Page 49 of Wild About You
The blush of her cheeks tells me that she has specifically avoided reaching out to him for help. Stubborn Piper wanting to do it all on her own.
She sighs. “Yes, I will set your keys on the front seat for him. Something wrong with your car?”
“Nah, he’s adding the option seat in back. I had it removed because it was so small but seems like it might come in handy now. You and Everly won’t have to share the passenger seat.”
“A real family wagon,” she teases. “Anything else?”
Oh, so many more things, but I just shake my head. “That’s it for now.”
* * *
The next afternoon I pick Everly up from school. I got in later than expected last night and she was already asleep. Then, this morning I had a rare opportunity to sleep in and missed her before she went to school.
I texted Piper earlier to let her know I was picking up Ev and taking her to get new clothes and then to dinner. I invited Piper, too, but she told me to have fun with Everly.
They come out of the school together. Everly with her backpack hanging on one shoulder and Piper with a tote, purse, and lunch bag she juggles in one hand while trying to balance a coffee cup in the other.
It’s really something seeing her like this, all grown up. I mean, I realize we both grew up but I’m still doing basically the same thing. Piper’s got a new wardrobe that matches her professional job, and I just dig it so much that she did the thing. She followed through on her dreams and is making them happen.
“What?” she asks, and I realize I’m still staring at her.
“Nothing. I got this.” I move in and take the bags from her.
“Thank you.”
She unlocks her car, and I set it all on the passenger seat.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
“She can’t.” Ev’s smile is big as she looks at Piper. “She has a date with her boyfriend.”
The words detonate like bombs. Date.Pow.Boyfriend.Pow.
Excuse-fucking-me?
Piper has her back to me and I blank my expression before she turns. I try for a smile, but it feels more like a grimace.
“I guess we’ll see you later,” I say, voice tight.
“Yeah.” She smiles. “Have fun.”
“Okay dokey.” I throw myself into my car.
“Okay dokey?” I mutter. I send Piper a text.Boyfriend?
As soon as Everly climbs in, I take off for the mall.
I can’t remember the last time I went into a mall, but it has not changed, and I still hate it. Being able to afford shit has not made me like shopping, but Everly doesn’t ask for a lot of stuff, and it hadn’t occurred to me until last night that if she needed things like clothes, she probably wouldn’t ask.
My phone vibrates and I pull it out of my pocket to see a reply from Piper.Yes, I told you about him. Problem?
Hell, yes there’s a problem, but I just shoot back a quick,See you at the house later.
Everly and I reach the food court. I tip my head in that direction. “Do you want me to wait out here?”
She does a not-so-subtle and disapproving once-over of my clothes. “You don’t want to shop for yourself?”
“What’s wrong with my clothes?”
