Piper reappears. “I’m glad she came to visit us after taking care of her dad. I was worried she’d have to get back to New York and we’d miss out on seeing her.”
“She loves you just as much as she loves her dad. And she was excited to spend time with the kids.”
“I never expected you and Ry to become so close.” She laughs lightly. “When we were kids, you two did nothing but bicker.”
I chuckle, despite how hard it is for me to breathe. “We’re too old for that now, Pip.”
“Watch your mouth. I’m the same age as you, and I don’t feel old at all.”
“That’s because your husband is thirteen years older than you. You’ll always feel young when he’s around.”
She laughs. “Want me to say that to Hunter?”
“Please do.”
After a few more minutes, Piper ends the call so they can have dinner. I set my phone on the counter and head toward the windows. The view is breathtaking. The city stretches out before me, all shimmering steel, roads pulsing with nighttime traffic. Headlights glow through the haze of heat that remains even after the sun has set. The sky is black. Damn, it needs to rain, just once, to take away the scorching heat sticking to my skin the moment I step outside.
Riley would hate this weather. It’s good she’s in Santa Clara.
Fuck me. Why am I thinking about her again?
I press my forehead to the window. She’s too good for me. She doesn’t deserve to be used as a distraction. She deserves more…and I don’t have the capacity to give that to her.
She deserves someone steady, not an egotistical jerk who mistakes loneliness for love.
I never should’ve gotten between her and Nick. I never should’ve touched her. I never should’ve let myself have her.
But I can’t go back in time and fix my mistakes. All I can do now is make things right for her.
And that means staying the fuck away from her.
25
not butterflies
RILEY
My stomach rollsslightly as I push the salad around my plate with my fork. My appetite over the last few days has been nonexistent, probably because of the heat and the humidity. It’s almost too hot to be out on the terrace tonight, but with the sun setting, we decided to go for it.
According to Nastya, the weather in New York is worse, so I should be grateful.
“…your orientation for the company went well?” Piper says to my right.
I look up at Story. She’s playing with her food, wearing an expression that probably matches mine, though in her case, it’s likely because of nerves. Her life is about to change completely. At only sixteen, she’s already accomplished so much, but now that she’s been accepted into this dance company, she’ll have to postpone her college plans.
“It was great,” she mutters. “But I don’t know what I think about the homeschooling part.”
Piper’s eyebrows hit her hairline. “We’ve talked about this before, and you never seemed to mind. What’s changed?”
Story’s only response is a shrug. My sister peers at me, silently begging for help.
So, I put my fork down and steeple my fingers.
“The training will be intense,” I tell Story. “The days will be long, and you’ll meet so many professional dancers. It’s a lot, but think of how fulfilling it will be when you get to perform. Homeschooling is the only way to make it possible, though. Or is there something else bothering you?”
She puts her fork down and collects her dark brown hair into a neat bun. “It’ll mean missing out on my senior year with my friends. And I’ve always wanted to go to college in New York. You know how much I want to follow in your footsteps, and now, it won’t be the same.”
“Story.” I reach across the table and cover her hand with mine. “You don’t need to follow in my footsteps. Your story is different from mine. It always has been. You are exceptionally talented, way more talented than I’ve ever been.” I squeeze her hand. “You deserve this opportunity. You’ve worked so hard. Homeschool won’t be that bad, trust me. You’ll be with other kids your age at the company. You’ll still have plenty of opportunities for fun. And I’m only one call away.”
