Piper: A Last Score Spin Off

by K. L. Shandwick

  “Maybe…at the beginning,” Gibson said then left the conversation hanging.

  Hearing how Simon blew some girl out made me feel a lot less settled about him, but from what he had said in his defense, it sounded as if Gibson wasn’t a saint in the incident either. The way they both spoke, I got the idea neither Simon nor Gibson had any respect for the girls that they slept with before.

  My guts twisted in my stomach and depression settled in my chest at how flippantly he and Gibson discussed what had happened in the past, but what affected me the most was the girl they mentioned was around my age back then and not how I imagined groupies to be. Weren’t they only out to fuck a rock star?

  Worst of all, of the thousands of women they had come into contact with over the years, this one had a name and that made her more memorable to Simon than the rest.

  “You broke her heart, Simon. How long before you break Piper’s? She’s fucking precious to us and not nearly as strong as she appears to be.”

  “I never led Amy on and you need to start giving Piper more credit. She’s not Amy and I’m not twenty-three anymore. Shit, you’re not being fair because that incident was almost ten years ago.”

  “Yeah, and there’s never been a steady girl since.”

  “Amy wasn’t steady. You’re not listening to me, and the reason I’ve not had a steady woman is because I never clicked with anyone the way I have with Piper.” He sighed heavily. “Like it or not, me and you aren’t that different, Gib. I knew you back then. Piper and I… we’re doing this.”

  There was a pause in their conversation again and I thought I’d make my entrance, but Simon wasn’t done.

  “Let me ask you this. Say… for the sake of argument this doesn’t work out between us. Who does she have to turn to? You think she’s gonna confide in you? Chloe? Can’t you see you’re pushing her back to where she was right before her mom died? She’d have no one.”

  I’d heard enough, and I had a choice. Either I walked into the kitchen and stood united with Simon or I asked Gibson to put his finger on what it was about Simon that made him feel so determined to push us apart.

  Chloe’s flip-flops clapped noisily in the distance and I knew if I stood there much longer she’d find me. Tiptoeing back to the sliders I quickly opened and closed it more noisily to alert them of my presence.

  “Morning, sweetheart, was the bed in the pool house okay?” I felt myself blush because Simon and I wrecked the bed—well the bed sheets at least—and I felt a wave of shyness at Simon being with me. Get a grip, you’re twenty for heaven’s sake. I glanced up at Chloe and tried to look her in the eyes.

  “Yeah it was so comfortable. I passed right out when I got into bed last night after my shower,” I lied.

  Chloe saw right through me and smirked, then chuckled. “Gibson was having a meltdown because Simon came with you. I had to talk him down from the roof and make him stay in our room when he heard the plane land.”

  I glanced at the floor feeling more than a little awkward because although I was an adult and could do what I liked, most girls got to choose who knows when they enter into a relationship with a man or go all the way. However, because I was with Simon, I was robbed of my privacy or the privilege to choose who to tell.

  “You may feel like it’s none of my business, honey, but can I offer you some advice?” I hesitated and nodded, fully expecting a lecture about how to protect my heart against Simon.

  “Gibson had a tough upbringing, but when he loves he loves hard. Whether that’s being in love or protecting those he cares about. You are so special to the both of us… all three of us. To little Melody you are her sister too.”

  Chloe flashed me a warm smile and placed her hand on my shoulder. She wasn’t a ‘touchy feely’ person after what had happened to her, but I knew she loved me. I smiled affectionately in return. “Stay strong. If you really believe in this thing with Simon, then stand your ground. Gibson will learn to accept what you have, but please cut him some slack for having your best interests at heart.”

  Linking arms with me she led me into the kitchen. “Look what the wind blew in,” she said, turning to give me a hug that caught me by surprise. “Breakfast?” she asked, pulling away from me and addressing everyone like nothing had been going on between both men.

