Page 45 of Piston

Cooper grins and quickly grabs his stuff before running over to me, shouting “bye” to his dad on his way past.

I help Cooper into my truck before rounding the hood and climbing in, feeling Henry’s eyes on me.

He came here to vet me, to try and intimidate me, and instead, he got some fucking home truths, and that’s only the smallest of them.

Natalie is an amazing, kind-hearted woman, something I took for granted, and he understands that as well.

I just don’t know whether we can become something more than what we are, whether we can trust each other, and whether we can move on from our childhoods and the false pregnancy.

15

Natalie

I groan as I pull up in front of my house, behind Piston’s black truck, before placing my forehead against the steering wheel.

Today sucked. I love my job, I do; I love how the kids get excited and create art, but today I wanted to crawl up in a ball and hide.

Eleven-year-old Patrick and Timothy, normally the best of friends, got into the biggest fight I have ever seen for boys that age.

Heck, Timothy had a split lip, for Christ’s sake, and what was it all over? A deflated soccer ball.

Shaking my head, I grab my bag, climb out of my car, and head to the front door.

I know Piston is in here with Cooper, and I dread how my husband has made my little brother love him. It’s always “Piston this” and “Piston that.” Cooper adores the man, and the day he’ll no longer be around will break that boy's heart.

Next month, we’ll be married for three years, which means we'll have only two years left, unless I can convince Steal to let us off early. Though, every time I request a meeting, he’s conveniently busy.

I don’t want to lose Piston. Having him close these past few weeks reminds me just how much I’m in love with him, but I can’t keep seeing him in my space….

It hurts too much.

Just as I get to my door, ready to open it, my phone goes off twice, and I sigh, grabbing it out of my coat.

I roll my eyes at the first text.

Henry: I approve of your husband.

Seriously, he approves? When did he even meet Piston?

I frown, trying to think…then it hits me; fricking Christy and her big mouth.

Shaking my head, I move click of his message thread because, yes, I had to add his contact info now that I look after Cooper. I go to the next message, and snort.

Unknown: Come on, Natty. I miss you, and I know you miss me. Will you meet me tonight at Celia’s bar?

I delete the message from Chris.

He’s become more persistent lately. Maybe the women around New York have finally realized what a dirtbag he actually is.

Shaking my head, I pocket my phone and walk into the house. The smell of cheese hits my senses, and my stomach growls,reminding me I didn’t get to eat my lunch; instead, the two boys’ fighting knocked it on the floor.

Grumbling under my breath, frustrated by being home later than normal, I hang my bag on the hook, place my keys in the bowl near the door, and look up when I hear the chatter.

My heart flutters, my stomach tightening when I see Piston at the stove, wearing nothing but a pair of sweatpants, and looking behind him at my brother, sitting at the breakfast bar, his homework out in front of him.

“I just don’t get why math is so hard,” Cooper whines, and Piston smirks, his dimple popping out.

I just smile wide. Throughout college, Piston was the one who got me through math, a subject I still regret adding to my courseload.

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