27. Piper
PIPER
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Jackie Anne: False alarm, everyone! Theo is back. With baked goods he made for sale now!
Comments:
Marjorie Brown: Fake news. He didn’t make them. Theo cannot bake. In any form of the word, unfortunately.
SherriffMike Finch: What form of the word, exactly?
Marjorie Brown: You’ll never get me to tell.
Jackie Anne: If he didn’t make them, then where are they from?
Marjorie Brown: Freya’s Bakery. But shhh. Once everyone knows, it’ll be sold out.
Kerry Winsor: It’s already sold out!!! I had DREAMS of a cinnamon roll! DREAMS!
Theo Murf: I’ll order more for tomorrow.
I stared at the food in front of me, still feeling teary-eyed when I thought about it. Everything had been delicious, and for the first time in a while, I felt like I’d eaten too much.
The entire time I thought Theo was avoiding me, he was doing this. Just because I casually mentioned I forgot to eat.
Instead of writing about it, I got to experience true kindness. Theo did this for me with no expectation of me even buying it. He was just kind.
And I knew I was falling for him. Hard.
It wasn’t just the food. It was the way he was so patient with me, the way he slowed down closing up the shop purely so I’d have extra time to sit here. It was the way he didn’t even want love, yet he showed it to me like it was second nature.
Maybe he didn’t feel the same way, and if he didn’t, I could accept it. But I’d remember this. I’d remember all of it.
Still, I wanted to talk to him tonight, so I stayed in my seat.
I tried my best to write, but real life was far more interesting for once.
My eyes were going blurry as I stared at a blank document when my phone went off.
Jade
In theory, if I were to sleep with this guy, would you all judge me?
Attached was a picture of the worst dating profile I’d ever seen. Granted, I’d not seen many, but the man was clearly relying on looks to cover for his lack of personality.
Mollie
Is there a nice way to say yes?
Grace
I mean, he’s cute. (Don’t tell Dean I said that.) But he’s holding a fish. AND he’s three hours away.
Jade
My options are bare right now. I have to get it where I can.
Piper
A dildo is better than a man with the personality of one.
Jade
That is a banger of a line.
And because of that, I’m swiping left.
I’d been stressed over the last few days, but being around them helped me so much. So far, being included in their group chat had gotten me access to a debate about whether or not Mollie should plant raspberries, and if Wren should start a rage room for the town.
They’d gone out of their way to make me feel welcome, and I enjoyed talking to them.
Piper
Any time, Jade.
Jade
Speaking of men, Theo’s car is back at the shop. Have you seen him today?
Piper
Maybe.
Jade
YOU BETTER TELL ME THE TEA.
Piper
He was busy with a new business venture . . . Adding food to the menu.
He got the idea because I mentioned I forget to eat. And then gave me one of everything.
Jade
Climb him like a fucking tree. I’m living vicariously through you.
Grace
That’s SO cute.
Mollie
Agreed.
Wren
10/10 Piper should bang him.
Piper
I’ll do that after I get over how sweet it was.
Mollie
Oh, and also, we WILL be bullying you to make sure you take care of yourself. I now have an alarm to text you and ask.
Piper
I don’t do it on purpose! Reminders are all I need.
Wren
Done and done.
Mollie
I’ll have snacks at the next hangout.
With a smile, I locked my phone. I was no stranger to people helping me out, but the way Theo and the girls did it made me feel like a person and not something that needed fixing.
I didn’t realize I needed that distinction.
“How was everything?”
My heart skipped a beat when I looked up to see Theo at my table. All I could think about were the gentle hugs and cuddles I’d gotten from him over the last few weeks. Now that I knew he wasn’t upset, I could possibly get more.
“Amazing. Though, they tasted kind of familiar. Did you get them from Freya?”
“I did. Made a special trip and everything.”
Instead of only focusing on the good, I remembered when he and Freya had been talking while they thought I wasn’t listening. I’d had no right to ask what they were saying, but I wanted to know anyway.
This jealousy was going to be a problem if it kept up.
“Good for her. You two work well together.” I wanted it to sound light. It didn’t.
“You know there’s nothing going on there, right?”
“It could be good to get a reminder.” I smiled up at him, watching as his throat worked in the same way it always did when I flirted.
“You’re the only one I can’t say no to. Everyone else, it’s immediate.”
My smile felt more real. “I’m glad you can’t tell me no.”
He huffed out a laugh and went to lock the front door.
It was just him and me now.
And I only had one thing on my mind.
“Can we try something else?”
“Want a longer hug this time?”
“Yes.” It wasn’t even close, but it was a good start. I shuffled closer and he immediately opened his arms to me.