  I glanced at Simon who immediately got out of his chair and walked over to meet me. “Good morning, baby,” he said, mindful that Gibson was in the room. Bending, he gave me a quick peck on the lips and pulled back. I was thankful when he didn’t appear to push our relationship in Gibson’s face.

  Simon smoothed my hair down and cupped my chin. “Sleep well, sweetheart?” the look he gave me was a little intense and I saw Gibson glare from the side of my eye.

  “Yeah, I was dead to the world. You should have woken me,” I said, and narrowed my eyes. Simon chuckled and broke away from his embrace. “Nah, you were exhausted after the journey up here,” he replied.

  Ignoring his comment, I rounded the table to where Gibson sat and grabbed the butter toasted bagel from his plate. Taking a crunchy bite, I dropped it back in place, then I slung my arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek. Gibson chuckled because it was a move he usually would have made and the mood in the room lightened instantly.

  “Morning, Gibson. Tell me you’re pleased to see me. It feels so good to be home with you guys. I can’t wait to let you hear the demo of the album. Otto sent it to my phone this morning, but I haven’t had the chance to listen to it. I thought the four of us could do that right after breakfast. I’m dying to share it with you to hear what you think.”

  Pushing back his chair, he pulled me in for one of his bear hugs and the love I felt for him made my heart swell.

  “Can’t wait, can we, darlin’? “ he said to Chloe, “If you’re singing on it, baby girl, I know I’m gonna love it, just as much as I love you.” Turning his head, he glanced to Simon and gave a small sigh. “Si was just telling me how you killed the third to last track with a new arrangement when he jammed with you.”

  Without saying so, Gibson had offered a small peace offering when he mentioned Simon and it made me feel less apprehensive of spending time in the company of both of them.

  “Yeah, he’s a genius… you both are. If it weren’t for the two of you, I’d never have had the confidence to push myself this way. Simon has also been a godsend in keeping Jeff in order and helping me to deal with the press. Apart from you, I don’t think I could have had anyone better.”

  Simon smirked at me and looked down at the table while Gibson cracked a grin. “Piper, I’m trying to get my head around all this, but I ain’t stupid. I saw what you did there, and even though you're right, there’s no need to butter me up by saying I’d be the best man for the job.” He shrugged, “Because I already know that.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Pride shone in Gibson and Chloe’s eyes when they heard the final cut. I wished I could have videoed the way Gibson rocked out to a couple of the numbers we had collaborated on because he was totally in his zone.

  I knew he loved the drums, but to see him knock out the beat on a small table with his hands was something else.

  I found myself giggling because he was singing a song about a woman loving her man and it was difficult not to see the funny side with his huge deep voice and his alpha vibe going on.

  My heart almost burst with delight when I felt his warm hands surrounding me from behind.

  Plucking me clean out the chair Gibson spun me around still singing the words of the song and I continued laughing.

  “There ain’t many men who can sing these words and stare out the punks with a straight face, baby girl. I’m comfortable enough in my own skin to sing anything and dare the fucker who’d challenge me about it to come forward. I’ve never met a guy who’d square up to me apart from Jonny.”

  Watching Chloe chuckle as he continued to spin me around, I suddenly got the warmest feeling and knew exactly how it felt to be loved by a father
.

  Even if he wasn’t my natural father and hadn’t brought me up, Gibson had shown me more love, time, and attention in just over two years than my mother’s partner ever had in seventeen years.

  As Gibson sat down Simon caught my wrist when the slowest song of the album began to play. It was the neatest love song I’d ever heard, and I was excited to have been given it to sing. It was written by a world-famous artist and I couldn’t believe my luck when we won the bid to record it.

  Pulling me into his chest, Simon held his hand and mine to his chest and placed his other across the center of my back.

  We were dancing waltz style; his body held some inches from mine, and I thought for a moment it was out of respect for Gibson until it came to the bridge when he pulled me sharply into his chest. Placing his cheek next to mine he sang softly, and it felt so romantic despite Gibson and Chloe being in the room.

