A mirthless laugh huffed from her lips. “My thoughts exactly. Early last week she sent me a call for help via our cousin’s phone. I blew her off and told her to leave me alone. Guess that wasn’t the right answer.”
I walked over to my dresser and pulled out a pair of boxers, tugged them on, and towel-dried my hair. The fact that my girl tracked my movements with her eyes gratified me. Apparently, we were still a thing. Strolling around the end of my bed, I headed to my closet, yanked out a hoodie, and pulled it on. Sitting beside her, I slipped my hand between hers and curled my fingers through hers.
“You aren’t your sister’s keeper.”
“According to my father, I am.”
“So how did you fix her problem with your cheating ex?”
“I didn’t.” A shiver rattled through her.
This time a chill ran through me as Callahan’s dirty word sing-songed in my head. “Uh, is that because you still have feelings for him?” It about killed me to ask, but I had to know.
She shot me a you-can’t-be-serious glare, and I relaxed.
“Charlie dropped right off my radar the day I moved out of my perfect apartment—the one my sister still occupies. Turns out Pippa thought I still had a thing for him. By the end of the weekend when she figured out I couldn’t give two shits about him, the demand I fix things between them magically disappeared.”
“So what was the point of stealing you away?”
“To punish me for not playing the game over Christmas, I guess.” She bit her lip and glanced at me from beneath her brows. “I did my damnedest not to think about you all weekend because I don’t want her anywhere near you.” Her gaze strayed to my mouth. “But you have a habit of invading my thoughts all the time.”
With my free hand, I brushed her hood off her glorious hair and let my palm linger on her cheek. “Seems only fair since I think about you all the time too.”
A sigh. “Problem is, Pippa figured out there’s someone else, someone more important than Charlie ever was.”
“Yeah?” A smile lifted the corner of my mouth.
“Now you’re in her sights.” The sadness in her tone echoed on her face and broke my heart.
“I’m not a low-life cheater like that dirtbag I chased off from you in the bar that night, Piper.” I pulled her across my lap and held her close to my chest. “And your little sister has nothing to offer that would invite me to choose her over you.”
“You haven’t met her yet.”
“Won’t change when I do.” Kissing her temple, I said, “What I need from you is teamwork. Next time they ambush you, don’t shut me out. Let me help you.”
“Look, my scholarship and my internships go a long way toward paying for school, but I still need some help from my parents,” she began.
“True for most of us.” I nosed her hair from the side of her cheek and kissed her silky skin. Shoulda known with that first kiss on her temple I’d have trouble stopping.
“But with Sean and Shelby Maxwell, that money comes with cables instead of strings. They threatened to cut me off if I don’t watch out for my sister.” She blew out a breath. “I’ve been super careful with the allowance they give me, but I have to play by their rules until the end of this semester before I can walk away from their money.” Her mouth turned down.
“Play along then. Talk to your sister sometimes.” I rubbed my hand up and down her arm. “Introduce us.” In my arms her body went rigid. “I don’t blame you for not trusting her, but I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me.” Marginally, she relaxed. “I will never give you a reason not to trust me.”
“I tried so hard to be the best sister. From the time we were teeny girls, I’ve watched out for her, given up anything I had that she wanted. Turns out, it’s not enough—not for her and not for our parents. I don’t know how to deal with that, Wyatt.” At last, she leaned her head against my shoulder and let me give her some of my strength.
Resting my chin on her head, I whispered, “I know we haven’t been together long, babe, but no one has ever meant as much to me as you do. I’m crazy about you, Piper. I’ll do anything to be there for you whenever and wherever you need me.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Piper
“What do youmean, dress warm? It’s Valentine’s Day, Wyatt. That means flowers and candy and dinner in a warm restaurant.”
“That’s not your dream date and we both know it.” Even through my phone, his laughter filled my tiny apartment.
“We haven’t spent Valentine’s Day together before, so how would you know?” I was arguing for argument’s sake, mainly because he wouldn’t give me even the barest hint about what our plans were.
“As much as I hate to say this, you need to layer. And be ready to spend the night at my place afterward. I’ll be there in twenty.”
