Page 35 of Piper's Pyro

“Which one?” She laughed and came over to me.

“Spectre.”

“Oh, that makes sense. Oh great,” she whispered.

I followed her gaze to Stitch.

“Something wrong? Or you two just like looking at me?” He was cocky as ever.

“Yeah, something is wrong. I’m freaking tired of my brothers trying to control my life. If I want to have a one-night stand, two nights in a row—I will!”

Stitch’s deadpan expression changed to furious. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Hey!” Mercy turned on him. “Leave her alone. She can make her own choices.”

“Not if they’re stupid choices.” He narrowed his eyes at her.

“As if you don’t make stupid choices every minute of every day.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Liar. I know what you do.” Mercy crossed her arms over her chest.

“Okay, you two. I don’t need you fighting on my behalf.” Seriously, why were they going at each other like this?

“Bullshit you do. You won’t even let me buy you a coffee after our one-ni.” He sealed his mouth shut.

“Oh my God!” Mercy shoved him in the chest and ran out of the breakroom.

“Finish your sentence,” I told Stitch.

“Goddammit!” He turned on his heels and followed Mercy out.

Have they slept together?Sure, I’d wondered for several months. They had been like a humid Midwestern thunderstorm. Full of lightning and thunder right before a heavy downpour hit.

I grumbled about my brothers butting into my business, collected my shit, and rushed out to find Stitch or Mercy. One of them was going to tell me everything!

The hallways were empty like they’d disappeared into thin air. Had they gone in the same direction or not? What was their deal? Why wouldn’t they tell me the truth?

Crap, my shift was about to start.

I’d have to corner one or both of them later.

Finally, a few hours after my shift had started, I had a second to catch my breath. I loved working in the emergency room. The day went by quickly and was never dull. But sometimes, it could be a lot with farming incidents, car accidents, sick kids, and the elderly. We were also short-staffed, so that didn’t help.

Stitch and Mercy had worked alongside me, but I couldn’t question either of them—not with listening ears everywhere.

If I were honest, I hadn’t thought about them. I’d been in the zone with all the action and commotion and focused on the patient.

Now that I had a minute, that damn drummer was the only person on my mind. I couldn’t help but wonder what his reaction was when he found me gone and the note. He probably felt relief.

Stop it, Piper. You felt something with his arms wrapped around you before you drifted off to sleep.

There had been an all-consuming emotion that had lowered my defenses after we’d had sex. It had scared the hell out of me too. I couldn’t fall for the drummer of a famous rock band. It was impractical, and my family would disapprove.

Slipping away before Russell woke up had been better for both of us.

I leaned against a wall and exhaled a labored breath.

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