Chapter 20
twenty
. . .
beau
It’s way too damn hot to be outside doing this. Why Piper felt the need to do the outside filming today, I’ll have no idea. Actually, I do know. It’s the only way we’ll avoid Pierce. Because she doesn’t know that he knows what we’re doing. Keeping this secret from her is eating at me.
“No, not like that.” Piper swipes at my hand and wine sloshes over the side. Please don’t be on my white shirt. I didn’t bring anything to change into. A quick glance down shows no red stains. Thank God.
“What do you mean not like this?” I lift the glass in question. “There’s only so many ways to hold a glass of wine.”
All she does is laugh. I don’t see what’s so funny. It’s not like I’m a huge wine drinker. Half the time when we’re at my house, we drink out of mason jars. They were cheap when I bought my house and needed glasses. I’m pretty sure she has some of them at her house.
“Just be a little gentler with the glass. You don’t have to hold onto it for dear life.
” She lifts a second glass. Her fingers on either side of the stem.
It’s delicate. “I’m not saying it has to be a dainty hold, but at least don’t look like you’re about to snap it in half. It ruins the vibe I’m going for.”
“Which is what?” I glance around me to see if anyone is coming. I don’t want her brother to catch us because he’ll act like he didn’t know anything about it. “I’m not sure I’m the right person to capture the vibe.”
“Believe me.” Her eyes trail over me from head to toe. “You’re perfect for it. Or, do you not remember all the comments we got from the stories I shared that one night? Most of those questions wanted to know about you.”
I lean across the table toward her. “And you’re okay with sharing me with the masses?”
Piper’s back straightens and I swear she lets out a tiny growl. Possessiveness is the last thing I expected from her. She’s so free-spirited and goes with the flow. I guess it’s different when we’re dating. Though, maybe now she knows how I felt watching her go on all those dates over the years.
“They will know you aren’t available.”
“What are you going to do make a t-shirt that says ‘Piper’s Property’?”
“If I have to.” She takes a sip of her wine. “Now, let’s try this again. We’re a couple on a romantic date at the winery.”
From my point of view, that’s exactly what we are. We don’t have to pretend. “How are you going to record the video if you’re in it? I know there are timers, but I don’t know that you can run that fast and not look out of breath.”
“I’m magic.” She holds up a small device. “Now, lean close like we were before and act like we are having a conversation. Don’t worry about them hearing what you’re saying. I’ll take that out when I edit it.”
“Okay. Let’s do this.” I wait for her to press a button on the remote and hold my glass between us as I lean forward. “So how was your day?”
She’s fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Annoyed isn’t the look she’s going for. Instead, she smiles as if I’ve said the most endearing thing in the world. “You should know. I’ve been with you most of it.”
I take a small sip. Guzzling the glass of wine probably doesn’t fit the look she’s going for. “Believe me. I know. If I could wake up to you in one of my shirts every morning, I would be in heaven.”
She starts to laugh, but gets herself under control. “We might be able to arrange that.”
“And cut.” A voice from the direction of the phone startles me. Parker is beaming at the two of us. Paula is walking up behind him. “I think that was a great shot.”
“What are y’all doing here?” I’m confused. Piper has all but sworn me to secrecy, but two of her siblings are here.
“I need them for a couple of videos. I know I can get some stock videos off a website, but I figured it would be much better if we have footage of the actual winery. Besides, I’ve already made Parker pour wine into a glass for me.”
“I haven’t seen that video yet.”
“Because I haven’t posted it.” Now she freely rolls her eyes at me. “I want to get some video of me and Paula relaxing with a glass of wine. Then the four of us hanging out like friends.”
“Pfft. We are friend’s little sister.” Parker grins and motions for him to join me behind the camera. “But we better move fast. Pierce said he was coming to check inventory at some point today.”
“You know I hate when you call me that. I have a name.” Piper waves her sister over. “Let me refill the glasses really quick.”
“I didn’t know we were also drinking the wine.” Paula glances around, nervous someone is going to catch us.
“Well, I’m sure as hell not going to let it go to waste.” She studies her sister. “Just pretend like you’re drinking it. But later…you’re telling me why you aren’t drinking.”
Paula has never been a big drinker. I don’t know why Piper is surprised she isn’t drinking. Even when we were in high school, she always offered to be our driver. How many older siblings would do that? Especially when they aren’t even in school anymore.
They sit there and whisper about something, look toward us, then bust out laughing. What the hell are they talking about?
“Are we going to do this thing? Or, play with fate and have to explain what we’re doing?” Parker asks.
“Okay, okay.” Piper grunts. She clicks the button and the two of them laugh like they are having the time of their lives. Theatre classes really paid off for Piper. But I didn’t know Paula could act so carefree at the drop of a hate.
