Dangerous Fling (Dangerous Noise 4)

I hate my mother for shredding my heart again and again.

But I still love her.

I understand that this is her. She's always going to choose work. She's always going to choose freedom. She's always going to choose the thing that isn't me.

I get it.

And I forgive her.

Dad doesn't go with me to the waiting room. He goes out for air. Really, I don't think he can stand the thought of us seeing him cry.

It's easy to find everyone. I just follow the noise.

Kit is sitting next to Piper in his usual black jeans/motorcycle boots thing. Only he's wearing a black t-shirt. I guess we could call that his summer outfit.

My little sister is wearing one of her retro dresses. Her tall shoes are sitting on the floor and her legs are pulled under her. She rests her head on Kit's shoulder. He runs his fingers through her light hair.

Piper's been blond for a year now. Maybe a little more. It's not a huge change from her naturally light brown shade, and it looks good on her, but the first time I saw her new do my jaw dropped.

She doesn't look like my innocent baby sister with that hairstyle.

She looks like a grownup.

An adult.

That was terrifying. It still is. But it's not with the same intensity it was when I first realized she was fucking Kit.

I accepted life moving forward.

I accepted her as a woman with desires.

Don't get me wrong. I try not to think about it. Yeah, I'm a hypocrite, teasing Ethan about bondage and avoiding thinking about Piper's sex life, but I don't care.

She'll always be my baby sister.

But she'll always be an adult, too.

And Ethan… He's leaning back in one of the green chairs, one leg resting on the other. He's in his usual outfit—skinny jeans, converse, and a bright t-shirt. This one is Kelly green. It brings out the green in his sleeve tattoo.

He's the same kid who used to beg me to listen to his latest song. Hell, he still begs me to listen to his new songs.

But he's grown into a man who can manage his own life.

Everything has been changing around me for a long time.

And it's fucking okay.

It's how the world works.

I take a seat across from Piper.

Her blue eyes go wide as she looks around the room. "Where's Lacey?"

I clear my throat.

She looks to Ethan for an explanation.

He shrugs.