Chapter 2 #3
had always felt a little out of step. She’d never completely fit in. As the oldest, she’d always felt a sense of duty to lead the way, but the reality was she was trailing behind. Her
sisters had found meaningful careers. They both had partners.
Meanwhile, Piper had a low-paying job and was flying solo. She’d also moved back in with her parents temporarily because the
faceless conglomerate that owned her apartment building had jacked up the rent. That was probably for the best, since it had
been a soul-sucking kind of place, picked with no regard for anything but affordability, after she moved out of Kyle’s. “Don’t
stress, Gabs. We’ve got this. We’re here for you. I’m here for you,” Piper added.
Gabby turned to face Piper. “Thank you. It means so much to me.”
“Is Sharon still here?” Willa asked. “I want to talk to her about the flower girl dresses before we go.”
“I could use some air. Piper and I’ll meet you all in the parking lot,” Josh said.
Piper followed her dad outside and clicked the unlock button on her fob. She’d come to Moondance straight from dog walking,
and in many ways, she was looking forward to the alone time during her drive home. She could take a break from wedding conversation.
“Hold on, kiddo. Can we talk?”
Piper smiled. Her dad always called her kiddo. “Of course. What’s up?”
“How are you holding up?” He gestured with a nod at the door of the bridal shop. “I know you love your sister, but that had
to be hard. Being in a sea of wedding dresses. Talking about wedding planning. You’re a real trouper for putting up with it.”
The tears were threatening again, and Piper’s first instinct was to keep a stiff upper lip, but her dad was right there, so
she took her chance and sank into his arms. She closed her eyes and soaked up his familiar, comforting embrace. He was somehow
squishy and rock-solid at the same time. He was the one man in her life who had never let her down. She had serious doubts
she’d ever meet another. “I’m okay. It means a lot that you said something. That you acknowledged it.”
“You know what I always say. Chin up. The best is yet to come.”
Piper had a hard time imagining her life getting any better. Or maybe different was a more apt word. It wasn’t as if she had a bad life—it was merely lacking. She loved her job, but she’d never make enough
money to buy her own house or at least not struggle. And because she lived in the same town where she’d grown up, her surroundings
were an ever-present reminder that she hadn’t gone anywhere. She couldn’t bear to leave. Her entire family was here. Still,
she felt like she hadn’t really lived. If only her world would open up ever so slightly. She just couldn’t figure out how to make that happen.
Josh released Piper from their embrace as Willa and Gabby walked out of the bridal shop. “Listen, Piper, I know we talked
about getting tickets this year, and you didn’t want me to buy them, but I say we make a promise to each other that we’ll
go to the Miami Grand Prix next year. Together. It’s silly we aren’t going tomorrow. The race is only forty-five minutes away.
An hour, tops. We shouldn’t have to watch qualifying on your phone in the middle of a bridal shop.”
“Dad, you and Mom are already letting me live with you. Those races are so expensive.”
“You’re living with us temporarily, honey. It’s not a big deal,” her dad said. “I want you to have something to look forward to. Plus, I know you’ll have everything
sorted out by this time next year.”
Piper smiled. She appreciated her dad’s sweetness so much. “Okay. If you say so. For tomorrow, we’ll watch the race from the
comfort of the living room.”
“And it’ll be awesome.”
Piper said goodbye to Gabby and told her parents she’d see them at home, then climbed into her silver Prius and peeled out
of the parking lot. Only a few minutes into her drive down Ocean Blvd, her phone rang. Caller ID said it was her boss, Nancy.
“Hi, Nancy. What’s up?” Piper answered, thinking this was odd. Saturdays were a light day for dog walking. Nancy rarely called
on the weekend.
“We got a request for an all-day dog sitting job tomorrow. Are you available? You’d have to be down in Miami by noon, and
it could run quite late. You’d make double your normal day rate, plus overtime for everything beyond eight hours.”
Piper nearly drove off the road, but she didn’t. She already had a few points on her license, thanks to having a bit of a
lead foot. “I’ll do it. Of course.” Rarely did Piper ever make that kind of money. “Tell me where and when and I’ll be there.”
“I’ll text you the details. Just confirm that you received the text.”
“Will do.” Piper ended the call, took the turn into her old neighborhood and pulled up in front of her parents’ house. A one-story
Florida bungalow, light blue with a crooked mailbox and a few palm trees in the front yard, this would always be home. She
killed the engine and fished her phone out of her bag.
When she looked at Nancy’s text, she wondered if she was dreaming. Or if her dad and Nancy had conspired.
Arrive by noon tomorrow, Formula One Miami Grand Prix, Miami International Autodrome. Call Isabel from Mega Racing for info
on a parking pass. I’ll send her info in a separate text.
“What the actual fuck?” Piper muttered to herself. Was this real? It was a legitimate question. Things like this didn’t happen
to Piper. She climbed out of the car, her heart pumping hard, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness coursing through
her veins. Mega Racing? Seriously? Their drivers were Xander Bishop and Emilio Baquero. Would she be working for one of them?
Don’t get ahead of yourself. She forced herself to take a cleansing breath. She didn’t know the details yet. She could be dog sitting for some corporate
paper pusher tomorrow. Still, any proximity to the sport she loved? That alone was exciting. “Hey, Dad,” she called. “You
won’t even believe the job I got for tomorrow.”
“Oh, yeah? A good one?” he replied, standing in the driveway.
Piper tapped out a reply to Nancy.
Got it. I’ll be there. Thank you!
“Yeah, you might say that. Looks like I’m going to the Miami Grand Prix. Sooner rather than later.”