27. Piper #2
I looked down at myself. I was in an oversized T-shirt and I assumed my hair was a rat’s nest on my head. I wasn’t in a bad mood, but I looked like I was.
“We haven’t heard from you in a while,” Joey said. “We figured we’d come and check in.”
“I’m fine.” My voice came out high. “Obviously.”
“Are you?” he asked. “You’re still in your pajamas.”
“It’s early in the morning.”
“It’s nearly noon.”
I scrambled to look at my phone, and true to Joey’s word, it was. I’d not paid attention since I was still on cloud nine and had been talking to my friends. Back when I lived with Joey and Mitch, I did my best to make sure I appeared like I had it together.
That kind of acting had taken a lot out of me.
“At least she answered the door,” Mitch reminded him.
“She probably didn’t even check the peephole,” Joey muttered back. “I told her not to do that.”
“Hello?” I said with a frown. “I’m right here. I can hear what you’re saying.”
Both of them blinked and finally focused on me. “Oh, sorry.” Mitch gave me a smile. “We were just worried.”
“Seems like you need us,” Joey added.
“I’m fine. I just slept in.”
“Your apartment is a little messy,” Joey noted as he peered in. I followed his line of sight, seeing the blender on the counter.
“I just made that—”
“We’ll handle it.” He started to come through the door, which made me jump out of the way, before marching into the kitchen.
I glared at his back.
“It’s more like he needed this,” Mitch said to me quietly. “Sorry to drop in unannounced.”
Mitch did look sheepish, so I forced my shoulders to drop.
“It’s good to see you,” I said.
“You too. Despite being in pajamas, you look happy.”
“I am.”
“The only reason I agreed is because I wanna see the town you live in, even if you’re not in the mood to show us around.”
“I bet she won’t be,” Joey called from the kitchen.
“Actually, I am.” I crossed my arms. “I’ll go get changed.”
Joey spoke up immediately. “Really, but—”
The bedroom door slammed shut before he could finish his sentence. I meant to pull something out of my closet, but I stopped in front of the mirror in the bathroom first.
“You are going to keep it together,” I told myself. “If Joey sees anything wrong, then he’ll never leave.”
With a determined nod, I found a pair of floral-stitched jeans and a pink shirt to throw on. I braided my hair before coming out.
“You’re really willing to get out of the house?” Joey asked when I came out.
“I didn’t get dressed for nothing. I figure the library is the best place to start.”
“Have you been there before?” Mitch asked.
“Yep. I go a lot, actually,” I replied. “I’ve been meaning to return some books anyway.”
I propped open the door before collecting the books I’d finished. I was mostly dressed for the day, but put on an extra jacket just in case the square was busy and I got close to someone.
“Are we walking?” Joey asked.
“It’s a pretty day,” I said as I put on my shoes. “Why not?”
“There are people out there.”
I looked out the window, seeing a few townsfolk walking around. Most of them I’d interacted with in the Facebook group in some way.
“That’s not too bad.”
“It’s not?” Joey asked.
“Not really. It’s always like this when the farmers market is happening. If we stick to the sidewalks, it’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure?” Mitch asked. “We dropped in on you and you didn’t seem to have plans today.”
“I did have plans today, which I’ll have to move, but this is fine.”
“There’s no way—”
“Joey,” I said firmly. “I’m fine.”
“Is what happened last time still affecting you?”
I stared at him. “What? What happened last time?”
“The person you thought was from your past.”
For a second, I had no idea what he was talking about. Then I remembered when I’d called in a panic. “You think that is still affecting me?”
“It would make sense.”
I laughed. “No, it doesn’t. I moved on from that a while ago.”
Joey narrowed his eyes at me and I stared right back.
“Okay,” Mitch said. “I’m sensing some tension. So why don’t we all take a breath?”
I did what I was told. Joey didn’t.
It only annoyed me more.
“Why are you so determined to prove that I’m miserable here?” I asked slowly.
Joey blinked, obviously not expecting the question. “I-I’m not.”
“You are. Do you realize you’re not listening to me at all?”
“I am listening to you. I just don’t believe you. There’s no way you’re happy here.”
“Joey,” Mitch hissed.
My fists clenched and an anger flooded me that almost made me tell him to leave. I would be justified, but I did want Joey to see my life.
I just couldn’t handle him acting like this.
Crossing my arms, I watched as he looked in between us, eyes wide as he realized what he had said.
