Because unfortunately… she worried that she did believe it.
The words she wanted to tell Zach were still stuck in her chest, hot and tight and terrifying. Words that wanted out. Words she'd tried to say and failed.
That's why she said nothing as Anna tried on the dress, and it fit. Of course, it fit. She said nothing as Zach and the family headed to Brek's to meet up with the players and his dad. And she said nothing when she told Zach she wouldn't be coming to his place that night.
She didn't invite him to her apartment, either. No, because she needed a little space on her own.
By the time she made it home, Shelby was already in bed, the apartment quiet in that ambient, don't-wake-the-roomie kind of way.
Piper dropped into her desk chair, the silence pressing in from all sides. She opened her cell to text Zach. To say something.
But she stared at the screen, and then set it on her desk because she had a wedding to get done.
Because what if the problem with a curse was the unpredictability?
Because what if it waited until she was distracted, but it still came for her? And, instead of kicking in the front door like usual, this time it was taking the scenic route?
What if it had nothing to do with Anna and Drake, and everything to do with her and Zach?
Because this wasn't just a fling with him. Not anymore.
CHAPTER 23
ANNA & DRAKE'S WEDDING DAY
ZACH
They'd been busy. That's all it was.
Well, Piper had been busiest, it seemed. She wasn't intentionally blowing him off—he was certain of that, at least.
Mostly, certain.
Pretty much certain.
But while he was dealing with new Wild Sacks orders and figuring out sourcing options to meet order demands, Piper was handling wedding preparations.
They texted like nothing was wrong, still saw each other on the regular, but she stopped sleeping over. She didn't invite him to stay over at her place, either.
And, when they were together, it just... it just seemed… rushed.
"You, my brother, look like someone took a piss in your soda." Jase flopped down on the sofa in the suite at The Falcon.
They were all dressed for the wedding in their black tie, hanging with Drake, keeping him entertained and shit. Just until it was time for him to go marry their sister.
"It's probably about Piper." Roman cracked open a beer and sat beside Jase.
"Of course, it's about Piper." Jase rolled his eyes. "The nut sack's got it bad."
Drake sat at the edge of the sofa—already in his tuxedo, just waiting for game time. "You wanna talk about it?"
"No," Zach said, meaning it.
"Too bad," Jase said. "We've got time. We need something to sort, and you've got a problem. This is what we do best before weddings."
Jase, Roman, and Drake all shared a lengthy glance that didn't sit well with him.
"Look." Drake folded his hands together. "Anna says Piper's not herself, either."
