Page 30 of Black Roses

I nod, holding my hand out and turning up my wrist so she can see the evidence. “Yes, I did.” I take a deep breath and go out on a limb. “I killed my own parents, Piper. I’ve been to hell and back. So you see, there is nothing you could tell me that would make me think any differently about you.”

“Are you ready to order, sir?”

Of all the times for a waiter to interrupt a conversation.

Piper stands suddenly. “Excuse me for a minute. Can you please order for me?” She scurries away in the direction of the bathroom and I’m more than a little relieved that she didn’t take her things with her. I watch her walk away, wondering what the hell happened to her that made her want to die, and wanting to do everything in my power to make it better.

After placing our order, I hear her phone ping and vibrate on the table. I realize she forgot to silence it. I look towards the bathroom to see if she’s on her way back when it chimes again. When I don’t see her, I decide I’d better silence it for her. After all, this is a pretty upscale place. I reach out to it when I see the text that pops up on her screen.

Charlie: I know you don’t want to hear it, but I couldn’t let this day go by without wishing you a happy 22nd. I love you, Pipes.

Her phone goes dark again and it takes all my willpower not to pick it up and make sure I read it correctly. Today is Piper’s birthday?

No wonder she wanted to cancel. She probably wanted to do something special with her family. Either that or she didn’t want me to feel the pressure of having our first date on such a momentous occasion. But why would she not want to hear it from Charlie? Are they fighting?

I don’t let another second go by without calling the waiter over to make some last-minute arrangements.

Then my phone rings.Cassidy. I have no choice but to answer it. She’s got me by the balls when it comes to that. I would never forgive myself if something ever happened to Hailey and I didn’t know because I was too stubborn to answer the phone.

“What is it, Cass?” I ask, brusquely.

“Well, good evening to you, too, baby.”

I roll my eyes. “Cassidy, is there a point to this call, or are you just trying to ruin my evening?”

“Of course there’s a point to the call. I wanted to let you know that Hailey climbed the stairs all on her own today without any help from me.”

“That’s great, Cass, but I’m sure this could have waited until tomorrow. And you will remember to keep the safety gate locked, right? Just because she can climb the stairs, doesn’t mean she won’t fall.”

She huffs into the phone. “God, Mason, I’m not stupid.”

The waiter comes by to ask a question about our meal.

“Are you out with the guys?” she asks, after hearing my brief conversation with him.

“It’s really none of your business who I’m out with.”

She’s silent for a beat. “Oh, so you’re on a date? I thought you didn’t date, Mason. Who is she?” More silence. “It’s the girl from last week, isn’t it? Snow White? Oh, God, baby. I mean, seriously, if you want to date, I can think of about a thousand girls who would be better suited for you than little Miss Awkward.”

During her tirade, Piper has rejoined me. She sits down and picks up her phone, I guess trying to mind her own business while I’m on a call. I don’t much like her reaction when she reads Charlie’s text. She shifts in her chair as if it suddenly became uncomfortable. A wave of sadness overcomes her and it makes me unhappy that she’s not getting along with her best friend on her birthday.

“I’m not interested in your recommendations, Cass. And what I do is no concern of yours.”

Piper snaps her eyes to mine when she hears me say Cassidy’s name. “Sorry,” I mouth to her, shrugging my shoulders and hoping I’m not completely ruining this date by talking with my ex.

“It absolutely is my concern,” Cassidy barks into the phone. “I can’t have you trolling around with God only knows who. How did you meet her? Is she one of your ridiculous little fangirls? Do you even know anything about her?”

I try to lower my voice, but anger boils up inside me. My boisterous whisper betrays the calm and cool exterior I’m trying to exude to Piper. “You’re one to talk. You have a goddamn revolving door in your apartment. God knows what Hailey is witnessing. So don’t you dare presume to tell me when and whom I can or can’t date.”

“But—” she tries to get a word in.

“I’m hanging up now.” I bring my voice up to a normal decibel. “There is a beautiful woman sitting across from me and I refuse to ignore her for any longer than necessary.” I end the call and put my phone down, noticing the blush sweeping across Piper’s cheeks.

“You are, you know,” I tell her. “You’re beautiful, Piper. If I didn’t tell you that already, I should have. And I’m sorry for taking that call, but I never know when it might be about Hailey.”

“It’s fine.” She waves it off, and then starts picking at the tablecloth as if she’s never received a compliment before. “I understand you’d do anything for your daughter.”

“Do you like kids, Piper? I know you have a special connection with Maddox, but I never see you with Aaron or Jordan. You don’t have a problem with me having a child, do you?”

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