Chapter 41
Piper
I stretch and decide that I need to get dressed and go downstairs. I look at the end of the bed and strangely see my favorite pair of leggings and oversized sweatshirt. Underwear is oddly missing from the pile, but I’ll take it.
I pause at the top of the stairs and hear familiar voices. Sounds like the gang is all here. I quietly take the stairs and notice that Holt is already looking in my direction. It’s like he has radar.
Meg notices that I have joined the group and she rushes to hug me. I automatically hug her back.
“Can’t wait to compare notes,” Meg whispers in my ear. I feel my cheeks get warm and just nod. I approach the table and Holt comes around to me. He kisses my temple and pulls me into his side.
“Hey everyone,” I say quietly. Sterling and Carter nod at me. I notice that everyone is sitting around the table while Carter is behind his laptop.
“Carter’s been busy trying to track down the asshole from Facebook,” Holt grinds out. I can feel him stiffen as he speaks. I squeeze him a bit tighter in hopes of offering comfort. Holt looks down at me and grins softly. I cant help but melt a little. How did I snag this guy?
“Do you recognize the guy that was messaging you, Piper,” I’m broken out of my thoughts by Carter’s question.
“I can’t say that I recognize the name, and I didn’t look at the profile picture,” I add. I was too busy letting that bitch insecurity take over my thought processes.
“Well, the account is a new account and his profile photo doesn’t show you his face,” Carter explains. I let out a sigh of frustration.
“But, this is exactly what we needed. A digital footprint is going to help us track this guy down. And he may have made up the name, but usually there is some sort of connection. This gives us something,” Holt explains. I nod at him. Feeling slightly better about this.
“Well, I think we should eat some lunch,” Meg jumps up and says. She is making her way to the island.
“You woke up just in time,” Meg says as she opens the bags and sets out some food. I move to help her.
“Are you sure you brought enough,” I say jokingly looking at the many trays of sandwiches and sides.
“Well, I knew you would be hungry— I’m sure you have worked up quite the appetite,” she says jokingly. I need to put a bag over my head or start wearing a full face of makeup if I am going to hide my cheeks. They seem to permanently be in a state of blushing.
“Shut up,” I shoot back cleverly. I nudge her with my shoulder. Holt comes towards us with a smirk on his face. I ignore it.
“Do you have any paper plates,” I ask instead. I don’t know where he keeps anything. Instead of answering me, he walks to the cabinets behind me and opens the door above the stove. Turning around he sets a stack of paper plates, napkins, and a box of plastic cutlery next to the food.
Sterling approaches Meg and whispers something in her ear, she giggles a bit and goes to take a seat.
“Sterling and I got this— go hang with Meg. I’ll get you a plate,” Holt directs. Meg is waving me over and I can’t help but follow directions.
“Let them handle it,” Meg says as I approach the other side of the table. She looks over at me with concern.
“Look, I know I was joking earlier— but are you okay? I know what it’s like— and you know that we are all here for you, right,” she asks. I nod at her.
“I think I’m okay. I’m afraid and frustrated but I know I can count on you. Plus, Holt has been quite the distraction,” I add slyly. Meg giggles.
“Oh, yes. They are experts in that,” she says and laughs. “It’s difficult to concentrate with all that going on,” she says and waves her hand towards them.
“Thanks for bringing my clothes, by the way. Although, you could have grabbed me underwear,” I tease. She looks at me with eyes wide and then starts laughing again.
“ I brought you underwear! I can’t help it if Holt tampered with the outfit on his way to deliver it to you. Take your complaints up with him,” She laughs again.
“Such a Campbell move though. Sterling would totally do something like that,” she adds. I nod and blush again. She is right.
Lunch goes by quickly and I have to admit, it is nice to have people around.
Makes it feel a bit more normal—even though things are decidedly not.
Meg and I have moved to the couch with mugs of hot chocolate, and are catching up on the latest town gossip.
The guys are all huddled at the kitchen table, reviewing video footage that Carter had gotten from my neighbors.
“At some point, I am going to need to go get my car,” I tell her. She raises her eyebrow at me, and takes another sip of hot chocolate.
“Do you think Holt is going to let you out of his sight right now,” she asks me cautiously. I mull over her words.
“Well, no—I guess you are right. And I don’t want to be that main character in the horror movie that everyone hates for making stupid decisions,” I say to her. She nods seriously.
“I guess I just hate relying so heavily on Holt. I’m not used to it,” I share with her. Meg nods again.
“Again, I totally get it— but you are going to have to get used to relying on him. He isn’t going to let you do things on your own anymore. Believe me,” she says sagely. I know that Holt and Sterling are very similar. I look over at the guys. They are still deep in discussion and drop my voice.
“Speaking of similarities… is Sterling, I mean does he have… is he…,” I trail off not sure how to ask and just hoping that Meg is on the best friend telepathy train this afternoon.
“Is he pierced, you mean,” she jumps in. She is smirking at me. She looks back at the table to check and see if they are still focused on the footage.
“He sure is— I wish I knew who did it, I would write them a very long thank you note,” she says laughing.
“I know that Holt is too… it was a dare,” she explains casually. I just look at her with my mouth open.
“You knew and you didn’t tell me,” I say, slightly outraged. She giggles and sets her mug down on the coffee table.
“Well at the time, you were in denial about what was happening between you both. So it didn’t really come up,” Meg shrugs. I can’t say that I blame her. She is right, I wasn’t ready to hear it.
“Besides, it isn’t like it’s a bad thing. Its so, so good,” she says. Her eyes glaze over— and my mind drifts.
“It sure is so good, like unreal,” I murmur in agreement. I remember this morning in the shower.
“What are we talking about, ladies,” Sterling’s voice floats over the back of the couch. I jump a bit and Meg’s cheeks turn red.
“Nothing,” I say. My voice pitched slightly higher than normal. Sterling chuckles and kisses Meg’s head.
I feel the couch sink next to me and find Holt sitting there. His hand resting on my thigh. He squeezes gently.
“Did you guys make any headway with the footage,” I ask. Changing the subject, not wanting to admit to the fact that we were basically just talking about their dicks. Sterling shakes his head.
“Well, we are waiting on one more neighbor to come through with their doorbell camera, but the angles that we have aren’t really helpful,” Holt says. I sigh, not surprised that we are hitting another dead end.
“We still have the Facebook profile,” Carter reminds us. He has approached the living room area. Suddenly an idea strikes me.
“What if I message him back,” I suggest. Holt is shaking his head no, but the other two men are considering it. I just need to convince Holt.
“Come on, it isn’t like I’m talking to him in person,” I reason. Holt’s head tilts and he looks at me as if he is assessing my mental health.
“Look, you can sit with me— look over my shoulder and help me respond,” I cajole. He looks at Sterling and Carter who nod at him once.
“I don’t like it— the guy is an asshole and you don’t need that toxic shit,” he says tersely. I reach for his hand and squeeze it.
“I can do it, this could help us end this faster,” I push gently. He sits quietly, and finally gets up to get my phone. He hands the phone to me and sits back down.