Page 58 of Swinging for the Deep End

She shrugs her shoulder.

We’re staring each other down as though this is some negotiation. Or even a divorce. Like two people seated across from one another ready to argue over a house, two cars, and a beach house.

I order a beer. She orders a mixed drink.

“How’s Saxon?” I ask.

“Fine. Why?”

Here we go…

“Just asking. He plays piano, huh? That’s really cool.”

“You’ve already said that. You made his night by saying that.”

“I did? Why?”

Piper shakes her head and looks away.

Her wall is a mile thick.

As soon as my drink shows up, I indulge.

The funny part here is that nothing is awkward between us. She’s just holding back. Really hard. Really hard on purpose.

“Okay, Piper, what’s the story then?” I ask.

“The story?”

“Are you going to really be like this the entire time? Why waste your only free night?”

Oh, Cutter, you’re a jerk for saying that…

But it works.

Piper stands up. “The story? That’s what this is? The story. What do you want to know about me, Cutter? That I was once a championship swimmer? Huh? That I was a college star destined for some really great things. You know what happened? I got pregnant. Wasn’t planning on that, no. What did I do? What I had to do, which was become a mother. Take care of my son. That’s the story, Cutter. You want to know about my ex too? About Hunter?”

I reach for my bottle of beer and take a slow sip.

I pop the bottle off my lips and let out an ahh sound.

“The story I meant was about this place,” I say. “Why you wanted to come here instead of the place I picked out. Wasn’t sure if there was something about the other place. That’s all.”

Piper’s face drops. Her cheeks turn a deep shade of red.

Embarrassment washes over her and she takes off running from the table.

I’m not letting her get away that easily.

She ends up in the corner of the outdoor patio.

She turns and puts a hand out. “Cutter… this is awful…”

“What is? That you just blurted out some serious stuff?”

“You did that on purpose. The way you worded it.”

I get close to her. Really close.

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