Page 11 of Rules Of Our Own

Piper grimaces. “Well, I would, but I’d be lying.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” My shoulders slump, and my head falls back against the chair. I turn to glare at Sidney on my opposite side. “What do you think you’re doing?”

She fights back a grin. “What? Why do you think we had anything to do with it?”

“That look right there. That’s why I think you did this,” I say, pointing at them.

“Don’t move,” Susan, the pedicurist, warns, and I freeze in place. She’s holding something that looks like a scalpel against my heel.

“Sorry.” She gives me a small smile and goes back to torturing my feet.

I lean forward, looking at Shana for help. I barely knew her in university, but besides the guys, she’s one of Piper’s best friends. “Are you in on this too?”

“Girl, I really wish I was.” She chuckles, resting her head against the chair and closing her eyes. She’s wearing her hair in braids that she’s rolled into a bun on top of her head.

Piper’s hand closes around my forearm. “Don’t ignore the question.”

“What question?” A petite girl with green hair pulled into space buns smirks at us from the open door. “Sorry I’m late.” She hands Piper a large paper cup, and the fresh smell of coffee fills my nose.

Piper removes the lid, blowing on it before taking a sip and humming. “Forgiven.”

“Hi, I’m Misty.” The girl sits on a stool in front of us, having missed the majority of the pedicure. We still have facials after this.

“She’s the PR manager for the Bruins,” Piper adds.

“Nice to meet you. Love your hair,” I say, and she smiles before Piper starts in on me.

“No changing the subject. Answer the question. How was your night?”

“Fine.” My thoughts immediately fly to the sound of Alex’s towel hitting the floor as he was barely, and I mean just barely, blocked from view by a chair. He did it on purpose. I’m sure of it. Freaking guy always knew how to get under my skin. My already warm cheeks flame now.

Misty leans forward, eyes sparkling. “Okay, I need deets. Fill me in.”

I groan. “Piper has me staying in a villa with Alex and River.”

“The Alex and River I met yesterday? Damn,” Shana adds with a knowing look.

“I’m sorry. I’m pretty sure anyone would kill to be in your position.” Misty smirks. “Actually, do you want to switch rooms?”

The thought of someone else staying with them twists my chest, and I purposely ignore the feeling.

“You look a little red, Mia. Don’t like that idea? Maybe feeling a little jealous?” Sidney says, and all four of the girls laugh.

“Not jealous. Just don’t want to inconvenience your friend.”

“Oh, it wouldn’t be an inconvenience.” Misty’s voice drops low and is tinged with mischief.

Okay. I may be a little jealous. “That’s alright. I’m fine.”

“I’m sure you are,” Piper says.

Desperate to draw their attention off of me, I switch to a topic I know Piper can’t resist. “I spoke with Gerard yesterday. He officially gave me a time limit before it’s over.”

Piper jolts forward in her chair, startling the woman massaging her feet. She gives an apologetic smile before turning to me. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Afraid not.” I suck in a breath, the weight of what I’m about to say pressing down on me. “It would take a miracle, and I’m all out of those.”

Misty looks between us. “This is the charity Piper’s been working on? The prosthetics for kids.”

---