I laughed. “It’s cute when you’re embarrassed.”
“Thanks.” He muttered it as he rubbed his face.
“I wouldn’t talk about dildos without consent, but you’re the one who brought that up.”
“I regret it. And to answer your actual question, I don’t know. It’s not like we can steer the narrative.”
“We definitely could.”
“You have to be really good with words.”
I hummed. “It’s almost like you need a writer. Which I happen to be. I do a lot of steering of narratives. Sit down with me. I bet we can figure it out.”
“And no more dildo talk?”
“We still talk dildo threats around here.”
“Jesus, Piper.” He shook his head, but he was smiling.
I took that as a win.
18
THEO
Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch
Jackie Anne:Has anyone else noticed Piper is at The Reserved Bean a lot???
Comments:
Kerry Winsor:Oh, is she ... ihaven’tnoticedatallwhydoyouask?
Jackie Anne:Why are you typing that way? Is your space bar broken?
Kerry Winsor:No . . .
Jackie Anne:Okay, weird. Anyone else?
Piper M:I just love coffee and have no social life. Nothing too fun here.
Jackie Anne:It is good, isn’t it?
Piper M:SO good. And I talk to Kelsey a lot.
Kelsey Marie:She really does. She’s one of the few people I like.
Kerry Winsor:Wow ... I really have nothing to add to this conversation, I guess.
Jackie Anne:Kerry, are you okay? Do you need a nap or something?
Piper woundup handling most of the Facebook drama, and she took it like a champ. Despite her worries about fitting in here, I knew that once she knew everyone, she would do just fine. More than fine, even.
We fell back into a rhythm after that. She came in during the afternoons, played it cool, and worked on her novel.
But something had shifted. Her eyes always lingered and she watched me closely. She’d said she trusted me, but I had no idea what that entailed.
All I knew was I felt where she’d brushed into me like a fresh tattoo, even now. There were times I’d feel the ghost of her touch and I’d have to rub the area to remind myself that it probably wouldn’t happen again.
