Perhaps today she hadn’t planned to tell Piper how deeply she felt—but maybe it was better it had slipped out now. Piper hadn’t said that she loved Selma, but Selma had been sure the feelings were there. It was entirely possible that Piper just wasn’t there yet, too.
She covered her face with both hands and suppressed the urge to scream. This was another reason she hadn’t dated in so long, but she’d mistakenly thought she’d have outgrown her insecurities.
She was so tired. Every scrap of love she'd gotten had been earned with her compliance. She'd always tried to do the right thing, to do the best thing, to strive to be as perfect as possible for those she cared about most. It seemed to be backfiring on her far too much these days.
Perhaps some space between her and Piper would turn out to be a good thing.
There was a soft knock on the door, followed by a muffled "It's me, Emily."
"Come in." Selma's voice was steady, no hint of the turmoil she'd recently been contemplating in her voice.
Ben perked up as he and Emily stepped in, a smile already on his face.
"Hey." Emily's voice was soft. She hadn't questioned when Selma had checked into the B&B with her but knew that hadn't been the original plan. "I was thinking maybe you might want to hang out with me and Ben."
Selma let out a breath, glad to have some sort of distraction. "Oh, yes of course. That sounds like an excellent idea. Why don’t we walk around a little and grab some dinner? Have I told you ‘thank you’ for doing this?" She shot her son a loving smile.
Emily grinned. "Only many times. It’s a paid weekend in a gorgeous little town. Gosh, yes, you’re so lucky I agreed to do this for you."
The response coaxed a smile from Selma, who stood and scooped Ben up into her arms. She only turned back once to lock the door, and then the trio continued on to the BMW.
*****
Piper stared down at her clasped hands, wishing she’d asked Selma to stay. Why hadn’t she, again?
She nibbled on the inside of her cheek and glanced over at Mark and his open book. Right, yeah, something about not wanting to cry in front of Mark.
On her other side, Shelly bumped into her shoulder. “Pipes? What’s up?”
“I’m an idiot,” Piper mumbled as she leaned her head so it was resting on Shelly’s shoulder.
Shelly snorted, a soft puff of air brushing over Piper’s cheek. “I mean, sometimes?” She gently shrugged her shoulder. “But what, specifically, is this about?”
“Selma.” Piper sighed and kept a careful watch on Ben, making sure he was still distracted by his book.
“Oh, well that makes sense. You’re always stupid when you get into relationships,” Shelly said as she yawned.
Piper straightened up. “What? No, I’m not.”
Shelly stretched and yawned again. “Yeah, yeah you are.”
“How? Explain.” Piper crossed her arms and did her best not to sulk.
“Well, I’m glad you asked, Piper.” Shelly adjusted her high ponytail and then turned to face Piper. “You always start off strong, being all charming and sweet and kind of sweeping whatever girl off her feet.” Shelly tilted her head. “But then at some point, you realized dating means getting closer and then you do like this panic thing where you start to close off or whatever. Honestly, I’m not sure why. You definitely shouldn’t do it with Selma. She’s not some college chick who’s going to put up with your shit, Piper. She’s a woman with a child and she has to think about more than herself.”
Piper bristled. “I think about more than myself!”
Shelly rolled her eyes and released a beleaguered breath. “I didn’t say you didn’t. I’m just saying that Selma is mature and probably not interested in games.”
“Is it—is that how I really come off? Like it’s a game?” Piper frowned.
“Kind of? I know you don’t do it on purpose but it must be what the other girls you’ve dated must have thought. Sorry, Pipes.” Shelly reached out to squeeze Piper’s shoulder.
Piper slumped her shoulders as she ducked her head down. “Jeez. Why didn’t you ever say anything before?”
“Dunno. I guess I thought you’d figure it out.” She bumped her shoulder to Piper’s again. “I really don’t want you to lose Selma, though. She’s great. Totes would have made a move on her if you hadn’t.”
Piper wrenched her head up to glare at Shelly. “No, you wouldn’t have, jerk.”
Shelly shrugged and offered Piper a wink. “I mean, I’ve only dated guys before, sure. But Selma’s the kind of woman that makes you think twice. Or, ten, twelve times, whatever.”
“Stop!” Piper grumbled as she lightly shoved a grinning Shelly. The grin was infectious, however, and Piper found herself trying to suppress her own smile.
Footsteps made them both stop their small shove-fest, their backs straightening.
Piper’s breath caught when Selma strode through with paper bags in hand, a smiling Emily and Ben just behind her.
“Hey,” Piper said despite the roaring in her ears.
Selma looked the same as she had earlier, short dark hair framing her jaw just so, the gauzy sundress perfectly draped over her petite frame. She was as beautiful as always but… Piper’s chest was unusually tight. She could lose Selma if she was stupid. That thought was unbearable.
