Page 46 of By Your Side
“Shhh!”
“Kissing,” she whispered. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
“Twice,” I whispered into the table. “Last night in the parking lot. And it was amazing and terrifying, and I’m probably going to ruin everything.”
“Twice? Huh?” She patted my back. “You’re not. Unless you start overthinking it. Which you are. Because that’s what you do.”
I shot her a look. And snagged a muffin from the bag.
“Not judging you. I do it too, don’t feel bad. It’s a Darlington Sister trait. As long as we call each other out on it, everything will be okay.”
I lifted my head and narrowed my eyes. “How are you so smug this early?”
“I slept. And I didn’t emotionally implode in a parking lot last night after kissing my best friend.” She shrugged lightly. “Yet. There’s always time to implode, I just need a reason.”
I gave her the abbreviated version of what had been going on between me and Hunter. The pie. The repair work. The kiss. Then the part where I said I didn’t want to pretend it didn’t happen, and then ran inside like I was about to burst into flame.
She nodded sagely. “Okay. So now what?”
“I don’t know. I told him I didn’t want to stop, but I needed to slow down, and he said he’d catch me if I fell.”
“Oh my god.” Her hand hit the table as a smile lit up her face.
“I know.”
“That’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard. Are we sure he’s not fictional? I mean, I’ve known him forever, and I had no idea he was capable of that. I love this. You deserve this.”
I pressed the heels of my hands to my eyes. “Piper, I kissed my best friend. Mysafe place. What if I screw it up and lose him?”
She pulled my hand away from my face and held it. “Then you get brave, and you fight for him. Because if this is real, and we both know it is, then you owe it to yourself to try.”
Before I could spiral any further, my phone buzzed again.
Ren: Heads up. Eli’s lawyer reached out. They’re not backing down. You might consider telling the kids.
My stomach dropped.
I read the message twice, then slid the phone across the table like it burned.
Piper saw my face and went still. “What is it?”
“Eli,” I said. “He’s still trying to take the kids. He’d shut up for a while. How stupid of me to hope for the best.”
Piper stood up so fast her chair squeaked. “Over my dead body.”
I stared at the muffin in front of me, suddenly nauseous. “He’s escalating. I never thought he would do something like this.”
“Well, you never thought he’d cheat on you either.”
“Yeah, well, messing with the kids is something else entirely. I can let some things go to keep the peace when it’s just me, but I will not let this slide. He’s in for a surprise. I’m lucky I had Ren to fight for me, to encourage me to go after what’s fair and not let too much go during the divorce.”
“And we’re going to shut it down. I promise I’m here for you. And you already know Ren will take care of you.”
“He’s going to useeverything, Piper. Me running the bar alone, the late nights. He’ll probably try to blame Briar sneaking out on me somehow. And maybe even the fact that Hunter was here all night that night. Shit! And the kiss in the parking lot, damn it. If word of that gets around?—”
Piper waved a hand. “Please. You think Honeybrook Hollow won’t find out about you and Hunter? And your suspiciously glowing skin?”
“Huh?” I blinked. “Excuse me?”
