Page 4 of Right Where You Left Me
Sage. Her black hair is cut in a shag, and the ends are dyed a dark green now. Her eyes, the hazel swirl of green and gold that I remember being so jealous of, are searing into me as we look at each other. But it’s her fucking lips, so full and soft, twisted in rage that have me sucking in a breath. She is beautiful and she ispissed.
“Sage—” Piper starts.
“Fuck. No.” Sage growls out, pointing at me before she kicks the carafe out of her way and storms into a closed door in the back of the cafe.
“Well… that could have gone better.” Piper says, running a hand through her hair. “I’ll be right back.”
I nod in understanding. “I’ll clean this up.” I say and motion for her to go ahead. I pick the carafe up and drop it in a sink in the kitchen before mopping up the floor.
Piper was right. Awkward mornings indeed.
CHAPTER 2
Sage
I’m pacing in Piper’s office when she ducks inside. She locks the door and leans against it facing me. She has her arms across her chest, giving methe look. The look only an older sister can give you when she thinks you’re being stupid. A look that I am on the receiving end of a lot, but I’mnotbeing stupid. Emma is here. In Cedar Falls. Why thefuckis Emma Newton here?!
God, my stomach hurts. I can feel it roiling with almost a decade’s worth of anxiety. There’s a pain in my chest and it’s only getting worse. This is a heart attack, right? What arm is it they say goes numb again? Piper would know, she’s a mother. They know that kind of thing.
Fucking Emma Newton! I try to take a deep breath, but it comes out shaky when I make eye contact with my sister. My big sister, who knows exactly what Emma did and why I cannot handle her beinghere.
“Why?” I manage to croak out. “Why would you hire her, Pipes?”
“First, I need you to know that I didn’t knowingly hire her, okay? Her last name is different now and her interview was over the phone. She was one of the very few applicants who responded to the job listing, and was by far the most qualified, so she got the job. I didn’t know it wasEmma,Emma until she walked in the door. And based on the look on her face when she walked in, she had the exact same thought when she saw me.”
I huff out a breath and start pacing again. “She’s married?”
“Divorced.” Piper says softly.
Hm. Well. Okay then. That’s… ugh, why do I feel bad for her? Maybe it’s her fault. She did something unforgivable, that would be on brand for her. “Shecan’twork here, Piper.”
“Well, you don’t really get a say in that, Sage.” She says indignantly. “I need the help! I have a whole husband and three children that I would like to see. I’d love to be able to actually get my babies ready for school before I have to spend the day here. And I know for a factyou’renot going to show up here at four in the morning to start baking. Right?”
I roll my eyes. She’s so dramatic sometimes. “Hire one of the other applicants then.”
“You’re being a fucking baby about this, Sage. I understand. You are blindsided and upset, but what happened between you guys was thirteen years ago. You need to be an adult and get over it! I’m not going to let this ancient history between the two of you ruin my cafe, and I’m keeping Emma. She is extremely qualified and I don’t want to just hire one of the other random two peoplethat applied just so that you won’t throw a tantrum whenever you come in to help out.”
“Okay, but—” I start, the pressure in my chest getting worse. I cannot handle seeing Emma every time I come in to help Piper out. I don’t care that I’m being a “baby.” I never thought I’d see her again, and now she has invaded my world and I don’t want to deal with it. I want her gone.
“No, Sage. This ismybusiness,mine.I worked my ass off to get this place up and running. You know how hard I pushed myself and my family to make this place a success. I appreciate it when you come in to help me out,I do, but you don’t run things here. I do. Emma stays, and you’ll be a mature adult about it. For fuck’s sake, Sage, you’re thirty-three. Act like it.”
Tears burn the back of my eyes. I know I’m being ridiculous about this, but Emma… Fuck I didn’t think I’d ever see her again. And now she’s just… here. After everything that went down between us, I hoped I’d never have to be around her. Ididmove on. Ididget over it. But seeing her here, in one of my safe places, has dragged up every awful feeling I had back then, and I can’t do this. I think maybe I’m in shock. I need to get out of here and process, and then maybe I can be anadultabout her being back in Cedar Falls and working for my goddamn sister.
I’ll feel guilty about it later, but I need to leave. I can’t be in here today and act like everything is fine. I swear, if Emma tried to talk to me right now, I’d probably erupt. And that wouldn’t be good for any of us here today.
I pretend to check my smart watch and gasp. “Oh shit, so sorry Pipes, but I totally forgot I have a client this morning. River is texting asking where I am. I won’t be able to help you out this morning, after all. But I’ll see you later.”
Piper gives me a blank look and I can see her fighting to not roll her eyes at me. “You are a horrible liar, but I understand. Take today and feel your feelings, but when you come back,please leave your shit outside the front door. I’m sorry that this is happening, but I can’t let your bad blood affect my business.”
I nod. “Yeah, I promise I’ll behave. Love you Pipes.”
“Love you too.” She wraps me up in a tight hug, kissing the side of my head. “Come to dinner at the house this weekend. The boys have been dying to have you come see their new art supplies. And I’ll let you bitch and moan all about Emma then.” She gives me one more squeeze and adds, “It’ll be okay, you’ll see.”
I highly doubt that, but what can I do about it? “Dinner sounds good. Can I bring them more sketch books? And markers?”
“Yes, of course.” She says with a soft smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The air is a little chilly outside when I leave the cafe. Fall is in full swing now, and I’m kicking myself for not grabbing a sweatshirt to throw on. But, thankfully I don’t have far to go. Rust Belt Revival, the tattoo shop I co-own with my best friend, comes into view as I walk down Main Street. It’s only a few blocks from Piper’s cafe, which usually I love, but knowing Emma is just down the street from me now has me on edge.
