“I have no idea. It’s not my specialty.”

Does she think Willow did that?

“No, I suppose it’s not. Although you have been responsible for people losing their memory before.”

Holy shit?I cough to hide the fact that I just choked on air and jump straight into my next set, trying hard not to overreact even though I feel nauseous.

“Oh yeah? How do you figure that?” I ask, hoping she can’t hear the panic in my voice.

“I’ve seen the guys you’ve smashed into a wall. And watched their eyes roll into the back of their heads.”

Hockey. She’s talking about hockey.

“They’re fine,” I say, shaking my head with relief. “We have concussion protocols. That’s the risk you take when you play the sport.”

“Whatever. I was joking. Point is, I got some news and I drank, then I think Ryan and I had a fight, and I drank even more.”

“News?”

“It doesn’t matter. But fuck, I was out of it.”

“That much I know,” I say with a frown. “Willow seemed genuinely worried about you. She specifically asked how often you get drunk like that. Is that something you used to do?”

Pippa’s face contorts, and she lifts her sunglasses for the first time, looking me in the eye. “Maybe a little bit,” she says with a lopsided smile, holding her finger and thumb an inch apart.

I wish I found it funny like she does, but substance abuse is never a laughing matter.

“Right. Any reason?” I try to keep the judgment out of my tone, but I must fail because Pippa’s stance changes and she crosses her arms over her chest, ready to unleash her rage on me.

“You’re not Mr. Perfect, Jesse. Far from it. People make mistakes, and people cope with their problems differently.” She may be whisper-yelling at me, but it’s still loud enough to draw attention. Attention I don’t need.

“Let’s shelve this conversation until we get back to your sister’s.”

“No.”Fuck.

Leaving my weights on the mat, I move closer so I can whisper in her ear, keeping anothing-to-see-heresmile on my face.

“Pippa, you were a fucking mess last night. I’m all for people getting drunk, but to drink yourself into oblivion… You held a fucking knife up at me, Pip.” A piece of information I didn’t mention to Willow.

“I did not.”

“You really fucking did. What if I had been your sister?I’ve lived with someone who drank to deal with his problems.”And his solution was to beat the shit out of me.“I refuse to do it again.”

In the blink of an eye, Pippa visibly softens. “Jesus, Jesse. I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not telling you to stop drinking. Hell, you know I drink. Just please, know your limits. Or at the very least, have someone walk you home. What if you’d been attacked or hit by a car?”

Pippa reaches out and squeezes my leg, but it’s thankfully over my shorts. “Aww, you’re grumpy because you're worried about me,” she says with a small smile.

I wouldn’t say that, but sure. “Just be careful.”

“Okay. Anything for you.”

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Jesse

PippaleaveswhenIhead off to the shower, blowing me a kiss as she walks out the door. If I was a nicer guy, I’d probably pretend to catch it, but I just roll my eyes and turn away.