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Chapter Fourteen

Piper

“You almost here?” Lillian asks as I pull into the parking space outside of the restaurant and I sigh, putting the car in park as I lean my head back against the headrest. It’s been one hell of a day and somehow I let Lillian talk me into going out to dinner when I should have just stayed home with a big glass of wine and my comfiest clothes.

“I just parked.”

“Oh, the waitress is here. Do you want me to order you a drink?”

I nod as I turn the car off and grab my purse out of the passenger seat. “Yeah, a berry sangria and make it a large if you can.”

“It’s been one of those days, huh?” she asks before relaying my order to the waitress and I nod to myself as I step out of the car.

“Yes, it has.”

“Well, get your butt in here so you can tell me all about it. I gave them your name at the hostess stand.”

We hang up and I’m just about to slip my phone into my bag when it starts ringing again. I let out a groan. Between dodging Eden and Wyatt’s calls today, I’m about ready to just shut this damn thing off and be done with everyone. Glancing down, I roll my eyes at Wyatt’s name on the screen before declining the call and slipping the phone into my bag.

I honestly don’t know how to take my conversation with him this morning. For so long, all I knew was that I ruined us and anything we could have had so to have him show up and declare that he wants me back just as soon as I tell him what made me leave has me… off balance. Not to mention, that anytime he pulls me into his arms, I want to beg him to never let me go again but I have to force myself to close off around him and push him away. Although, now that he knows I didn’t cheat on him, I don’t see that happening. Telling him the truth, though… I just don’t know if I can. I’ve run it through in my head a hundred times and each time, all I can see is the look on his face - the one that says I’m weak, the one that will be full of disgust once he knows everything.

Shaking my head, I step into the restaurant and a young brunette looks up from the hostess stand with a smile. “Hi. Just one?”

Party of one?

That’s me.

I resist the urge to scoff… or burst into tears.

“No. I’m meeting someone. My name is Piper.”

“Oh, yes,” she replies with a nod. “Follow me, please.”

She turns and I follow her as she walks away from the entrance and into the dining room. The smell of tomato sauce and garlic bread hits my nose and my stomach growls. I press my hand to my stomach as my mouth waters. Oh, God, I’ve been so consumed with what Wyatt said before he left this morning that I forgot to eat anything. At least I didn’t have any in-studio shoots scheduled for the day so I didn’t have to be around Eden and keep up the silent treatment.

“They’re in the back corner,” the hostess says, pointing toward one of the tables and I scowl. They? I follow her outstretched hand and stumble when my gaze lands on Eden, sitting across from Lillian and looking guilty as hell. I grit my teeth as I close the distance between us and cross my arms over my chest.

“What the hell, Lil?”

She holds her hands up in surrender. “Listen, you guys need to talk and I knew you would never hear her out unless I forced you to.”

“I would have… eventually.”

“Well,” she replies with a shrug. “Eventually is now. Have a seat.”

With a huff, I sit next to Lillian and take a sip of the large sangria in front of my plate before leaning back in my chair, arching a brow and pinning Eden with a look. “Well?”

“Pippy, I’m so so sorry, okay? You know I love you like a freaking sister and I just hated seeing you in pain all the time so I thought if I put you guys together, things would… you know?”

I nod my head. “Oh, yeah… I know and guess what, your little plan worked. Wyatt knows I didn’t cheat on him and he wants me back just as soon as I tell him all the ugly, nasty details about what happened ten years ago so thanks for that.”

“Wait, what? It worked? You guys are getting back together?” she asks, barely resisting the urge to clap her hands in glee and I level a glare across the table.

“No! Yes… I don’t know. Did you miss the part where I have to bare my soul to him?”

She shrugs. “So do it, Piper. All I’ve heard for the last six years is how much you love this man. Why would you let him go again?”

“You know what,” I snap. “Not the point right now. I’m still really mad at you and it doesn’t matter that it worked because you went too far. I’ve trusted you with some very deep secrets and you almost lost that trust.”