Page 14 of Pining for Pierce
He withdraws his hand. “If you’re sure?”
“I am.”
He gets to his feet, and I copy him, pulling on my jacket, struggling not to shudder when he helps me, his hand touching my shoulder.
“Are you gonna be okay?” he asks, like he gives a damn.
“I’ll be fine.”
He guides me outside and once we’re on the sidewalk, I say goodbye.
“Bye,” he says, giving me a smile, which melts my heart and brings tears to my eyes. I turn quickly and head straight down Main Street, my head bowed. My car is still parked at work, and I need to get back there. I need to get home… away from all this.
I never thought I’d say this, but I need to get away from Pierce… before he sees me break.
My Saturdays are usually spent alone, while Mom and Dad work at the store, so today is no different in many ways… except I know they’re not at the store. Pierce is. I’m doing my best not to think about him, though. It doesn’t seem to do me any good, and having cried myself to sleep last night, my emotions need a rest.
Laundry seems to be a good antidote, and keeps me busy for most of the day, after which I re-arrange my closet space and sit back on my bed, feeling pleased with myself, despite a niggling headache, just as my phone rings.
I pull it from my back pocket, smiling when I see Ben’s name on the screen as I connect the call.
“I thought you’d given up all forms of communication,” I say, instead of bothering with a ‘hello’, and he chuckles.
“Yeah… sorry about that. I’ve been meaning to call you all week, but I’ve been kinda busy.”
“Thanks. It’s nice to know how important I am in your life.”
“You know you mean more to me than almost anyone, sis… but, well… I’ve met someone,” he says, stammering over his words, and finally blurting them out.
“You too?”
“What do you mean by that? Have you met someone as well?”
“No.” I could kick myself for letting my guard down. “Pierce has. He seems to think she’s ‘the one’.”
“Oh? He hasn’t said anything to me.”
“That’s probably because they only met yesterday.”
“In which case, I doubt she really is ‘the one’. It’s probably just Pierce being Pierce. He goes into practically every date thinking he’s found the woman of his dreams, and then ten minutes in, he realizes the error of his ways.”
I’d like to believe that, but I saw the look on Pierce’s face and Ben didn’t. Still, I’m not going to say that. In fact, I think it’s better if I steer the conversation away from Pierce altogether.
“So, this someone you’ve met… is it serious?”
“I think so.”
“Serious enough for you to bring her home?” I ask.
He chuckles again. “I don’t know. We’ve only been dating for around three months, and I don’t wanna put her off.”
“Three months? That’s practically long-term for you.”
“I know.”
“What’s her name?”
“Louise.” He pauses for a moment and then surprises me by saying, “She’s so damn cute, Harley.”
