When We Fall (Take the Fall, #2)(17)

“Nah. This girl and her friend I had over the other night wouldn’t shut up about Piper’s rebellion. No one, and I mean no one, can believe she actually moved out of her parents’ house.”

“Those people have serious first-world issues,” I grumble.

Emmett smirks. “We all have issues.”

“I’m taking a smoke break,” I say, heading outside.

We made it a rule that no one smokes in our shop, not even after hours. I actually kind of like it because I instituted the same rule at my own house and I’ve cut down to one cigarette a day. If I were to get serious with Piper, I would have to go cold turkey because I’d read that cigarette smoke aggravates asthmatics.

“Later, dude.” Emmett shuffles back to his workstation.

Fuck, I have so much to think about, so much to consider. It’s not that I’m against being with Piper—hell, I’ve had a hard-on for her for years when it comes to her looks and her personality—it’s…yeah, I know my soul is stained black with my past deeds, but beyond that…does Piper want me because I’m so bad, especially compared to her, or because I’m the exact opposite of what her parents want for her future?

Only, while I was in prison, it did that girl absolutely no good to send me care packages and funny little notes. No good at all. I doubt her parents even knew what she was doing, since Western Prison is operated on a state level and not county. No way she was giving her parents the finger by performing those acts of kindness.

Maybe, just maybe, Piper wants me for me—not my reputation—nothing but me.

—

It’s after one a.m. when I finally pull into the driveway. Piper’s BMW is nowhere to be found, and not for the first time I start to worry about her. I should have waited until I actually watched her walk inside before I left.

Heart racing, I pull out my phone and give Rowan a call.

“?’Lo?” she says, all sleepy sounding.

“Is Piper there?”

“Yeah, she’s sleeping with me.”

“O’Connor best be in another state,” I growl. It’s ridiculous, I know, but the thought of any man touching Piper makes me unreasonably jealous. In light of what I did to her earlier this evening, it’s downright idiotic.

“We’re on the sofa, numbnuts,” she says on a yawn. “Seth’s in the recliner watching Cupcake Wars.”

“I’ll come get her.”

“She might not want you to,” Rowan says.

Uneasiness and shame wash over me before settling into my soul. I hate that my sister knows what went down between Piper and me, no matter how much I’m trying to save her heartache and pain.

“Doesn’t matter. Her home is with me.”

“Too bad you couldn’t have said that to her at dinner.”

“I was trying to save her some heartache.”

“Uh-huh. Maybe you were trying to save yourself from heartache.”

“Not going there, Ro.” I begin to jog to Rowan and Seth’s house. It’s not that far away from mine and I’ll be able to drive Piper’s car back…with her in it, of course.

“Whatever. Just don’t hurt my girl again, or I’ll forget you’re my brother,” she says.

Only a woman worth being with could inspire such loyalty in her best friend. “Be there in five minutes.”

—

Seth greets me at the door. His black hair is cut severely short and his dog tags are hanging over his shirt. Even before he was a Marine veteran, he was the only guy I’d ever let get close to Rowan. Now that they’re getting married—well, let’s just say that I’m having visions of kids calling me Uncle Jase. My sister is finally getting the happiness she deserves with a man who knows exactly how much she’s worth. Rowan is f*cking priceless in my eyes—his, too.

Always has been, always will be.

“Shit, it’s a little late for a social call,” he says by way of greeting.

“Come to take my girl home.”

“Which girl?” Seth opens the screen door and I walk inside. “Your sister Rowan or your sister Piper?” he asks with no small amount of amusement in his voice.

“Fuck you,” I mutter, striding to the living room.

“Rowan passed out after talking to you. She said to tell you that Piper carries on conversations in her sleep and she can sleep through a nuclear bomb going off, so good luck with all that,” he says.

Piper’s asleep, her long dark hair spreads out over a pillow while a light blanket covers her. She looks so damn beautiful and innocent lying there that my heart kicks against my chest.

You threw away the chance to be with her.

No, I was trying to prevent her from wasting her life on me. Now I’m not so sure I did the right thing.

I liked you better when you were all about *.

Yeah, well, I liked me better when I didn’t mind-f*ck myself thanks to Yoda Emmett.

Kneeling, I scoop her up in my arms. The scent of Cacharel Ana?s Ana?s washes over me. On impulse, I had saved up all my extra money and I bought it to give to Piper on her sixteenth birthday. After all these years, I can’t believe she still wears the same scent.

“So f*cking sweet,” I murmur, pressing my lips in her silky hair.

“Driving or walking?” Seth asks.