“We don’t know that for sure, Piper,” I explain. “I was only there for a minute. Seconds even. I left the party shortly after. I don’t know what happened after that, but I like to think the drugs wore off and you fought back—kicking them in the balls, making those bastards incapable of procreation.”
Her face pales. Then she quickly gulps down the remainder of her coffee and I know I’m running out of time. “Where did you get the picture?” I ask. It’s a question I pondered all the way here. I’d never seen it before. Surely if I had, I would have remembered her unmistakable, stunning face.
What she says makes my stomach turn.
“Cassidy.”
“Cassidy?” I ask, confident I heard her correctly, but not quite believing how that would have come about.
“Yeah. As in the mother of your child?” Emotion once again finds her words as they drip with anguish and maybe bitterness.
“How in the hell did Cassidy have a picture of the two of us from a party that was six years ago?”
As she tells me the incredulous story, I have visions of my ex lurking outside my building, following me, following Piper. Waves of unease and dread climb my spine. This is the same person who has been entrusted with my daughter eighty percent of the time.
I knew Cassidy was territorial, but I had no clue she had been stalking me since high school. As far as I can remember, I didn’t meet her until college. It makes sense now. Of course it was her. She’s trying to break us up. Stake her claim on me.
“Why do you think she gave you the picture, Piper?” I ask, needing her to come to the same conclusion.
She nods her head as if she knows where I’m going with this. “She threatened me with it. I think she was trying to end us,” she says. “She implied that she was going to tell you I was a slut who likes to sleep around. She said you wouldn’t want someone like that.”
I guffaw loudly. “Nothing like the pot calling the kettle black.”
I immediately regret my words and try to backpedal. “I didn’t mean you’re the kettle. I mean, you’re not a . . . Shit, Piper. What more can I say? I’m sorry.”
“I know what you meant.” A sad smile darkens her eyes. “She told me she knew what went on at those parties. She was very . . . specific. And my nightmares all started flashing before me as brutally as if she were hitting me with her fists. She saw my reaction. I couldn’t hide it. It was awful. And then I knew it. I knew the second she realized what really happened that night.”
Her whole body visibly tenses and her tongue rakes over her dry teeth before she continues. “She laughed, Mason. She actually laughed about it. What person—what woman—could even do that?”
My hands come up to rub my face, the heavy stubble on my neck reminding me I’ve not showered in days. In all of my twenty-two years, I’ve never wanted to physically harm a woman more than I do this very second. “A goddamn monster, that’s who.”
How could I have been such a terrible judge of character? Even back when my dick was making all of the decisions, how did I not see through her bullshit then? “Don’t you see? When she knew she wouldn’t be able to use the picture against you, she found a way to use it against me. She’s been jealous of you since day one, Piper. She’d do anything to break us up. Apparently that includes humiliating you and accusing me of rape.”
Piper drains her cup and places it ceremoniously on the table. “It doesn’t matter. I mean, I’m glad you weren’t one of them. But you’ll never look at me the same way again. You were there. You were just outside the door. You saw me like that. You can’t un-see it, Mason.”
She stands up and I stand with her, moving closer to her. “It doesn’t matter to me, Piper. None of it. The way I feel about you—”
“It matters to me,” she interrupts. She raises her outstretched hand, meeting my chest to halt my progress towards her. The harsh movement causes me to wince at the unwelcome pain on the tender flesh over my ribs. “I’m sorry you came all the way here, Mason. But for more reasons than you know, I can’t be with you. It’s better we found out now.”
Desperation courses through my body, inexplicable sorrow flowing into my heart. “Better for whom? For you—so you can live in denial, knowing you could have had a chance at happiness? Better for me, knowing I let the love of my fucking life walk away?”
Her breath catches and her hand comes up to press against her chest.
“That’s right, Piper. I love you. I love everything about you. Even the parts you think are ugly and broken.”
