Page 39 of The First Time
"All twenty minutes of it," she teases.
"You catch the entire set?" he asks.
"Yeah, you were great." She rises to her tip toes to hug Ethan. "Mal was just okay though."
"He's not close enough to hear you mock him." Ethan smiles.
"You're right. He was great too." She looks to me. "And you too, though it's a bit harder for a person with no musical talent to judge a bassist's skills."
"He was great." Ethan winks at me. "Don't let it go to your head."
Piper gives me a long once-over. It's not like I have famous written on my forehead. It's not quite like I'm a piece of meat either—though I wouldn't complain about Piper looking at me like she's thinking of—
Fuck.
I can't be going there.
I certainly can't be thinking about unzipping her skinny jeans and tossing her crop top aside. Can't wonder what color bra and panties she's wearing.
And what she looks like in them.
Need to discuss something else. Now. "Your hair looks good. It's lighter than I figured it would be."
"You and Kit are talking about your new hairstyle?" Ethan asks.
"Oh, well, I send him nudes every night. He took a few nights to notice the hair— not that it's his fault, so many of the pics were beaver shots- but he liked it. Blondes are his type." Her smile widens as she teases Ethan.
He leans in to not quite whisper. "You and Kit dating happens over my dead body."
"I'll miss you." She smiles serenely.
He frowns. "Not funny." He shoots me adon't even think about itlook.
Piper laughs. "It's really funny the way your eyes are bugging out of your head. But I'll stop. I want to stay on your good side. I'm starving. Tell me there's food here."
"Nothing good," he says.
"I'm gonna get dinner then. Hmmm... this neighborhood is jammed. And I'm craving pho," she says.
Ethan laughs. "That's unusual for you."
"I know. I haven't had it in forty-eight hours. It's been horrible. Come with?" She turns to me. "You too, Kit. And maybe Mal. Sounded like Joel hasplans."
"I'm gonna stay and see if Jim survives this." Ethan turns back to Piper. "You okay going alone?"
"Yeah, sure." She plays cool. "You want to come, Kit?'
"Sure," I say.
Ethan looks at me with incredulity. He drops it enough to whisper something in Piper's ear.
She whispers back.
They both laugh.
They're a happy family, the Strongs, even with Piper's near daily complaints of Mal and Ethan getting bossy and over-protective. I've never seen a family that loves each other as much as they do.
"You should come with us," Piper insists. Her eyes stay glued to mine. Her eyes screamEthan, please don't see through how badly I want you to stay here.
