Chapter 14

Piper

It was all confused, or at least it was in my mind. Even after all that we’d talked about, I was still Evan’s client. Regardless of our past history with each other. God, he had gone as far as to say he would waive the fees to help me. But this still made me a fucking client, just a non-paying one.

Do you know what is going on with yourself, Piper?

The biggest problem I could think of was not the situation between us. Realistically, if we had no outside interference, we could work things out. We always could when we were in school. I was still unsure; I’d smiled at him and held his arm and all that. But deep in my mind, was I trying to convince myself everything was okay?

“Evan, I’ve thought about it. It feels wrong if you do your services for free. I’m uneasy. I ‘m not looking for charity. I should pay you like everyone else.” I slipped back onto my side of the table.

“That’s your choice, and if that makes you feel better, who am I to argue? You just have to settle the bill for last night!” He winked.

I could feel the color drain from my face. Last night had been different, or so I’d thought. I was not expecting him to add that one to my tab.

Fuck, he is like a taxi. Everything is on the clock!

“Nah, I’m only joking with you. Last night is not chargeable. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.” He was more serious again, now.

Is he trying to duck out of it? God, Piper, you know he could always read your face. Maybe he realized?

After that weird moment, I sensed the atmosphere had changed slightly. Money really was the root of all evil, and it had made it awkward between us now. I felt like just another paycheck to him now.

Was that how he saw me?

“I’m finding it really difficult here,” I said. “My head is up in the air. I have yearned for you. All the years we were apart, I thought of you. And now, it’s difficult for me to separate my feelings for you and what’s happening now.”

Did I explain that to him correctly? Have I made myself clear?

“Piper, I understand exactly where you’re coming from. Our time apart has not been easy for me, either. You wouldn’t believe how often I’ve thought about you, also.”

I heard a voice from off to the side. “It’s you! I thought it was you!”

I looked up to see a woman glaring at Evan. She looked pissed. I glanced at Evan, and he looked highly uncomfortable.

“You arrogant dick,” she snapped. “You rescheduled me, not once, but fucking twice. How dare you?”

“Calm down,” Evan said, hating this woman more than I wanted to hate another human being.

“Don’t tell me to calm down. Do you have any idea who you’re messing with? The people I know? You’ll be sorry.” She looked like she was ready to physically attack me. She’d gone off the deep end. It was rare, but the shit happened. In my business, it was rather expected.

“Susan, take it easy,” Evan said apologetically. “We are in public.”

“I don’t give two hoots where we are,” she said. “I just wanted to see what you had rescheduled me for. Bah! You turned me down for this?” She pointed at me like I was a cockroach on the floor.

“Now, there’s no need for that,” Evan growled. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. You have gone too far this time!”

As I looked on, the friction between them reached a fever pitch. I had no understanding of the things being discussed. She had to be a client, but why was her attitude like this? She shouted at him like she was entitled to have him. If this was a client, she acted well outside the rules of the contract.

Fuck, she is head over heels for him. Very fucking clingy, and jealous, too.

Evan stood up and faced the woman. He towered over her, but she didn’t seem to care.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. This woman’s fury is off the fucking charts.

“I’ve already paid for my time with you,” she yelled. “What sort of business does this to people? And all the time, you said it was some personal matter, you liar!”

People looked our direction. This conversation was way too loud. If it got any worse, the management would ask us to leave.

Fuck, I wish I could leave right now. This is fucking awkward.

“Susan, you’ve gone way over the top,” Evan said. “Just look at yourself. You’re overreacting.” He moved to place his hand on her arm.

The woman snarled, and spittle flew from her gritted teeth. “Don’t you fucking touch me. Not now!”

Evan shook his head, sighed, and took a deep breath. Then he glared into the crazy woman’s eyes.

“You have left me no option,” he said. “I should have done this a long time ago, but not like this.”

“Go on then,” the crazy woman snarled. “Spit it out.”

“It’s over. You’ve broken the contract for the last time. As of right now, our agreement is null and void.”

It’s all about the business. How much of his life revolves around the business?

The woman opened her mouth to speak, then closed it. Evan’s words finally sunk in. Her whole persona changed instantly. She went from a vicious tigress protecting her cub to a tame kitten that wanted its belly tickled.

“You don’t mean it,” she said.

Go on you fucker, you’ve just realized, haven’t you? Hell yeah!!

The expression on the woman’s face changed immediately. It went from anger to a look of desperation and hope. The angry tone of her voice softened to extremely timid. It was like she begged for forgiveness. She backtracked, but the damage had been done. Even in the old days, no one fucked with Evan and got away with it. If someone tried to back him into a corner, he stood tall and came out swinging.

“Your money will be refunded as soon as possible,” Evan said. “Yes, once the banks are open, I’ll get it sorted.” I loved his commanding tone.

The woman lifted her shoulders and sighed. “Forgive me. I’m sorry.”

“You’re too damned late for sorry,” Evan said, still with a deep voice as anger burned across his handsome face.

