Chapter Seventeen
S hea caught Piper at the bar, nodding at the fond expression on Piper’s face as she watched Massima enthusiastically recount some story to August from across the room.
Piper reluctantly looked at Shea instead.
“You’re such a goner,” Shea said with a laugh.
“How so?”
She rolled her eyes. “As if you don’t know.”
Piper shook her head. “Do you think we’ve managed to scare her off yet?”
Shea scoffed. “Not at all.”
Something swooped in Piper’s stomach. She’d really wanted tonight to go well, even if she hadn’t said it out loud. She’d worried the group might come on too strong with their excitement and reluctance to pretend she and August were just friends with no attraction in the mix. “Yeah?”
Shea nudged her lightly. “I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about. At least, not when it comes to August fitting in with the group.”
Piper paused, nodding slowly as she watched the bartender serving patrons, before whipping her head back to Shea. “Wait. What do I have to worry about?”
Shea smirked. “She’s hot.”
“Yes, thank you. I think we’ve covered—at length—that particular topic, don’t you?” she said, referencing the many, many texts Shea had sent her about August since Tuesday night.
“Oh, we’ve covered that you think she’s hot.”
Piper shook her head, scowling slightly—mostly for show. “I see. Now, you’re telling me you think she’s hot.”
“She objectively is.” She laughed. “But, yeah, if I didn’t respect the fact that she’s here with you, I’d shoot my shot.”
“So, you’re saying, if I do start dating her, I’m going to have to contend with you constantly wishing you’d met her first?”
“Hey, you win some, you lose some.”
“What does that mean?” Piper asked, understanding the saying but not sure how it applied to their current situation.
Shea laughed again. “It means, I definitely would have been up for it if I’d met her first, but I guess it wasn’t meant to be. At least I win by getting to hang out with a hot woman.”
“You’re insatiable.”
“Literally my whole vibe, Pipes. You know this.”
Piper shook her head fondly. She did know that. She just didn’t need to know in quite so much detail that her friends thought August was hot. Even if they were objectively correct.
Shea nudged her again. “Can’t believe you and Eva both got to her first.”
“She’s not a snack.”
“Correct. Woman’s a whole meal.”
“Not what I meant.”
“I know.” She grinned. “And I know it would have gone as well for me as it did for Eva—which is to say, terribly. But, a woman can dream, can’t she?”
“Bit weird to be dreaming about the people your friends are dating.”
“Ah, so you admit you’re dating?”
Piper froze. “No.”
“You just said—”
“Slip of the tongue.”
“Oh, I know exactly where you want to slip that tongue.”
“For fuck’s sake, Shea.”
“Exactly why I do everything, Pipes.”
Piper sighed. “Do I need to stop bringing August around you?”
Shea laughed. “Not at all. You know I’m just messing with you.”
“Do I?” She did. They’d been friends more than long enough for Piper to know that, but she still wanted to check. The last thing in the world she wanted was to put August in an awkward situation.
Shea dropped the joking attitude and looked at Piper seriously. “I really am just joking. I mean, I still love sex—and that is the reason I do a lot of things, let’s be honest—but August is good here. And I’m happy for you. You seem… good when she’s around.”
Piper blinked, her chest a little tight with the sudden emotional shift. “How’d you mean?”
“You know, all that stuff you were saying the other night. You’ve been looking for something special for so long, and, even if I thought it was just how these things went, it’s been like watching you get more and more detached from love the longer you waited. Like, the more dates you went on, the more you tried to wash each one away with the notion that they didn’t matter. I didn’t fully realize what had happened until our conversation the other night, but then, I thought about it and it was right there in front of me.”
“Well, they didn’t matter. They weren’t the right match.”
Shea smiled softly. “I know that. But, with them, went the spark you had when you first started dating. The one that believed in something romantic and magical.”
“I still believe in that.”
“I know. But for other people and not yourself.”
