Page 13 of Finding Romance
And with that, I leave in search of the back courtyard. Everyone always hangs out on the rooftop but seldom in the back courtyard. It’s not much to look at, just two benches, a butterfly bush, and a pot of seasonal flowers that Jessa switches out each season. I’m surprised when I walk outside to find an ass sticking up in the air.
I mean, it’s a nice ass, but what in the hell is going on? The ass moves and I see Piper’s head turn toward me.
“Uh, hey,” I manage as I realize I’ve been caught ogling her ass and quickly look down at the ground to see what she was doing. For some reason, this woman keeps catching me off guard which is not something that happens to me often. I’ve literally trained to be two steps ahead of others.
She stands and brushes off her knees. “Hey,” she says with a big smile that somehow starts thawing my frozen heart. Fuck, I don’t like this one bit. Detached. Life is easier when I’m detached.
I look around, assessing the situation but I see nothing out of the ordinary. “What are you doing?” I finally ask as I study her unusual eyes in the sunlight, noticing that the green one actually has a fair amount of blue flecks in it.
“I came out to see if my aunt might have lost her necklace out here. She said she had sat out here right before the accident, but so far, I haven’t found anything,” she says with a sigh as she looks around us as if this necklace will magically appear out of thin air.
“Do you know where else she was that day?” I ask because, damn it, I did promise to help her look. And aside from a few attempts to assist, I haven’t really been looking. I don’t love being social, but a promise is a promise.
Piper pushes some loose hair behind her ear. “Well, she last remembers wearing it two days beforehand. She had taken it to get cleaned. Otherwise, she never takes it off,” she starts.
“It’s that small gold chain with the little flower that has a diamond in the center, right?” I recall.
She nods. “Yeah, my uncle gave it to her for their last anniversary. I know it means a lot to her.”
Having lost so many people I love, something about this pulls at my heartstrings. Who knew that damn organ wasn’t as frozen as I thought?
“OK, so can we get a list of places she went those few days?” I ask.
With another sigh, she sits down on a bench. “I wish. I already asked. But she doesn’t remember. Margie said they had gotten coffee and came over here. I checked the café but didn’t see anything there. Cam said she’d be on the lookout. I’ve checked the rooftop. And obviously the lost and found we checked at the hospital. I haven’t gone by the fire station where the ambulance came from yet. I should probably do that,” she says.
“Do you know if it was the one around the corner?” I ask.
She nods. “Yes, that’s what the medical report she got says. Do you know where it is?”
“Yes. Come on, it’s not far and I was just wanting some fresh air,” I state.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude on your time,” she says as she stands. Her foot slips on some moss on a paver and she starts to fall backward. I reach out, grabbing her, and pulling her against me. Her hands fly to my chest as she steadies herself.
For reasons I’m not ready to explore, I don’t let go right away.
“You alright, there?” I ask as I look into those multicolored eyes that are wide with surprise.
She nods but doesn’t speak.
“Are you guys going to kiss?” Ava’s voice rings out from above us.
We both look up to find her leaning out a window.
“Ava, get inside. It’s dangerous to lean out of the window,” I scold.
“Mr. Gray said the same thing the other day,” she says as if grownups are idiots.
“Ava,” I growl.
She giggles and slides back inside her apartment.
Piper clears her throat and I slowly release her.
“She’s a funny kid, huh?” Piper says, her cheeks are bright pink and I wonder if she’s embarrassed to have been caught with me in such a position.
“That she is,” I agree as I follow her out to the front where I turn right and she walks alongside me.
“So, I heard you were helping your grandmother recently,” she starts as we begin walking toward the fire station.
