Wright Rival (Wright)

“The Cosmere concert?” Nora gaped at them. “When I went to see my brother and both of you conveniently had to stay behind?”

I did the math. We’d gone to see Campbell two months ago. Fuck.

“Shut up, Tamara,” August said.

“She deserves to know the truth,” Tamara cried. “I was flirting with Hollin all this time to make August see that he needed to break up with you.”

Nora’s jaw dropped. My eyes widened. Well, I hadn’t expected that.

“You’ve been flirting with me since you got the job at Wright Vineyard. Don’t try to twist this,” I roared at her.

Tamara pulled into herself, away from my anger. She turned back to her best friend. “I’m sorry, Nora. But we’re in love. We were always meant to be. He didn’t know how to tell you.”

“What the fuck?” I growled.

Nora shook her head, taking another step back. I needed to get her out of here. This had gone too far. Tamara was being purposefully cruel now, and Nora didn’t deserve that. She didn’t deserve any of it.

“What’s going on, y’all?” Piper said as she traipsed down the hallway. “I heard your voices.”

Her feet stalled as she took in the sight before her. Me standing between Nora and August. Tamara’s disheveled appearance. August’s broken nose.

“Is everything okay?”

I shook my head and put my arm around my little sister. “We were just leaving.”

“Nora, wait,” August said.

“I don’t think so,” I spat. “You did all your explaining with your tongue down someone else’s throat.”

Piper stepped up next to me. There was fire in her eyes as well. “We’re leaving. And you should, too.”

I herded Nora back the way that we’d come. She didn’t make a single sound until we were out of the hallway, across the atrium, and back in the fresh air.

“Are you okay?” Piper asked, reaching for Nora.

She sniffled and then burst into tears. Piper took her in her arms. I felt murderous at the sight. That douche bag had made my sister cry. I was going to kill him. I was going to fucking wreck his life.

And Tamara. I seethed. The way she had acted around me got on my nerves, but I hadn’t realized she was capable of such deception. And I still had to work with her. It wasn’t like I could fire her for hurting my sister.

“Let’s get you home,” Piper encouraged.

“No,” Nora said with a sniffle. “I can…I can get an Uber. I don’t want y’all to miss the party.”

“Hey, it’s okay.”

“We don’t mind at all. You shouldn’t have to take an Uber or be home alone.”

Nora wiped at her eyes. “Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother.”

“Shush now,” Piper said, holding her close again. “You’re not a bother to anyone.” She looked up at me. “Go get the truck.”

I nodded and jogged across the parking lot to my truck and drove at illegal speeds to get back up to the front of the building. Together, we helped Nora into the backseat, and then I took off across town.

Piper sat in the back with Nora with her arm around her for support. What I’d felt before for Piper was one thing, but as I looked at her taking care of my sister, my heart swelled almost uncomfortably.

I’d never felt like this before. Like I’d do anything for this girl. To see her give up her night out in that beautiful dress for someone else, someone I cared about…I didn’t even have words for that.

Okay, I had one word.

But I’d never said it out loud to anyone who wasn’t family. I didn’t know if I was ready to say it right now either. Didn’t stop me from feeling it.

30

Piper

“Are you sure you want to go home?” Hollin asked from the front seat. “You should stay in my guest room.”

Nora shook her head. “I want to crawl into my own bed.”

He met my gaze and frowned. “Don’t you live with Tamara?”

She froze. As if the thought hadn’t hit her before that moment. “Fuck.”

I gritted my teeth. I knew exactly what she was going through. I’d lost two friends and roommates to a terrible situation like this. It had been Hollin’s fault all those years ago, and it was certainly August’s fault now. Though much of the blame rested with Tamara as well.

“I’m going to need to move out,” she muttered. “Where am I going to live? What about my lease?” She hit her head on the back of the seat. “Fuck, what am I going to do?”

“You can stay with me for now,” Hollin said. “After that, we’ll figure it out. One day at a time.”

“It’s best not to go back tonight,” I told her. “You don’t want to deal with her if she comes home…or wonder where she is if she doesn’t.”

Nora ground her teeth together and nodded. “Fine.”

Hollin pulled off the loop to head to his house instead of Nora’s apartment. Nora was silent the rest of the way home. I wasn’t sure if she was seething or trying to hold herself together. Either way, I was glad that she wouldn’t be alone tonight. Hollin parked in his garage.