“But it’ll never be gone. It’s always there.”
Joey nodded, but his brow was pinched. “You sound like you speak from experience.”
“I do.”
“What kind of experience?”
My shoulders tensed. We’d been talking normally, but now it felt like he was zeroed in on me again, trying to figure out every one of my secrets.
There were quite a few I didn’t trust him with.
“I’m not going to hurt her,” I answered. “Is that not enough?”
His eyes narrowed, but a hand landed on my arm. I tore my eyes from him and looked down at Piper.
“Everything okay?” she asked, eyes darting between the two of us.
“Yeah, everything is fine.” Joey nodded, all tension gone from his face. “I was just getting to know Theo a little bit. I can see why you like him.”
Piper blinked, but a smile made its way onto her face. I had to pause. Was that what he was doing? Just getting to know me?
I was so sure that he was suspicious of me.
Piper had warned me I had a bad habit of thinking the worst, and I shook off my worries. Joey was here. Joey was trying.
All of those experiences were in the past, and I needed to trust that not everyone was out to judge me for who I used to be.
It was something I learned from Piper, and I needed to put it into practice.
“Really?” she asked.
“Yeah,” I confirmed. “We’re all good, love.”
“Good. What would you all say to going to the diner then? I bet you’d love the burgers, Joey.”
41
PIPER
Danielle Pepper Fan Club
Dana Holden:Did you SEE the blurb reveal??? It looks so good!
Comments:
Judy Cohen:So it was a new type of main character! Yay! I can’t wait to see what she does with it.
Trina Dunn:Or if she messes it up.
Nancy Gilbert:Do you have friends, Trina? You seem like one of those kids who have no friends and acts like a little shit on the internet.
Dana Holden:I should probably report that ... but I won’t.
Joey and Mitchseemed to love the diner, even if they got embarrassed when they called Tammy “Jessica.” Both Theo and I had to gently correct them while Tammy laughed.
I was tired when they left, but I felt like this had gone better than all of their other visits. I was hopeful this would continue.
“Thank you,” I told Theo, pulling him into a tight hug when we were alone. We stood on the sidewalk right in front of the coffee shop. “I know this was a long day, but I’m so glad you hung out with them.”
