Page 23 of Swinging for the Deep End

Piper gives herself a little hop to get her jeans up over her hips.

I find myself curling up my fists, trying really hard not to gawk at her… but…

“Hand me my shirt?” Piper asks.

I swipe if off the bleachers and she takes it from me with attitude and then turns away to put it on.

“The doors lock on their own,” she says. “But I always give them a quick pull just to make sure.”

“I’m leaving too,” I say to her. “If I go any harder I’ll end up hurting myself.”

She looks back at me. “Shoulder?”

“Basically my whole right side,” I say. “In-game injury. A dirty hit.”

“That sucks,” she says.

She grabs the strap of her bag and tosses it over her shoulder.

Without a simple goodbye, she’s on the move.

“Hey, let me at least walk you to your car,” I say. “Just in case that serial killer is there.”

“I can handle myself, Cutter.”

She’s on the move.

Almost jogging along the side of the pool toward the door.

I turn and hurry to get my stuff.

Piper beats me to the door and is gone.

When I exit, I make sure the doors are locked, like she suggested.

My SUV is to the left, around the back of the building.

I see Piper still basically jogging toward a dark red car that has definitely seen better days and years.

Then she’s sitting behind the wheel.

Our eyes connect from a distance.

I can tell something is wrong. She’s worried. Scared. Nervous. She doesn’t want to admit it though either.

I can’t imagine in a small town like this there are such things like serial killers running rampant. But maybe Piper has a crazy ex or something. Maybe that’s why she’s on the move so quick.

As I start to walk toward her car, she shuts her eyes. A moment later a tick-tick-tick sound softly yells from the car. And it’s not starting.

Piper throws open her door and climbs out.

“Won’t start?” I ask.

“What gave that away?”

“You know, you’re really in a hurry. Are you okay?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Cutter. I have to go pick up my son from his father’s house! Okay? That’s the rush. I’m supposed to be there at nine.”

---