Piper stared at her. She hadn’t even realized how deep the whole thing had gone. She’d been so sure that nothing about her approach had changed—at least, not outwardly. But, now that Shea was saying it, she could see it herself. She could see it in the way she’d talked to August during their first meeting—how she’d categorized dates as fun stories to tell her dentist. Without realizing it, Piper had given up truly believing that she deserved to find something special. She kept going on dates because she wanted it to be true, but Shea was right. The more dates that failed, the less likely it seemed that one of them wouldn’t, and the more it felt like she deserved the bad ones.
She hummed, not registering that the bartender had reached them until Shea started ordering for their group.
He moved away to make their drinks and Shea turned back to her. “Sorry. Weird time and place to give you that realization.”
“No. It’s good.” Piper adjusted her gaze to fully focus on Shea again. “I just… didn’t notice.”
Shea nodded, her brow puckering. “And that’s why I’d never even dream of trying anything with August. Because you met her, and you came back. It’s been so good to see that version of you again.”
Piper laughed a little breathlessly. “So, the whole time…”
“Yeah.” Shea laughed too. “I was just waiting for the moment you showed up at my place ready to face your feelings.”
“You’re such a dick.”
“Ah, but I’m a dick who loves you—and one who lets you interrupt them having sex to talk about your sex life.”
“That’s just because you’re nosy and enjoy living vicariously.”
“Oh, obviously.” She winked. “I mean, gotta hear the details to get new ideas for things to try.”
Piper laughed. “As if there’s anything you’re going to learn from me that you haven’t already attempted.”
“You might be surprised. You’ve got a bit more of a—”
“I beg you, don’t finish that sentence.”
Shea laughed, the sound loud and free, before she raised her hands. “I’m not doing anything that’s going to stop you from keeping me informed.”
“I’m not telling you a single thing moving forward.”
“It’s healthy to share, Piper.”
“This does not feel healthy.”
“It will. When you get over the momentary embarrassment.”
“What makes you think it’s momentary?”
“Experience.”
Piper winced. Shea had her there. Their shared history had plenty of examples of things Piper had been mortified to say in the moment but had gotten over sooner or later. And, so long as Shea wasn’t quoting them back to her, they didn’t bother her now. So, maybe she had a point.
Shea smiled warmly at her. “I’m happy for you, though. Really. August’s great. And she is fitting in perfectly.”
Nerves poked at Piper’s insides again. “Yeah? You think Hermes likes her?”
“Well, I think he’s more taken with her brother for the minute… but, yeah. I think he’s going to love her.” Shea shot Piper a look. “You do know that, even if he didn’t, it wouldn’t be his choice whether you date her or not?”
“Yes. Yeah. Of course. I just want her to feel welcome around everyone, and you know why this can be hard for him.”
Shea nodded. “I do, but he’s working on that in therapy. And he’d be the first to tell you that you can’t build your life around his trauma.”
“I know. But he’s my friend and I don’t want to trigger it, either.”
Shea shook her head as the bartender began adding their drinks to a round tray. “You’re worrying way too much. And I don’t really think it’s about him. I think it’s because you like her so much. You finally found the spark and it’s terrifying.”
Piper scoffed. “Yeah, no kidding.”
“You don’t need to worry. She’s found it too. Do something about it.”
“This is the first time you’ve ever met her.”
“So? It’s easy to see how much she’s into you.” Shea nodded over to where August was laughing with Massima. “She’s even laughing at Massima’s weird penguin statue story. You don’t do that if you’re not interested.”
“It’s a funny story,” Piper protested.
“It’s a penguin in someone’s bedroom. It’d be funny if it were alive, maybe.”
“You’re telling me a life-size penguin staring at someone’s bed wouldn’t turn you off and make you want to leave?”
“Not at all. I’ve done weirder.”
“Maybe I should be getting more stories out of you…”
Shea laughed. “You’re not ready for those ones. If you and August start getting into really kinky stuff, hit me up.”