“Hey,” Selma said with a small, uncertain smile.
Piper took a bracing breath and stood. She wasn’t going to lose Selma. “Let me help you with those bags.”
Chapter 13
Selma sucked on her lower lip and tugged a hand through her hair. Emily and Shelly had pulled out one of the small square tables on the opposite side of the room so the boys could comfortably eat. They’d taken the other two free sides, leaving Piper and Selma to eat their meals on their own.
It wouldn’t be a problem since she’d more-or-less picked finger food for herself and Piper, but she couldn’t help but wonder if Emily and Shelly were already conspiring together.
“This is good,” Piper said as she held up her cheeseburger, “but it is from the diner, so.”
Selma adjusted her grip on her chicken cranberry club sandwich. “I thought about picking food up somewhere else but, really, the Dot’s is the best place in town.”
Piper chewed and swallowed. “Yeah. There’s other good places around but Dot is just really creative with her recipes.” She cleared her throat and took a sip of her drink. “The ice cream place on 4th is pretty amazing. We should go there sometime.”
Selma stared at her sandwich. Piper seemed nervous, the commentary feeling forced and awkward. “Right.”
She wasn’t very hungry to begin with. She wrapped her sandwich back up in its paper wrap and tucked it back the cardboard container it had come in.
“Please don’t break up with me,” Piper suddenly blurted out.
Selma slowly turned her head to look at Piper. “Piper, I don't really know what you want from me. One minute you're pushing me away, the next you're clingy, and then all of a sudden scared I'm going to just end things out of the blue? I don't get you.” She pinched the bridge of her nose.
“No,” Piper shook her head. “No, you do get me. You get me more than anyone I've ever met. I've never gotten so close to someone who wasn’t family, and you even know some things that they don't know.” She let her gaze drop to the floor. “I’m sorry I’ve been acting weird. I guess this thing with Dot is scary and it’s made me think about a lot of things.”
Selma immediately softened. “Piper, I know this is difficult. I know how scary it can be to think you might lose someone so important. I wouldn’t break up with you simply because you’re acting a little oddly, especially knowing the stress you’re under.”
Piper slumped back into her chair and rubbed her forehead. “In my head, I know you wouldn’t. I get you too, Selma. I just… there’s just always been this part of me that’s wondered when the other shoe will drop.”
Selma inhaled sharply. She leaned toward Piper and c
upped a pale cheek, her thumb brushing softly over Piper’s skin. “Piper, you’re not the only one worried about what’s going to happen with us. I do, too. The important thing is that we don’t let those worries—those fears create problems where they’re not.” As she said it, she could almost feel the anxious thoughts from earlier fade into the background.
“Selma,” Piper murmured as she leaned into Selma’s hand, “you said something today that—”
“Don’t worry, Piper. It’s okay,” Selma cut off. Had that been part of what had set Piper off? She’d known it was too soon.
Piper shook her head. “No, that’s not,” she stopped and stared into Selma’s eyes. “I love you too. With Dot and everything,” she swallowed. “I just want you to hear me say it.”
Maybe Selma might worry that Piper was just saying what she wanted to hear—if it wasn’t for the way the Piper was looking at her, as if Selma held the secrets to all the wonders of the universe.
She didn’t resist when Piper leaned forward to bring their lips together in a kiss.
“Ew!” Mark declared in the background.
Selma could feel Piper smile against her mouth.
She did the same and then kissed Piper again.
*****
Sometime later as they were waiting for news on Dottie’s procedure, Selma’s phone chimed and indicated she’d received a text message.
Selma gently pulled her head up from Piper’s shoulder, offering Piper a small smile. “I need to make sure it isn’t any of my clients.”
Piper nodded and adjusted the angle of her body. She hadn’t minded leaning into the wooden armrest to cuddle Selma but, without that incentive, the hard surface was hardly worth the discomfort.
She placidly watched as Selma dug her phone out of her purse—so she was fully aware the second Selma froze up.
“It’s from Karen,” came Selma’s subdued explanation.
“Don’t read it,” Piper said automatically. She wrenched herself to a fully upright position, hoping Selma would take her advice.
Selma’s thumb swiped over the screen. Her brown eyes scrutinized the message and then her thumb moved again. Her lips parted.
Piper gritted her teeth and leaned over. “What did she say?”
“She sent a link.” Selma’s voice was soft as she angled her phone so Piper could see.
A bold, broad title immediately caught Piper’s attention.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST? BERING HEIRESS HAS SECRET LESBIAN
LOVER—THE BERING FAMILY ATTORNEY!
There were many pictures included, most of them taken from various dates she and Selma had been on. None were really showing anything risqué, but the photos were definitely of what had been private moments.
