Page 116 of Go Find Less
“What?” She balks at me, at the open door behind me, and I hear any sound outside immediately stop. No keyboards. No whispers. Utter silence.
“Vic can pack up my stuff. If I’m too much, Bri,” I start, backing up until I’m at the doorway, my hands raised at my shoulders in a shrug, which might as well be two middle fingers with the way she’s staring at me. “Please, go find less.”
And with that, I swing by my desk, trying not to lose my cool when I see Vic sitting in his chair with his mouth half open. I grab my purse, my tablet, my phone and my fucking fidget cube and walk out, separately texting my sponsor, my therapist, my roommate, and my boyfriend before I’ve reached the parking lot with five simple words.
PIPER DELMONICO
I just quit my job.
Chapter 44
Fitz
Thereisabsolutechaoshappening behind the red door of the Delmonico home, so loud I’m unsure if I should ring the doorbell to add to it. On my wrist, my watch buzzes.
PIPER DELMONICO
Just come in when you get here.
She doesn’t mean that, does she? Just walk into her parents house like it’s my own?
I read the text probably three times before I decide she’s not kidding, and adjust the bag in my hands before pressing the latch and opening the door in front of me. Immediately, the sounds get ten times louder, and I follow the echoes of voices down an equally red entryway lined with white china plates and family photos of the Delmonicos, which I tell myself to stop and inspect later.
From around a corner, Brett’s head pops out, and he smiles. “Hey, man, welcome to the circus.” He steps out from behind the wall, and I see that he’s got a squirming toddler in his arms. Her hair is wild and curly, just like Piper’s, and I can’t help the smile on my face. “Aria, Jesus, quit-"
And then her tiny foot hits him in the stomach and he doubles over, letting her down to the ground as gently as a man in pain can. Laughing, she runs off behind him without a second glance in my direction, and I stand there, momentarily stunned as Brett recovers faster than I would have.
“Don’t have kids,” he warns, and then, still half-way bent, reaches out for the bag in my hands. “Offering for the gods?” I shrug, handing the bag over and letting him inspect the contents. “Ooh, you did good.”
I had help, I want to respond. But I don’t. I just let him straighten up, motioning for me to follow him back where he came from - one, big open room where the chaos is all coming from. Aria, the little girl with the wicked kick, is chasing around a boy that looks maybe a year older. Both of them share the same curly hair, caramel skin, dark eyes - and I know they’re Penny and Brett’s instantly. In an armchair, I spot Nolan, who I haven’t seen since his wife’s water broke on my shoes. He meets my eyes, not stopping the rocking motion he’s making with a bundle I can only assume is his daughter - Piper’s goddaughter - over his shoulder. He tips his chin up at me, a half smile curling his lips, probably also remembering the last time we’d seen each other.
Next to him, on one end of a tufted, antique looking couch, is Dylan, who raises his beer bottle at me. A possessive, animalistic rage swells in my chest - just for a second, before I feel a hand on my shoulder, and turn to see the mass of curls I’d been looking for. The top of Piper’s hair is pulled up into two poofs at the top of her head, the rest hanging around her neck in dark ringlets. She’s wearing a tan off-the-shoulder dress with another bodice like the one she’d worn on our first date, only this one has bluish-purple stalks rising from the bottom of the hem like grass. Bluebonnets. They’re bluebonnets, stitched into the deep blue fabric. I offer my hand out for hers, holding her at arm’s length so I can take it all in, down to the platform sandals that make her just that much closer to being able to kiss me without standing on her tiptoes.
“I take it we changed after we went home,” I say quietly, and she gives me a grin that’s a lot more relaxed than I expected for someone who quit their job less than eight hours ago.
“Cried, stress-ate my weight in Cheez-Its, re-did my hair and makeup, and then changed, yes.” She pops her foot out behind her, and then leans up to give me a peck on the lips.
“Get out of here with that crap.” I don’t need to look behind Piper to see that Alex is standing in one of the tall archways into the kitchen, but I glance anyway. For a second, her eyes flit behind me - I’m sure, to Nolan - and then she smirks. “Welcome to Fam Dinner, Westfall.” I catch Piper’s smile.
“May the odds be ever in your favor.” Piper's voice is high pitched and prim, I can’t help the eye roll as I let her lead me past Alex, who digs at my side lightly with her elbow. From my place in the living room, I could vaguely see a mass of people buzzing around the kitchen, but in full view, I see Penny and Carla standing at a double fridge, drinks in hand, talking animatedly about something. Vic is at the stove with a man I immediately recognize as Piper’s dad. I’ve only seen him a few times over the years, but he shares those same intense blue eyes and dark curly hair.
Vic nods at me as we approach, and it’s enough to get her dad’s attention - he turns to see us, and those eyes, hidden behind thick glasses, widen. He holds both hands up over his head, his pristine blue button up moving with him as he grins.
“You must be Fitzwilliam.” Piper squeezes my hand as Vic snorts, moving to cover his mouth with a hand holding a spatula. Behind me, I hear Alex cackle, but I don’t really have time to register it, because before I can say anything, this man I don’t know at all is pulling me into a warm embrace, slapping my back.
“Uh,” I stutter. Vic gives me a thumbs up, and Penny and Carla both turn to take in the interaction. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Delmonico.” I gently pat him on the back, trying to echo as much of the sentiment as my startle brain will allow. He pulls back, holding me by the shoulders as he inspects me. I instantly feel a little better, seeing that we’re dressed similarly. But, from what Piper told me, this man dealt in fabric for a living. I’d bet he didn’t own a poorly made piece of clothing.
“Luca, please.” He gives my shoulders a squeeze, and then looks behind me to Piper. “He’s a handsome one.” He pats my face with one hand, and I feel myself flush - the familiarity and warmth of this family is in such stark contrast with my own.
“Don’t inflate his ego too much, Papa,” Alex calls from behind me, and we both look at her. Nolan has moved to stand behind her, and he’s slipping a snoozing Mikayla into her arms. He’s tall, too, but I wouldn’t expect anything less from a professional athlete. I realize, with her words, how close Alex must be to the Delmonicos, to call Piper’s fatherPapa.
“Me?” Luca puts a hand to his chest. “Never.” His grin is easy, and immediately it reminds me of the wicked one Piper gets - clearly that’s from him.
“Here we go!” I hear the voice from another room and we all turn toward it, watching as a woman slips out from a door around the corner, arms full of bags and baskets littered with pastel eggs and plastic grass filling. She stops mid-step when she sees me. “Oh! You’re here.”
“He’s here,” Piper replies, and I hear the strain in her voice immediately. The woman, who I know is Piper and Penny’s mom, dumps the items in her hands on an empty space on the dark brown quartz counter, extending a ring-covered hand to me.
“Bianca Delmonico.”