“We haven’t even—”
“It’s only a matter of time.” She grabbed the tray, turned, and headed back to their table.
Piper wasn’t even upset at being cut off. All she could really think was that she hoped it was only a matter of time, too. She absolutely needed to cancel that date on Saturday. Even if August wasn’t interested in pursuing something with her, Piper was so hung up on wanting her that she’d be a terrible and unfair date for anyone else right now.
She followed Shea back to the table and was delighted when August stepped away from Massima to claim her attention.
“Having fun?” she asked, smiling softly.
Piper hummed. “Yeah, you know, just getting… told off, maybe, by Shea.”
“Told off?”
Piper laughed. “Perhaps that’s not the right term for it. Just… Shea being Shea.”
August shot her a puzzled look, but Piper wasn’t sure she wanted to explain in further detail that Shea’s whole thing had basically been telling her to pull her head out of her ass and get with August.
Instead, Piper shook the conversation off, smiled, and stepped a little closer to August. “Speaking of Shea, have you asked her that question yet?”
August ducked her head, and, while the lights were too low to be certain, Piper could have sworn August was blushing. “Not yet. The fact that you’re bringing it up again makes me absolutely certain I don’t want to ask.”
Piper laughed. “Yeah, might be for the best, honestly. She’d probably enjoy you asking a little too much.”
August’s head whipped back to her, confusion written across her face. “How so?”
Before Piper could answer, a group of people came bustling past them, accidentally pushing August closer to Piper. Piper’s hand flew up automatically, gripping August’s side to help steady her. And, while she knew, once they passed, that she should move it, when August didn’t step away, Piper couldn’t bring herself to pull her hand back.
“Sorry, how so?” August prompted again, still not stepping away and resolutely not addressing Piper’s hand on her side.
Piper breathed a laugh. She felt her pulse racing in her hand where they were connected. “She thinks you’re hot.”
“Oh.” August’s eyes were wide. “Does she, indeed?”
“Apparently. So, you know, if you were interested, she’d definitely be up for it.”
“I’m not interested,” August said a little too quickly. She cleared her throat. “I mean, she’s lovely, but she’s not… I’m not… Shea’s not really my type.”
Something inside of Piper felt like it relaxed. She hadn’t expected August to be interested—not least because the two were looking for very different things—but it was still a relief to hear her say it. If she’d been interested, Piper wouldn’t have stood in her way, but it would have made things more than a little awkward.
She flexed her hand slightly, pressing her palm closer to August and wrapping it a little further around August’s back. Feeling August shudder against her was far more erotic than it had any right to be. As was the way August avoided her gaze but still didn’t move away or address the touch.
“So,” Hermes said, stepping into their tiny personal bubble and looking between the two of them.
Piper’s stomach twisted, certain he was about to call out their closeness and not wanting the electric energy between them to be broken by someone commenting on it.
“Yes?” August asked, somehow recovering faster than Piper and smiling at Hermes.
“Tell me your brother’s worst roommate qualities. What do I need to know before he moves in?”
“You do know he and I don’t live together, right?” August paused, the penny dropping. “Wait. Before he moves in? Does that mean you’ve agreed to let him?”
Hermes smiled, something very slightly smug but not in a negative way. It was the smile that told Piper Shea was right. Hermes was going to be absolutely fine with August.
“Maybe,” he said, inspecting his fingernails.
“Hermes,” Piper said, warningly.
He laughed, shooting her a look that conveyed he’d noticed exactly where her hand was still resting. He looked back at August. “Assuming you don’t have anything truly terrible to share, yes, I’m perfectly happy for him to move into my place.”
“Oh, my god,” August breathed, and, even if Piper hadn’t been touching her, she’d have been able to see the tension August was carrying over the topic. “And Ford agreed?”
Hermes raised an eyebrow. “Should he not have? Do I not seem like an absolute gift to live with?”
“No. Yes. You do. I just… Ford’s been so reluctant to move.”
