“Speaking of your boys …” I start, taking the opening she’s provided.
Her smile falls. She knows I’m about to bring up my brother, whom I’d walked in on arguing with her yesterday. He’d shot me a glare and stormed out without a word, slamming the door on his way and causing her to flinch. Luckily, Connor had been in the backyard following our walk, or my brother just might have lost an ankle.
My mom sighs. She’d remained tight-lipped about the encounter, but I knew it was about me.
“I’m at a loss as to how to deal with Aidan,” I continue. I understand he’s bitter and feels as though I abandoned him, and I’ve been trying to give it time—givehimtime—to get used to the idea that I’m back to stay. But the open hostility he displays has been plaguing me. “I just— I need some guidance, Mom. I’m willing to put in the work to regain his trust, but … where do I start when he’ll barely even look at me?”
She sighs again, twisting her mouth in thought before tentatively saying, “His wife.”
I raise my eyebrows, and she stares at me for a long moment before giving a decisive nod, as though confirming the idea to herself. “Yeah,” she says. “I’d start with Piper.”
“Piper,” I repeat.
“Mm-hmm,” she chuckles, then shrugs. “I’ve tried talking to him about you but he won't hear it. Piper, though? He can’t say no to her. And she’s a big softie, so if you can get her on your side, she’ll put in a good word for you.”
I rub my chin thoughtfully, playing with the scruff of my beard.
“And she works at the library, right?”
Another nod.
“With Steph.”
“Yeees,” my mother says slowly. “But remember what I said about Steph … you need to tread carefully there too, Riles.”
Too late.
But I nod, allowing a slow smile to creep across my face. I’ve been dying for an excuse to see her again, and it seems I just might be able to kill two birds with one stone.
12
Steph
Then
“Ipromise,thisisexactlywhat you need,” Katie says, as she drags me towards the huge white colonial on fraternity row.
“I don’t know … I’m really not in the mood for—”
“Shut it!” she snaps, cutting me off. “I’ve listened to you cry over that loser for almost an entire year. And afterthe crap he pulled on you last weekend, he doesnotdeserve any more of your tears. So you bettergetin the mood.”
The party appears to be in full swing as I observe the crowd of party-goers who’ve spilled out onto the front lawn amid the accompanying debris of red solo cups and empty pizza boxes. I also spot discarded articles of clothing and even a random shoe—a purple stiletto with the heel hanging loose. Music thrums from the open front door, and while the bass is impressive, it’s nearly overshadowed by the clamor of voices from the crowded lawn. A group gathered in a semi-circle on the driveway shares hits off a bong, and I’m hit with a wave of nausea as the pot smoke drifts to me on the late summer breeze.
I can’t be here.
The crowd, the music, the drugs. It’s all too recently familiar.
“Katie,” I sigh, pausing on the sidewalk.
“No, Stephie. I mean it,” she says, spinning towards me with her hands on her hips. “You need to forget him. We’re in college now.” She waves her arm towards the house.
“I know, but—”
“No buts! Come on, we’re on to new beginnings, girl.” She steps into me, placing her hands on my shoulders. Her green eyes soften when she says, “You need to let loose for a little bit, okay? You can go back to being depressed tomorrow. But tonight we’re gonna go in there, we’re gonna get you some booze, maybe find some cute guys to dance with …” She shrugs, dropping her hands from my shoulders.
“Okay,” I sigh again, resigning myself to this night. This party.
She grins, and I roll my eyes, but I allow her to pull me up the walkway and onto the front porch, gingerly picking our way through the chaos.