“Sorry,” he eventually apologized. “It’s just weird not knowing what’s going on.”
“I’m trying to show you. You’re the one who’s not listening.”
“But why here? Why not with us? Were we that bad to live with?”
“No,” I said. “It’s not that. It was just too comfortable. I need to challenge myself, and you hate seeing me miserable.”
“You shouldn’t have to be.”
“But I grow when I am. The first couple of days here were hard, I’ll give you that. But there are less people here, and the ones who are here are kind and understanding. That’s what I need right now. And to have my own place.”
“But I liked having you with us.”
“Our friendship isn’t over. We have ways we can talk now.”
Joey sighed, his shoulders slumping. “It’s not the same.”
“One day, I’ll come visit. I’m getting better, but you have to let me.”
“It’s not like I’m stopping you.”
“But the negativity is.”
Joey frowned and didn’t answer. Mitch elbowed him. “She’s right.”
“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll do my best.”
“Good. Now can we go? I do think both of you will like the library.” And I needed to move. I wasn’t sure why, but being this firm with Joey was terrifying.
“Yeah,” he said with a nod. “Let’s go.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
I led them downstairs and into the alleyway. I could feel their eyes on me as we stepped out onto the sidewalk. It never felt great to be out of the house, but the sights helped distract me from what had happened with Theo.
“We should try to make time to shop at the farmers market,” Joey said, eyeing all the booths. “I bet Piper would like some of the things there.”
“I do like the things there. I actually went to the last one.”
“What?” Joey asked. “You did?”
“I went with a friend at the end of it. There weren’t as many people.”
“What friend?” His voice was harsher, which made me stop.
“Can I not have friends here?” I asked.
“No, you can!” Mitch rushed to say. “It’s good.”
“Y-yeah, sorry.” Joey shook himself out of his frustration and I made myself take a deep breath. “I’m glad you went.”
“Good. You guys would like it.” I turned and led them to the library, still determined to keep myself together for the day.
I pointedly didn’t look at The Reserved Bean. If I did, I knew I would think of Theo and my face would turn red, leading to far too many questions.
“Holy shit,” Mitch said under his breath. “This is huge.”
“Well, thank you,” a voice said from the desk. “Not every town is blessed with big things.”
“Hi, Marjorie,” I said with a laugh.
“Back again?” she asked. “You have boyfriends this time.”
“No.” Joey said it immediately. “Not boyfriends.”
“She’s kidding,” I said. “And they’re my friends who’re visiting.”
“Obviously they can’t handle a few jokes at their expense.” Marjorie crossed her arms. “I should’ve pegged you for out-of-towners.”
“Save the pegging talk for your wife,” I said.
Marjorie gasped. “Piper, how dare you!”
“You hired Hugh for the nude drawing class.” I pointed at her. “I deserve to get a few cracks in.”
“How was I supposed to know he wouldn’t use a towel?” She sighed. “The old people in this town are so weird.”
“You guys are.”
Marjorie gasped. “How could you? Just when I was starting to like you.”
“She still likes you,” Henrietta said as she came around the corner. “Don’t worry about her.”
“I’m not,” I said with a smile. “I don’t mind the banter.”
“Good. Finally someone who doesn’t pretend to be annoyed about it.” She turned to her wife. “You and Theo always act annoyed.”
“We do it out of love.”
“You know Theo?” I asked it before I could stop myself.
“We do. I have a feeling you do too.” Marjorie looked at me pointedly, and I remembered the day where she ran into me in front of Theo’s shop.
“Uh . . . kind of.”
“Who’s Theo?” Joey asked.
“Coffee shop owner,” Marjorie explained. “He makes the best cup of Joe around.”
Mitch laughed. “Cup of Joe. I bet you’d like it. There’s only one letter off.”
Joey rolled his eyes. “Never heard that one before. We’ll check it out if Piper feels up to it.”
“When do you not feel up to it? I hear you’re there all the time.” Marjorie laughed, unaware of the fact that she’d just told my friends something I was hoping to keep on the down-low.
Joey was promising to be better, but if he knew how close I was with Theo, I knew he would have thoughts.
“I just need lots of caffeine to work,” I said.
“We feel the same,” Henrietta said with a smile.
“You know he’s single, right?” Marjorie asked.
“Why don’t we see the library?” I suggested, my voice loud. “Come on! Let’s go.”
“So, Theo . . .” Joey began.