27. Piper #3
“Let’s not worry about that,” I said quickly. “Theo doesn’t date. There’re whole posts about it in the Facebook group.”
“Yeah, I know. I joined.” Joey watched me closely and I was determined to meet his gaze. Eventually, he took in a breath. “So, the library. Care to show us around?”
Thank God. He was finally listening.
I pushed all thoughts of Theo out of my mind and led the two of them to the mural of the town, and then the kid’s section. By then, the scale of the place was hitting them and their eyes were round as we kept going.
We stopped at the romance section, where both of them marveled at the selection before going back downstairs.
Mitch wound up asking about online books and Henrietta got him to sign up for a library card.
By the time we were done, I was feeling better.
“Is there anywhere else you’ve been?” Joey asked.
“The grocery store and the coffee shop,” I said. “I’ve heard good things about Jade’s Goodies. Wanna go there with me?”
“We would love to,” Joey said, eyes bright. “Lead the way.”
When I walked in, I quickly realized this wasn’t only a candle shop; there were crystals lining the walls as well as different tapestries in the very rare free space. The air smelled sweet and heavy, like a mix of a lot of different scents that I couldn’t pick out individually.
“Wait, is that Piper?” Jade came from the back, her bright hair easy to spot in the shop. “You made it!”
“I told you I was meaning to come in.”
“Hey, sometimes people tell me that and it really means that they don’t like crystals and candles.” She waved her hand like it was nothing. “I’m not for everyone.”
“Well, you are for me. I’m just a little slow to try new things.”
“Thank God. This would be so awkward if you secretly hated me.” She smiled at me and then turned to Joey and Mitch. “Are these your friends?”
“We are,” Joey said, immediately taking over as he usually did. “I’m Joey and this is my fiancé.”
I opened my mouth to say something, but he continued on, asking about all the candles. I crossed my arms, remembering when I used to venture out and he would take over. He’d been on his best behavior at the library, but it seemed not everything was solved when it came to me and new places.
Still, I did my best to listen. Jade had a wide range, and I wanted to buy something from her. She led us to a table of her favorite candles. She handed one to Mitch, but then slid one to me.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that. I can just tell if I like it from the notes.”
Jade rolled her eyes. “I’m not leaving you out.”
“But it could fall and break.”
“I drop at least one a day. It’s fine.”
I couldn’t help but smile at Jade as I smelled the candle she was offering. It was a light floral scent, something I immediately knew I wanted to buy.
We went through a lot of her candles, and I wound up getting a few more and a crystal that was good for love.
“Any news on that front?” Jade asked me under her breath as she typed in the price of the crystal.
“Not yet,” I said. “And not everyone knows about that.”
Joey and Mitch were arguing over if they had too much.
“I’ll keep anything about Theo to myself.”
“Thank you. They’re protective.”
“I picked up on that,” she said, and her gaze fell on Joey. “He watches you closely.”
“Just now?”
She nodded, and I wondered if he would slip back into his old ways. Today had been fun, and I didn’t want to feel the simmering anger I had before.
Jade was distracted by Joey and Mitch, who’d decided to get everything. She smiled as if nothing had happened and covered for me seamlessly.
I appreciated it more than she knew.
After we all paid and left, I was determined to go back to my apartment and put everything up. When we got close to my building, Joey’s eyes lingered on The Reserved Bean.
I tensed. If he asked more questions, I wouldn’t know what to tell him.
Thankfully, neither of them had anything to say until I had set down everything I bought. That was when I thought I could start hinting that they needed to get back to Knoxville.
Joey spoke up before I could.
“So, are you up for coffee?”
My heart sank as I sat on the couch. “Why?”
“Well, you seem to like it. And I hear it’s good.”
I narrowed my eyes. “This isn’t where you try to question Theo, right?”
“N-no. Of course not.”
I didn’t believe him. “Are you sure about that?”
“I just wanna try the coffee. And meet Theo.”
That sounded like my worst nightmare.
“I’m honestly not feeling up to it.” I shook my head. My eyes flicked to the floor, where I wondered what Theo was up to. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that I’d be too obvious. “I’m about done.”
“Want us to join you for a movie?”
“U-uh, no. I think I just need time to myself.”
Joey tensed and I braced myself for another argument. I wasn’t sure I could take it.
But then his shoulders slowly lowered.
“Enjoy your time to yourself.” His voice was flat, but he headed to the door. “We need to get home anyway.”
Mitch looked between us with wide eyes, but all I could feel was relief.
Joey had finally listened, and he’d done it twice in one day.
Maybe something was going right after all.