Page 64 of Worth the Risk

April looks at him like he’s crazy. “Fuck that. I need to erase a hell of a lot of information that Piper shared with me about you that is just plain… traumatizing.”

My face squinches together. “I swear, I had no idea who he was the night I met him.”

“But you both figured it out the night of my enga— that stupid party.” I can tell her engagement is understandably a sensitive matter.

Hudson and I glance at one another, then back to April.

I breathe out because I want to be honest. “Yes.”

April throws her hands up in the air. “So you have just been coming here to be with my uncle and play housewife? Unbelievable.”

I rub the back of my neck. “We had to figure out what we were doing.”

“And did you?” She gives me a pointed look.

“I think so.”

Hudson pipes up. “You know, I think you two need a moment. I’ll be inside. April, don’t be mad. Even if you are, unlucky for you, I’m your uncle, so I’m sticking around. As for Piper, she’s part of my life now.”

“Touching.” April isn’t amused.

Hudson just shakes his head and walks away, grazing my arm in reassurance as he passes.

I step closer in April’s direction. “I promise, I was going to tell you next time I saw you.”

“Don’t blame this on the current state of my mess of a life. You are my friend, we are supposed to say anything.”

“Without judgment?” I wonder and fold my arms over my chest.

She scoffs a laugh. “That’s not fair. You’re sleeping with my uncle who is old enough to be your father. The rules get a little blurred.”

I stand tall. “I know. I’ve been trying to figure them out.”

“Oh my God, Piper. Like, despite my relation to him, how do you live in a city so focused on sports and not know the guy you bang is like sports royalty?”

My hands land on my hips. “I don’t follow sports,” I justify, and my voice squeaks.

“So, what now? You two are like reallytogethertogether? This isn’t some weird passionate tryst?”

“No, it’s not. It’s the real thing,” I confirm.

April pauses in thought for a second, her thoughts clearly in turmoil. She says nothing but returns to the driver’s-side door.

“Where are you going?”

She opens the door and looks at me with a sharp stare. “I came to solve the mystery, and I did.”

“Okay. Then stay and let’s have brunch together. Can’t you be happy for us?”

April laughs bitterly. “The thing is, when I think about it, the problem isn’t you and my Uncle Bay. I want him happy, and I want you happy. Maybe I even can see you two together. But whatisthe problem is that you both lied to me, for months. It also seems like everyone knew but me. That feels like a betrayal. And right now, when life kind of sucks, it’s like a knife. So, congratulations, it’s your ability to keep a secret and lie to me that has me questioning our friendship, and until I figure that out, I don’t want to speak to you.”

“April…” My heart hurts, and I want to stop her, but she is quick to get into her car and turn the engine on.

I throw my arms up in the air because there is nothing I can do now. With remorse, I head back into the house to the living room where I find Hudson pulling on a fresh t-shirt. He must pick up on my look because his neutral expression turns to a frown.

“Where’s April?”

“She left. She’s angry that I never told her.”

---