Wrapped in Lace

by Lane, Prescott

  “Piper?” Ellie called out.

  I motioned for Granddaddy to go ahead and get in the car, as it was getting really cold outside. “What do you need, Ellie?” I tried to keep my voice cheery, but Ellie only talked to me when she needed something. I was one of Jack’s teachers, so it seemed like that happened pretty often. The thing is, Ellie and I had been in the same class as young girls. We went to school together for almost ten years, and I don’t remember her even acknowledging my existence back then. Given the size of our town, outright ignoring someone took effort, so I suspected she didn’t like me very much. I know I shouldn’t hold on to those things because people change, but I wasn’t sure Ellie had.

  “Must be good to see Drew again?” she asked.

  What? She wanted to have girl talk with me now? I couldn’t control my what the hell? face. “Sure,” I said, trying to remain neutral. I wasn’t sure what was happening between Drew and me, but I wasn’t about to discuss it with Ellie.

  “You two were so close,” she continued, pulling her coat tighter, trying to block the cold. “He never knew any of us other girls were alive growing up.”

  “I don’t know about that.” I know my tone wasn’t as cheery this time. I didn’t know what her game was, but I really wasn’t in the mood to play.

  Ellie looked back towards the house, the twinkling Christmas lights creating a halo around her, but something was telling me she was no angel. She turned back to me, playing with her braid. Seriously, what woman her age still wears a braid? Maybe to the beach, but this was a family dinner. Come to think of it, I don’t ever remember seeing her in one before. “Looked to me like Drew still has eyes for you.”

  Don’t blush, don’t blush, don’t blush. Don’t give her the satisfaction. I couldn’t figure out what she wanted or why she would even care. But I wasn’t about to discuss my personal life with her. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Her normally polite smile looked almost wicked. “Please, he barely looked at anyone but you all night.”

  I thought that was probably true, but at least she didn’t realize it was because we were getting frisky underneath the table. Nosy or not, Ellie seemed to know Drew really well, and I realized she could probably be helpful—fill in some blanks for me. I obviously missed a lot the ten years I was gone. “Do you know what that was about in there?” I didn’t think she would tell me but figured it was worth a shot.

  She rubbed her baby bump. “Ancient history. It’s cold, so I better go back inside.” She turned abruptly and hurried into the house.

  That was the most I could recall Ellie ever talking about anyone but herself. My granddaddy honked the horn, and I turned towards the car. Ellie was certainly acting strange, but I couldn’t bring myself to care. The only thing I cared about was Drew. Last night was fun and hot, but he might never want to take it any further than that, although the mutual groping under the dining room table was probably a pretty good indication he wanted to take things further. But in the end, I still treasured our friendship the most. He still held a place in my heart no other boy had ever occupied.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DREW

  I looked down at my old work boots, thankful I always kept them in my truck. I’d been so pissed off at Rob that I’d stormed out of the house barefoot and coatless with no keys, and it was freezing out. I could do without the coat, but I was glad I had shoes. I blew some warm air on my hands then stuck them in the front pocket of my jeans. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been walking, but I knew exactly where I was—Piper Harper’s grandparents’ street. I rode my bike here every day for years.

  Looking up at the second story window, I wondered if that was still her room. Just like the rest of McAdenville, the Harper house was ready for the holidays, and I could tell Piper had a hand in the decorations. The house wasn’t decorated in the typical holly and lights. Instead, the house was decorated in red and white stripes like on a candy cane. The wreath was constructed of red and white striped ribbons, and the pillars wrapped in red ribbon. Huge peppermint decorations flanked the front steps. The place looked like a Christmas candy wonderland, and I was sure it had to be Piper’s doing.

  I leaned against the old tree in her front yard, watching her window. This was our tree. We used to climb it and sit and talk for hours. Its branches had shaded us in the summer and hidden us when we got in trouble. It was also the spot where we said goodbye over ten years ago. That day was burned into my memory, my very first heartbreak.

  “I wish I didn’t have to leave,” thirteen-year-old Piper said, hugging my neck as her tears soaked my blue t-shirt.

