Chapter 12
twelve
. . .
beau
Work is the last place I want to be. The only good thing is Mr. Gardner was pleased with the progress Piper and I have made. It’s not a lot, but I saw some of the videos she’s posted. They turned out better than I expected. She’s always had a creative eye for things, and her posts show it.
I wonder how she managed to get them without her brother seeing her.
As far as she knows we’re doing this in secret, even though it pains me keeping it from her.
I know nothing good will happen when she finds out.
Pierce better be around to back me up when it does.
Piper holds grudges like nobody I’ve ever known.
She’s still mad at a girl we went to school with for telling everyone her birthday party theme was dumb.
Thirty minutes, that’s all I have to last before I can go home and hang out with Piper.
Until then, I better look at the analytics from the new posts.
They don’t have all the data I need, but it’ll give me an idea if what she's doing is working.
This is probably my favorite part of the job, especially if things are going in the direction I want.
“Hey.” Cole slams his hand on my shoulder. I swear if this guy keeps doing shit like this, I’m going to punch him. “What are you working on?”
“The marketing numbers for that project I’m doing.” He doesn’t really need to know anything. This whole thing is between me and Mr. Gardner. The only reason I’m for sure going through with it is because Cole opened his big mouth. “Is there something you need?”
“Oh, yeah.” He leans against the cubicle wall and crosses his arms. “We’re going out for drinks after work and wanted to invite you.”
This is new. Most of the guys here go out for drinks at least once a week, but they’ve never invited me or any of the women who work here.
Honestly, their lack of invitation to all the employees says a lot about them and I really don’t want to go.
The only reason they’re asking now is because Mr. Gardner wants me to see this marketing campaign through.
If I have the ear of our boss, then it puts them closer to moving up the ladder.
Too bad for them, I don’t like being used as a pawn.
“Sorry, I can’t. I have plans tonight.” It’s not a lie, but I can see the disappointment written all over Cole’s face. His problem, not mine.
“Maybe some other time.”
“Sure.” What the hell else am I supposed to say? He put me on the spot and it’s not like I can come out and say no. Office politics and hierarchy annoys me, but even I know I need to at least play nicely.
“Sounds good, man.” He moves away from my desk. “I’ll see when we’re going out again so you can check your calendar.”
Little does he know, I plan on being busy every time he asks. Which reminds me, I need to find out what time Piper is supposed to come by. I grab my phone from my desk and shoot off a quick text.
Beau
What time will you be at my house?
I put my phone down and continue analyzing the numbers she sent me. She usually takes a while to respond because she’s too busy running around making sure nobody else needs her to do something. They really don’t realize how much she does for them in all aspects of the business.
My phone vibrates faster than I expected.
Piper
Sorry, I can’t make it tonight.
Beau
Did something happen at the winery?
Piper
No. I forgot I have a date.
You have to be kidding me. She wants her brothers to take what she’s doing seriously, but goes out on dates instead of showing up.
I can’t tell her that, though. Maybe my opinion is also a bit biased.
The only person I want her date is me, and she does everything in her power to make sure we’re strictly in the friend category.
Frustration doesn’t begin to explain everything I’m feeling right now.
Beau
No problem. Let me know if anything changes.
The one thing she knows she can always count on is that I’ll be there no matter what. Maybe I should make myself less available to her. Even the thought sends a pang through me. Why in the hell did I have to fall for my best friend all those years ago?
“What can I get you?” Eric leans across the bar with a shit eating grin on his face. The one I know means he’s about to meddle.
There’s no way I’m letting him interfere in my life. He has a habit of thinking he’s everyone’s matchmaker. I don’t need it. I know who my match is. She needs to wake up and realize it for herself.
“The usual.”
“Food and drink?”
“Sure.”
Normally, they’d move me to a table if I’m ordering food, but it’s a weeknight and slow. There’s no reason for me to go to another spot. He walks to the small window and tells them my order. Patrick, the guy in charge of the kitchen, sees my face and gives me a sympathetic nod.
What is it with the people working here thinking I need comfort?
I’m usually much better at hiding my emotions.
After all, I’ve had a ton of practice over the years pretending I’m not in love with Piper.
I didn’t even realize she was still going on the dating apps after the last disaster.
One day she’ll wake up and realize I’m right in front of her.
Eric slides my beer in front of me. “Here you go. You want to talk about it?”
“Nope.” It’s a bit snarky, but it’ll get him off my back for a bit.
“I’ll bring over your food in just a bit.”
A curt nod is all I can give him. I don’t much feel like talking to anyone. Right now, Piper is on a date with some douchebag and I’m here drowning my sorrows because it’s not with me. The guy she’s with is probably nice…maybe. That’s beside the point.
She won’t even consider she has feelings for me. The kiss we shared a few weeks ago is proof she does. For once I wish she’d listen to her heart over her head. Things wouldn’t change between us. We’d still be best friends. We’d just have added benefits.
“Where’s the other half?”