“He said he’d told you he was ready?”
August nodded. “He did. I just wasn’t sure he’d actually be able to.”
Piper looked at her fondly, caressing August’s back with her thumb. It was a risky move given they were trying so hard to ignore that it was happening, but she could tell August needed the comfort. The responsibility she felt towards Ford and his living situation was even heavier than she’d let on. Piper still wasn’t sure it was hers to carry, but emotions were just like that, she supposed.
“I mean, clearly, I’m just irresistible,” Hermes said, sniffing lightly.
August laughed, the sound a little awkward. “He’s—I don’t know if he mentioned it, but he’s just had a bit of an awkward situation with one of his current roommates…”
“Holly. Yes, he mentioned.”
“I don’t want him to get stuck in anything like that.”
Hermes shot August a look. “You don’t need to worry. Your brother is hot and all—”
“I don’t need to know that.”
“—but I don’t sleep with my roommates. It overcomplicates things.”
Piper shot him a look. That had never been a rule he’d mentioned before. As far as she knew, since he stopped couch surfing, he’d never had the remotest bit of interest in anyone he’d lived with. Then again, he’d mostly lived alone and it hadn’t been an issue. Perhaps it wouldn’t be an issue with Ford, either, but Piper was hardly the authority on resisting Carmichael siblings. She hadn’t even been trying to date August and she’d still ended up here.
August nodded. “Okay. Great.” She looked like a huge weight was being lifted from her shoulders and she softened, leaning a little more into Piper’s side.
“So, any skeletons in the closet I need to know about?” Hermes asked. “I do know you don’t technically live together, but he mentioned staying at your place a lot.”
August glanced around, clearly still astounded things were working out for Ford and that he was willing to move out of his current place. “I think the biggest skeleton we have—at least that I know about—is our names.”
Hermes tilted his head. “How so?”
August laughed. “Our parents pulled from the family tree to name us.”
Hermes, for obvious reasons, wasn’t the type to ask whether the name somebody introduced themselves as was their birth name, but Piper could see he was curious about August’s comments. “Right…” he said slowly.
August smiled, taking pity on him. “Augusta and Buford. It’s not a secret, we just don’t use those names on a daily basis.”
Hermes watched her with narrowed eyes. “Your name is Augusta?”
“Yep.”
“Well, August works well on you.”
She laughed, and Piper slid her arm a little further around her back, her fingers tracing August’s waist again, this time on the side that was furthest away from her.
“And I can see why Ford uses, well, Ford. ” Hermes scrunched his brow up. “I can’t imagine Buford is especially wearable for anyone under seventy these days.”
“Indeed.”
Hermes paused, something flickering across his face. He looked pointedly from August to Piper and back again. “So, when you get married, do you think you’ll use August or Augusta?”
August laughed. “Well, it’s my legal name, so, I suppose, for the legal proceedings, it’ll be Augusta.”
“Hm.” Hermes looked back at Piper with such intensity that she felt herself blushing furiously. “Isn’t that interesting to think about?”
“Is it?” Piper said, her voice a little tight and squeaky.
“Oh, I think it is,” Hermes said, shooting her a dark grin.
“I think that might be a little invasive for someone you’ve only just met…” Piper’s throat felt dry. She still couldn’t bring herself to pull her arm back from August, though.
August laughed. “It’s totally fine. Over the years, Ford and I have had plenty of chances to change our legal names and we haven’t. And we’ve heard every comment you can think of. Nothing bothers us anymore. Asking about my wedding is not the weirdest comment I’ve had about it by a long stretch.”
Hermes smirked at Piper. “See? No problem at all. Besides, we’re all friends here. And about to be family, basically.”
“How so?” Piper squeaked.
“Oh, you know, me and Ford living together and all…”
“Right.” Piper stared at him. That wasn’t what he meant and they both knew it.
He grinned smugly and his gaze fell to where her fingers were gripping August’s waist—from where she still didn’t want to remove them.