“Hey, how is it recording? I didn’t press anything.” Parker points at the phone.
“Your little sister is pure magic.”
“Ugh, please tell me you actually mean that, and it’s not code for some sexual thing between you.”
I lean over laughing and almost knock the phone over. To Piper and Paula’s credit, they act like I’m not being a massive disruption.
Once I have my amusement in check, I shake my head at Parker. “She has a remote. And I would never talk to you about stuff with your sister. At least, not in that aspect. There are boundaries you just don’t cross.”
“Good answer.” He glances at the phone. “Well, she pressed the stop button. I guess it’s time for us to join the scene.”
We each grab a chair and join them at the table. It’s small, and the four of us barely fit, but it’s enough to get a good video…hopefully.
“What was so funny?” Piper lifts an eyebrow in question. She’s always been able to do that, and would laugh anytime I tried. She said it looks like I’m blinking extra hard when I try.
“Start the video.” I bump into her shoulder. “It’ll be a good laugh to catch amongst friends.”
It’s a good thing Parker is sitting opposite of me. He looks like he wants to punch me in the shoulder.
Piper presses play and I wait a few seconds before telling them about the exchange. Parker has a scowl the whole time.
As soon as I get to the comment he made, both Piper and Paula start laughing. Parker moves his shoulders up and down to imitate the action but he doesn’t find it amusing at all. He’s usually the one who doesn’t take anything seriously.
After Piper stops the recording, she studies her brother. “Why are you so mad? It was funny.”
“I don’t know how I feel about being the butt of the joke.”
“That figures,” Paula mumbles. The only reason I can hear her is because I’m sitting right next to her. “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it.”
“You know how I am about my ego.” He holds a hand to his chest. “It can only take so much emotional turmoil.”
“You’re so full of shit.” I laugh. “Who’s up for going to Out of the Ashes? I’m craving wings.”
“I’m down,” Parker says.
“I can’t go.” Paula shakes her head. “Tristan is about to be in the studio with Crooked Halo, and who knows when we’ll be able to have another date night.”
“Go spend time with your man.” Piper shoos away her sister. “But remind him not to let work consume him. It’s no way to live.”
“Says the baby sibling who always gets her way.”
“Not always.” Piper tilts her head to the side. “I mean, I’m kind of being a rebel right now because Pierce said no. All of this is behind his back.”
“True, but you’re still doing it anyway.” Paula bends down to give her sister a hug. “Just know when Pierce finds out, because he will, I’ll have your back.”
I don’t miss the pointed look she shoots at their brother. If I had to guess it’s a subtle threat that he better have it too.
“Have fun tonight.” I wave at Paula as she walks toward the front of the building. “Don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.”
“Or do!” Piper adds.
“I’m going to need both of you to be less gross if we’re going to the bar.” He waves his hands between us. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad y’all have figured your shit out, but all the emotions is just too much for me.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Piper stands and grabs the glasses off the table. Most of them are empty aside from Paula’s. Piper chugs it. “Beau, can you hand me that box? And Parker, take these chairs back to the other table.”
“Sure, you ask him all sweetly, but you order me. I see how it is.”
“Yeah, that’s because I get to see him na?—”
“For the love of God do not finish that sentence.”
I hand him my chair as I get up before grabbing the box for Piper. She sets the empty glasses in it, and adds the empty bottle next. “Do you need me to get anything else?”
“Nope, that’s all I need to take back to my house. We’ll need to stop there before we head to Ashes.”
“Why?” She looks fine in what she’s wearing. It’s not like they have a dress code. Not yet, anyway. If they keep on the trajectory of being the bar to hang out in, that may change.
“To drop these off.” She points at the box then moves to the tripod holding her phone. “I know you’re a good driver and all, but on the off chance we get pulled over for anything…”
She lets the sentence drop off because I know exactly what she means. The last thing we want to do is have to explain why we have an empty wine bottle and glasses. Most of the cops in this town know the Summers, but I don’t think they’d let us slip by with that.
“I hope it’s cool I invited your brother.” I didn’t even think to ask before I did. Maybe she wanted the two of us to be alone tonight. Either way I’m happy.
“Please, I have plans when we get there.”
“What do you mean?”
“He shouldn’t have let us know that us doing couple things would bug him. I plan on torturing him.”
Shaking my head I turn toward the front and head to my car. I’ll never understand the need for siblings to get under each other’s skin.
That doesn’t mean I’m not going to enjoy watching Parker squirm. Like he’s always said, we’re like family and I might also be okay with pestering him the way a sibling would. Tonight is going to be a blast.