“Grayden! You made it.”
I turned to find Piper smiling up at me. She touched my arm briefly, her fingers light against my jacket, and I had to resist the urge to cover her hand with mine.
“Hey,” I murmured.
I’d been thinking about her nonstop since seeing her yesterday. Maybe I’d succeeded in getting those old memories from years ago stuffed into the back of my mind, but Piper as a grown woman seemed to take up the rest of my mental space.
Like the sight of her skin all flushed and snow in her hair. Or the adorable wobble in her voice when she’d asked me to have dinner tonight.
There was some fiery chemistry between us. I had no doubt about that. Where Piper wanted to take it, I wasn’t sure yet. Or even if Ishouldgo there.
As if I could resist.
Ollie ran over to Callum, throwing his arms around my brother. “Uncle Cal!”
Callum grinned and returned the hug, then held out his fist for a bump. “What’s up? You and your mom stopped by for dinner?”
“We’re here to meethim.” Ollie turned to me next, giving me the stink eye, before he focused on Callum again. “Uncle Cal, will you eat with us too?”
Callum aimed a curious look at me as he responded to Ollie. “Can’t tonight, buddy. Another time, though. Promise.”
Piper put her arm around Ollie’s shoulders. “We’ll grab a seat before they all fill up. Grayden, could you order us a couple of barbecue bacon burgers and a side of tots?”
“Sure thing.”
They headed off toward the tables. I felt my brother’s loaded gaze.
“Barbecue burgers and tots?” he said. “I can put that food order in for you.”
“Three burgers. But no tots for me. Make it a side salad.”
“Watching your figure in your advanced age?”
I flipped him off, but yeah, he was on the right track. Keeping in shape over forty was not the same ball game. “And I’ll take a golden ale. What do you think Piper and Ollie would want to drink? Or I could go ask them.”
“Nah, I’ve got it.” Callum tapped at the screen, punching in the order. “Piper likes the golden too. And Ollie always gets root beer.”
“Thanks.”
Callum poured the beers from the tap, taking his time. Then he said, “So. You’re renting Piper’s old house. And meeting her and Ollie for dinner. Didn’t know you’d been spending so much time with them.”
I kept my tone neutral. “That’s not a problem, is it?”
“No, just…interesting.” He made a face. “Are you and Piper onsome kinda date? Was that the vibe I was picking up just now?”
“We’re supposed to exchange paperwork for the lease.” Though we didn’t need to have dinner for that, technically. “It’s a friends thing.”
Callum shrugged, though from the way his shoulders stayed bunched, he was far from comfortable. “Friends is good. I wouldn’t want to be the one to tell Grace if you and Piper are having some kind of fling. That would be weird for all of us.”
An unpleasant thought occurred to me, and I couldn’t stop myself from asking. “Did you and Piper ever…?”
“What? No. God, no. Piper’s practically my sister.”
Not my sister, though, I thought. Not even close.
But clearly my siblings wouldn’t be comfortable with me and Piper as more than friends. Not sure what else I’d expected. Grace and Callum were happy to have me back in their lives, but that didn’t mean I was good enough for Piper.
Fuck, they were probably right. What was I even thinking?
