Page 87 of Whiskey & Honey
He puts me down and does his thing with my hair. Gosh, I’ve missed that. I lean into his hand and he places another chaste kiss to my lips.
“Really?” he asks.
“Really. I’m sorry it took me so long to come around.”
“Don’t ever apologize for being true to yourself. I’m sorry I did it this way, but it was the only way I could guarantee you wouldn’t shut me out again. I do love you, baby.”
“I know.” He raises a brow at me. “I do, Ben. I know you love me. I believe you. And I trust you.” He kisses me again when we hear a throat clear and turn to see Paul standing there.
“Kids, while we couldn’t be happier for you and glad you’ve found one another, there seems to be a little issue in the kitchen.”
I turn to Ben. “I’ll go. This is my mess to clean up.”
“No, this isn’t a mess, and we’re in this together,” he replies and turns to his dad. “We’ll go talk to her.” Before we leave the room I turn to Laurel.
“Thank you, Laurel.”
She’s still crying a little and nods as Paul puts his arm around her in comfort.
Ben and I enter the kitchen, where only Patty stands. She motions to the deck, and we see that Ashton is out there being consoled. By Jameson. Oh, this is worse than I thought it would be if she’s letting him be her solace. We walk out the door and she turns to us, eyes red and puffy.
“Ash,” I begin.
“How long?”
“It’s not that simple, Ash. Please, can we go inside and talk?” Ben asks.
Ashton stubbornly holds her ground. When Jameson begins to put his arm around her, she swats him away. “I had a moment of temporary insanity. Don’t get any ideas, man-whore.” Jameson backs away with his hands up in defense.
“Whatever, Ashton. You don’t have to be such a bitch about it.”
Ignoring Jameson as he moves to the other side of Ben, she looks at Ben and then me.
“I’m fine here. Explain, if it’s not that simple.”
I don’t even bother letting Ben attempt an explanation.
“Ashton, look, I know you’re surprised and quite frankly I think we both are, too. We never meant to hurt you. If you want to be angry with someone, please be angry with me. Ben wanted to tell you and I asked him not to.”
“Tell me what exactly, Piper? You’ve been seeing my brother long enough to make some sort of declaration in front of everyone and embarrass me. It’s obvious everyone else is in on this so guess the joke’s on me, isn’t it?”
I begin to answer her, but she doesn’t give me the chance.
“I thought we were like sisters? What changed? We tell each other everything, for shit’s sake, Piper! Instead you’re fooling around with my brother behind my back? That’s great.”
“You’re right,” I begin as she arches a brow at me. “We are like sisters, but nothing changed. I just … I don’t even know. I was scared. This is so much more than I can explain right now. But, I want you to know that I wasn’t fooling around with your brother. I love him, Ash,” I say as I reach for Ben’s hand, her eyes following.
“How long?”
“Actually together?” Ben asks and she nods.
“Since Halloween,” I answer.
“That’s not even a month! How do you fall in love in less than a month?” Ashton huffs.
“You don’t,” Ben answers, squeezing my hand and looking at me. “You do it in an instant.”
“Jesus. You’re really something, big brother,” Ashton scoffs.