Page 81 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“This is what friends do for each other,” Jillian explained. “Good times and bad.”
“Aren’t those wedding vows?”
“Friends are just as sacred, and you’re our friend, Piper,” Darcy said.
For the second time that week, Piper found her eyes misting over. She looked at Darcy through the rearview mirror. “Don’t you have a wedding tonight?”
“Yup. So you better get a move on,” Darcy said. “I’ve never been arrested before.”
Jillian looked at her friend. “Who said anything about getting arrested?”
“The look on Piper’s face. It’s the same mama bear look you got when Coach Dickwad benched Sammy for being too small.”
“Gage is going to have to make my bail since Dirk is two months behind on child-support,” Jillian said, referring to her douche of an ex.
Piper tore out of the parking lot. She made the fifteen-minute trip in ten, screeching up to Skye’s house right as a second patrol car arrived.
Skye had her arms and legs spread in the doorway like a big X of a barricade. Behind her was Rebecca, tears streaming down her face, so much fear in her eyes Piper’s heart ached.
She raced up the porch, and a police officer put out her arm. “Ladies, you’ll have to stand back.”
“I live here,” she lied. “And that’s my mother and sister,” Piper said, and that didn’t feel like a lie. “I need to know what’s going on.”
“Censorship!” Skye hollered, her palazzo pants blowing in the breeze. “This is about censorship, plain and simple. Call the paper, the press, and that sweet brunette on Channel 5 who always does the pieces on amazing animals!”
“Ms. Ezra.” The police officer sounded as if at her wits’ end. “No one is under arrest.” Piper heard a bigyetheaded their way if Skye didn’t come down from her Big Government soapbox. “We just want to ask Rebecca Fontanilla a few questions.”
“It’s Miss. The Universe calls me Skye Luna, and whatever you want to ask Rebecca, you can ask me. Because within the Universe we are all one, sisters and brothers.”
Because Piper didn’t want the wholeMake love not warspeech, she looked at the officer and explained, “She won’t answer to anything else.”
With a sign, the policewoman said, “Miss Luna.”
“Skye, please,” Skye said, patting her chest sweetly, as if this were suddenly a pajama party and Officer Miller were the guest of honor.
“We’re here because we believe that Rebecca has information on a street tagger named Bex, who recently defaced two buildings downtown and an industrial mill.”
This was worse than Piper thought. It wasn’t a single location. Rebecca had been keeping herself busy around town.
“I didn’t think anyone would see it,” Rebecca said softly enough that no one else heard, and that’s when Piper knewshe’dbeen the one to screw up. She’d been so sure that the photo would catch a chunk of change, she’d handed it over to the journalist.
“Defaced?” Skye said, horrified, and Piper knew she was winding up for the big finish. “It’s a work of art, and while the Universe calls me Skye Luna, my street name is Bex.”
Oh boy.
“Bex the, uh, Hex.” Skye lifted a bottle of spray paint, which happened to be less paint and more anti-rust primer.
Piper rolled her eyes. “Okay, Bex the Hex, put that down and get out here so we can straighten things out.”
Skye’s face crumbled in disappointment that Piper was ruining this oh so fun game, and Rebecca went ghost white. Both women walked down the porch steps.
“I’m sorry,” Rebecca whispered. “I didn’t mean for anyone to see the picture. I wanted to show you, but then I got scared you’d kick me out of the art show and I forgot the second rule of vandalism. Don’t take incriminating photos.”
They both knew that Rebecca wasn’t worried about the art show. She was terrified that Piper’s offer had been too good to be true and now she’d blown it.
“You always have a place at my house. Remember? Roommates?”
Rebecca nodded, a few sniffles escaping. “I knew what I did was wrong, so I can’t let Skye take the blame.” The teen walked straight toward the officer and met her gaze. “I’m Bex.”