  Conscious Gibson and Chloe were probably watching, I tried hard to ignore what they may have taken from the scene and concentrated on how willing Simon was to show them his feelings for me. The least I could do was meet him halfway and invest in the moment with him.

  When the song ended, Simon kissed my forehead and pulled his head back just enough to look into my eyes. “Baby, that song is so dope. You do realize it’s gonna be played at almost every wedding in the states for the next fifty years, right?” I turned my head to look at Gibson and he nodded slowly in agreement.

  “I hate to admit it but he’s not wrong. The purity in your voice and those words don’t make that a great song, it makes it a cut above.” Gibson agreed. “From what I’ve heard Otto has done an amazing job in production and if I’m not mistaken you’re gonna be so in demand you’ll hardly have time to shit.”

  “Gibson, is that really necessary?” Chloe admonished.

  Chuckling at Chloe’s scolding, Gibson stood and swept her off her feet, “What? You keep telling me I need to let her be the adult she is, she’s about to learn what it is to be told when to shit, where, and how much, because I can see a great future for our baby girl here, even if she went ahead and ignored my advice.”

  Stepping from Simon to Gibson, I flung my arms around his waist and cuddled in tight, then did the same to Chloe. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here at all and the fact I’ve been given this chance at all is a privilege. Anything else is a bonus.

  At 3:45 pm Melody burst in through the door, closely followed by Emma, Chloe’s security. Melody was her responsibility even when she was at home with her birth mom. Emma did the school run with Jerry, Monday through Friday, and Gibson had hired a young female for Melody for all the other times.

  “Where is she?” Melody screeched as her flat shoes pitter pattered down the tiled floor of the hallway and into the music room. Lunging at me, she hugged me so tight it hurt. Leaning back, she grinned widely and kissed the end of my nose. “I missed you so much,” she gushed and hugged me tight again.

  “I missed you too, Ladybug,” I admitted and was surprised when she ran over and climbed up on Simon’s knee.

  “Can we go swimming? Mom said if I was good, you may take me swimming,” she asked from her perched position on his lap. Her little face looked so bright with excitement I would never have turned her down.

  “Sure, go get your bathing suit on and meet me by the pool house, but no trying to remove the cover until the adults are with you, got it?”

  “Cross my heart; it's more than my life’s worth with him around,” she said, nudging her head and throwing her thumb in Gibson’s direction. She’d obviously heard someone talking and mimicked their comment. Gibson grabbed her by her waist, spun her upside down and carried her on his shoulder with one hand.

  “You’re getting way too smart mouthed for a kid your age,” he said, playfully.

  “Is that so?” she said in a comeback

  Chloe covered her mouth with her hand to hide her smile and Gibson pretended to sound annoyed, “I see a paddle in your future, baby girl,” he teased.

  “Oh, you’re taking me boating? Yippee,” she shot back and dissolved in a fit of giggling when Gibson spun her into his arms and began to tickle her. No matter whether Gibson and I were having a little difficulty seeing eye to eye, watching him with Melody gave me huge insight. He was the same way with all the women in his life and no matter what happened with Simon and me, I knew Gibson’s love was unconditional.

  A swim with Melody was never only a swim. Within ten minutes of pulling off the protective cover to the pool designed to keep her from accidently drowning, we were blowing up inflatable slides, digging noodles out of the poolside storage boxes, and assembling polo nets to play ball.

  Gibson and Simon were on one side of the net and Chloe, Melody, and I were on the other. Splashing, ducking, and cheating were Melody’s main tactics and because I was on the same team as her, naturally we won, but I had to admit there was nothing like the heart of a child to pull everyone together.

  By the time she went to bed, I’d read, glued, and glittered a project with her for her show and tell session at school. Then she sang three songs with me after showing me her latest skill of playing the scales on her new half-size guitar.

  The girl definitely had Gibson’s genes. Kissing her forehead, she hugged me tight once more and reminded me for the umpteenth time how much she loved me.

  I was about to leave the room when Gibson and Chloe both came in to kiss her goodnight and I watched them interact with her from the doorway.