“Need me to talk you through it?”
“No, but you can talk. I really like your voice.”
“Jesus,” he muttered. “Do you know how that sounds?”
“What I just said?” I laughed as his body seemed to grow warmer. “Yes, I know. I’m flirting with you.”
He tensed, and I was tempted to pull away to look at his face.
I couldn’t cut the contact, though.
“Why?” he asked slowly.
“Because it’s you.” I said it as it was: a fact. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed, and I like the way you get all quiet.”
“So, you’re doing it for a reaction?”
“No.” I did pull away slightly this time. “I’m doing it because I like you.”
Theo’s eyes went wide, and all I could do was stare at him. He looked so good this close.
“You can say it just like that?”
“Yes. I’m the kind of woman who knows what she wants. I’m just working on getting better at making it happen.”
Theo’s throat worked again and I waited for him to turn me down.
When the silence stretched on, I knew I had to ask for one other thing. Then, I’d know.
“Can we do something else?”
“We’re already hugging. What else is there?”
“I want you to kiss me.” My heart was in my throat as I asked, but I kept my gaze on him steady.
This time, he jerked back. “M-me?”
“Yep. I would do it, but this is a little new to me.”
“I—” He paused for a long time, and that expression of confusion was on his face again. I had a feeling he was working out how to tell me no, just like he always did.
I wanted him to fail at it.
As he thought, my arms tightened and I tilted my head at him. He watched it all, and instead of worry, his eyes were filled with heat.
“This could all end terribly. You know that, right?”
I wasn’t sure if he meant the kiss or us.
I wasn’t sure I cared.
“I’ve spent my whole life in fear. I don’t want to anymore.”
Theo let out a long breath, and I knew I had him.
He leaned down and my heart kicked into high gear.
I’d imagined my first kiss for a long time. As a romance author, I had a grandiose idea of what it would be.
Yet it all paled in comparison to the second he put a hand on my face and leaned down to press his lips against mine.
I heard a sharp intake of air, and I didn’t know if it was from him or me. His other hand landed on my hip slowly, with more than enough time for me to bail if I needed to.
There was no way I would be doing that.
I felt so much and yet not enough. Theo pulled away, eyes meeting mine. I stared at him, trying to think of what the hell to do next.
“Tilt your head.” He cupped my cheek, moving me exactly where he wanted. “There you go.”
“Why?”
His lips closed over mine, and oh. The angle was way better like this.
“Part your lips,” he said. “Just slightly.”
I did as I was told, and when his lips touched mine, they slotted into me, just like they were meant to be there. He moved, pulling me closer, and I followed his lead, mimicking his every move. My hands trailed up to his neck and jaw where his stubble, longer than usual, tickled my fingertips.
This was one of the greatest moments of my life. My breathing stuttered as his hand went to the small of my back. He pulled my midsection closer, to where I was pressed against all of him.
My heart skipped a beat and my body tensed for a half second. Theo tugged away the moment it happened, and I wondered if he could read my mind.
“Sorry, I . . . got a little excited there.”
“It’s still a compliment.” I barely recognized my own voice.
“You made the right call, pulling away then. I feel . . .” Like I could pass out.
Like this was more than enough, yet I wanted more.
It all mixed into a slurry in my mind. “Yeah, I need a break. But what you were doing, I wanna get there.”
He blinked, his own breath quick too. Theo looked incredible with kiss-swollen lips. “I have a feeling you’ll find a way.”
“You know I will. But for now, that was one hell of a first kiss.”
“Good.”
“What about you?”
“I think I need to sit down.” Theo nearly fell into a chair. “What the hell have you done to me?”
All I could do was laugh and sit next to him, head still spinning from finally having my first kiss.
“So, are you gonna jack off to this?”
Theo glared at me. “Really? That’s what you ask?”
“Well, are you?” He groaned. “Would it help if I said I’m definitely jacking off to this?”
“Piper, I swear . . .”
Mollie
Friend check-in time. What did we all have for breakfast?
I was still in bed when I saw the message. True to their word, everyone was checking in. Jade had a bagel. Grace had eggs on toast.
Now that I was seeing food, I knew I needed to eat. I found some frozen fruit and made a smoothie before sitting on the couch and scrolling on my phone, daydreaming about kissing Theo again. I’d just finished my breakfast when there was a knock at the door.
My first thought was that it was Theo, but it was Saturday, and there was no way he would step away from his shop right now.
When I opened the door, I realized I was very right.
“Joey, Mitch.” My eyes went between them, and I was worried that I was dreaming. “Wh-what are you doing here?”