“Please forgive me, I’ll make it up to you. I promise I’ll be a good girl.” She begged, and my stomach turned sick.

“You should have thought of that earlier,” he replied forcefully. “You’ve never respected the agreement. This was always going to happen.”

The woman stepped closer to Evan and placed her hands on his chest.

“Can you re-consider?” she asked, her voice desperate. “Don’t turn me away now. We’ve come so far together.”

“I think you should leave now Susan,” Evan said. “You’ve caused too much of a scene already. I’m not going to change my mind. Not after the way you’ve just acted.”

The shoe is firmly on the other foot, lady. Who’s sorry now? Consider yourself well and truly dumped, bright eyes.

“We can sort it out, can’t we?” she asked, now in a pitiful, sorrowful voice.

Evan shook his head in disgust. “Get out of here, and leave us alone.”

The woman slumped and turned. Then she walked directly to the exit and left. Evan sighed and lowered himself back into his seat.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” he said embarrassed. “She’s a bit on the wild side, even for me.”

“Well, from the look of her, there wasn’t much you could do about it. I take it she’s a disgruntled customer?”

“She’s always been trouble from day one. She thought the rules didn’t apply to her. I should have told her we were finished a long time ago, but I wanted to hold up my end of the deal and give her a child.”

Just another client. Good or bad didn’t matter. She’s just another name on your list. Like me. Ugh!!

“I’m just totally amazed she went off like that,” I said. “She was pissed. I thought she was going to hit you.”

“Ever since you sent me your picture, I’ve been putting her off and avoiding her. Maybe she that gave her the right to be angry, but nothing gives her the right to go off on me in public like that. It’s a complete violation of the agreement. I’m just glad she’s gone.”

“Yep!”

“All that matters right now is being with you. It’s been too long since we’ve been together.” He raised his head and gazed into my eyes.

A big cloud of uncertainty positioned itself over my head. I’d just witnessed one of his clients going off on him. There had to be more clients out there in the world. How many were there like her? How often is he going to bump into a client who recognizes him? It was a lot to take in, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle it.

“I’m sorry Evan, but after all that, I’m not sure. I mean, is this going to happen again? We come out for dinner or something and one of your clients interrupts? Is that what life with you is like?”

“She’s the only one whose ever been a problem,” he said. “All the others have been fine.”

“That’s my point Evan. There are others. So many others. I can’t see myself carrying on. I’m sorry.”I stood from my chair and looked at Evan. I smiled sadly. “Goodbye.” My heart stayed in the chair I’d left.

I stood outside the restaurant and leaned against the wall. Cold night air and the smell of honey and chicory filled my lungs. I rested my head against the wall, and tears streamed down my face.

Fuck you, Evan. Why does this always happen to me when you’re involved?

I regained some of my composure and moved across the parking lot toward the street. The bell from the restaurant door chimed, and faint footsteps sounded behind me.

“Wait!” Evan called.

I kept walking. My head swam, like I was in a dream.

“Piper, hold up,” he called again.

I was almost to the street now. A cab approached. I raised my hand to get the driver’s attention. Evan grabbed my arm and spun me toward him, with force and passion.

“Piper, I have no idea what I’m supposed to do now,” he said, breathing heavily.

I raised my arm again, and the cab pulled to the side of the street.

“There is nothing to do. I’m trying to figure out how to be okay with all of this, but I can’t. And it’s not fair to interrupt your life. Honestly.” I turned back to the road as a million needles stung my heart.

I’d started the evening confused. Our night had been cut short, and I was even more confused, now. The interruption by the crazy client had ruined everything. It added to the confusing feelings stirring inside me. I had no idea which way my emotions were going to take me. My mind was on a joyride, destination unknown.

“Piper, tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it,” Evan said, “Anything, no questions asked. Just tell me how to fix this, please.”

“I don’t know, Evan,” I said. “I really don’t know.” The cab stopped in front of me and relief flooded my system. As much as I didn’t want to run from the only man I’d love, I had no choice.

Maybe running wasn’t a good idea. Maybe figuring things out was better. Susan popped into my head, her brand of crazy not unique at all. Evan was every woman’s wet dream. This sort of crazy bullshit was going to happen all the time. It wasn’t just me and Susan purchasing his services.

He had other clients. They were out there. It would never be just me. That thought hung around my neck like a noose. I placed my hand on the door of the cab and opened it.

“Piper. Just tell me what you want. I don’t want to lose you. I just got you back.” He reached out, but I avoided his touch. How had this gotten to this point? What fucked up fate fairy had sent him back in my life only to rip him out again? Why the hell was life so unfair?

I turned to Evan. “I can’t see myself sharing you with anyone. You have to understand that.” I paused as tears burned my eyes. “Would you share me?”

“Never,” he whispered softly and moved back, his handsome face a mask of pain. “Not in a million years.”

I climbed into the cab, my heart lost and broken. I couldn’t look back to watch him standing on the side of the road, I couldn’t see him there. Not now.

Not ever again.