35. Piper
PIPER
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Kerry Winsor: Tommy came in THIRD at my church’s race! What a fast boy!
Comments:
Mollie Wilson: And how many were in the race?
Kerry Winsor: MOLLIE! It doesn’t matter! He came in third!
Mollie Wilson: Say how many were in the race, Kerry.
Kerry Winsor: . . . three.
A mixture of fear and excitement made my fingers tingle as we pulled up to the hotel. I never thought I’d be able to go to a busy bookstore in Nashville, much less stay in a hotel with my boyfriend.
So much of my life now felt like a dream. Even though I still felt fear, I was able to fight it and move on with my life.
But I wasn’t allowing it behind the wheel anymore. It didn’t control every choice I made.
The hotel Theo picked was simple, and only a few cars littered the parking lot. Still, I bounced on the balls of my feet as we checked in. The room had one bed and a simple desk in the corner.
“So this is a hotel.”
“A basic one. We’ll try to stay somewhere nicer next time.”
I loved it when he mentioned that there would be a next time. He’d warned me that things could change at any point, but sometimes, it felt like he wanted forever too.
I wanted to believe it was possible.
“Still, it’s clean, which is nice for a first timer.”
“It has good reviews too. I did my research.”
I was lucky enough to have people who cared about me, but there was something so different about the way Theo cared. It felt freeing and empowering. I loved every second of it.
“So, dinner. What are we near?”
“Quite a few things. Though, I do have a craving for something we don’t have back home.”
“And what’s that?”
“Korean barbecue. We get our own table and make our own food.”
My stomach rumbled in anticipation. This just kept getting better and better. “God, that sounds amazing.”
The drive wasn’t long, and I stuck closer to Theo as we waited for a table. He did what he did at the bookstore, where he kept watch so I could relax.
I did just that, up until I felt his body tense while we waited.
“What’s going on?” I asked as I looked up at him. His jaw was tight as he looked behind me, but at my words, he let out a breath.
“Nothing you need to worry about. I just know someone here.”
I followed his line of sight, looking at the other people. “Who is it?”
I blew out a breath. “The kid I called CPS for.”
“What? The one you’re friends with?”
“Friends is a strong word, and I swear he only talks to me because—shit. He’s coming over here.”
I turned just in time to see a guy in his early thirties with messy light-colored hair. He was smiling, but his eyes carried the same weight as Theo’s. From one look, I knew Alex had been through just as much.
“Theo?” he asked. “No way. What are you doing here?”
“I had a meeting,” he replied. “Hi, Alex.”
“What a coincidence. It’s been forever since I saw you in person.”
“Yeah, well. We weren’t in the best of places last time.”
Alex nodded and his face fell. “We weren’t. But things are better now, right?”
I watched Alex carefully. He stared at Theo, leaning toward him slightly. His fingers tapped on his pants, and I knew he was nervous, but he seemed so hopeful that Theo would reciprocate.
“Oh, sorry.” He finally noticed me. “I’m Alex. Are you his friend?”
“Girlfriend.”
Alex’s eyes went wide. “When did that happen?”
“It’s new. We met not too long ago in Strawberry Springs.”
“I can text you about it,” Theo said. “I’m sure you have other things to get to.”
“Not really,” he said. “I was just hanging out by myself, but . . . never mind. I’ll leave you two alone.”
Theo nodded and Alex turned to walk away.
That was when I stepped in.
“Do you wanna join us?” I asked.
Alex paused. “Uh, aren’t you on a date?”
“We’re together a lot, and I don’t mind. You’re welcome to join us if you want.”
“I’d like that.” Alex stood up straighter and then looked at Theo, who was staring at me like I’d grown a second head. “Only if Theo is okay with it.”
I knew more than anyone how Theo could come off to people. He seemed not to notice how intense he could be, and how easy it was for people to assume he didn’t like them. I elbowed him and raised an eyebrow.
“It’s fine if you join us. We do really need to catch up.”
