Page 58 of Just One Look
Past Imperfect
How washe meant to get rid of Piper and Sofia? Whatever sort of odd showdown this was, how much was anything said here going to matter to anyone? Unless Piper and Elizabeth needed to have a fight, maybe. Women so rarelydidhave fights, though. They just simmered uncomfortably. Men were pots on the boil, spilling over and making a mess on the cooker, so obvious that you had no choice but to clean it up. Women sat on the back burner and simmered, and what good did that do?
Besides, it was nearly eight, and not only hadn’t he gone dress shopping with Elizabeth, not to mention shoe shopping, he hadn’t sprayed any more of that scent on her, either, from the bottle he’d bought. He wanted his sweet, sexy, slightly strange non-date back. Instead, he was getting this, whatever it was. Not much of a trade, in his opinion.
It didn’t get any better, either, because before Elizabeth had even managed to sit all the way down, she was already saying, “I just told Luka that I knew who he was all along, and I didn’t ask him what his status was with you, Piper, or tell him I was your stepsister. Just clearing the air on that.”
“Always good to have that clear air,” Luka said. “And here I was just now, thinking that women simmered too much, didn’t let it out.”
Piper ignored him and asked Elizabeth, “But why? If you knew who he was … why him? Was it a way to get back at me, even though I wouldn’t know? Did I do something to … did I do something wrong, with you? Is that why you never …” She took a breath, then said, all in a rush, “why you never seemed to like me as much as I liked you?”
Ouch. That had come out fragile. Or maybe it was Piper putting herself in the midst of this, when it had nothing to do with her. That could get ugly. More of that simmering thing.
Whatever he’d imagined, he’d been wrong, because Elizabeth sat up straighter than ever and didn’t stir her drink the way another woman would have done, trying to buy time. She said, “You didn’t do anything wrong. What could you have done wrong? I was a terrible stepsister. I wasn’t very confident back then, and you—well, look at you. You looked exactly like this, and I looked … well, anyway, we probably all remember how I looked. No, I went out with him because he’s extremely attractive. The connection to you wasn’t some kind of secretly satisfying bonus. It was awkward. Of course, I can be awkward anyway, but it was especially awkward. And don’t worry, I already told him he was attractive. Anyway, he must know that. It can’t be a secret to him.” Luka noticed, though, that she didn’t look at him when she said it.
“Well,” Sofia said, taking a sip of her martini, “reckon he knows it now, anyway. This sort of thing happen to you often, does it?” she asked Luka. “Women fighting over you?”
“It happened the other week,” Elizabeth said. “At least I think that’s what was going on. Two women, both ridiculously good-looking. Also me, but I didn’t count at the time. I departed the field of battle.”
Luka started to answer, then stopped. Sofia was treating it like a joke, and it didn’t feel like a joke. Elizabeth said, “Anyway, I’m guessing women approach him constantly. He can’t exactly say that, though, in front of you and Piper. Makes him seem conceited.”
“I don’t think saying it in front of you would be my best move, either,” Luka said. “And if they do, that’s not about me. It’s the job, that’s all.”
“Except that the job means you have an incredible physique,” Elizabeth said. “And that all your toughness and strength are out there on display every week. Ontelevision.Also, my friend Jordan says you’re a big deal, with that team you’re on. To the gay community, at least. Being on the … whatever the name is.”
“The All Blacks?” Sofia said.
“Right,” Elizabeth said. “That’s the one. The All Blacks.”
“Geez,” he said, “I’m blushing. If you keep on like this, I’ll be even more crushed when you won’t let me kiss you goodbye again. All the girls like me except you, that what you’re saying?”
She said, “Of course not. I just told you I did. Besides, I texted you, didn’t I?”
“Oh, yeh,” he said, “that’s right. You did text me.”
He shouldn’t be smiling. This was meant to be uncomfortable.
Oh. Piper.
Bugger Piper. She’d made her own choices. He didn’t need to hear any more about them.
Except that he couldn’t sit here and ignore the brave smile, the teary eyes. How could you, when you remembered the first time she’d cried with you, when she was lying on your chest and your arms were around her, your shaking hand smoothing back her hair, because you’d just had sex for the first time, and you hadn’t known it was possible to feel that good? When you were telling her it was all right? When you were wondering how itcouldbeall right, if she was crying?
That had been an uncomfortable moment. More than uncomfortable. He’d felt horrible. And when she’d told him, “It’s just that I love you so much, and it was so … so amazing,” the relief had swamped him. The relief, and the tenderness.
He’d wanted to hold her forever. He’d wanted to take care of her always. They’d been all of eighteen, and he’d been sure that this was it, that he could never love anybody else, because it wasn’t possible. She’d taken all his love.
He didn’t want to remember any of that now. That boy was so far away, he was like another person, somebody he’d used to know. Why did Piper have to look the same, though? Why did she still have to look so vulnerable?
Also, why washethe one who felt like an arsehole here? He was the one person who hadn’t deceived anybody!
He asked Piper, “You OK?” Lame, probably, but the best he could manage.
“Yes. Of course.” She smiled with an obvious effort and drank some more of her cocktail. Not OK, then.
“So … should I be saying catching-up things?” Elizabeth asked. “Or is there serious bad blood between you and Luka, so that would be awkward?” She looked at Piper, who dropped her gaze, and then at Sofia.
“No idea,” Sofia said. “They broke up sometime in there, yonks ago, because she wasn’t around anymore. Did I know why? No. Did Luka say? Also no. Did anybody ask? Again, no, not that I recall. Whose teenage relationship lasts? Anyway, people in our family don’t mate for life. We barely mate for a season. That’s because men are pretty bloody useless. You’re single yourself, I take it. Surgeon as well, eh. Don’t need a man for money, and what’s the point of having him around just so you can clean his toilet and pick up his socks?”