  I held her tighter to me than I had in years. We were the best of friends, but I had started to feel strange about hugging her when she got boobs—holding her didn’t seem as natural as it had when we were younger. But I didn’t care on this day. In fact, I wondered why I ever stopped. I could feel her bra strap under my hands, her new breasts against my chest. I cursed at myself for not doing this sooner. But I wasn’t going to chicken out on what I came here to do, what I’d wanted to do for at least a year now.

  “I’ll write to you every week,” Piper said, pulling away slightly. “I promise.”

  “This is so unfair,” I said, wiping a few tears from her cheek as her mother yelled it was time for them to go. Piper lowered her head, looking at her sandals. I tilted her head up, not wanting to miss my chance. I slowly leaned forward and softly pressed my lips to hers. It was my first kiss, and I was pretty sure it was hers, too. Her full, pink lips felt perfect. I slowly pulled away, expecting her to be smiling, but she wasn’t. Instead, her stiff right hook landed on my arm. She turned on her heel, her ponytail whipping around, and stormed off.

  Well, I definitely hadn’t expected that to happen. Rubbing my arm, I stared down at my sneakers, wondering what I did wrong. I’d asked Rob. I’d watched movies. I was sure I did it right. I couldn’t believe this was the way she’d be leaving. “Drew?” Piper called out my name, causing me to look up. She was in front of me in two seconds, not giving me time to say anything. She slid her hand in my hair and pulled me to her mouth. As soon as her tongue touched mine, I realized how sad and lame my kiss was. My toes curled in my sneakers. I was only fourteen, but I was thinking about things I knew I shouldn’t be. I was never going to see her again, so I had nothing to lose. I wound my hand in her ponytail, taking control of the kiss. I heard her release the smallest, sweetest little moan as we stopped. She leaned her forehead against mine and held it there for a few seconds. Our little trance was broken when her mom honked the car horn. I put my hand on her cheek, and her lips turned up in a cute smile. Then she was gone.

  But now she was back, just inside. Suddenly, the light in the window flicked on, her silhouette in front of the sheer curtain. I didn’t want her to slip through my fingers again. Bending down, I picked up a tiny pebble and threw it at her window. It landed dead center, so I threw another and another, each landing in the same spot. Jack was right. I did have a good arm.

  Piper slid her curtain back and looked down, and I gave her a little wave. I knew I looked like a complete fool standing in freezing weather in just a t-shirt and jeans, but she gave a little smile as she held up her finger for me to wait. I wasn’t sure what I was going to say to her, but I needed a friend, and she’d been one of my best as kids. She stepped out onto her porch in a coat and boots and quietly closed the door behind her. I could barely make out her face, the only light from the twinkling bulbs decorating the house.

  “Drew, what’re you doing here? It’s close to midnight.”

  “I was just. . . .” I trailed off as I shook my head. I didn’t have a good answer. I turned around to leave.

  Piper rushed off her porch and grabbed my elbow. “Come inside, it’s freezing.”

  “That’s all right. I don’t want to wake up your granddad.”

  She gently rubbed my forearms, and I felt my muscles shake slightly. It seemed my body remembered her somehow. I’d read about muscle memo
ry but never quite understood it until now. My body, my mind, my heart all remembered her. She took my hand and led me up the porch then opened the door and reached inside, pulling out her grandfather’s plaid coat. “Put this on.”

  It was freezing out, so I wasn’t about to object. I buttoned it all the way up, knowing I looked like a nerd in an old geezer’s coat. “Sorry about dinner.”

  “Which part? Fighting with Rob or fondling me under the table?” Piper asked, sitting down on the front porch swing.

  For the first time in hours, I smiled. She was like air—fresh, clean air. “Not the fondling.” She giggled. “You seemed familiar last night in the bar. I wish I’d known it was you.”

  “It’s been a long time. I was barely in a training bra last time you saw me.”

  I chuckled then looked out to the huge Magnolia tree on the side of the house. “Remember we promised no big, sappy goodbyes? You told me not to even come the day you left.”

