Chapter 13 #2
I groaned. “I can’t deal with gossip on top of custody threats and whatever else pops into his little pea brain.”
“You can. And you will. Because you’re strong, and smart, not to mention as mean as a honey badger, but most of all, you’re not alone.”
I bit my lip and tried not to burst into tears.
“You have your family. You have Ren. And you have Hunter freaking Cassidy, who would take a wrench to the face for you. Or hit someone in the face with a wrench for you. Either way, go you! Finally. You have a man worth your time in your life.”
I swallowed hard, not answering as I tried to hold back the wave of emotion that rose in my throat.
She pulled me in for a hug, squeezing tight. “You’ve got this. And we’ve got you.”
I closed my eyes; she was right. But I was still scared. Because when someone tries to take your peace, your kids, your life—you either stand up and fight for it or you lose everything. And I was so damn tired of fighting for everything I had.
Piper didn’t let go right away. When she finally pulled back, her eyes softened, the fierce sister-warrior in her giving way to something warmer.
“Okay,” she said, “I can’t fix Eli today, but I can start working on your face.”
I blinked. “My face?”
“Your mood-face,” she clarified. “It’s tragic now. You’ve gone from glowing to Eeyore if he were going through perimenopause.”
I groaned. “I’m sorry. I feel like I have whiplash. Did you come over to insult me or—”
“—to save you,” she interrupted. “From yourself. And from this vortex of gloom Eli keeps pulling you into.”
“I’m okay. I don’t need saving from anything—” I started.
She held up a finger. “Don’t. Shh. I already have a plan.”
“Well, that’s terrifying.”
“It’s wonderful,” she said, grabbing her coffee and taking a sip before continuing. “Your birthday is coming up.”
I gave her a look. “Don’t. Nope. Uh-uh.”
“Oh, I will. Yep. Uh-huh. Forty, Paige. The big 4-0. You can’t just let it pass by while you hide in your bar yelling at whatever appliance is acting up.”
“I don’t hide in my bar,” I protested. “I—”
“Shhh,” she said, taking a bite of muffin like she’d won the argument. “I’m thinking cocktails, twinkle lights, maybe that band from the summer festival, and cake. Obviously cake. Hello, I am the best baker in town. Multiple cakes. Like a cake buffet.”
“Piper—”
“You can wear something sparkly. I’ll wear something sparkly, and the girls will too.
Do you think Noah will wear a sparkly tie?
Or a vest?” I shook my head no because there was no way he would agree to that.
“Well, shopping in Portland is imminent; we’ll take him to lunch and see what he thinks.
Oh! And we’ll make Grandma wear sequins so she blinds people when she dances. ”
Despite myself, a laugh slipped out. “She’d do it.”
“She’d own it,” Piper said. “And you? You’re going to let people celebrate you for once in your life. Twilight Tavern, your birthday, your divorce, and your burgeoning relationship with hottie Hunter. It will be amazing.”
I shook my head, though my throat felt tight. “I don’t know if I’m in the mood to celebrate anything right now.”
“That’s exactly why we’re doing it,” she said, softer now. “Because life doesn’t stop being hard. But you deserve a night where you don’t have to fight, where you can just be happy. Even if it’s only for a few hours.”
I stared at her, torn between wanting to protest and wanting to believe her.
“I don’t need a party,” I muttered.
“Maybe not,” she said. “But you need a reminder that you’re loved. And I am really good at reminding people of that.”
For a second, I had to look away. Because if I didn’t, she might see that she was getting to me.
She reached across the table and tapped the table in front of me. “Think about it. In the meantime, I’ll just quietly plan it behind your back. I have what? Like a month-ish? By that time, you’ll be so happy with Hunter you’ll be begging for a party to show off. Trust me.”
“Quietly plan? That’s not how ‘quietly’ works,” I muttered as I tried to muster a glare, but my lips betrayed me. “You’re impossible,” I said, failing to keep the affection from my voice.
She only shrugged, her smile gentle. “Only when it comes to the people I love.”
“I love you, too.”
A silence stretched between us, companionable and full of things unsaid. My fingers traced circles on the rim of my mug, and I let myself imagine—just for a moment—what it would be like to say yes to the party. To let go, even briefly.
Piper’s phone chimed, and she glanced at it before shoving it away like nothing could distract her from this mission. “No pressure,” she added. “Let yourself have hope, okay?”
I let out a breath. “Okay. I’ll try.”
She brightened. “That’s all I wanted to hear. You’ll show up and it’ll be the best night of your life. I promise.”
I rolled my eyes, but there was a little warmth in my chest now. A spark I hadn’t felt in weeks.
Piper was going on about cake flavors when my phone buzzed again.
I pulled it closer, half-expecting another message from Ren about legal nightmares. The muscles in my shoulders eased when I saw the name.
Hunter: Eat breakfast. Real breakfast. Not coffee and stress. If you say you don’t have time, I’m bringing you bacon and eggs, and you know I’ll do it.
