I’ve managed to skirt Ashton’s questions about last night. I didn’t lie when I told her I spent the night at my house. I did spend most of the evening here; I just didn’t sleep here. Omission is not lying in this case and I’m okay with that. For now.
I hadn’t realized how important seeing this piece of my life was to my sister until we arrived. She not only called ahead and ordered us a pizza, she had chairs and blankets in the back of my truck along with a cooler filled with a few beers and some waters.
Once we got here she was like a kid at an amusement park. In awe at every little thing in the house and on the property, she’s already planned multiple cookouts and bonfires for next summer. Unfortunately, I’ve ran out of distracting conversation and I know she’s about to hit me with what she thinks is her given right as my sister – nosiness.
“I love this place, Ben. It’s really wonderful and so you.”
“Thanks. I agree, I’m glad I went for it. The work is hard but once it’s all done it will have all been worth it. Sorry it took me so long to bring you here.”
“It’s okay. I know you’ve had a lot going on the last few months so I’ve given you the space you needed.”
Laughing at her assessment of giving me space, I’m suddenly hit in the head with a plastic bottle cap. “Hey now, you don’t want to have to walk home, do you?”
“Whatevs, you wouldn’t make me walk home. Besides, you still haven’t told me who you met last night. I know you had to have met someone so fess up.”
“Nope, didn’t meet anyone. Sorry to disappoint. Besides I’m not looking to meet anyone new.”
All truths.
“Mmhmm, I’m not sure I believe you but I won’t pry. I’ll figure it out soon enough.”
We sit in silence a few more minutes and I can tell by the way she’s shifting that Ashton is about to ask to leave. It’s getting colder as the minutes tick by and if I can get her to leave now I can drop her off at the house and get back here before Piper.
“Good grief, it’s freezing. Can we get out of here before my nose hairs turn to icicles?”
“Dramatic much, Ash?”
“Don’t give me grief. It’s absolutely fucking freezing!” she exclaims as she leaps from her seat and hops up and down in some sort of weird-looking jumping jack.
“Yeah, come on. I’ll take you home and then I’m coming back here for a bit.”
Again, truth.
“Whatever, come on. I’m going to have to start singing like a Disney princess if you don’t get me out of here.”
My sister is a mess and I love her. I take her by the shoulders and kiss the top of her head. She wraps her arms around my body, and this is why I have to convince Piper we make sense. So this person a fun, feisty, stubborn, loving, kind, and passionate human who we both love isn’t hurt in the slightest.
The drive back to my parents’ house is quiet and I welcome it. Ashton seems happy to have had a little brother and sister bonding time. It occurs to me that not only have I been avoiding Piper but, in doing so, I’ve avoided my sister. Once I’ve dropped Ashton at home, I turn around and make a return drive right back to where I came from.
I notice that although Piper’s car is parked in front of the house, she isn’t in it. I don’t even wonder where she is, I immediately head toward the house and the kitchen.
Finding her standing at the kitchen looking out the window, I pause a moment to take her in. The way the moonlight streams through the window, she looks almost angelic. She’s wearing a dress with her cowboy boots and a jacket. She’s not dressed for this weather so I can only hope she’s dressed for me.
The shadows cast around the room set a feeling of calmness that gives me a sense of home and peace. I clear my throat to get her attention but not startle her. Piper turns her head so she’s peering over her shoulder toward me and smiles. My heart falls to my stomach. It’s not fear that has me reacting so dramatically. It’s simpler than that.
I love this girl. I’m not sure when or how it happened but all these flashes of what could be are in this moment. That smile is similar to the one she offered me this morning when she woke up. It’s the smile I want every night before I fall asleep and the smile I want to greet me every morning when I wake.
I return the smile and swallow down every declaration of love running through my mind. It’s too soon, even I know that. It’s too much and almost embarrassing. Almost.
She turns completely and begins walking toward me and I step toward her. Meeting her halfway. The symbolism of this moment is not lost on me.
“Princess.”
Another smile before she responds, “Bentley.”
I grab her hands and tug her against me. She laughs and falls into me, placing her hands on my biceps. One of my hands goes around her waist while the other instinctively brushes hair from her face. This time, she leans her head toward my hand and my thumb gently caresses her cheek.
I could say so much to her right now. I could easily tell Piper how her smile makes me feel like the most important person in the world. Or how beautiful she is and with a single look she takes my breath away. I want to make her eyes sparkle as she comes undone beneath me. I want to tell her how having her in my arms is the only time I know everything I’m doing makes sense.
I say none of that. Instead, I lay my lips on hers. Gently and slowly, I deepen the kiss and she melts into me. With each second that passes, I increase the intensity. A slight nibble of her lower lip and she opens enough to grant me access. This isn’t a kiss of passion or urgency. This is a kiss of emotion and promises.
I realize I have to slow this down. Not so much for her but for us. For the us I know we are and will be. I need her to know that this is more than physical attraction, that we are more than just something superficial.
“What’s with the full name?”
“I didn’t use your full name. If I had, I would have greeted you with ‘Hello, Mister Bentley James Sullivan.’ I did not so thus it was not your full name.”
