Piper shoved an AirPod into her ear. “No.”
Hannah propped a hip against the couch and waited.
“I am laser-focused on burying him in regrets right now.”
“Sounds like the start to a healthy relationship.”
“He left.” Piper fell onto her butt and started to lace up her running shoes. “He’s not supposed to leave! He’s supposed to be the patient and reasonable one!”
“You’re the only one who is allowed to be irrational?”
“Yes!” Something got stuck in her throat. “And he’s obviously already sick of my shit. It’s all downhill from here. I don’t even know why I’m bothering with going to the dock.”
“Because you love him.”
“Exactly. Look at what I’ve opened myself up to.” She yanked her laces taut. “I would relive being dumped by Adrian a thousand times to avoid Brendan walking out once. The way he did last night. It hurts.”
Hannah sat down cross-legged in front of her. “I think that means the good times are worth a little struggling, don’t you?” She ducked her head to meet Piper’s eyes. “Come on. Put yourself in his shoes. What if he walked out last night without the intention of ever coming back? That’s what he’s afraid you’re going to do.”
“If he’d just listened—”
“Yeah, I know. You’re telling us you’re going to stay. But, Pipes. He’s a hard-proof guy. And you left the loopholes.”
Piper fell back flat onto the hardwood floor. “I would have closed them. He’s supposed to be understanding with me.”
“Yeah, but you have to be understanding with him, too.” Hannah chuckled, laid down beside her sister. “Piper, the man looks at you like . . . he’s full of cracks and you’re the glue. He just wanted to give you some space, you know? It’s a big decision you’re making.” She turned on her side. “And also, let’s account for the fact that he’s a man and there are balls and pride and testosterone in the mix. It’s a deadly concoction.”
“Truth.” Piper took in a deep breath and let it out. “Even if I forgive him, can I still march down there like a righteous bitch and make him rue?”
“I would be disappointed if you didn’t.”
“Okay.” Piper sat up and climbed to her feet, helping Hannah up after. “Thanks for the talk, O wise one. Promise I can call you on the phone anytime I want for your sage advice?”
“Anytime.”
Piper left for her run with more than enough time to squire Abe to the museum and make it down to the dock to wish Brendan bon voyage. Still, she was anxious to see Brendan and reassure both of them they were solid, so she set a quick pace. Abe was waiting in his usual spot outside the hardware store when she arrived, newspaper rolled up under his arm.
He waved warmly as she approached. “Morning, Miss Piper.”
“Morning, Abe,” she said, slowing to a stop beside him. “How are you today?”
“Well as can be expected.”
They fell into an easy pace, and Piper lifted her face to the sky, grateful for the calm weather, the lack of storm clouds. “I’ve been meaning to tell you, we’re throwing a grand opening party at Cross and Daughters on Labor Day.”
He quirked a white brow. “Cross and Daughters? Is that what you decided to call it?”
“Yeah.” She cut him a look. “What do you think?”
“I think it’s perfect. A nod to the new and the old.”
“That’s what I thought—” Abe’s toe caught on an uneven crack in the sidewalk, and he went down. Hard. Piper grabbed for him, but it was too late, and his temple landed on the pavement with an ominous thud. “Oh my God! Abe!” The sudden rapid fire of Piper’s pulse buckled her knees, and she dropped to the ground beside him, hands fluttering over his prone form, no idea what to do. “Oh Jesus. Jesus. Are you okay?” She was already pulling out her phone with trembling hands. “I’m going to call an ambulance, and then I’ll call your sons. It’s going to be all right.”
His hand came up and stopped her from dialing. “No ambulance,” he said weakly. “It’s not as bad as all that.”
She leaned over and saw the blood trickling from his temple. Was it a lot? Too much? “I— Are you sure? I really think I should.”
“Help me sit up.” She did, carefully, swallowing a spike when the blood traveled down to his neck. “Just call my sons. No ambulance, kiddo. Please. I don’t want to give everyone a scare by being taken to the hospital. My phone is in my pocket. Call Todd.”
“Okay,” she managed, scrolling through his phone. “Okay.”
By the time Piper pulled up the contact and hit dial, a woman had rushed out of the deli with a wadded-up fistful of paper towels for Abe to press to his wound. He was still speaking in complete sentences and his eyes were clear, which had to be a good thing, right? Oh God, please don’t let anything happen to this sweet man.