24. Piper
24
PIPER
“You cannot be serious.” I mutter into Kelly’s ear, who refuses to break the hug. “What is he doing here?
Colin is already walking over to us. What, the crap, is happening?
“I have to go. I’m going to call it a night. I can’t handle him right now.” I tell Kelly. “Your work is amazing. You are amazing. Congratulations, babe!” I fill the last part in quickly before I practically race for the exit. I see Kelly intercepting Colin as I turn away.
I quickly text my friends that I am leaving on my way out the door. I don’t see them, but I’m sure they are entertaining each other. Bailey won’t have any trouble getting home on her own.
It got dark while I was attempting to socialize. When my feet hit the slightly damp concrete, the smell of petrichor hits me. It rained while I was inside. The night is cool and wet, I wrap my arms around myself. The light flickers faintly in the distance and a different type of chill hits me. A loose wire in a street light probably. Or it could be…I shove my glasses up my nose, lean against the wall, and scan the shadows of the buildings across the street, searching the rooftops for a Mothman silhouette. There are a few things—fuzzy blotches that could almost maybe be someone. None of it is him.
Crap. I have to stop hoping that I’m going to see him. I told him to stay away, and he’s only doing what I asked.
I force my eyes closed and take a deep breath. I’m not exactly sober, but I can’t tell if the alcohol or the panic of running into Colin is affecting me more. Between Ant and Colin, I know who I’d rather see right now.
I take a couple more breaths, savoring how blessedly quiet it is out here.
“Piper.” A voice pops up in front of me. Without opening my eyes I recognize it. “Can we talk?”
“What are you doing here?” I keep my eyes closed.
“Kelly and Jeremy have been my friends as long as they were yours. The invite was online.” Colin's voice is smooth, like he knew this meeting was inevitable. I wish I’d had some indication it would happen.
My eyes finally pop open. “You are supposed to be in New York. Several thousand miles from here.”
“The start-up folded a month after I got there.” Colin says.
“I’m sorry,” I say, even though I don’t mean it. “You could have told me you were back.”
“I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”
“I don’t.” I laugh unexpectedly. Caught off guard by the sound, I laugh again, at my own laugh.
Colin flinches. “Well, you got rid of the rest of my stuff. What was I supposed to do?”
“It’s safe and sound in your storage locker!”
He gives me a pitying look, like he thinks I am crazy. “I didn’t forget about it. I was coming back for it.”
“How would I know? You didn’t call or text. You never told me an address for me to ship it.” I swallow hard.
“There wasn’t room for extra baggage in New York,” Colin protests.
“Is that what I am? Extra baggage?” I can’t help laughing.
“Of course not, Piper. I just needed a chance to try some of the other things I missed out on while we were together.”
“You wanted to fuck other women?”
“I wanted to explore possibilities. And now I’m back. We can start over!”
“Start over?” I must have misheard him.
“I missed you. New York wasn’t the same without you.” He reaches a hand toward me. I move out of its path.
“I heard you finally got our little project off the ground.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Our project?”
“Penpoint. You sold it, right?”
“No. I didn’t sell it. I found a sponsor who plans to help us expand.”
“And now we can expand our lives together.” He grins like he’s got it all figured out.
“You can’t be serious.” I step to one side around Colin.
“I never should have left.” He moves to block my path. “I love you, Piper.”
I laugh, loudly, and this time, I can’t seem to stop. How stupid is all of this?
His eyes narrow, and one hand tightens into a fist at his side. He would never hit me, right? I take a step away from him. “You still love me too, don’t you?
My stomach flips, but it doesn’t take soul searching. I know the truth right away. “No. Colin. I don’t.”
“Did you ever really love me?”
“Of course I did,” I say, but the nerves make a laugh bubble up from deep inside. “And then you left.”
“And now I’m back!” He spits out the words, so angry with me.
I suck in a deep breath, not sure how to respond to him. My reaction comes out of me as a loud laugh.
“It’s not funny,” Colin mutters.
“You showing up, here and now?” I laugh so hard that I feel hot tears welling up into my eyes. “It’s basically a dark comedy.”
“Piper?” Bailey’s figure is suddenly in the well-lit, doorway of the art gallery, “Everything alright?”
Anam and Kelly appear right behind her. They stand just inside the gallery doorway. I don’t know where they’ve been, but I’m glad to see them.
Colin’s eyes flick to the small crowd and back to me. “Which one of them are you fucking? Or is it all of them?” He leans in close as he says it.
“You’re an idiot,” I say, but I can feel my mask breaking and the tears becoming real.
“And what? Now you are going to cry?” he asks. “You always overreact, Piper.”
“Please, just stop. I don’t want to talk to you.” I wipe a tear from my cheek, even though how wrong he is makes me want to scream. I’m not overreacting.
“Enough. You have to go.” Anam is suddenly in front of me, stepping between me and Colin, pointing a finger at his chest.
“This is none of your business.” He glares at me over Anam’s head.
“I’m about to make it my business.” Anam puts her arms akimbo. She’s barely five feet tall but somehow manages to seem intimidating.
“You do not know me well enough to talk to me like this.” Colin says to her.
Colin opens his mouth, but closes it quickly when the other two women step forward. Kelly already has her phone out to dial someone. Ever the reasonable one.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you.” Bailey crosses her arms, looking not unlike a mafia boss. I think Sacha might have rubbed off on her.
Collin’s face is red. He looks ready to scream but his voice comes out deadly calm. “I was leaving anyway. We can talk about this later, Piper.” He storms down the sidewalk.
I wipe a tear from under my glasses.
“Are you alright, babe?” Bailey asks. I step away from her arm. I just can’t stand to be touched right now.
“He didn’t used to be like this.” I have to pause and sniff in the middle of my sentence. I don’t know why I feel the need to defend him.
“He was always a bit like this.” Anam rolls her eyes.
Kelly scowls in her direction.
“I’m sorry, but he was always kind of an ass. And you are better off without him!” Anam throws her hands up in the air.
“No argument there.” An awkward little laugh breaking through my tears. “I was so stupid to date him.”
“No. You weren’t.” Kelly says quietly.
“We’ve all dated the wrong guy before.” Bailey pipes up.
“I’m sorry you had to come to my rescue.” I try to stop my voice from cracking. “I’m ruining the evening.” They shouldn’t have to be here for me.
“Oh, Piper. No, sweetie. You aren’t, he did.” Bailey shakes her head. “Can we do anything?”
“I’m fine.” I smile, although I know it isn’t convincing. “I’m okay. I just didn’t expect to see him tonight.” I end my sentence with a broken sob that turns into a hiccup. I can’t help but laughing at the sound.
Anam bites her lip, trying to hide her amusement, and then she hugs me.
“Why don’t I give you a ride home?” Bailey offers.
“I can order a ride.” I hold up my phone.
“No. Don’t be silly. Sacha gave me his driver for the evening. It’s pointless if I don’t even get drunk tonight.” She takes my hand. “And I’m not sending you home in some stranger’s car.”
I let her take me. She smartly doesn’t try to make smalltalk on our way to my apartment, and she drops me off and waits for me to get inside. I can’t help checking the rooftops, one more time, for a familiar shadow again—still nothing. I can’t stand the idea of being alone tonight.