Page 2 of Seaside Hideaway

Piper managed a small smile. “Yeah, just ready to get out of here.”

As the SUV pulled away, Piper leaned her head against the cool glass of the window. The flashes of cameras faded into the distance.

“God, it feels good to be back,” Piper sighed, sinking deeper into the leather seat.

Natalie looked up from her phone, a small smile playing on her lips. “I bet. You’ve been running non-stop for more than four months now.”

“Feels like four years,” Piper said. “Don’t get me wrong. Filming in England and Wales was incredible. Those castle locations were straight out of a fairy tale, but I’m glad to be back home.”

“Remember that tiny pub in Cardiff?” Natalie’s eyes glistened with amusement. “I thought James was going to hit his head on every beam.”

Piper laughed softly as she gazed out the window.

“The press tour was something else, though,” Piper said. “Paris, Rome, Berlin... It all started to blur together after a while.”

Natalie nodded, her expression softening. “You handled it like a pro, Piper, but I could tell it was wearing on you towards the end.”

Piper turned to her friend, gratitude welling up inside her. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Nat. I think it all the time, but I don’t say it enough. It’s not just about the security. You know I trust you when it comes to that, but I’d be lost with your friendship. You know that, right?”

“Don’t go getting sappy on me now,” Natalie teased, but Piper could see the affection in her eyes.

“I mean it,” Piper insisted.

Natalie reached over and gave Piper’s hand a squeeze. “Well, the feeling’s mutual. Now, what’s the game plan for your well-deserved break?”

“Absolutely nothing for the next week, and that means an equally well-deserved break for you guys. But for the first time in I don’t know how long, my schedule is blissfully empty. No scripts to read, no photoshoots, no interviews. Just me, some takeout, and maybe a Netflix binge or two.”

“Sounds perfect,” Natalie grinned. “And then we’ll head to Morro Bay next week?”

Piper’s gaze drifted back to the window, her mind wandering to her grandmother’s beach house. She should have felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of finally tackling the renovation, but instead, a heavy weight settled in her chest.

“You know,” she said, “I keep telling myself I should be thrilled about getting started on it. But every time I think about it, I just feel... guilty.”

Natalie turned to her, concern etched on her face. “Guilty? Why?”

Piper sighed, running a hand through her hair. “It’s been two years since she passed away. Two years, and I’m only just now getting around to fixing up her home. And before that? I barely visited her in the last couple of years of her life. I was always too busy.”

“I know the renovation needs to happen,” she continued. “If I leave it much longer, it’ll probably need even more work. And I’ve started daydreaming about having it as a nice getaway from LA. But it feels... I don’t know, selfish somehow.”

Natalie reached out, giving Piper’s arm a gentle squeeze. “Your grandmother would want you to enjoy that house, Piper. You know that, right? That’s exactly why she left it to you and not your parents. She wanted you to have it.”

Piper nodded, but the guilt still gnawed at her. “I know. It’s just... I can’t help thinking about all the times I should have been there. All the memories we could have made if I hadn’t been so caught up in the constant need to further my career.”

She turned back to the window, watching the familiar streets of Los Angeles go by.

“I guess I’m just worried about facing all of that when I get there,” Piper admitted. “It’s not just about picking out new paint colors or updating the kitchen. It’s about confronting everything I let slip away.”

The SUV pulled up to the gated entrance of Piper’s Hollywood Hills home. As the gates swung open, she felt a wave of relief wash over her. The winding driveway, lined with perfectly manicured hedges and palm trees, led to the sprawling modern mansion she called home.

As Piper stepped out of the car, the hot evening air carried the faint scent of flowers from her garden.

Inside, Piper kicked off her shoes, the marble floor cool beneath her feet. The open-plan living area stretched out before her, and she couldn’t wait to wake up in the morning in her own home.

Piper made her way to the kitchen, her fingers trailing along the smooth quartz countertop. She opened the fridge, pleasantly surprised to find it stocked with her favorite foods and beverages. She’d have to call her manager and thank her for thinking ahead. She returned to the foyer just as James and Ryan entered, carrying her luggage.

“Where would you like these, Ms. Emerson?” James asked.

“Just leave them here for now,” Piper replied, stifling a yawn. “I’ll deal with them tomorrow.”

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