  From Chloe’s perspective it didn’t matter who Melody’s mother was, she was part of Gibson and that was all the excuse Chloe had needed to welcome Melody into the fold with open arms. I hoped Melody would one day realize how fortunate she was to have such an amazing step-mom in her life.

  “Piper, wait up, sweetheart,” Gibson said as I began to head for the stairs. Chloe was still with Melody. Wandering up to me, he put his hand around my shoulder and squeezed me sideways into him.

  “Thanks for coming back so soon. I was worried about how the little lady would cope now that you’re gone. She told me a minute ago she knows you’ll come back when you can now that you’ve been back once.”

  I sighed. My leaving had been hard on all of us as we’d grown so close. “It’s not been easy, trust me. It’s only been a short time and I’ve missed you all like crazy, but having Simon around has felt like a little bit of home, you know?”

  Drawing a deep breath, he studied my face for a minute, his wise eyes reading how I felt about being with Simon. “He’s really making you happy?” he asked with a note of concern.

  “Who?” I joked refusing to allow another tense standoff.

  “All right, I hear you. I’ll back off and hope to hell the fucker’s got his act together, ‘cause God forbid…” He glanced at me and smirked awkwardly then shook his head, “I’m doing it again, huh?” he asked, not needing an answer.

  “I know you love me. Simon knows you love me, but Simon and I will be whatever is meant. I’m prepared for a letdown and if it makes you feel any better no matter how I feel about any man, Simon included, they’ll never put me down. I’d walk first.”

  “You are one tough little cookie.” I took his comment as a compliment.

  “And you’re a pain in the ass,” I replied, to use Simon’s description of him when he annoyed him.

  “I hear you. Jesus, between you, Chloe, and Melody, I have no chance of ruling my own domain.”

  “Now that’s not true, Gibson, none of us have access to your webpage,” I replied pretending I had no idea what he was talking about.

  “I’ll make you a deal, Piper. I’ll get off your case if you promise you’ll turn to Chloe if ever you’re unhappy. The last thing I want is for you ever to feel there’s no one you can seek advice from, or even only to vent.”

  I turned properly toward him and hugged him hard. “Thank you, Gibson. Simon really has been amazing to me and I’m not stupid enough to think this is going to be anything but a challenge for t
he both of us but knowing we have you and Chloe behind us means everything.”

  To me, the people in that pool today were the only ones that mattered in my life.

  “Like you said before, Gibson, we’re more than blood now and what affects you affects me, so I never want you to think the decisions I’ve made in my life have been taken lightly.”

  Chloe came out of Melody’s room and Gibson immediately stepped back from me and hugged his wife to his side. “She settled?” he asked, and Chloe nodded.

  “Yeah but not before she tried to talk me into some Luke Bryan concert tickets,” she added with another small chuckle.

  “She’s definitely her father’s daughter. As a kid I had a sixth sense for sniffing out an opportunity,” he said, threw his head back and belly-laughed.

  True to his word, Gibson didn’t jibe Simon all evening after that. In fact the two men appeared to have buried the hatchet somewhere other than in each other’s back. It made me feel good that they were able to continue with their friendship without our relationship driving a wedge between them.

  Chloe took me over to Dignity, her safe-house facility, and we spoke to a new family: a young mother and three small children. I told her my story, and she thanked me before we left them to settle and headed back to the house.

  The instant we walked within sight, Simon’s eyes met mine and a sexy smile graced his lips. “There you are, I’m beat,” he said, yawning, and I yawned in response then smiled. “God, I love that smile,” he told me as he stood and scooped me into his side.

  My smile grew wider, and I glanced at Gibson who was already out of his chair and on his way toward me. “Night, baby girl,” he said holding his arms out, and I stepped away from Simon and into his arms.

  The rest of the trip went better than I expected and true to his word Gibson tried hard to accept Simon and I were together, save the occasional jaw tick when Simon pulled me onto his lap and patted my butt.