Page 59 of Eleven of a Kind

“So much for her being in her room.” I glanced at Gabriel. “Good morning, Riley.” I brightly smiled when I walked into the kitchen.

“Morning, Piper. Morning, Dad. Piper, I made you a cup of coffee.” She pointed to the cup on the island.

“Aw, you’re so sweet. Thank you.” I smiled at Gabriel as I sat down.

“Here, Dad.” She handed him a cup.

“Thank you, sweetheart. Why are you home already?” Gabriel asked her.

“Because Lily’s friend’s mom picked her up for soccer practice. I want you two to realize that my already scarred eyes are scarred even more forever. I thank the lord you two were sleeping, unlike when I caught Mom and one of her boyfriends doing the dirty deed one day. So, this is how we put a stop to you scarring my eyes any further, Dad. Mom had a piece of red yarn that she tied. Whenever she had a guy over, she put the red yarn on the doorknob. That way, I knew not to open the door.”

“I have an idea. How about I just put a lock on the door?”

“I’m surprised you don’t have one already.” I furrowed my brows at him.

“I lived here alone. I didn’t need a lock for my bedroom.”

“Ah, good point.” I took a sip of my coffee. “Are you mad?” I looked at Riley.

“No. I just didn’t expect it. I thought you two went back to your apartment last night.”

“Change of plans, kiddo,” I said. “We were supposed to be up and out at six a.m., but your dad’s alarm never went off.”

“That’s weird. Dad, let me see your phone.” Riley held her palm up. “You set it for six p.m., you dummy.” She handed it back to him.

“Oh.” Gabriel looked down at his phone. “Shit.”

“Anyway, there’s this pottery studio in Santa Monica, and Sundays are the only day anyone can just walk in and do pottery. Can you take me? They open at eleven.”

“Yeah, I’ll take you, and then I’ll drive you home, Piper.” Gabriel glanced at me.

“I know which studio you’re talking about, Riley. It’s literally a half a mile from my apartment.”

“How long do you think you’ll be?” Gabriel asked her.

“I don’t know. Why?”

“Because the big game is on at one o’clock, and I’m watching it with Uncle Grayson and the guys.”

“Don’t worry about it, Gabriel. Riley can text me when she’s finished, and I’ll pick her up and bring her home.”

“No, Piper. I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. I volunteered. Good coffee, Riley.” I smiled as I stood up from the stool. “I’ll go get the rest of my things upstairs.”

Gabriel drove me home after we dropped Riley off at the pottery studio.

“Are you sure you don’t mind picking Riley up?” he asked.

“Not at all.” I smiled. “Thanks for last night.”

He reached over, grabbed my hand, and brought it up to his lips. “I had fun. I’ll see you later.”

I climbed out of the car and went up to my apartment. Riley was going to be at the studio for a few hours, so I decided I should go and see my mother. It had been a while.

“Piper.” She smiled when I walked through the front door.

“Hi, Mom.”

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