She looks physically pained. Her expression is tight with anguish and she steadies herself on the chair beside her. Her head shakes slowly and her eyes fall to the ground. I can feel her take an emotional step back. “No. I can’t. I’m sorry. Please let me go.”
Her words are daggers, sending stinging blows straight to my jugular.
As she walks away from me, I call after her one last time. “You won the bet then, sweetheart. What do you want?”
Her steps falter. She turns her head but doesn’t make eye contact. “Nobody’s a winner here, Mason.”
I drop into my seat, the wind being knocked out of me as much as if I’d taken a tackle to the gut. I watch her get smaller and smaller as she walks further away, every step she takes tearing another piece of my heart out.
This woman was tailor-made for me. I’m certain of it. We were cut from the same fucking cloth. There is no way in hell I’m leaving Spain without her. But how in the world am I going to convince her when she’s as stubborn as her older sisters?
As I sit, my thoughts are spinning. I’m trying to develop a plan to make her hear me when a couple walks by, catching my eye. A woman is talking to her male companion in Spanish words I don’t understand. She stops suddenly and puts the man’s hand to her pregnant belly. Their smiles stretch from ear to ear as they exchange what appear to be words of love and excitement.
Then it dawns on me.
No, it hits me like a ton of goddamn bricks.
She said there were more reasons she couldn’t be with me. Her dad said she may never be able to be with a man who has a child. She’s standoffish with kids.
Fucking hell.
The horrific possibilities rush through me. Did she get pregnant that night and have an abortion? Or worse, did the assault render her incapable of having children? Oh, God—the comment I made to her about kicking the guys in the balls so they couldn’t have kids.
My chair tips over in my quick exit to run after her. She has to know none of that matters. If she doesn’t want kids—we won’t have them. If she does—we’ll adopt.
But as I run through the busy streets, frantic to find her, one thought slows me down.
Even if she can get past this and allow herself to love me, could she ever accept Hailey? Because my daughter and I—we’re a package deal.
There has to be some way to have them both.
Not able to locate Piper, I get out my phone and tap the screen. “Just one more favor. Please, Charlie?”
~ ~ ~
I spot her immediately. Well, me and all the other red-blooded males at the café. Her picture doesn’t do her justice. She’s stunning. Taller than average, her long dark-red hair bounces in carefree waves around her shoulders. She tucks it behind her ears, scanning the crowd until she spots me.
Her hazel eyes don’t give much away as she studies me. We spoke on Monday of course, when I called her from Bruce and Jan’s house. But I can tell she might be skeptical. My ears still hurt from the verbal lashing she gave me over the phone. Apparently, she had already seen Piper and had to step out of their hotel room to wring my neck, cussing me out not only in English, but in several foreign languages. Impressive.
I couldn’t get a word in edgewise, not until Jan took the phone from me, explaining the gist of the situation to Charlie. Then upon my arrival, mere hours ago, she told me where I could most likely find Piper. She was dead on. I only had to wait for thirty minutes before she showed up seeking her daily vice. Charlie refus
ed to give me the name of the hotel. I think she was afraid it wouldn’t go well. Unfortunately, she was right.
She makes her way to my table, men parting like the Red Sea to let her pass as their tongues go wagging. She really is the spitting image of her once-famous mother. I wonder if she gets recognized for it over here. For me anyway, the anonymity here is refreshing, even for a lowly backup quarterback.
I stand and greet her. “Charlie. Thank you for meeting me.” I hold out a welcoming hand, torn between offering her a drink out of politeness and getting right down to business.
I err on the side of chivalry. She does have a lot of clout with Piper, after all. “What can I get you?”
She shakes my hand, a strong confident handshake delivered with eye contact. Such a difference from the shrinking flower I’m in love with. It makes me happy to think maybe Piper has a protector in Charlie.
She takes the seat next to mine. “Nothing, thanks.”
As I return to my seat, she assesses me. Not in a sexual way. Not in a confrontational way. Almost in the way you’d look at a stray dog from the pound when deciding whether to take him home or not.
