Page 76 of Whiskey & Honey
“What about him? I told you, we’re friends.”
“I’ll admit, at first I was pissed you were together, but the more I thought about it the more it makes sense. Plus, anyone that’s around you two for more than thirty seconds can feel the sexual tension.”
I’m not able to reply to his comments because something catches his attention over my shoulder. With a sly grin on his face he sits up straight and places an arm on the back of the booth while he reaches for his coffee. Nodding to whomever is behind me, he takes a sip of his coffee.
Like a lead brick, my stomach drops.
I slowly look to my right and up at the person who is now standing next to me. Crap.
“Dominguez.”
“Sullivan.”
“Princess.”
“Umm, hey, Ben. How’s it going?”
“Fine. What’s going on here?” The tension in Ben’s jaw has me worried he’s going to break a tooth.
“Piper and I were just enjoying an early breakfast. She needed the substance after last night,” Tony replies and I shoot him a look to shut his mouth. His insinuation doesn’t go unnoticed by Ben.
“Last night? I thought you weren’t feeling well.”
Just as I’m about to explain why I’m here with Tony, his name is called for a to-go order.
“Wow, that’s a lot of food. Your mom isn’t cooking?” I ask.
“This is for the guys. They’re meeting me at my house to do some work. I haven’t been spending as much time on the house as I should lately.”
Excuse me if spending time with me was such an imposition. I’m sure Laurel would never demand so much attention. I don’t say any of that. Instead I smile and grit out a polite response.
“That’s nice of them. Well, don’t let us keep you,” I say while turning back in my seat so I’m facing Tony. Who, by the way, is smiling like the proverbial cat that ate the canary.
The dismissal evident in my voice, Ben says nothing and instead retrieves his order and walks out of the diner. I quickly look out the window and see him stop at his truck and look in my direction. Our eyes meet and the look in his breaks my already fragile heart into a million pieces. I’m not even aware I’m crying until Tony pushes a napkin in my hand.
“Damn, that was awkward. What did the guy do, Piper? I almost feel bad for him.”
“He did what all the guys I’m with do. He chose someone else. I have to go. Tell your mom I said goodbye.”
I rush from the diner, leaving Tony sitting in the booth alone. I haven’t even started my car when my phone chimes a text message.
Ben: If you are trying to make me jealous it didn’t work. Don’t push me away.
The crocodile tears start and I don’t respond. I need to be somewhere safe and full of love. That place has been with Ben. He fills the voids and hushes the loneliness. Ben challenges me and cares for me in equal amounts. I want nothing more than to talk to him and ask him to choose me. To tell him that I screwed up. I should never have treated what we had as something salacious when it was pure.
Instead I drive around for a bit before I find myself at the Sullivans’. Before Ben was my safe place, their home was where I feel my best. My haven when life is too hard and I seek something to stop the loneliness. When I pull up I gather myself and hope that Ashton will just be here for me without me having to explain what is happening. I can’t explain it to her if I have no idea.
As I approach the kitchen door I notice the house is quiet and there are no cars outside. I check the door and confirm it’s locked. I use my own key to unlock it and head inside. Even if there are no actual Sullivans here, the house itself offers me enough comfort. I’m filling a glass with ice tea when I hear footsteps and then a gasp. Startled, I drop the glass, which shatters across the floor.
“Oh shit! You scared me. Don’t move, I’ll get a broom.”
Laurel. Of course she’s here. Why wouldn’t she be. I can’t even move because there’s glass everywhere. I’m stuck here in this position while I wait for her to return.
“Here, let me just sweep this up so you can move. You aren’t cut, are you?”
I shake my head but don’t speak. She is quick to clean up the mess I made and takes the dust pan of glass shards to the outside trash. While she’s gone I attempt once again to pour myself a glass of iced tea. This time, using an unbreakable glass.
Laurel walks up to me with a tentative smile and extends her hand. “Hi there. I’m Laurel.”