Page 94 of A Perfect Match
“Kru, go on outside.I’ll be out in a second,” I tell him softly.He nods and heads out the front door.Once the door clicks shut, I turn to my brothers.
“I hope you’re all happy with yourselves,” I bite out.Four pairs of eyes in varying shades of blue look back at me, each Keegan brother his own version of cocky satisfaction.
“Quite happy,” Asher confirms, “to be thinking ahead and protecting you.”
“Thanks so much for theprotection.”I use exaggerated air quotes around the word.“I don’t think I’ll be coming back to game night for a while.I need some time to think, because whatever you guys think you’re doing to help me isn’t working.”
Mom tuts, coming to standing.“Piper—”
“I’ll come visit you soon, Mom,” I promise her, wrapping her in a quick hug.“I need to go.”
I hurry out of the house before I can hear any dissent or complaints.My throat is tight as I hurry to the truck, which is running and warm as I slip inside.
I look over at Kru, unsure where to begin.He’s shrouded in darkness, but still I can see the weight of the evening hanging between us.
“I’m so sorry,” I begin.
He offers a smile, but it looks sad.He doesn’t say anything as he puts the truck in reverse.Once he’s backed out of the driveway, he finally says, “You warned me.No need to apologize.”
I cover my face with my hands, sinking back into the seat.“They’re just…ridiculous.”
He clears his throat.“You keep a lot of things from them, huh?”
“You see how they get whenever I doanything,” I reply.“It’s been like this my entire life.”
“But hiding from it doesn’t help, either,” he says.
“Yeah, I know that.But…” There’s a frightening cocktail of frustration building up inside my chest.It’s effervescent.Explosive.It feels like I could both dissolve and turn into a firework.“Sometimes it’s just not worth the effort.It’s not productive.They’re sojudgmental.They think they’re helping but they’re just…squashing.”
Kru is quiet as we drive through the streets of Bayshore.I take a few deep breaths, trying to put the botched game night behind us.
“I hope they haven’t scared you off,” I finally say.“They’ll laugh at a food joke of yours someday, I bet.”
Kru remains quiet, which makes my doubts and fears spiral even harder.I’m finally ready to address the knot that’s been in my gut all night.
“So…I didn’t realize you were planning on leaving Bayshore soon,” I say.As soon as the words leave my mouth I regret them.
“I never said that was the plan, Piper.”There’s no humor in his voice.
“Sounded like it’s a possibility though.”
“Everything is a possibility,” he says as he pulls onto my brother’s street.“We’re small business owners.You know this as well as I do."
I mull over his words.“Opening up new location takes a lot of time and attention.If it’s a good deal, though…you’ll take it?”
He pauses before he says, “Probably.”
“Then you’d have to be in Columbus,” I finish for him.
He sighs.“Piper, I don’t know.It’s too soon to say.It’s why I didn’t say anything.”
“But you’ll tell my brothers the vultures before you even give me a heads up.”I’m focusing on the neighborhood flashing beyond the window, trying to stave off the tears threatening to spill.The truck slows as he approaches Griff’s house and then pulls into the driveway.My heart is throbbing—I feel like I’ve been broken up with somehow.Like he’s done it without saying the words.
Maybe this is my brothers’ suspicion rubbing off.Or maybe I’m just finally seeing the reality of the situation.
“It just happened to come up,” Kru says.“What do you want me to say?I don’t think there’s any sense in worrying you when you’ve got so much going on.”
With those words, something stony slides over me.