“So, you’re the one.” She leans back in her chair, folding her arms under her breasts.
My frustrated hand runs through my hair. “I didn’t do it, Charlie. I swear I wasn’t one of them—”
She holds a curt hand up to stop my words. She’s tall, but she’s not a large woman, her petite, swan-like frame commanding far more respect than I gave her credit for. “That’s not what I meant,” she says. “I meant you’re the one. Her chance at happiness. Normalcy. The one who is going to finally take her from me.”
“What? No.” I’m appalled she would think I’m trying to do that. But before I can defend my actions, I realize that’s exactly what I’m trying to do. “Well, shit. Yeah, I guess that is pretty much what I want. But I only want to take her back to New York. I don’t want to take her from her best friend.”
She laughs. It’s a throaty, sultry noise that causes heads to turn. “It’s okay, Mason. It’s great, in fact. I’ve been waiting for this day.”
I look around. I’ve obviously missed something. “I’m confused.”
“She thinks she’s here for me. She’s always thought that and I’ve let her. But it couldn’t be further from the truth.”
I draw my eyebrows at her, begging for clarification.
“I know Piper told you about me. Knowing her, it was probably to deflect questions you had about her behavior. Am I wrong?”
“No, you’re not wrong. She really freaked out when she saw your—” My mouth clamps shut into a thin, regretful line. I’m not sure she knows about their confrontation.
“My father,” she says. “It’s okay. Piper and I tell each other everything.”
I look at her out of the top of my lashes.
She nods. “Everything.”
I roll my eyes at the insinuation. But I’m glad to know she has a friend like that.
Griffin. He’s my Charlie. We’ve gotten each other through some tough times.
“If you know everything there is to know about her then maybe you can help me understand why she’s running away from me. From this. Is it really because I was there that night, or is it because of my daughter, Hailey?”
Charlie’s face breaks into a warm smile. “God, she’s gorgeous, Mason. You better keep a short leash on that one when she hits puberty.”
“You’ve seen her?”
“Of course. Piper showed me some pictures she had taken in the park.” Compassion floods her eyes. “She doesn’t dislike children, you know. It’s just hard for her to be around them.”
My heart sinks. “So something did happen after her attack.”
She shrugs. “Not my story to tell,” she says. “But I will tell you this—she’s my kindred spirit, that girl. We’ve been through some shit, she and I. Things nobody should have to go through. But her staying here is wrong. She healed more in the few months back there with you than in the four years she spent over here.”
My mouth opens and then closes. I stare wide-eyed for a full five seconds. “Really? I got the feeling the only thing I ever did was bring back her nightmares and stir up all the crap she was trying to forget.”
“Don’t you see, Mason? She needed that. She needed to confront her demons before she could move on from them. I’ve come to terms with what happened to me. Well, sort of. Okay, maybe not.” She rolls her eyes. “I may be sleeping around Europe, and I’ll always hate my so-called parents, but my past doesn’t control me like it does Piper.”
I take a drink of my tepid coffee, eyeing her speculatively over the rim of my cup.
“Whatever,” she says, defensively. “Don’t shrink me.”
I hold my hands up in mock surrender. “Wouldn’t dare to try.”
“Smart man.” She snatches my drink from me, removing the lid and taking a smell before gulping it down. I get the idea she doesn’t much care where her next meal comes from. It pains me to think Piper could be the same way.
“I’ve made some calls,” she says, putting the empty cup in front of me. “And I’ve decided I like you, Mason. So I’m going to help you. In this case our girl might not know what’s best for her. It’s clear to me she wants to love you. I’m just not sure she thinks she’s capable of it.”
“What can I do? Where is she?” Just hearing her say those words gives me hope.
“Not so fast. Let me talk to her first. She’s going to resist, you know that, right? But you are good for her and I’m afraid she may never find another guy like you. You’re a rare breed, Mason Lawrence, and I won’t let her miss out on this opportunity because of me.”
