Beautifully Broken

“And it didn’t even matter that you didn’t score the final goal,” she continues, “because you took that guy down. Doesn’t it hurt, hitting people like that?”

I chuckle, completely enamored with her. At first, I wasn't sure how Piper would like the game, but now I can’t wait to take her to another. Too bad season’s ending. “It can, but we’ve got gear on. I also have years of practice under my belt. If I’m doing the hitting, I’m generally alright. It’s the other guy’s blows I’ve got to watch out for.”

“Is that why you’re so good at football?”

“What do mean? I don’t play football.” I watch Piper from the corner of my eye. Her fingers twist the strap of her shoulder bag. Over and over. She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. Her anxiety is getting to her. We aren’t even touching and she’s winding up tighter than a gnat's ass.

Piper opens her eyes but turns her gaze to the window. “P.E. You barrel through anyone that gets in your way. I’m sure Coach kicks himself for not letting you joining mid-year each time ya’ll play.”

I knew she watched me play. It’s hard to miss her in all that black at the top of the stands, but I wanted her to admit she liked me all along. You know, ego and all. “So, she is interested.”

Piper’s cheeks flush, her reflection giving away the smile she’s trying to hide. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Face it, Piper. You like me. As much as you try to fight this, fight us, you want this to happen just as much as I do.”

The garage door closes behind us. Piper walks into the house first, dropping her bag on the kitchen counter. “I’ve got to pee,” she says darting around the corner. She comes back a few minutes later. Hair pulled into a messy bun. Shoes off. And sits on a barstool. “Now what, birthday boy?”

I lean against the edge of the counter nearest Piper. I take her hand, my thumb brushing soft circles across her palm. “Well, it’s getting late. You can go back up to the guest room tonight and crash, or we can fall asleep to a movie on the couch again. Your call.”

Piper looks off into the distance, thinking. Each second that ticks by takes a lifetime. I study the subtleties of her face. Tiny laugh lines around her eyes. Divots in her skin from blemishes she probably had years ago. Seventeen freckles across her cheeks and one that’s almost too light to see just above her lips. Dark, pouty lips I dream about every night.

I lean in expecting to be shot down, but Piper presses into me. Our lips touch, softly at first but then I feel her mouth open. She reaches for me, her hand going to the back of my head, fingers curling in my hair. I lift her onto the counter and step between her legs, eliminating the space between our bodies. The kiss is hot and needy and it takes every inch of will power I have not to lay her on the counter and explore the rest of her body with my tongue.

Piper pulls back, gasping for air, but I need more. My lips find the soft skin of her shoulder. I kiss my way up the side of her neck to her ear, taking the lobe and tiny earring in my mouth. She gasps again, pressing her legs tighter to my sides. She tugs at my hair, demanding my lips against hers again and I give her what she wants.

Piper’s pulls away again, her breaths sharp and short, matching mine. Those perfect lips of hers curl into a grin. “I’ve wanted to do that since the scrimmage. Happy birthday, Rex.”

16

Piper

Cooper: Meet me in the stairwell

I groan and slide my phone back into my shoulder bag. As if this morning wasn’t bad enough with Mrs. Cherrybroom being on my ass again about college, now I’ve got to deal with Cooper and whatever his problem is. I wish I could go back to last night, to kissing in the kitchen. I know Rex and I’ve kissed before, but I don’t count it. I was drunk and couldn’t fully appreciate it for what it was. But last night’s kiss wipes the memory of the first one out of the water. Hands down!

My phone dings again.

Cooper: NOW

Ugh. I beat my head against my closed locker. Today. Sucks. Balls.

The history final that I missed yesterday, I have to stay after school to re-take, which wouldn’t be a big deal if I was allowed to make it up on my free period. But no. Mr. Burgess is making me wait until after the last bell at 2:15. Again not a big deal if I didn’t have to work tonight, and if I didn’t have to catch the bus, and if I knew I could finish the test in under two hours. But all these things stacked against me plus Cooper’s bad attitude is a vortex of bad karma that I can’t swim my way out of.

Add to it that I’m going to be late for work which is gonna make him even more mad at me—not that I have any clue what I’ve done to piss him off to begin with— and yeah…

Hands settles on my hips behind me. I should be freaking out, but I recognize the cologne before his hands even found my body. I smile, taking in the scent that is Rex.

“Hey, beautiful.”

I spin in Rex’s arms and lean against the cold metal of my locker. His lips find mine for a chaste kiss that makes me want to skip the rest of the day and explore how he can make the rest of my body feel. He reaches behind him and extends a small daisy from his back pocket to me. I take the flower and bring it to my nose. The fragrance is sweet, making an unintentional smile appear. He’s been doing that a lot lately, making me smile. Being together like this feels right. Like I’m supposed to be happy again, with him.

“Here,” Rex says taking the flower from between my fingers. He snaps the stem and then tucks it behind my ear. White against black. A light in the darkness that is my life, just like him. “Much better.”

“Could you be any more cliché?” I roll my eyes, pretending to be annoyed but the truth is, I love it. The gesture, the kindness, the attention. He’s meeting my expectations of what a boyfriend should be and exceeding them. The only part that’s missing? We’re not actually dating. I really don’t know what we are yet.

Rex shrugs. “Probably. I can go full Prince Charming on ya if you want.” I turn and lean my back against the cold metal. He places one foot on either side of me and hooks his fingers onto my belt loops. He dips his head, nose brushing against my cheek until lips find my ears. “Let me make you mine, and I’ll treat you like a queen.”

My phone dings again from my shoulder bag, saving me from a question I’m not sure how to answer yet. Do I want Rex to be my boyfriend? Yes, absolutely! But there’s that lingering black cloud reminding me our time together is limited. Is it worth it to break his heart and possibly mine for a few weeks of bliss? Or will it be less tortuous in the end to remain in this weird friend-dating-limbo? “I’ve got to meet Cooper. He’s pissed off about something.”