“Oh wow, the puzzle is almost done,” Easton says as he takes a bite.
Piper speaks around a mouthful. “Yep, I’m determined to finish it before we leave.”
“Do you know how much longer you’ll have to stay?” Easton asks.
“Nope. The sooner, the better, though.” She meets my eyes, and there’s a fire behind them.
Easton chuckles. “Yeah, I’m sure all of this has been a big change for you compared to what you’re used to.”
“A wake-up call is more like it,” she asserts. “But I’ll have a lot to post about when I’m released. Your shop being one of them.”
His brow pops up. “Can’t wait. This could be huge for us.”
I swear he’s flirting with her just to mess with me, not because he’s actually interested. Regardless, it pisses me off all the same. Throughout the entire meal, I keep quiet, letting them continue their ridiculous conversation. When I’m done eating, I put my bowl in the sink, then go to the living room.
They continue talking, and eventually, Piper starts cleaning the kitchen.
“Well, thanks for inviting me for lunch. That was amazing,” he tells Piper.
She smiles wide. “Yeah, it was! It was great chatting with you. We’ll have to do it again sometime before I leave.”
He leans down and gives her a side hug. “I’d like that.”
I force myself to hold back a groan at their sudden friendship.
Easton comes over to me. “You good?”
“Fine,” I say.
“If you need anything else, just text me,” he tells me, then flashes a knowing smirk.
The bastard.
“Will do. Thanks for restocking us.”
“Pleasure’s all mine.” He waves at Piper before leaving.
Once I hear his car back out of the driveway, she moves into the living room with her hands on her hips and stares at me.
“What?” I ask.
“I can’t believe you treated your brother like that. You were so rude.”
I scoff with shock. “Are you kidding me? What the fuck was that, Piper? You basically riled him up and left him with blue balls.”
She gives me an innocent look. “I did exactly what you instructed.”
“No, you went too far,” I tell her.
“You told me to make it obvious nothing was going on between us, so that’s what I did. Now you’re pissed?”
I shake my head because she knows exactly what she did. “You’re being immature.”
That angers her more than anything else I’ve said. “Oh really? Now I’m the immature one. Sounds a bit hypocritical to me, considering you sat there and stewed in your anger while we ate.”
“I wasn’t stewing. I was letting you do your thing, practicing your bubbly YouTube personality on Easton.”
She rolls her eyes. “So, I wonder what makes you more jealous. The fact that he was eating it up and flirting right back or that we’re closer in age and you didn’t like seeing us get along?”
I bark out a sarcastic laugh. “If you want my brother, go for it, Piper. I’m not stopping you. You’re a grown-ass woman who does whatever she wants. But damn, you sure know how to make a man feel used. Guess being tossed to the side like a broken used toy was bound to happen eventually.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’m done. I’m done with you and this whole stupid conversation.”
She storms off, but there was truth in what I said about feeling used. The way she could so easily be all over someone else like we never existed angered me. And if I’m being honest, it’s one of my biggest fears when it comes to a woman like Piper. My heart beats rapidly at the way we blew up at each other. I hate that she walked away mad, but maybe space is what we need right now. We’re both hurt and confused.
Hours pass and she still hasn’t come downstairs. It’s nearly dinnertime, so I whip up something quick. When she smells food cooking, Piper makes her way into the kitchen.
I serve up some steak and black beans, and we don’t say more than a few words to each other while we eat. Once we’re done, I clean up and decide to finally say something.
“So, we’re not going to talk about what happened earlier?” I ask.
“I don’t have anything else to say,” she says from the living room.
I wipe my hands on a dish towel, then make my way to her until I’m close enough to pull her into my arms. “Piper, I’m sorry. I’m sorry for letting my emotions get the best of me and taking it out on you. I hate how I reacted.”
She meets my eyes. “I don’t think you’re a broken used toy, Tristan. I have no intentions of tossing you out. That was so hurtful to hear you say.”
I nod. “You’re right. I have a lot of insecurities and other issues I’m still working through. I don’t know why I immediately get defensive and self-sabotage when something good in my life is happening, but it’s a bad habit I'm trying to break.”