“What are you saying?”
She lets out a sigh. “I’m leaving. If I’m gone, she has no reason to stay.”
“No, Charlie.” I shake my head. “I can’t let you do that. It’s not the answer. Maybe you could go back to New York.”
Her head swings violently from side to side. “I’ll never do that. I don’t belong there. But Piper does—with you. She’s your responsibility now. Don’t fuck this up or I will hunt you down and kill you with my bare hands. I don’t care how impressively big you are.”
She stands and I stand with her. “Give me an hour,” she says, pulling a hotel key card out of her pocket and placing it on the table before me.
I offer her my hand but she pulls me in for a tight hug instead. I moan when her arms squeeze my angry, tender ribs. “Football taking a toll on you, big guy?” She laughs.
“Something is, but it sure as hell isn’t football.”
She gives me a questioning look and then she untucks my shirt, raising it to reveal the small area of red flesh on the right side of my ribs, just below my throwing arm. Her head tilts to the side as she studies what’s there. “I’m not even going to pretend I know what that means, but it sure as hell better have something to do with our girl.”
I smile down at her, tucking my shirt back in.
“You’d better wash it,” she says. “It looks like pieces of your shirt fabric got stuck to it. Did you take the bandage off too early? They say four to six hours, you know. Just run warm soapy water over it and put a little ointment on it, then let it air out.”
“You seem to know an awful lot about the subject.” I raise an eyebrow at her.
“I’d show you, but then I’d have to kill you,” she jokes.
“Listen, Charlie, if there’s anything I can ever do for you . . .”
“Just take care of her, Mason.” She smiles a brilliant smile and walks away.
“Count on it,” I call after her.
I look at the key card and then at my watch. This is gonna be the longest fucking hour of my life.
chapter twenty-seven
piper
I stare at the sweaty girl in the mirror, watching her keep a punishing pace on the treadmill in a futile attempt to run from her past. Run from him.
It’s ironic really, ho
w fittingly accurate this is. I’m running on a treadmill—a device that by its very nature keeps you from moving forward.
It’s better this way. He’s a rising star. I’m a train wreck. He has a daughter to raise. He doesn’t need a girlfriend who clearly needs parenting herself.
He has a daughter to raise. The words bounce around in my head as I struggle to keep that fateful day from overtaking my thoughts. I don’t think about it. Ever. Except on one day every year. And today isn’t that day.
I turn up the pace, making it impossible for me to think of anything but breathing.
Then I see her in the mirror, approaching me from behind. I don’t miss Charlie’s disapproving look when she spots my distance on the digital display. Our reflections have a stare down, then her lips start moving quickly, undoubtedly scolding me in her sister-like manner. But I can’t hear her over the loud music so I point to my earbuds and shrug.
In slow motion, she dramatically raises her arm, pressing her finger on the button controlling my speed. She glares at me with a raised brow while repeatedly pressing the down arrow until the belt below me stops moving completely. Then she steps up on it, getting right in my face before ripping the earbuds from my ears. “Fifteen miles, Piper? Are you fucking crazy?”
“I do run marathons, Charlie. This should come as no surprise to you.” I step off the machine, finding a towel to wipe my face.
She huffs and grabs me by the elbow, pulling me out of the hotel gym, all the way back up to our room. She doesn’t say a word. Not until we are standing in front of the door. She holds her palm out. “Key,” she demands.
“Where’s yours?” I ask.
“Lost it.”
I roll my eyes and take my key card out of my back pocket, handing it over to her like an obedient child. She looks pissed. Nobody wants to be on the bad side of pissed-off Charlie.
She opens the door, pushing me through and guiding me over to the bed. “Sit.”
I look down at my brand new sweat-drenched workout clothes and ask, “Can I at least shower first, Mom?”
“No. You can’t. Sit your stupid, skinny, stubborn ass on the bed and listen to me.”
Black Roses (A Mitchell Sisters Novel) Page 23