  “I remember. You didn’t listen,” she said, her head leaning onto my shoulder. I leaned my head down on hers. This was the way we sat together for hours talking. It was so natural to fall right back into that place.

  “I was so sick to my stomach the morning you left. I knew if I didn’t say goodbye, I’d regret it forever,” I said quietly. “I pedaled my bike so fast, hoping I hadn’t missed you.”

  “You looked frantic skidding into the driveway.”

  “I was. I had this whole big speech planned, but then I saw you and couldn’t remember a single word. You threw your arms around my neck, and I could feel your tears soaking my shirt.”

  “I didn’t want to go. My mother left me with Grammy and Granddaddy when I was just a baby. I didn’t really even know my mom. Then all of a sudden, she shows back up when I’m thirteen and wants me. My grandparents said I needed to give her a chance. I was so scared to leave here. This was my home.”

  “I hated her for taking you,” I admitted. “But I’m not sure I ever would’ve gotten the courage to kiss you otherwise.” Piper laughed. “I still can’t believe I kissed you, and you hit me.”

  “I didn’t hit you hard.”

  “No, but then you just stormed off. I’ve been confused about women ever since.”

  She bumped my shoulder. “I came back, though.”

  I got lost in her blue eyes for a second, remembering the way her lips felt on mine. “You did. I thought I was brave to give you a little peck on the lips, but then you turned around, walked back, and kissed me like a pro. Damn, I thought my body was going to explode.”

  “I’d dreamed about you kissing me for months. I wasn’t going to leave it at a little peck on the mouth,” she said, looking at her feet. “That’s why I hit you the first time. I was so mad that it took me leaving for you to make a move, then you wimped out.”

  “I didn’t wimp out. It was my first time kissing a girl. Give me a break. I was being respectful—a good guy.”

  “You wimped out,” Piper said. “Besides, it was my first kiss, too.”

  “Well, maybe if you hadn’t hit me I’d have taken it further.” I knew I wouldn’t have then, but I knew I wanted to now. “You always did have a stiff right hook and a mean curveball.”

  “Still do,” Piper said, smiling broadly before her face fell slightly. “Why’d you stop writing to me? I always wondered why you stopped.”

  Ah, hell! Piper might have acted like one of the boys, but she was just as sensitive as every other girl. I couldn’t tell her the real reason I stopped writing to her. It was such a chicken shit thing to do.

  “The day I left, we promised to write once a week, but then you just stopped.”

  “I was a teenage boy. I was stupid and busy with sports and friends. They teased the shit out of me, so I just stopped.” I wasn’t sure if she bought that bullshit or not, but I wanted to change the subject. I didn’t want to think about having hurt her feelings. “So, why’d you move back?”

  “This was always home. My mom and I moved around a lot, and no other place ever felt like home. So, after art school and Grammy’s passing, I thought it was time to come back. My grandparents were there for me, and it’s time to return the favor.”

  “We used to dream about living here. I was going to buy the old Harlow place and run the bar with Rob, and you wanted to. . . . Well, you changed your mind every week.” She laughed, and I swear the stars got a little brighter.

  “My mom and I lived all over, but no place was ever better than right here,” Piper said, looking up at the house.

  “Where’s your mom now?”

  “Still down in Miami. We lived there my last two years of high school.”

  “I can’t picture you in Miami.”

  “I spent most of my time in a strip club. Every woman fits in there.” I felt my jaw clench and swore I probably cracked a tooth. She looked over at me and started laughing, obviously seeing the fire in my eyes. She covered up her mouth, so as not to wake her grandfather. “My mom was a bartender. Strip clubs always paid the best. That’s how I learned to make all those naughty drinks.”

  “But you never?” I knew it was none of my business, but I had to ask. I had to know. I couldn’t imagine Piper stripping. Not that I had anything against strippers, but I didn’t want to think about any man ever looking at her that way.

  “Would it make a difference to you if I used to strip?” Piper asked.

  “It would break my heart.” I had to be honest. I wouldn’t think less of her or anything, but it would crush me.

  “I better get back inside,” she said, standing up.

