Chapter 26
twenty-six
. . .
beau
My plan is in place. Parker assured me his sister was coming into work this week. I don’t think I’ve ever not talked to Piper for this long. It’s weird having all this time to myself. But it made me realize a few things and none of them are as important as having her in my life.
I send Parker and Pierce a quick text.
Beau
Is everything set up?
They have to make sure everything is set up because I don’t want to get there and run into Piper.
Not until she sees this. Not until I have a chance to explain what happened.
I could give a rat’s ass if Pierce has given her his side.
From what I’ve heard from Parker he’s not telling everyone the whole story. Today…she’ll hear it from me.
Parker
You’re good to go. Park at my house and I’ll come get you in the golf cart. It’s the only way she won’t see you.
Pierce
I’ll keep her occupied in the office. She wants to redesign the shipping boxes. That should keep us busy for a while.
Beau
See you in a bit. I’ll send Parker a text when I’m ready.
I shove my phone in my pocket and grab the sticky notes off my counter. Wait, I need a pen, too. I think there’s one in my car, but I’m not taking any chances. This whole thing needs to go off without a hitch.
The drive to Parker’s house doesn’t take me long.
There’s a possibility I pushed the speed limit to get here.
I think I’m more nervous now than I was when I kissed her.
It’ll be worth it though. Even if she doesn’t want to continue being my girlfriend, I need her as my friend.
A life without Piper in it in some capacity is dull and boring. One I don’t want.
Parker is already waiting in the golf cart when I pull in. “Are you ready for this?” The question comes as soon as I open my car door.
“Yeah. They set it up far enough away that she won’t see it until you bring her, right?” I bend down and grab my supplies. It’s important that I leave notes along the way, or she’ll take forever to find me.
“Of course.” He puts his hand over his chest as if the question hurt him. “I’m not an amateur.” He starts the golf cart and we take off as fast as it can go. “I do need the two of you to kiss and make up, though. Seeing both of you miserable is not fun.”
“No shit.” Of course, Parker will make it about him. But I get it. I’ve been a part of their lives for a long time. It can’t be easy for them to feel the rift between me and Piper.
The ride is bumpy as we move over the open fields.
He doesn’t take us close to the main house where all the business is conducted.
There are too many points where she could look out the window and see us.
Instead, he heads to the far end of the land and takes us behind the buildings before pulling up to the fun house.
“This is such a weird idea. Why a fucking fun house? Those things are creepy.”
“Because your sister likes them. She’s never told me why, but she does. I’m just lucky they were available on such short notice.”
“Of course they were. It’s the middle of the week. He did say to call him as soon as we can, he has to hit the road for another fair tonight.” He points to opening. “I put a speaker, blanket, food and wine up there. I think I got everything you requested.”
“Thanks, man. Seriously, you’ve been a big help in getting this together for me.”
“It’s all good. How long do you want me to give you to set up?”
I glance at the notes in my hand and at the fun house. “Ten minutes. Can you get the generator going while I set up inside?”
“Sure thing.”
Both of us get out of the golf cart. He heads around the side toward the back, and I head for the front door. Each note will lead her straight to me.
I place one on the entrance before picking up the supplies.
At least he put it all in a basket. Otherwise, this would be a lot harder.
After walking in, I take a left and set another note.
The lights come on and I can hear the generator hum as I make my way through to the mirrors.
I’ve placed notes along the way and when I get to my destination, I set everything down.
I lay the blanket out and shove the basket behind one of the walls. There are a couple of seat cushions and I set those across from each other before pouring two glasses of wine. This will either go amazing or she’ll throw the wine in my face.
Now, all I can do is wait. Parker should be on his way to get his sister. I don’t know how he is going to get her to leave whatever she’s working on. But I’m hoping when she see’s everything, she’ll hear me out.
Twenty minutes pass by and I’m almost convinced she’s not coming. It serves me right. I did fuck this up. I should have listened to my gut and told her everything from the beginning. The fear of Pierce finding out and her losing her job was too much, though.
I know her brother can’t technically do that.
Especially after what their dad said at the cookout the other day.
They are all in, or he’s selling. It’s a drastic move, but I’m glad it won’t give Pierce the ability to do whatever he wants without consequence.
Although, it’d be a bad idea to get rid of Piper now that business is picking up thanks to her efforts.
My phone vibrates against the floor. Please don’t be a text saying she’s not coming. We’ve texted a little this week, but it’s been very surface level. Nothing too deep and mostly gifs of puppies. That’s Piper’s go to when she’s not feeling great, or everything feels like too much.
