Page 77 of Whiskey & Honey
Because my mother imbedded manners in my psyche, I shake her hand. “Piper Lawrence.”
“Oh. Oh!” she responds with some sort of recognition in her voice. Which is strange since we’ve never actually met. My confused look must register because she covers her mouth and begins laughing. “You must think I’m a crazy person. You’re Piper. Ashton’s best friend.” I nod and relax a little. Ashton must have mentioned me. “Ben’s Piper.”
What in the what?
“Excuse me?”
“You’re Ben’s Piper. He told me all about you. Well, not all about you. He’s rather mum about the whole being in love thing, but whatever. Semantics.” Her hands waving like she’s shooing something from around her. “I’m so excited to meet you. Thank goodness nobody is here so we can talk. You two really have made a mess of things, haven’t you?”
“I’m sorry, what? I need to sit down.”
“Oh sure, of course. Let’s sit down. That tea looks good. I’m going to get some. Are you hungry? That’s why I was walking in here, to get a snack. I’m starving. I haven’t been eating much but for some reason, being here has retriggered my appetite.”
I decline a snack and watch as she buzzes around the kitchen. She’s obviously familiar with the setup. This should seem normal; she was with Ben for years and has been here before. Only, this triggers nothing but jealousy.
Ashton has always referred to Laurel as cold and closed off. This is not the person rambling on and on about crackers, gluten, and regret. I shake my head a little as if that will somehow make this less awkward.
“So, Piper. You’re probably wondering what I’m doing here. I asked myself that same question this morning. It took me a few minutes to realize I was in Ben’s childhood room. Patty should really redecorate the space.”
I cough a little when she mentions sleeping in Ben’s room. They stayed here. In his childhood bed. Why wouldn’t they? Could this day get any worse?
“Oh shit! That sounded really bad. I’m making things worse, aren’t I?” I don’t reply, I just stare at her wide-eyed. Some questions aren’t in need of an answer. “Let me start with telling you that Ben and I are just friends. One hundred percent, we’re just friends. I have some things happening in my life and really needed a friend so I called Ben. He insisted I come stay here for the week and celebrate the holiday with his family. With all of you.”
I relax a little at her explanation. She must recognize it because she exhales what sounds like relief. “He slept on the couch.” I nod. I have no idea why I can’t speak, but my tongue feels like it has tripled in size. “Anyway, so this house is made for sleeping. I don’t know if it’s the house or the quiet but I slept like a baby. When Ben and I were together I was always on edge, not quite fitting in with his family, so I didn’t appreciate how warm and inviting it is. I also didn’t appreciate how kind his parents and Ashton are. Truly, they are wonderful people.”
“I agree, they really are. I’m sure things will be different between you and them now. Different than it was before.”
“Oh, I meant what I said. I am not here to be with Ben. I just needed somewhere to go that wasn’t home. And, well, let’s just say nobody would think to look for me here so it was perfect. Anyway,” she says shooing the invisible flies again to indicate she’s past that subject. “Enough about me. Can we please talk about what a mess you and Ben are making of things?”
“Look,” I reply with a warning in my voice. “I’m not sure what you and Ben have been talking about, but there is nothing going on to make a mess of. We’re friends. Co-workers.”
“Oh, sweetie, that is so beyond crap it’s not even funny.”
“Why don’t you enlighten me then, Laurel, because I’m pretty sure I know what my relationship status is and I’m not in one.” Now I’m just pissed. Who does she think she is? She doesn’t know me and couldn’t possibly know anything about Ben and me unless he’s been talking to her about us, which he promised he wouldn’t do.
“Now, now, no need to get snippy. I’m on your side. I’m absolutely team Biper.”
“Biper?”
“Yeah like Brangelina and Bennifer. You’re Biper. Sorry, I love pop culture and maybe watch a little too much E! in my downtime.”
Interesting, I didn’t take Laurel as a pop culture and tabloid aficionado. “Maybe we could skip the nicknames and you could just tell me what you think you know about Ben and me.”
“Deal. First, I haven’t talked to Ben much in the last few months. We have texted here and there but nothing really. We were together a long time but in the end we were and are just good friends. The romance had died out long ago.”
She pauses almost like a check-in to make sure I’m following along. When I don’t respond she continues, “Then, like I said, I have some stuff happening in my personal life and I needed a friend. Ben was the only person I knew I could trust and wouldn’t judge me. For some reason I feel like I should tell you everything just so you know I’m serious here. We are just friends.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything. I’m sorry you have things going on but I’m glad Ben was there for you. Everyone should have someone to lean on.”
“Thank you. Anyway, I text him yesterday morning and asked if we could meet for lunch.”
Morning text and lunch. Oh no.
“It’s funny; I called him because I needed a friend and it turns out he did, too. I was a mess and will forever be grateful he took the time to see me. But, I knew as soon as he sat down something was different.”
This conversation is making me uncomfortable and I begin shifting in my seat.
“This morning over a cup of coffee, we had a few minutes to talk. We talked about my stuff but I pried and asked why he was being such a moody jerk. He told me about you.”