  I guess that wasn’t the right answer. I captured her hand and pointed into the darkness. “Look, it’s starting to snow.”

  I pulled her off the porch as the first snow of the season lightly fell all around us. I watched her eyes light up as she held up her hands, smiling and letting the snow tickle her face. The first snow of the season was always the most special, the most magical. And she looked so beautiful, so alive, so happy. I wanted to capture that, to capture her. I put my hands on her waist and pulled her close. “I’m not going to wimp out this time.”

  I leaned down into her smile, my warm lips causing her body to roll into me. I pulled her tighter and wound my fingers into her blonde hair and pulled her mouth closer as our tongues met. I took my time kissing her, her lips familiar. I tasted her and realized I’d been starving for her, craving her since I was fourteen years old. I didn’t want to stop.

  Her hands slid under my coat and gripped my t-shirt. I knew she wanted me closer. Our tongues slowly circling each other’s, the heat of our bodies caused each snowflake to evaporate as soon as it made contact with our skin. I softened my grip on her hair and slowly pulled away then nuzzled my nose with hers and planted a soft little kiss on her rosy lips. “You aren’t going to hit me this time, are you?” Piper smiled and shook her head. “Does the invitation to come in still stand?”

  Piper’s smile widened, and she shook her head again. “Decided the bad girl thing didn’t work for me!”

  I knew that already, but it still made me laugh to hear her admit it. “Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Sure, how about I drive you home?”

  “Thanks,” I said and removed the coat. I handed it back to her then pulled her back into my chest. “By the way, it wouldn’t matter to me if you used to strip. It would make me sad and jealous, but it wouldn’t change who you are to me.”

  She cupped my cheek tenderly. “When cash was low, my mom would strip on the side. Guys always thought that meant she was easy or that they could treat her like crap. Slap her around.”

  I was getting a very vivid picture of Piper’s teenage years, and I didn’t like it. It made me sick to think about it, and I hated myself for stopping my letters to her. She probably could’ve used a friend, and I just cut her off without an explanation. I pulled her closer and rested my head on top of hers. “I’m sorry.”

  “My mom didn’t always make the best decisions, but she
did her best. She took a lot of crap, but the first time any of her boyfriends eyed me or raised a hand to me, she tossed them to the curb. She protected me, nothing bad ever happened to me. My mom saw to that.”

  Jesus Christ, boyfriends eyeing her or raising a hand to her! That was no way to grow up. No wonder Piper thought of McAdenville so fondly.

  “And my mom would’ve killed me for taking off my clothes for money. She’d strip in the worst dives before she let me even work an afternoon babysitting.”

  I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. At least her mother tried to protect her in some ways. Piper stepped back, but I grabbed hold of her hand. “Sounds like she loves you a lot.”

  “She does. People think strippers are bad people, but the thing is, we all have good and bad in us. Given the opportunity, the best people are capable of bad and vice versa.”

  I immediately thought of Rob and Ellie. Was Piper right? Were they simply “good” people who did a bad thing? It was easier to believe they were just horrible. “Speaking of being bad,” I said, “think you might feel a little naughtier tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know. Tomorrow is the day before Christmas Eve. I’ve been good all year, don’t want to blow it on the last day.” She giggled. “Just let me get my keys, and I’ll drive you home.” She ran up the stairs of the front porch then turned back. “Drew?”

  I turned around just in time to catch her as she flew into my arms, kissing me firmly on the lips. She was trying to outdo my kiss, just like she did when we were kids. I’d let her try all night.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  DECEMBER 23

  PIPER

  “Miss Piper, Miss Piper!”

  I’d lost count of how many times my name had been called this afternoon. The town’s annual Christmas program was today, and somehow I’d been nominated for costumes and backgrounds. It wasn’t high art, but I loved the kids, which made it fun. I peeked out from behind the curtain. The whole town came out whether they had a kid in the program or not, but I was only searching for one face. I couldn’t stop thinking about Drew. It was totally ridiculous. I hadn’t seen him in over ten years, but my heart still thundered in my chest and my knees still got weak, just like when I was a schoolgirl. I felt a tug on my dress.