Once she’s put me in my place she turns from me and all that sass that first drew me to her is back in full force. I can’t help myself and I smack her ass. Lovingly, but hard enough she yelps and turns to glare at me. Before she can completely turn to reprimand me, I wrap my arms around her from behind so her head is resting on my chest. Rigid at first, she relaxes when I place a feather-light kiss to her temple.
“You know, Miss Lawrence, I’ve never been one for this whole alpha male thing. But, hearing you say my full name with that tone I may change my mind.”
“Oh please. I’d laugh you right out of this house. Now, fine sir, what are we still doing here? I believe you owe me a movie night,” she says, wiggling from my grasp.
“Fine. Let’s go, where are your keys?”
“Umm, my keys are in my pocket. You don’t need them, I can drive.”
“I know you can, but you won’t. I’m the man, I drive.”
“Macho much? I don’t think so. Look, Ben, I don’t think this will work with us being just plain ole friends if you think you’re going to be some alpha male that takes charge and expects me to be some timid wallflower. I will not…”
Not letting her complete her sentence, I grab by the arms and kiss her. If I’ve learned there’s one way to stop Piper from talking, it’s kissing her. This kiss is not tender or sweet. No, this is passion and fire. As quickly as I started the kiss, I break it while simultaneously plucking her keys from her jacket pocket.
“Hey! That wasn’t nice!”
“I actually think it was very nice. Let’s get something straight. I will never expect you to be anything or anyone other than you. I am very fond of the you that you are. But I will drive because as the man in this friendship I will always keep you safe and make sure you are taken care of. That is why I am taking these keys and driving us back to your apartment for movie night.”
This time it’s me who walks away and she doesn’t stop me. Instead I can feel her mind working overtime. I decide to have a little fun with her as I keep walking and she follows. “Don’t think too much, Princess. We’re wasting precious time while you do. I hope you chose something scary so you have to seek safety in my arms.”
Once we’re at her car I wait for her to catch up and open the passenger door, leaning on it as she starts to climb in, then pauses and looks at me. “I’m sorry I was defensive. I’m just … I’m trying.”
“I know, baby. We’ll figure this all out. Now let’s go get our movie on.”
It was not a scary movie. No, in fact it was a movie from before either of us were born. A musical that Piper knew every single word spoken and every song sang. I wanted to muzzle her at one point. I tried shutting her up with kisses but even that didn’t work. Instead she swatted me away and told me if I got between her and her “Cool Rider” I was sitting on the floor. I have never been so grateful for a movie to end than I was of that one.
“Did you love it? It’s my favorite movie of all time. Michelle Pfeiffer was so pretty. I used to pretend I was her singing in the mirror.”
“Love is a pretty strong word for what I’m feeling after that. You are much prettier than Michelle Pfeiffer was.”
“Well, you’re sweet. I am not prettier than her and of course I know I can’t carry a tune but that doesn’t mean I can’t sing along if it makes me happy.”
I feel like this is one of those moments that she’s telling me a little about what lies beneath the surface. Something that drives her to be negative about herself. As much as I’d love to understand that more, it’s been ninety minutes since I’ve had her in my arms and that’s about all I can handle right now.
“You know what?”
“Nope, what?”
“I think you should pretend you are Michelle Pfeiffer like when she’s on that ladder. My lap could absolutely pass for a ladder, ya know.”
“Oh really?” she asks coyly, tugging on a strand of her hair and looking at me through her long lashes before looking away. I watch as her facial expression tells me she’s thinking too much again. She’s conflicted, and if I know Piper, and I think I do at this point, she is trying to avoid taking me up on my offer.
I remove her hand from hair and lace our fingers. “Hey,” I say, tugging her hand to catch her attention. She looks at me again and I see her wariness. “Don’t think, just feel. Piper, stop trying to talk yourself out of being with me.”
“I’m not talking myself out being with you. This is just so far outside of my comfort zone; you’re so brazen and outspoken. It should make me uncomfortable and shy.”
“Should?”
Instead of a response she unlaces our fingers and slowly moves to straddle me. Her hands first land on my shoulders, then slowly make their way down the front of my chest, ultimately spreading across my pecs to rest on my biceps.
“Feel free to sing away. I’ll be the perfect ladder and just sit here.”
“I don’t think I want that,” she whispers, slightly leaning in to me.
“No?” I ask while my hands begin making their way from her knees to her upper thighs. Thankfully the skirt of her dress has ridden up on its own as she’s settled in on my lap. She’s moving her body ever so slightly, causing her breasts to rise and fall. Her neck is within range of my lips and the moment I connect with her skin she tilts her head back and releases a sound that I can only believe she’s been holding in.
My hands have made their way around to her backside. With a squeeze of her ass her face comes down and it’s she who kisses me this time. Her hands move from resting on my biceps to either side of my face. I let her take control. This is the first time Piper has given herself over to me. She’s choosing this. I pull my hands from her backside and begin tugging at the straps of her dress. I know she was freezing at my house in this outfit and knowing she wore it for me gives me hope.
The top of the dress is tight and the straps only come down a little on her arms. I reach around to find the zipper, but I feel her tense as I do.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to,” I say apologetically. I must have really pushed too far because she’s standing up from where she’d been perched.
I open my mouth to apologize more when she extends her hand to me. I place my hand in hers and before I stand she says the words that will forever change us.
“Let’s go to bed.”