Page 43 of Breakaway to You

“Ooh,” she said in a sing-song voice, rubbing her hands together. “So, this is like some serendipity action.”

I looked to Piper, hoping she’d clue me in.

She gestured to the barista. “This is my sister, Quinn.”

“Ah,” I nodded. “The sister who had a crush on me and knows all about me including my dating life.” I held out my hand. “Nice to officially meet you.”

Quinn brows creased in confusion as she shook my hand. “What? I wasn’t the one who had a cru?—”

“Yep,” Piper blurted out loudly, cutting her sister off. “This isthat sisterI was telling you about.” She looked at Quinn and gave her a pleading look to go along with whatever story she was spinning.

I bit my cheek to keep from smiling and continued to pretend to buy the story she’d told me weeks ago.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” Quinn said with a conspiratorial smile.

Piper waved her off. “Nota lot.” She gave Quinn the side eye. “Quinn here has always been prone to exaggeration.”

Quinn narrowed her eyes at Piper. “I’m not exaggerating how much you talked to me about the kiss?—”

“You know what?” Piper quickly turned to me. “I think we should order.” She gestured her thumb behind her. “The line is getting long.”

This time I did let my smile slip. Piper had talked to her sister about our kiss, and that made me very happy.

Quinn took my order—Piper had already given hers—and we moved to the side to wait for our names to be called.

“Sorry about my sister,” Piper said, her stiff posture making me wonder if she was feeling embarrassed or uncomfortable.

“Don’t be.” I smiled, hoping to help her relax. “I’m glad I got to meet her.”

A heavy silence settled between us as we stood there waiting for our coffees.

As the seconds continued to tick with neither of us speaking, I started to grow nervous. Piper and I had never been around each other unless it had to do with hockey, the team, or physical therapy. Even when she had come to my apartment, it had been because of work, and then she’d stayed to make sure I wouldn’t injure myself more.

But now? We were just two people in a coffee shop, and for some reason, I wasn’t sure how to talk to her. It almost felt like a date. But it very much wasn’t.

I had randomly showed up here because it was near my apartment, and she was here because of her sister.

Although I had bought her drink. And now my mind was trying to come up with a reason to sit and talk in one of the seating areas.

“Zeke and Piper!” Quinn called out with a cheery grin, and I couldn’t help noticing how good our names sounded together.

We both took our drinks, and as nervous as I was feeling, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. I just needed to think of something to talk about to keep the conversation going. Then we could naturally mosey over to a nearby table and talk. Sounded simple enough. Except my mind was coming up blank.

Think!I mentally yelled at myself. She was seconds away from saying goodbye if I didn’t say something soon.

“I like your hair down,” I randomly blurted out.

Wow. I wanted to die a little inside. Why had I said that? There were so many other sentences I could have gone with. The most normal probably would have been a simple, ‘How has your day been?’ But no, I had to practically shout that I liked her hair.

She lifted a hand and smoothed down the back of her hair, looking a bit taken aback by my random outburst.

Her and me both.

I worked to school my features, like I hadn’t just word vomited.

“Uh, thank you,” she said with a polite smile.

I inwardly cringed. Why couldn’t I be the cool, suave, confident guy I normally was with women? What was it about Piper that had me spouting off how much I liked her hair?

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