A smile tugged at my mouth before I could stop it. I took a long sip of coffee, hoping the mug would hide the way my cheeks went warm.
Piper was watching me over the rim of her own mug, her eyes narrowing like a cat stalking something shiny. “Is that him?”
“No,” I lied, my voice coming out too fast and too high.
Her mouth curled into a slow, knowing grin. She leaned forward, elbows on the table, her napkin crinkling in her fingers. “Uh-huh. Let me guess—something sweet, slightly bossy, and guaranteed to make you blush?”
I shoved my phone into the front pocket of my pants and busied myself with tidying up the table. “Stop.”
She made a satisfied mm-hmm sound, brushing a stray crumb off the table like she’d just wrapped up a successful interrogation. “This is going to be so fun. I’m putting him on the guest list and sitting you two at the same table. Maybe under mistletoe.”
“It’s not even Christmas,” I said, shaking my head.
“Details,” she said, waving me off. “It doesn’t have to be Christmas for mistletoe to be effective at a party. Just saying.”
“I’d rather you help me plan my grand reopening party for the bar. I don’t need a birthday party.”
“I’ve already decided to combine the two. How fun will that be?”
Before I could throw my napkin at her, my phone buzzed again. The vibration rattled against the table, and this time, I didn’t grab it right away.
Piper’s brows shot up. “Is it him again? Already? That’s a good sign.”
“I don’t think so,” I said slowly, pulling the phone out, “I’m afraid it’s Ren with more bad news. My text notifications should come with a warning alarm.”
It wasn’t Ren with bad news. But I almost wished it was.
Eliza: Were you and Hunter making out in front of the tavern last night, or was that just the world’s most romantic Heimlich maneuver? Asking for the entire town, because they’re driving through asking me about it when they order coffee. I’d promise not to say anything, but it’s already out there.
My stomach dropped like a stone into cold water.
Piper caught the shift instantly. Her chair scraped against the hardwood as she sat up straighter. “Oh my god. It’s already all the way out there now, isn’t it? I didn’t think Jasper was the gossiping type.”
“He isn’t. Someone else had to have seen us.” My voice wobbled. “And now half of Honeybrook Hollow knows we were having a parking lot make-out session under the neon lights.”
“That was faster than I thought,” her laugh was short and disbelieving. She leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.
I slouched back in my chair, rubbing at my temples. “Piper, if Eli hears about this—”
Her teasing expression shifted into something calmer and more deliberate.
“He will hear about it, that’s a given. But it doesn’t matter.
Don’t forget that he’s the delusional, dirtbag cheater who left his wife and three kids for another woman and tried to make his baby girl quit her dance class, the rotten bastard.
That’s not on you. You’re allowed to have a life, and he’s allowed to suck a bag of di—lemons. ”
I stared at the swirl of coffee in my mug.
I sighed, feeling the weight settle heavily.
“Yeah, but logic doesn’t really win against humiliation, does it?
I just wish I could rewind and keep our business private for once.
” The ache in my chest tangled with embarrassment; I hated being the center of whispers, even when I’d done nothing wrong.
“I just hope people move on to something else soon and let this drop.”
“They will. Try not to worry. Eli is the problem. Not you.”
“You know he doesn’t see it that way. I mean, I don’t care what he thinks about me; I’m over that. But the kids don’t need to be involved in town gossip, and I’m beginning to think he will trash me as much as he can if he thinks it will get him what he wants.”
“I know,” she cut in gently, reaching across the table to nudge my hand until I looked up at her. “But you’ve got people in your corner. More than you think.”
Her fingers wrapped around mine, warm and certain. “You’re not alone in this. And I think you’re about to find out just how not-alone you are. No one in their right mind will take his side. Please believe that.”
“I wish I could stay home tonight and hide from this. But Jasper is off, and I have to be behind the bar, damn it.”
“Want me to stop by?”
“No, it’s okay. I’ll have to deal with this sooner or later anyway. Might as well be sooner.”
“Okay. You got this. You know that, right?”
I forced a smile and squeezed her hand. “Yeah. I always do. Thanks, Piper. Really. I mean it.” She grinned, eyes crinkling with warmth, and stood to gather her things. I watched her sling her bag over her shoulder, lingering for a moment by the door.
“Get some rest before work if you can, okay?” Piper said, pausing as she reached for the handle. “Text me if you need anything, or if you want me to kick someone’s ass.”
I laughed softly, feeling lighter. “I will. Later.”
“Later.” She hugged me, then slipped out, leaving the kitchen a little quieter.
The rest of the night passed without incident.
I kept my head down at work, pouring drinks and laughing with the regulars.
The whispers faded into the usual background noise of the bar, and by closing time, I almost forgot there was anything to worry about at all.
Then Hunter showed up, and all my worries faded away.
When my night ended, I drove home beneath a quiet sky, the crisp air clearing away the last of my nerves.
I let myself in, shed my jacket, and settled onto the couch, a gentle relief blooming in my chest. For once, everything felt manageable—maybe not perfect, but enough.
I was okay. Tomorrow would come, and I’d be ready.