Page 36 of Love is a Lyric
“Just make sure he stays out of the media. We don’t want them knowing he’s in Columbus and not with the rest of the band. I’ll make Quinn and Conner agree to silence for the time being. But this band… they’re not complete without each other. Quinn needs Ben’s music and Ben needs her lyrics.”
Piper’s gut twisted as Melanie continued to talk. The cashier gave her the total, and Piper handed over Quinn’s credit card that she’d been given for incidentals. Paying for this mess was the least her sister could do.
As she took the bags and walked to the exit, she fumbled for Julia’s car keys she’d borrowed. “Mel, I’ve got to go. You take care of things on your end, and I’ve got things here.” She hung up despite Mel’s insistence they had more to go over. KeepingFatetogether wasn’t Piper’s job, not anymore. She looked down at the bags that proved she didn’t know how to let go of her position and shook her head. This was for Ben, her friend, a guy who’d treated her like a sister for most of her life, always protecting her.
Now, it was her turn.
She’d protect him from the world if she had to.
Pressing her thumb against the key fob, she let the beep remind her where she’d parked Julia’s Honda, a sensible car for the most sensible woman Piper knew. She slid in and set the bags on the passenger seat.
As she drove down the familiar streets of Columbus memories rushed in at her, some good, others… not so good. She passed the I-270 exit for Hilliard and pressed her foot harder to the gas to get by it, knowing if she switched lanes, she’d head into the town that held so much pain.
The one where she’d spent the first ten years of her life in blissful ignorance of what was coming for her.
By the time she turned off the highway, her nerves were on high alert. Not even the sight of the Evans’ red brick house or the surrounding fields dotted with dandelions calmed her nerves.
The property was beautiful, and she’d enjoyed exploring it with Chase when they were kids. As they got older, the woods at the edge of the property were more for parties than tree forts, and the swing set went unused. She pulled into the driveway next to Chase’s truck, wondering why he was still there.
She’d been back for two days now, spending most of it with Julia and Chase—with very occasional Ben sightings—but Chase had a job. He worked for the Blue Jackets foundation. Even though hockey wasn’t in season, the charity never stopped.
Julia had the summer off as an elementary teacher. At least someone had some sense around there. She didn’t see Jonathan’s car. He worked for an insurance company in the city.
Ben would hate all these people hanging around for him. She pulled the bags out of the car and shouldered her way through the swinging screen door. A smell she’d recognize anywhere filtered through the house.
A smile tilted her lips as she poked her head into the kitchen. “Apple crumb top?”
Chase bent to remove a pie from the oven. “What else?”
He’d always been a baker, making her try everything he made. But this was his signature. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Mom is out in her garden. Ben…”
“Ah. Still in bed.” She sidled up next to him to stare at her favorite dessert. “Did you stay just to make this?”
“No.” He set the oven mitts on the counter and ran a hand through his curly hair. “I just…”
“I’m worried too.”
“Did he tell you? About the songs?” Chase leaned back against the counter. Piper hadn’t even told her best friend what she and Quinn had done.
“What about the songs?” Julia walked in, a smear of dirt on her face and her hair falling loose from her ponytail.
“The whole fate thing.” Chase grimaced.
Piper looked from Chase to Julia. “You both knew? How long?”
“Since he first told us he was in love with Quinn, dear.” Julia pulled the gardening gloves off her hands and stuck them in her back pocket, her eyes not leaving Piper. Just like days ago on the phone, Piper got the distinct impression this woman knew more than she let on.
The phone rang, saving Piper from the confessions on the tip of her tongue. Julia gave her one last long look before retrieving her phone from the counter and walking away.
Chase nudged her. “What’s in the bags?”
“Clothes for Ben. He won’t want to keep wearing his Florida things.” The stuff Quinn picked out for their vacation.
Chase opened his mouth to say something but then shut it like he’d decided against whatever words had come to him. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope he appreciates you.” There it was again, the look she’d seen on Julia’s face. It now reflected in Chase’s eyes. He knew something, and she was too scared to ask what it was.
Because if she was right, her secret had never been much of a secret.
