Piper folded her legs, criss-cross style, and tugged her phonefrom her purse. “Callum texted me and Zandra this picture earlier.”
I huddled closer to her to see the screen. It was a selfie of Callum and Ollie in front of a T-Rex skeleton. Ollie looked like he was having a blast, and Callum sported his usual crooked grin.
“They’re at the natural history museum today. Checking out the dinosaurs and science exhibits. Tomorrow it’ll be the Broncos game. It’s an early kickoff, but they’re driving back afterward, so they won’t get home until late.”
Piper put her phone away, still glowing with pride. Her love for Ollie was so easy to see.
“I’m glad Callum could do that with him,” I said. “He hangs out with Ollie a lot?”
I’d noticed Ollie called him Uncle Callum. I was proud of my brother for stepping up like that and being a good influence in Ollie’s life. Though clearly it was no hardship. Piper’s son was a wonderful kid. Loyal and funny and smart.
“He does, as often as he can, and it means a lot to Ollie. Especially since Teller hasn’t been around as much. Teller and Ollie have always been really close, and my brother’s new life has been an adjustment.”
“No wonder. Never would’ve pictured Teller with a celebrity.” Pretty much the entire world had been talking about Ayla Maxwell’s small-town love story when it first happened. I’d read the articles like everyone else. It had been strange to see clips of a TV interview Ayla and Teller did, seeing my former best friend so obviously in love.
“I wouldn’t have either,” Piper said. “But they’re great together. Teller’s the head of security for her new tour.”
I took Piper’s hand. Her fingers were cold, so I warmed them between my palms. “You know, Teller and I used to drive around Hart County sometimes when we needed to get away.”
“Did you ever come here?”
“Yeah.” I couldn’t help my mischievous grin. “We broughtgirls out here more than a time or two. Played some music, lit a campfire. Teller had some moves.”
Piper barked a laugh. “Ha! I’m learning my brother’s secrets. I’m not sure if I want to hear this or not.”
“I won’t scar you by revealing any more details. Just know, Teller was the popular one with the girls back then. I just tagged along.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
I set our trash aside to pick up later and moved behind Piper. We were both facing the creek, and she leaned back against me. The sky was starting to take on color. The oranges and pinks of the sun beginning to set.
“I remember the year you and Grace both came along. Teller and I were around ten, eleven years old. First time I ever saw Teller cry was when I came over and he was holding you. He called you an angel.”
Piper sniffled. “You’re going to makemecry. I should tease him mercilessly about that.”
“Callum wanted to hold you too. He was five, I think? Insisted on carrying you around like a doll, and you should’ve seen the way Teller hovered, afraid Callum would drop you.”
Shit, I hadn’t thought about those memories in years. When we were all such little kids. Innocent. Our parents had still been around then.
Piper turned her head. Not quite looking at me, but enough I could see her profile and the sadness in her eyes.
“People used to say I wasn’t my dad’s child. Do you remember that?” she asked quietly.
“Yeah. I remember.” I kissed her forehead and closed my arms around her. She snuggled into my warmth. “People are shitty to say a thing like that to a little girl. Teller fought another kid at school once for repeating it.”
“I think it’s true though. My dad worked as an oilfield roughneck. People said the timing of my birth didn’t add up. As I got older, Dad would take faraway jobs for longer and longer stints ata time. My mom said it was because he couldn’t stand the sight of me.”
Her mother had said that to her? What the hell?
“The day of my high school graduation,” she went on, “when I was eighteen, my dad told me he was glad I’d finally grown up, so he didn’t have to spend another cent on me. He never even spoke to me again before he died.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I wished I could hold her so tight there was no room left for the bad stuff.
She wiped her eyes. “See, I’m not good at dating. You brought me on a fun picnic, and I’m being so depressing.”
“I want to know everything about your life, Piper.”
“You know a lot already.”