“Have I mentioned how much I hate the press?” she looked through the site where the article was found and noted it was actually some celebrity gossip blog. Her face scrunched up. “This isn't even the real-fake press.”
Selma didn’t respond. She turned her head away. “Maybe Karen is right about some of the things she said. I feel like I’m making more of a mess for you.”
“Karen’s being a dick.” When that didn’t get a reaction, Piper continued. “It doesn’t matter, Selma. Either way, I’m gay. If it wasn’t you, it’d be someone else. I’d rather it be you.”
When Selma finally looked back Piper’s way, her eyes were shining but her lips were curled up into a slight smile. “I—”
Selma’s phone chimed again.
Before she could look at it, Piper took it from her hand. “I swear I’m going to give her a piece of my mi…” Piper couldn’t finish the thought. Karen had linked something else. She swallowed. “Selma, maybe you should read this one.”
Piper carefully handed the phone back, watching as Selma studied the message.
Selma’s hand rose to cover her mouth. She looked like she was about to cry.
Piper wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in so they could both reread the text.
‘Our publicist just cleared this for twitter:
@hotcelebgossip Not really a secret. Both are out and they’ve been dating a while. You guys must be bored. They’re cute though, aren’t they? #awkwardheadlines’
The phone chimed one more time.
‘I know we’ve been terrible. We’re trying. We’re sorry. Please, if you’re willing to after everything, give us a call when you get back into town,’ Karen’s text read.
“You don’t owe them anything.” Piper squeezed Selma’s shoulder, already knowing Selma’s answer.
“I don’t,” Selma said quietly, “but I still love them.”
Piper brushed a kiss to her temple. “I know. They don’t deserve you.”
Selma chuckled and ducked her head. “Does it ever make you pause, rejecting them?”
“You mean because it’s most orphans’ dream to find their parents? Or because they’re filthy rich and I’m the only heir?” Piper said it lightly but the words weren’t casual.
“Either.”
She hummed when Selma’s head landed on her shoulder, and so she decided to answer honestly. “I have for the first. The second just seems like a pain. I have a good life with my family. Karen and Derek’s life isn’t mine, and it’s certainly not one that interests me.”
“Sooner or later you realize you probably won’t have a choice. Karen and Derek are stubborn and you are their blood. They won’t let you go so easily.” Selma kissed her cheek to soften the words.
Piper sighed. “Not yet, and hopefully not anytime soon, either.”
Ben’s chair screeched back from the table, his tiny limbs wiggle as he squirmed down from it and landed on his feet.
“Incoming,” Selma said with a smile in her voice.
Piper chuckled—until she noticed the solemn doctor standing at the door.
“Tate family?” The woman asked.
Piper and Shelly stood at the same time. They shared a glance and Piper felt a lump form in her throat. The doctor didn’t look happy.
*****
“That wasn’t what we agreed on.” Selma frowned as she listened to the other person on the line. “No? Hm. I suppose that’s acceptable. I’ll call back later to check.”
They said a crisp farewell and Selma had to subdue the urge to roll her eyes. Her ire dissipated soon after the call had ended. Trying to have all the arrangements made in a short amount of time was proving to be difficult. Selma didn’t mind. Any task she could handle for the Tates she was more than happy to do.
There was a soft knock on her office door and then Emily’s head was peering through the opening. “Hey, I just wanted to let you know I’m heading out. Ben’s watching Vampirina so he should be fine for a few minutes.”
Selma put her phone down. “Thanks so much, Emily. You’ve been exceptional lately, putting up with all the extra hours.”
Emily smiled. “It’s not a problem. I know you and Piper’s family are trying to handle a lot. Are you all set?”
“Yes, thanks. We’ll see you again on Tuesday.”
“See you then.” Emily paused. “And good luck this weekend.”
Selma quirked her lips into a half-smile. “Thanks.” She sighed when the door closed again, running a hand through her hair. Just a moment of silent stillness was all she needed. The nine days since Dottie’s heart attack and subsequent stroke had been a tough, partially made so by the fact that Selma had needed to return home to take care of work obligations.
Emily had ended up spending the better part of those nine days with her and Ben. Selma made a mental note to either increase her pay or give her a hefty bonus—perhaps both. Even with her regular charitable contributions, she’d hardly touched the trust her father had left in her name.
She glanced at her watch and pushed up from her chair. Laura was due anytime and she wanted to cuddle a little with Ben first.
Twenty minutes later her doorbell rang, and so she grudgingly gave Ben a kiss and gathered their things.
&
nbsp; “Oh good, you’re ready,” Laura said as soon as Selma opened the door. “I’m ready to get out of this blasted city for a few days.”
Selma raised an eyebrow as she simultaneously maneuvered the suitcase out with one hand and made sure Ben didn’t race out to the street with the other. “Things not going well with work?”
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