I groan at the sound of Parker’s voice. Of course, he’s the person who would run into me while I’m pining for his sister. At least it’s not one of the other brothers. We’re cool and all, but I don’t know how they’d react to my feelings for Piper.
“She’s on a date,” I mumble.
“I’m guessing that’s why you’re here giving everyone don’t come near me vibes.” He takes a seat on the stool next to me.
“Doesn’t look like it’s working.” I take another sip of my beer before glancing over at him.
“I’m sure it works on everyone else, but I don’t care.” He waves toward Eric who is already working on his drink. Perks of being a regular, I guess. “Besides, everyone loves me.”
“You’re kind of full of yourself.”
“Nah.” He waves my comment away. “I just go after what I want.”
“Doesn’t mean you’re not cocky about it.”
“Touché.” He nods as Eric slides over his whiskey. “So, how’s your little project with my sister going?”
Fuck. How did he find out? Pierce left me with the impression nobody else would know what we were doing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Calm down. She told me when I caught her taking a video. I’m guessing she didn’t tell you.”
“No.” I guess it slipped her mind. It makes me feel slightly better about keeping my own secret, but only just.
“Why do you look like someone just kicked your puppy?” He bumps his shoulder into me.
“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly fine.” Eric brings me another beer and the wings he knows I always get. “See.” I point to my food. “I have my drink and food. There’s nothing wrong.”
“Soooo, my sister being on a date with someone who I’m sure is probably an asshole has nothing to do with the scowl you’re wearing. Good to know.”
“Fine.” I throw my hands in the air knowing damn well I won’t be able to eat in peace until he gets to the bottom of my mood.
He’s always been like this so I shouldn’t be surprised.
“Yes, I’m annoyed your sister is on yet another date that’s going to turn into a disaster.
I don’t think she’s gone on more than one with anyone she meets on these apps.
She kissed me a couple of weeks ago and refuses to admit she feels anything for me.
So, yeah, her being out with someone other than me is a problem. ”
“Damn, he got that out of you with a quickness.” Eric laughs as he leans against the bar. “Maybe he should take my title as matchmaker and problem solver.”
“Shut up, Eric. I don’t need your shit, too.” I take a long swig of my drink to avoid their gaze.
“Wait, back up.” Parker turns toward me. “My sister kissed you?”
Why does his surprise sound fake?
“Yes.” There’s not one ounce of guilt in my response even though I know I should tread lightly with her brothers.
“I know, but damn, she’s giving you the cold shoulder now. That’s gotta suck.” He laughs and that annoys me more. He sucks at acting. Maybe I should tell him that.
“Not really, but she’s not willing to move past friend territory. She’s worried it will make things weird.”
Eric leans in even further. “I’m surprised it took her that long to kiss you. I’ve seen the two of you interact, and it’s not like normal friends.”
“In her defense, she was excited and a little tipsy.”
Eric shakes his head and moves down the bar to serve another patron. Parker lets me eat in peace. I don’t see where they are coming from. We’ve never acted like anything but friends. It’s no different than the way Paula is around her coworkers at the flower shop.
We are comfortable with each other. As we should be since we’ve been friends since seventh grade.
Never mind the fact I’ve had to bite my tongue every time she’s gone on and on about how crappy her various boyfriends were.
I’m no saint, I dated when we were in high school, but even then, I didn’t fill her in on any details.
It made me feel like crap so I didn’t want to do it to her in case she had even a sprout of feelings for me.
“You look like you’re thinking awfully hard over there,” Parker says. Honestly, I thought he gave up on conversation with me and left.
“Not really. Just replaying some moments in my mind.”
“I swear to God if you say anything about you and my sister kissing, I’m gonna puke.”
Now that brings out a chuckle. “As much as I don’t want to see that. It’d be funny as hell. But no, just thinking about what Eric said.”
“Please.” He waves his hand in the air. “The two of you have been in love with each other since we were in high school. Y’all are just too stubborn to do anything about it.”
He’s wrong. I would have known if she felt anything toward me way back then. “If you say so.”
“Oh my God.” Parker throws his hands in the air and slams them back on the table. “You need to get your head out of your ass and go after what you want. We all know it’s Piper. Now, what are you going to do about it?”
That’s the question. She did remember to send me her location so I can see when she gets home. No, I shake my head, I can’t crash her date. It’d be hilarious, though.
“Wow, I didn’t think it would make you concentrate so hard.”
“Shut up, Parker.” There’s no way he doesn’t get off on making people uncomfortable. He’s a good sport, at least. I feel like the same comment from Pierce or Peter would include a scowl.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and glance at the lock screen picture. It’s one we took a couple of months ago at a waterpark. I unlock the phone and tap on the messages.
Beau
I don’t know if you have any plans this weekend, but do you want to hit up the fair and carnival?
It’s something the town does every year to get the kids excited about the upcoming school year.
We used to go to it all the time in high school just to hang out and have some fun.
Neither of us cared about the school related activities.
Maybe I can recreate some of that and have it work in my favor.
This weekend…I’m going to tell her how I feel.