Page 5 of He's The Reason Why

She spotted her keys on the floor and swept them up in one fist.

“It wouldn’t be like that,” Della said. “We wouldn’t fight.”

“Yes, we would.” Piper shook her head. “You never saw how hard it was because all that time on stage you never once looked back.”

“I did too. Ihadto check positioning, and I always sang the chorus with you on your mic. Especially that last tour.”

“Yeah, I rushed up to wherever you’d decided to stand so we could sing ten words together and then you twirled off in another direction and left me standing there. That’s not sharing. That’s using me as a mic stand.”

“That’s not fair.” Della’s shoulders fell. “It was just a show. I didn’t mean to make you feel…I didn’t do it on purpose.”

“I know.” Piper put a hand on Della’s shoulder. “Since you were four years old, we all made you the belle of the ball. You don’t know any different. I get that. Hell, I was a huge part of making that possible. You’re the baby of the family, and after Mom died, we all made you the center of attention because we didn’t want you to miss out. But you don’t need us for that anymore. You have a thriving solo career, and you get to have that limelight all to yourself.”

“Dammit, I don’t want it by myself. I want my sisters withme. I wantyouwith me. Come on, Piper. Let’s get back together. Please?”

Piper’s will almost buckled at the look of pleading in her sister’s tear-filled eyes.

Almost.

She squeezed Della’s shoulder and then let go. “Look, I meant what I said. The past is the past. I’m your sister and your friend, and that’s enough.”

“Enough?”

Piper gave her little sister a half hug. “Love you, but the answer is no.”

“Piper—”

She cut off whatever Della had been going to say.

“See you later. Stay as long as you want. I’ll have Romi lock up after you leave.”

Piper rushed out the door and shut it before Della could say anything else. The last thing she saw was Della’s stunned face.

When she pulled onto the freeway, she glanced at the time. Ten forty-five. She was supposed to be there at eleven.

She swore at the clock, the traffic, and herself, and sped up.

Chapter Two

“Would you stop hassling me and just play?” Blake Ryan, child star turned teen heartthrob turned Hollywood’s Hottest Leading Man, according to the magazines, bounced the basketball once, then passed it to his best friend, Marshall, with a little more force than he intended.

“Ouch. I strike a nerve?” Marshall spun the ball in his hand, then threw it back to Blake.

Marshall’s blond hair was already matted to his forehead, and sweat poured down the side of his angular face. Marshall had been number three on the Hottest Men list the year Blake hit number one. “All I said was it seems like you’re avoiding something. Or someone. Maybe both.”

“I’m not avoiding anything.” Blake dribbled the ball and edged to the right. “I’m getting mentally prepared for an important project with a little court time.”

“Give me a break.” Marshall shifted to the right to keep himself between Blake and the basket. “We wouldn’t be out here in hell’s furnace if you weren’t bent out of shape about something. I mean, your backyard is great, don’t get me wrong, but I’d ratherbe in the pool, not sweating on the court just as the sun starts to boil. So what’re we doing here? Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

Blake grimaced. He was trying not to think about it, which was exactly why he’d called Marshall over for a little one on one.

Damn the man for knowing him so well.

Time to change the subject. “How’d it go with Kellie last night?”

He lunged to the left, but Marshall was too quick and blocked him before he could edge closer to the basket.

“Nice try, man,” Marshall teased. “I’m not that easy. You can’t fake me.”

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