I stagger forward as a voice calls, “Piper! Hang on!”
She groans, turning back reluctantly.
A woman steps into the hallway. Her hair’s blond, and she’s wearing dressy pants and a silky blouse that’s buttoned up to her throat. It’s Saturday morning, so that’s kind of weird. She’s got a dusting of freckles across her nose, like Piper.
This must be Tati.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she asks.
“Breakfast,” Piper says.
“You’ve cleaned your room?”
“I’ll do it when I get back.”
“What about your essays?”
“What about them?”
Tati’s mouth becomes a thin line. “Have you reached out to Gabi?”
“No.”
“You need to. Today.”
“I willnot,” Piper says, fists clenched at her sides.
“Piper—”
She’s shrinking, a lot like she did that night at the Blitz Brews when the dipshit in the dirty hat harassed her. She must have an internal well of audacity, though, because she lifts her chin and says, “Gabi can go to hell.”
“When will you—” Tati starts, her voice laced with exasperation. She drops suddenly off when she notices me. “Who’s this?” she asks, tipping her chin in my direction.
Piper sighs. “Henry. He’s visiting his dad, who lives in the east tower. He’s polite and responsible, and we’re going to getbreakfast, as I said. Henry, this is my sister, Tati. You know, the one I told you about?” She says this last part with gleeful malice, like Tati ought to be worried.
I step forward to shake her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” she says with coolness that makes my balls shrivel. I assume she’s made the connection:Henryplusvisiting his dadpluseast towerequals Davis Walker.
I pull my hand away. “Ready?” I ask Piper. “I made a reservation.”
“Definitely.” She hustles down the hall. Over her shoulder, she calls, “Be back later.”
“You’ve got work to do this afternoon!” her sister retorts.
“Don’t I always?” Piper mutters.
While we wait for the elevator, I glance back at Tati, who’s still in the hall, fists glued to her hips. My dad can be a clown, what with the beer shotgunning and condom dispensing, but his brand of frustrating seems less soul-sucking than hers.
When we’re behind the elevator’s doors, Piper brightens. “A reservation? Really?”
“Nah. I just wanted to get us out of there.”
“Nice. I think she knows who your dad is.”
“Yeah, I got that vibe. Also, I’m polite and responsible?”
“Totally,” she says. “And you’re my knight in shining armor. Because wow, I needed a rescue.”
