by Celeste, B.
I didn’t realize he listened. “It is, but my new placement is at the college as a teaching assistant. If I get a piercing now, it’ll have time to heal for when I get employed by a school district to teach in the future.”
His jaw ticks as he looks over his shoulder at the man waiting for him. “Wait.”
I go to ask him why, but he turns his back on me and saunters over to his station. When Jay comes out holding a black box, East calls him over and murmurs something to him. The two have a quiet conversation, both looking over at me at one point or another, before Jay slaps East’s shoulder and saunters over with a big grin on his face.
“What was that about?” I question, glancing over at Easton. He isn’t looking, but I can tell his jaw is locked together.
“Nothing, Red.” I don’t buy it for a second, but I also don’t want to analyze it. I did come here for Easton to give me a nose piercing, but he’s busy. Who cares if Jay does it?
I show him where I want the piercing done before picking out a small diamond stud from the box. He smiles and gets me ready, telling me everything he’s going to do. Giddiness consumes me as he raises his brows in silent question before going through with it.
I’m sure people will wonder why I’m getting a piercing like this in my mid-twenties. When I got my bellybutton done, I’d gotten enough flack about how I’d regret it when I was older. But my nose? I’ve learned that people have a lot more opinions to voice when they see women become mothers—as if we’re not supposed to do the things we love because we’re responsible for impressionable kids. But I want Ainsley to be herself in any form that comes. If the day arrives when she wants to get her nose pierced, what’s the harm?
I feel another set of burning eyes on me, but don’t dare move as Jay finishes the piercing. I don’t even flinch when it goes in like I did last time, which made Jenna laugh at me after she complained that I nearly broke her hand from squeezing it so hard. I guess I’m so used to pain now that it doesn’t bother me anymore.
Jay holds up a mirror for me to see, and a huge smile grows on my face at the stud in my left nostril. “You like it, Red?”
I nod and turn my head, seeing the diamond catch the light. From the corner of my eyes, I see East staring at me. It doesn’t last long before he focuses back on the guy in front of him, getting to work without saying a word.
It isn’t until I follow Jay over to the register that my roommate decides to speak up again. “It’s on the house, Piper.”
Drawing back, I shake my head. “No.”
He stops and looks at me. “Yes. It is.”
Jay clears his throat, stepping away from the cash register. “Don’t worry about it, Red. He’s right. Now if you let me ink you…”
I roll my eyes. “Not happening.” I dig through my wallet and read the pricelist for a nose piercing before shoving money into his chest. “Take the money. There’s a tip too.”
Wheels scrape back and footsteps come near us as East’s hard eyes find mine. “Outside.”
“You’re kicking me out?” I squeak. Why would he do that just because I’m trying to pay for the services here? “East—”
Jay watches with quirked brows as Easton guides me out the door, but not before grabbing the money from Jay and gripping it tight in his hand.
I yank my arm away from him. “What the hell is your problem? I’m just trying to pay. That’s what people do here, isn’t it? You can’t make money if you give free handouts.”
He steps forward, his eyes pinning me into silence as he reaches forward and slowly slips the money into my front pocket. His fingers linger for longer than necessary before slipping out again. “Just keep your money.”
“I don’t need you to take pity on me!”
“It’s called being nice,” he counters.
“It’s called being a shitty businessman.”
His nostrils flare. “Go home, Piper.”
“What? No!” He waves his hand in dismissal before turning to walk back inside, but this time I stop him. “I don’t know why you’re acting like this, but it’s annoying.”
He slowly turns his gaze to mine, his eyes darker than I’m used to. “I told you to wait. I would have done your piercing.”
My face twists. That’s what this is about? He’s got to be kidding me. “I planned on asking you to do it, but you were busy. Jay is just as qualified to do piercings. He’s told me that a million times before when I saw him.”
“But I should have done it,” he all but growls, causing me to flinch at the hostility. “I’m your roommate, the person you know here. You should have waited for me like I told you to.”
I can’t believe we’re even having this conversation. “You’re not the boss of me, Easton. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings about your friend doing the piercing, but it’s not the end of the world. And it would be money all the same if you let me pay. Why are you being so stubborn about this?”
“Not the boss of you,” he repeats, a slow smirk curving his features. His body turns to face me, towering over me when he straightens to full height. “I seem to recall that differently, especially when we’re in your bedroom and you’re begging me to bury my cock deeper inside you. Hmm. Have you forgotten how much you moan my name when I lick you, or how you pull my hair to go faster, or plead for me to fuck you just the way I know you like?”
