Page 10 of Meant To Be

I knew the sketch of Wade’s childhood with his sister. Their mother died young and their father remarried. Wade was intensely protective of Piper.

I didn’t know what Piper had been through beyond that. I knew enough about life now to know that two people could experience the same thing on the outside and have it be an entirely different experience.

Piper traced her fingertips along the edge of her glass. She glanced up, her teeth catching the corner of her bottom lip and denting the plush pink surface. I took a slow breath, willing the need digging its claws into me to ease up.

“I don’t know what you know about me and Wade. Our mom died in a car accident. I don’t remember much about her. I like to imagine she and my dad were in love and that they had the best of it. After she died, he eventually remarried. Our stepmom was the best. Still is.” Piper scrunched her nose up, her eyes shifting downward for a bit. When she looked back up, pain flickered in the depths. An unfamiliar sense of protectiveness jolted me. “I’m not that good at dating. I always end up with guys who aren’t going to be there for me. Not that I’m expecting anyone to promise me forever right off the bat. I mean, that would be weird. I’m not an idiot.”

“Wade says you’re the smart one.”

Her smile was small but warm as she looked over at me. “I think maybe I’m kind of anxious about attachment. I’m not expecting anybody to be there. Like I’m not all broken up over Kent being a dumbass because it’s just how things go. I haven’t sworn off love, but I don’t imagine I’ll ever get the fairy tale.” She lifted one shoulder, letting it fall.

I suddenly wanted to prove her wrong, to make sure she understood she could have it all.

We stared at each other, and I found I couldn’t look away. My heart kicked along unsteadily in my chest. The moment was snapped when the server paused by our table to see if we needed anything.

A short while later, we had finished dinner, and I was still feeling unsettled. I slipped away from our booth to go to the bathroom. I needed a moment to gather myself, to find my usual sense of distance. That wasn’t something I had ever had to reach for.

You’re just feeling this way because she’s your best friend’s little sister. That’s all. Maybe it’s inconvenient as all hell, but she’s always been sexy and cute. You can’t do anything about it, and it’ll pass.

A distant voice in my thoughts almost mocked me. It’s more than that. Watch your step.

I stepped out of the stall and crossed over to wash my hands at the sinks. A guy was already there washing his hands. He caught my eyes in the mirror.

“This seems to be the only room where you can escape the holiday spirit,” he said with a dry laugh.

I chuckled. “Good point.”

“I think my girlfriend expects me to ask her to marry her,” he said as he turned off the faucet.

Ah, this was going to be a deep thoughts moment. “Oh?” I prompted, not sure what else to offer.

He reached for a paper towel to dry his hands. “She loves Christmas.”

“Hmm,” I offered vaguely.

He pressed his tongue into his cheek as he turned and rested his hips against the counter. I turned off the faucet and reached for a paper towel, thinking maybe I couldn’t just leave.

“Are you okay there?” I asked as I dried my hands.

His shoulders rose with a deep breath, and he stuffed his hands into his pockets. He let out a deep sigh. “You ever been in love?”

What the fuck? It was one thing to have a conversation with Piper about love because I knew her, but this guy was a stranger.

He seemed concerned enough, though, that I found myself answering honestly. “Nope. I’m not sure I’m the best guy for advice here. Are you in love with her?”

“I think so, but we’re only twenty-two.”

“Ah, well, I don’t think there’s an age requirement. My best advice would be, and you should take this with many grains of salt, if you’re not ready, you’re not ready. You should be able to talk to her about not being ready,” I pointed out.

He sighed again.

“Another thing to ask yourself is how would you feel if you didn’t ask her and that meant that was it?”

His eyes widened, almost in a panic. “I don’t want that to be the end for us,” he blurted out.

I chuckled. “Since I haven’t been in love or ever asked anyone to marry me, I’m not the best guy for advice here. But that’s the question I ask myself about big decisions, like taking a job, or moving, or anything. How would I feel if I didn’t do it? Because you never do know how things will turn out. But if you’re gonna wish you did, then that might be your answer. Maybe have that conversation with her.”

He straightened, sliding his hand out of his pocket. “Thank you.” He held his hand out to shake mine, and I reflexively took it.

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