“Really?” Alex asked. “Then yes. I’d really like that.”
“Great.” I smiled at Alex and turned to Theo. “One of these days, you’ll learn that people don’t hate you as much as you think.”
“You’re really throwing me in, aren’t you?”
“Get used to it, love.”
Theo’s eyes were wide as I stole his nickname for me. I only smirked.
Alex walked up to the hostess and asked to join our party. Only a few minutes later, we were being led to a table.
As our waitress brought out salads and sides, Alex asked questions about the coffee shop. I focused on trying food I didn’t get often, letting the two guys talk.
Theo answered when he was addressed, but I could see the same haunted expression he had with me when Arlo walked into the coffee shop. I knew his shame over it ran deep, and that kind of thing didn’t disappear overnight.
Alex kept glancing over, and as the meat came out, his shoulders sank. He was losing hope, and the tiny amount of happiness I’d seen before was gone.
“Oh, work calls,” Alex said, pulling out his phone. “Mind if I step away for a bit?”
Theo nodded, but sighed when we were alone. I was grilling meat on the table, making sure it didn’t burn.
“So, is there any reason you’re so tense?” I gently poked at him. Every one of his muscles was rock-hard.
He sighed. “I have a feeling he’ll have some excuse to leave.”
“Why’s that?”
“Come on, Piper. I’m not a good reminder for him.”
“Why don’t you let him decide that?” I asked. “Just like I did.”
“I am. He’s gonna want to leave.”
“And if he doesn’t? Are you still gonna have the personality of a stiff board?”
Theo reared back. “I’m not—I just don’t know what to say.”
“You’re coming off as if you don’t like him. If he wants to get to know you, the past doesn’t matter. If there’s no reason not to like him—”
“There’s not. He’s a great person.”
“Then let go of the past for a little bit. Be how you are with me.”
“Okay, sorry about that,” Alex said as he slid into the booth. “They had a few questions for me. This smells good.”
“It’s fine,” Theo said, and he glanced at me before looking back at Alex. “What do you do for work?”
Alex blinked and finally took some of what I was grilling onto his plate. “I’m a mechanic and work on older cars. I like it, but it’s not as cool as the coffee shop is.”
“At least you get time off.”
“Theo doesn’t like to sit still,” Alex said with a laugh. “He never did, even when . . .” He trailed off, his smile fading.
“She knows,” Theo replied. “It may not be something I’m proud of, but I don’t hide it.”
“You can speak freely,” I said. “It’s okay.”
“Oh, good.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s not a secret I’d want to spill. You got out of it, though. That’s something to be proud of.”
Theo stiffened and shook his head. “It doesn’t change what I did.”
“What you did? Like changing even when all of that was your normal? It’s . . . hard to unlearn everything. You did it.”
“That’s how I see it,” I added. “You took the words right out of my mouth.”
Theo looked between the two of us. “I—I don’t even know how to argue.”
“That’s where you don’t.”
He huffed but didn’t say anything.
“You’re good for him,” Alex said. “How did you meet?”
“She came into the coffee shop and changed my life.”
“I wish I’d seen it. I’ve been meaning to come out to The Reserved Bean. I just didn’t know if Theo would be okay with that.”
Theo blinked. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I sometimes feel like you don’t like me very much.”
“Wow.” I looked at Theo. “Imagine that.”
“Fuck.” He sighed. “Yeah, Piper said you might think that. I don’t. I just . . . struggle with the past. I feel terrible for my part in it, so I stay distant.”
“You got me out of there, though. Why would I blame you?”
“I was a part of it.”
“That’s not how I think. I’ve been practically stalking you for years, man.”
“He’s just a little slow.” I rubbed his arm. “But I think we can make him realize what’s obvious.”
Alex finally laughed. “You know what? I think I agree.”
Theo looked away, but I saw him smile. Alex asked for more food and I made sure everyone’s plates were full. The dinner was far more lively after that.
And I knew I’d done the right thing.