Page 31 of Reconcile
“Hey, I didn’t buy her a pony.”
She cocks her head to the side, annoyed. “Sawyer...”
“I won’t.”
She does smile a little at that. “Thank you for this. It’s a nice room.”
“Wanna see yours?”
Her eyes meet mine, and there’s something there, something I can’t place. She gives a quick nod, and I lead her to the room right next to Audrey’s. This one, I told the girls to go simple with.
Of course, I just had to mention that Piper’s favorite color used to be purple. So Viv had the walls painted a plum color and found matching bedding. Piper’s nose scrunches as she looks at the room, and then her eyes land on me. “Purple?”
“Yeah. You hate it now?”
She smiles and shakes her head. “I wouldn’t say hate. But I don’t love it as much as I did when I was eighteen.”
I swallow, hearing her words, reading too much into them. Thinking that I know how that feels. And now, I’m comparing myself to the color purple.
Why the fuck do I care that she doesn’t love me anymore? Or the color?
“We can change it.”
She shakes her head and takes a seat on the edge of the bed, crossing her legs at the ankles, but her back isn’t as straight as it would have been in high school. Her posture was always spot-on then.
“No. This is fine.” She looks around, and then her eyes meet mine again. “It’s pretty.”
I nod my head and then grip the back of my tension-filled neck. I need a drink. Or maybe a joint. Or maybe to get laid.
My eyes dart in the direction of the next room over.
Yeah... None of that will probably be happening anytime soon.
“Viv and Ash are having a small party at their house tonight. Grilling. You want to go?”
Audrey bounces in just then. “A party?”
Piper glares at me, like I knew she was going to hear that, but then her gaze softens as she looks at Audrey. “I don’t know. We have a lot of unpacking to do.”
“Oh please, Mommy.” She looks at me. “Will there be cake?”
I chuckle. “I’m not sure. But since Baz will be there, I’m assuming there will be ice cream.”
Her eyes light up. “Yum!” Then her little nose scrunches up just like Piper’s does when she’s thinking too hard. “Who’s Baz?”
“Baz is my friend. He’s about your age.”
“A boy?” She makes a grossed-out face. “I don’t like boys.”
I nod and smile as I kneel in front of her. “I’m more than okay with that.”
Piper snorts, unable to hide her laugh even though she’s shaking her head. “Sawyer.”
I look over at her. “What? You aren’t?”
She shakes her head again, still not hiding the grin, and Audrey laughs, “I do like ice cream though.”
“Me too.” I stand up and address Piper, “It’s just Ash and Viv, Baz, Lola and her husband. I don’t think Linc will be there.”
