Cole gets in on it, and I wait until they stop with the high fives, and over all knee slapping on my balls’ behalf.
“Would you quit? Trust me, there’s no rash. It’s this kind of crap that starts rumors. Totally untrue by the way.” I give a quick glance around. Prior to officially meeting Cassidy, I’d catch glimpses of her at the bar, never at school, so when she said she went to WB I was relieved. I know for a fact three different universities feed into this den of depravation on any given night. Hollow Brook is a college town, so she could have gone anywhere, and I much prefer her at my school. “There is someone, but we’re keeping it low-key. It’s sort of an open relationship at this point.” I grimace into those last few words. I’m not too sure what an open relationship actually entails, but I’m guessing it’s pretty black and white.
“Open what?” Cole shakes his head. “Get in or get out, and then close that fucking door. Those things never end well if you don’t.”
“He’s right.” Owen slaps me hard over the back, and before I can respond, a perfumed breeze whisks by, and Piper smacks Owen with a kiss.
“Two of my favorite guys.” She pulls me into a strong hug, and I dot a kiss to her cheek. I’ve never been shy to give Piper affection. Our parents are pretty great people, but pretty distant as parents. They prefer the occasional visit. As children, we saw them on holidays and extended summer stays when we weren’t at boarding school. My mother calls once a week, which is all great, but Piper has always needed a little more attention, a little extra coddling and love, and I am more than happy to give it.
“What are you up to?” I tousle her hair, and she growls at me. Messing with Piper is one of my favorite pastimes, a little dangerous, but usually worth the effort.
“Just heading into town with the girls for dinner.” She looks to Owen and winks. “But I’ll be back for dessert. I’m not interested in getting my sugar fix anywhere else.”
I lean back, trying to avoid any eye contact in that direction. It’s weird enough knowing that my kid sister has a boyfriend. I don’t want to imagine for a second what she might be doing to get her “sugar fix.”
“Speaking of dessert”—Owen nods to me—“your brother is seeing someone.”
“Oh my shit,” Piper gruffs a little too aggressively, and my curiosity is piqued. Not sure she’s ever protested the fact I’m seeing anyone, with the exception of the disaster at Bentley where I had my heart crapped on and handed back to me. “Tell me it’s not her.”
“It’s not her,” I say into my beer, thanking God that it’s indeed not her. I’m not sure my heart or my head could take another dose of Sammy Spears. There are some catastrophes you’re just thankful to live through, and that happens to be mine. In the end, it was a waking nightmare. I’d never wish that on anyone, especially not on Cassidy.
Piper tilts into me, narrowing her gaze as if trying to figure out if I’m telling the truth.
“When was the last time you spoke with what’s-her-face?” She doesn’t relent from her suspicious gaze. Piper hasn’t uttered Sammy’s name since the day she found out the awful truth of what went down.
“I don’t know. A while ago.” Sammy still sends a quick text now and again. She’s always the first to wish me a Merry Christmas, a happy birthday, but I’ve made it a habit of responding with the briefest of replies—courteous yet curt. She’s got the hint. This train isn’t traveling in that direction anymore. Those tracks derailed long ago.
“Like yesterday? Last week? Just how is it you define a while ago?” Piper isn’t letting up on her interrogation. I’m not sure who was more traumatized by my last relationship, Piper or me.
“I really don’t know.” I think on it a minute as Sammy’s quiet smile flashes before me. She had me hooked with that smile in the beginning, but it was the same smile that happily doled out lies in the end. “The last time I ran into her was last summer before we transferred out here. It was brief. I made sure it was.”
“Good. Keep it that way,” Piper says it slow as if still disbelieving me on some level. “Anyway, I’d better get going. I’d hate to keep my hos waiting. See you in a bit.” She kisses Owen before taking off.
“Who are these hos she’s hanging out with?” I toss the question to Owen as I knock back half of my beer.
“Good girls. If I had to guess, Piper is the ringleader. They’re all pretty tame in comparison. Speaking of your sister, her birthday is coming up, first week of March.”
“I know when my sister’s birthday is. Would you like to fill me in on the date, too?” I smear a grin with the sarcasm. I’m not as good as Piper, but something about Owen demands that I mess with him.