Page 71 of Moth Manager
“Is that what I am? Extra baggage?” I can’t help laughing.
“Of course not, Piper. I just needed a chance to try some of the other things I missed out on while we were together.”
“You wanted to fuck other women?”
“I wanted to explore possibilities. And now I’m back. We can start over!”
“Start over?” I must have misheard him.
“I missed you. New York wasn’t the same without you.” He reaches a hand toward me. I move out of its path.
“I heard you finally got our little project off the ground.” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.
“Our project?”
“Penpoint. You sold it, right?”
“No. I didn’t sell it. I found a sponsor who plans to help us expand.”
“And now we can expand our lives together.” He grins like he’s got it all figured out.
“You can’t be serious.” I step to one side around Colin.
“I never should have left.” He moves to block my path. “I love you, Piper.”
I laugh, loudly, and this time, I can’t seem to stop. How stupid is all of this?
His eyes narrow, and one hand tightens into a fist at his side. He would never hit me, right? I take a step away from him. “You still love me too, don’t you?
My stomach flips, but it doesn’t take soul searching. I know the truth right away. “No. Colin. I don’t.”
“Did you ever really love me?”
“Of course I did,” I say, but the nerves make a laugh bubble up from deep inside. “And then you left.”
“And now I’m back!” He spits out the words, so angry with me.
I suck in a deep breath, not sure how to respond to him. My reaction comes out of me as a loud laugh.
“It’s not funny,” Colin mutters.
“You showing up, here and now?” I laugh so hard that I feel hot tears welling up into my eyes. “It’s basically a dark comedy.”
“Piper?” Bailey’s figure is suddenly in the well-lit, doorway of the art gallery, “Everything alright?”
Anam and Kelly appear right behind her. They stand just inside the gallery doorway. I don’t know where they’ve been, but I’m glad to see them.
Colin’s eyes flick to the small crowd and back to me. “Which one of them are you fucking? Or is it all of them?” He leans in close as he says it.
“You’re an idiot,” I say, but I can feel my mask breaking and the tears becoming real.
“And what? Now you are going to cry?” he asks. “You always overreact, Piper.”
“Please, just stop. I don’t want to talk to you.” I wipe a tear from my cheek, even though how wrong he is makes me want to scream. I’m not overreacting.
“Enough. You have to go.” Anam is suddenly in front of me, stepping between me and Colin, pointing a finger at his chest.
“This is none of your business.” He glares at me over Anam’s head.
