britta on the couch. “We want to support whatever it is you want, mate.”
I let what they’ve said sink in. My sister and my friends are here to help. Usually, I’m the one rushing to their rescue when I think they’re in trouble. Being on the receiving end of help is new for me. I’m uncomfortable, but as I’ve spent most of the day in that space, I take a seat next to Frankie, ready to listen.
“Where are you going, Piper?” Frankie asks.
I look around Dex and Britta who are still standing, surprised to see Piper walking toward the stairs.
“I didn’t think it was my place to be here,” she says hesitantly.
“Of course, it’s your place. We need you!” Stella scoots over and pats the space next to her on the couch.
Piper smiles and walks back, taking the spot Stella has created for her. Which happens to be right next to me. So close our shoulders touch, and I’m not sure how I can solve any problems when I’m transfixed by the smell of her lemon verbena scent floating around her.
“Okay, so everyone is up to speed, our father…” Frankie points to herself then me. “Has threatened to cut off Archie’s allowance if he doesn’t return to Brisbane. Unstated, but strongly implied in his threat, is that he’ll also make it impossible for Archie to access the trust fund with all of his ‘Surf City’ earnings.”
Stella leans forward to look at Frankie and me. “No offense, but your dad sounds like kind of a jerk.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Frankie answers at the same time I say, “He hasn’t always been.”
