Page 28 of Love is a Lyric
“Ben.” She touched his arm, and he whipped his gaze to her, searing her with his pain.
“They…”
“I know.”
“She… fate, Piper.”
She’d never wanted to tell him the truth more than in that moment. Fate hadn’t brought him to Quinn, but then would that mean it brought him to Piper? It was too much, and that wasn’t what he needed. Piper didn’t want someone to love her for the words she wrote. It wasn’t real and wouldn’t last.
And Ben…
He took a copy of the new lyrics from the counter and balled it up. “I think I just need to be alone, Piper.”
Oh. Without her. She nodded as if she understood perfectly, but no one could truly understand heartbreak.
As Ben retreated to the room he’d shared with Quinn, she walked back outside to face the two people who put that look in his eyes.
Crossing her arms over her chest, she stared down at Quinn. “Get dressed and then get out. You two can’t stay here tonight.”
Quinn climbed out of the pool, anger vibrating off her. “You don’t get to decide that.”
“Actually, I do. I booked this house. It’s in my name. Therefore, I’m telling you to leave.”
Quinn’s jaw dropped open. “You’re supposed to be on my side, Piper. I’m your sister.”
Piper couldn’t believe her. “There are no sides here. You two are horrible human beings who just broke the one person who cares about either of you.” She clenched her jaw. She’d been waiting for a moment like this for months, a moment when the path before her cleared. “I quit.”
“What?” Quinn screeched. “You can’t quit. What are you going to do? It’s not like you have a college degree.”
“Thanks to you. I don’t begrudge you the things you have, Quinn, but you had eighteen years with mom and dad. Your life didn’t stop when they died. You went to four years of college to get a degree you didn’t want—paid for by the life insurance—while I dropped out after one because I would have graduated in too much debt and my wealthy sister wouldn’t help pay for it because she needed me to work for her. My entire life has revolved around you. Even the songs…” She stopped herself. As angry as she was, she wouldn’t reveal the one thing that could end the singer-songwriter phenom’s career.
“Piper, calm down.”
“No. I’m done being calm. Don’t worry about my future. It’s time we just worry about ourselves for a bit.” She didn’t tell her about the job with Drew because she no longer owed her sister anything.
For once in her life, Quinn had nothing left to say. Conner walked inside, and Piper heard him calling Ben’s name, but that damage was done.
The string of fate that had been holding them all together severed, changing everything.
Quinn and Conner wasted no time changing and leaving, but Ben didn’t emerge from his room.
And in the morning, he was gone.
