Page 99 of The Wrong Date Deal

Well, when she put it that way…

They joined the others in the kitchen, Hermes and Massima both shooting them knowing looks, and August was immediately hit by how happy Ford looked. The whole thing felt like walking into a family breakfast—a family she was part of.

April and Todd fussed over everyone. They asked questions about August’s job and Ford’s studies, and they acted like proud parents who had never heard anything as wonderful as Ford studying at a culinary institute. As they gushed over him, August was hit by how much Ford had deserved that, how much he’d needed it.

“Oh,” Todd said as he helped himself to another cup of coffee, “Ford, August, are you free May seventeenth?”

August blinked as she and Ford shared a look. “Uh, yeah, I’m pretty sure I am…”

“Me too,” Ford said. “I mean, I might have work, but, this far out, I can take off.”

“Fantastic.” Todd grinned widely and it reminded August of the way Piper smiled, as if she’d inherited happiness straight from him. “It’s family theater night.”

“Sorry?”

“Ah, so, we do themed family nights,” he explained. “April always picks a craft night, I like to do a walking tour or wine tasting, Piper picks something musical, and Hermes picks the theater. Really great way to expand the whole family’s interests.”

“And we like to bring the kids’ closest people, so we’ll get you both tickets,” April said warmly, her eyes lingering on August for a second too long.

August had put together enough pieces to know that Hermes didn’t talk to his biological family and that there was a lot of hurt there. She didn’t miss the flash of emotion as Piper’s parents talked about him as their own child. She suddenly understood Piper’s earlier comment. They weren’t here to parent her, they were here for Hermes, their son.

Shea jumped down from the kitchen counter and elbowed August as she grabbed another pastry. “She usually just calls us ‘the kids’ friends’. You clearly get special treatment.”

August shot her a look. “We’re just friends,” she said quietly.

“Her walls aren’tthatthick,” Shea said, watching August with a deadpan expression.

“You don’t even live there,” August complained, trying to keep the blush from her face—and the desire from raging inside of her. Piper had commented on how she hadn’t been able to keep the noise down last night. August wasn’t upset about having that effect on her.

“I don’t need to. Massima told me.”

“Of course she did.” August shot Massima a look from across the room. The woman had the audacity to simply smile serenelyback, as if she hadn’t been regaling the group with a play-by-play of Piper’s night with August.

Shea laughed. “No need to be embarrassed. Pipes clearly had a fantastic time—times.”

“Oh, my god.”

“What? You’re annoyed you got her off again and again?”

“I’m annoyed you’re having this conversation with me when her parents are in the room.”

“Don’t worry,” she laughed, wiggling her eyebrows. “They know all about sex. How do you think she got here?”

“Honestly, I don’t think about it. Not that part, at least. It’s a little weird that you do.”

“You’re just embarrassed. It will pass when you realize we’re all doing it.”

“Sleeping with Piper?” She furrowed her brow.

“Ha. No. Sex. In general. Piper’s more selective than I am.”

August went to complain but paused, considering. “That’s you telling me you want to sleep with my—” She cleared her throat. “That you want to sleep with Piper?”

Shea shrugged and looked Piper over. “Eh. We’re just friends. I’m not ignorant to the fact that she’s hot, though.”

It wasn’t exactly a denial, but it was good enough that August wasn’t going to worry about it too much. Still… there was something there, under the surface. She studied Shea and finally managed to place what it was. “You’ve slept with someone here.”

Shea flashed her a quick smirk. “A lady never tells.”

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