I unlock my phone and glance at the text.
Parker
She’s heading in. Good luck.
Hmm, why do I need luck? This doesn’t bode well for the course of the day. I’m not going to reply and ask him to elaborate. I’ll find out as soon as she makes her way back here.
Another ten minutes pass. What is taking her so long?
It didn’t even take me this long to set up.
Maybe it’s nerves. I stand in the mirrored hallway before pacing back and forth.
I’ve never been nervous to see Piper. Well, except for the last time we were in this space.
This is a thousand times worse, though. Everything hangs in the balance.
“Beau?” My name on Piper’s lips stops me in my tracks and I turn to face her. “What is all this?” She waves her hands around to encompass the fun house.
“The beginning of an apology?” Shit. That wasn’t supposed to come out as a question. How is she supposed to take me seriously if I sound unsure?
“I assumed that much.” Her steps are slow and deliberate as she comes closer to me. “But why?”
I can’t tell her it’s because we’ve watched enough rom-coms for me to know I need to do something big.
She may act like she doesn’t want all the focus on her, but I know it’s a lie.
All she’s ever wanted was her siblings to see her for the amazing person she is.
I want, no need, her to know that I see her.
“Because you love fun houses, and I thought it was the perfect place to tell you how sorry I am.”
I back up as she comes closer, not wanting to scare her off. I take a seat on the far corner of the blanket and wait for her to sit down. She takes a moment to glance around at everything I’ve done. The bright yellow of the sticky notes stand out in this dimly lit space.
“You lied to me, Beau.” She sets down the notes and clasps her hands together. But she doesn’t look at me. “We’ve never lied to each other.”
“I know.” I study the wine bottle so she doesn’t see the shame written across my face. “I had a good reason, though.”
She throws her hands in the air. I don’t blame her, I’d be frustrated, too. “That’s the thing. We’ve always been honest with each other no matter how bad the information is. What in the hell was so detrimental that you couldn’t tell me the truth?”
I’ve never seen her like this. She’s never cussed at me, and I know for a fact I don’t want her to ever do that again. Not that it’s not deserved. It is, one hundred percent. But it doesn’t feel great.
“Pierce.” It’s the only word I can come up with for the moment. At least until I can find the words to tell her exactly what was said that won’t make her angrier.
“Yes, I know Pierce was part of this whole thing. He knew the entire time, but I don’t see why you couldn’t tell me anything.”
Well, there’s no way she’s not going to be pissed. I guess I need to come out and say it.
“He was going to fire you.”
“For what?” She lifts her head until her eyes meet mine. “Up until this weekend, he couldn’t do it if he wanted.”
I rub the bridge of my nose and sigh. “After we posted those stories, the night you kissed me. He called me the next day. He told me I needed to keep you from posting anything or he’d fire you.”
Her gasp sends a bullet through my heart. “I don’t understand.”
The whispered disbelief doesn’t ease the pain. I reach forward and place my hand on top of hers, lending her the strength I know she’s going to need.
“When I came over to help your family clean up after the storm, I talked to him. I knew you wanted to keep going with the marketing, and my boss wanted to see what we could do. The only way I could make sure that happened was if I went to him and told him we were going to boost social media marketing. I told him the plans.”
“And I’m guessing he said okay to you.” She shakes her head. “Unbelievable. He wouldn’t give me the time of day, but he didn’t even fight you on it.”
She yanks her hand from mine and stands, staring at her reflection in the mirror. The look on her face is the reason I didn’t want to tell her. She looks like someone just stole her puppy. Her fear of being rejected by those she loves pouring from her eyes.
I’m on my feet in two seconds, moving behind her. “Piper, look at me.” She lifts her eyes until they meet mine reflected in the mirror. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you the truth.”
“You should have, though. This is so unfair. He lets everyone else give him their opinions but not me. Hell, he even relented to Paula’s idea. What is so wrong with me that nobody listens to me?”
I’m done talking to her reflection. My hand reaches for her again, and I turn her around. She refuses to meet my eyes until I lift her chin. She needs to know how fucking special she is and it doesn’t matter what her dickhead brother thinks.
“I will always listen to you.” A few strands of hair fall to her face and I tuck them behind her ear.
My thumb caresses her skin to bring her back to the moment as her focus drifts to her shoes.
“If it makes you feel any better, I told him he’s an asshole for shooting down your idea.
And I shouldn’t have had to step in on your behalf. ”
Her eyes snap back to mine. “You did what?”