Page 37 of Whiskey & Honey
“Uh, no. I think I’ll take a break from dating. My track record isn’t the greatest. I think my picker is broken.” We’re both laughing as Ben walks in through the slider.
“What’s so funny in here, ladies?”
“Nothing, honey. Just girl talk. These beans are about done, how about the rest outside?”
“Yep, just coming to tell you we’re all set. Do you need help?”
“Actually, would the two of you mind bringing these out? I’m just going to grab a sweater.”
Left alone with Ben, we work in silence transferring the green beans to a bowl. The sound of him clearing his throat stops me as I turn to walk toward the slider. Raising my brow in question, I wait for Ben to say something.
“I’m sorry if I offended you earlier. I just think you deserve better than someone like Tony Dominguez and it … well, it just looked different than you said.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Thank you for being concerned but I promise I am not getting back together with Tony.”
Dinner is the usual banter amongst the family with more laughs than we’ve had in a long time. Having Ben home seems to have brought a new element to our dinners and his parents are obviously thrilled to have him back.
Once dinner is finished, Ashton and I find ourselves elbow deep in dishes. Well, I find myself elbow deep, she’s complaining about doing dishes. These are the battles with Ashton I don’t fight.
“We need to talk Halloween, Pipe. What’s our theme this year? I’m thinking Vegas Showgirl.”
Shaking my head, I simply reply, “No.”
“Come on, Piper! It’s my year to choose. Last year we did the good witch bad witch thing like you wanted. By the way, I totally should have been the good witch but whatever. I want to sex it up already!”
Just as I’m about to reply Jameson and Ben walk in the kitchen. “Who is sexing what up?” Jameson asks.
“Us. Well, I want Piper to sex it up a little for Halloween but you know her, she’s anti-sexy.”
I splash water at her following that response and Ashton lets out a screech that probably has the neighbor’s dog howling.
“Nah, Piper’s hot already. She doesn’t need to sex it up. You could probably sex it down anyway, Ashton.” I’d expect something like from her big brother, but it’s Jameson who makes the comment.
“Kiss my ass, Jameson. I don’t need to down anything but a shot on Halloween. Now, as I was saying to Piper, we need a plan.”
“Why don’t we do a group thing this year?” This time it’s Ben speaking and I turn to look at him.
“What if we do an adult version of those costumes from the best Halloween ever? The one where we all went to the youth center party. You remember, Ash?”
More screeches and now claps. I close my eyes as my ears ring in response.
“Yes! Oh my goodness, Ben! Brilliant idea!! Dolly now will be so much more fun than Dolly before I had real boobs!”
“Wait, what was I?” Jameson asks.
Ashton and I look at each other and start laughing.
“Whoa, déjà vu,” Ashton, Ben, and I say in unison.
“Oh yeah, Neo! That costume was the shit. I’m down.”
“How about you, Princess? Are you in?”
I look at Ben, who has a huge smile on his face that I can’t help but return. “I’m in.”
“Yay! I’m totally sexing up your princess costume, Piper.”
Everyone laughs at Ashton and I have no doubt I’ll be stuffing my boobs back in their place all night long. Thank goodness I have weeks to attempt at toning down whatever Ashton has in mind.