Page 17 of The First Time
There's something in his deep blue eyes—they're a slightly deeper, cooler shade than mine—but I'm not sure what to make of it.
"It's a normal schedule, but normal is hard."
"You'll do great, Piper. You're smart and you always put in the work." He takes a bite of his eggs. His eyes go back to mine. "I want to get this conversation out of the way, so we can head to the mall and blow the cash Mom and Dad sent on something fun."
"You have plenty of money."
"But this is from them." He smiles over the thought of wasting the money Mom and Dad sent as our Christmas presents. "You need anything when I'm out, you call. Any time, I don't care how late. I'll keep my phone close."
"I'll be fine."
"I'll pick up, anytime. But if I don't, you call Ethan."
"I know."
"And he'll pick up, but if he doesn't, you have Joel and Kit's numbers."
"I have everyone in the crew's numbers."
"Call me first. Even if you think I'll be pissed. Your safety always comes first."
"I'll be—"
"Promise and we'll be done with this conversation." His expression gets stern, paternal.
"Okay, I promise."
"Good." He takes his last bite of breakfast then shifts his plate away. "I'm going to change and shower. We'll hit the mall in thirty."
"Is that a question or a statement?"
He smiles. "Don't be late."
* * *
Maland I spend the entire afternoon doing nothing of consequence. We get coffee, we buy new clothes, we get lunch, we watch an action movie at the theater down the street.
Come dinner time, Ethan meets us at home with bags of Vietnamese takeout. I know he's mocking my tendency to order pho at every possible opportunity, but I don't care.
The three of us share a great meal. We talk, we gossip, we make plans for biweekly calls and daily texts during the first leg of the tour.
Around ten, we say our goodbyes and my brothers head to their rooms. They have to leave for Vegas at the crack of dawn.
I hang out on the couch in our massive living room, debating what TV show I should binge watch. I watch a lot of TV, too much probably. Already, I can feel loneliness creeping into the big, quiet room. When I wake up, my brothers will be gone, and I'll be alone. For a solid two months straight, I'll be alone. I'll be the one doing all the shopping and cleaning. I'll be the one taking care of everything—dentist appointments, oil changes, calling repairmen when the dishwasher breaks down.
I want to stand on my own two feet, but it's hard and it's tiring.
Mostly, it's lonely.
The TV is my best company but it's not the same. Not at all.
I settle onGilmore Girlsand I get my phone out to text my friend Rory about Rory Gilmore's exploits. My Rory claims she has no interest in the youngest Gilmore girl, but she always texts back asking for more details.
Fuck talking to Rory.
I have a text from Kit. This is a hell of a lot more interesting then relaying any TV show.
Kit: I'm proving it.