My thighs press together as heat sweeps over my body. He knows what he’s doing because he chuckles like this amuses him. But I don’t find his mood swings funny. “What does that have to do with anything?”
He leans closer, brushing his lips against my ear as he speaks. “I should have been the one to give you what you wanted today because I know what you want. Just like I know what you sound like when you come, what it feels like when you squeeze my cock with that tight pussy of yours, and how loud you get when you don’t have to hold back. You want freedom, Piper. You always have.”
When he draws back, I’m stunned speechless. He takes advantage of it and shoots me a wink, causing my lips to part. He’s never winked before. And it’s … wow. Between those words and that gesture, I’m not sure I can properly fathom a response, and he knows it. Which is why, this time, he walks away first.
Chapter Twelve
Ainsley holds my hand tightly as we walk toward the double doors of Aberdeen’s Rec Center. I look down at her with a comforting smile as I pull open the door covered in flyers of local events. One of them being the class we’re going to.
Before we can step inside, I hear my name called from behind me. There’s hesitation in the husky tone, and my spine straightens when I realize who it is. Turning, I watch Carter walk over in a pair of black joggers and oversized sweatshirt. My brows arch at the sight of his casual attire, but quickly notice the way his surprised features travel between me and the little girl beside me.
Clearing my throat, I watch as he takes hold of the door to keep it open. “Hey,” he says quietly, his lips pulling up as he looks down at Ainsley.
I shift my weight. “Hi.”
He tips his chin toward the entrance, following us in. When the door clicks shut behind us, he matches my steps. His hands are stuffed in the pockets of his pants as he stares down at the checkered red and white floor.
“What are you doing here?” My voice is quiet as I slow my steps, unsure of where the class is being held.
He stops a few feet ahead, realizing I’m not in step with him anymore. “I come here every other weekend to work out and then teach a boxing class.”
Boxing? He’s got the body for it that’s for sure. I just wouldn’t have pictured it. Out of Jesse, Carter, and Danny, I wouldn’t have pictured Carter being into a sport that was so violent. That was always Jesse’s thing.
“So…” He scratches his jaw.
Ainsley tugs on my hand, causing me to look down at her. “We’ll get going in a second, Nugget.” I can feel Carter staring and my cheeks heat. “Ainsley and I are taking a class here.”
“Ainsley,
” he repeats slowly, nodding.
“Danny’s daughter.”
His eyes widen as he studies her a little closer, making Ainsley duck behind my legs. My hand goes to her head, bushing her hair in comfort. She’s like me, not wanting anyone to pay her attention for long.
I know what he sees—Danny’s nose, the shape and color of his eyes, his skin tone. Their personality is undoubtedly the same, though only I would know that.
“Wow.” The word is so quiet I almost miss it. It makes me swipe my dry lips and nod once, not knowing what to respond with.
He didn’t know about Ainsley. I’m not sure why that doesn’t sit well with me. “We should get going. Have fun with your class.”
“What room are you in?” he asks as we begin walking again.
I hesitate. “The Community Room.”
He gestures toward a side hall before putting his hands back into his pockets. “Room 104. It’s about three down. Can’t miss it.”
Blowing out a tiny breath, I nod once. Thanking him, we go our separate ways though eyes are watching me based on the prickling awareness on the back of my head.
When we make it and sign in, Ainsley pulls on my shirt sleeve and blinks up at me. I know what she’s thinking. “He’s an old friend of me and your dad’s.”
Her eyes widen a fraction.
I don’t tell her they stopped talking.
Or that Danny never mentioned her.
What’s the point? People go their own ways. It’s natural—a part of life. I should have let that factor into my opinion of Carter when he stepped into the classroom the first day. It shouldn’t have taken Mable to tell me not to be a bitch to somebody just because they weren’t close with Danny. I should be happy. In a way, it gave me Danny for myself.
“That was a long time ago,” is all I say, giving her a sad smile. I want to tell her that people change, but that’s something she’ll have to figure out for her own when the time comes.
The class is harder than I expect, and Ainsley and I share more than one lost look as the teacher goes over the basics of the two-month course. Every Saturday we’ll meet in the same spot and learn the basics of American Sign Language, from the alphabet to simple sentences. Then after the two months are up, we’ll move on to more advanced classes until we can communicate more clearly.
I yelp when Carter pushes off the wall outside the room when Ainsley and I walk out, heart racing over the unexpected presence of him. The front of his shirt is sweaty, and his hair looks wet. “What are you doing?”
He falls into step with us. “Sign Language?” I don’t answer. It’s not really a question and I owe him nothing. He clears his throat and grabs the back of his neck. “I have a class starting in about ten minutes.”
“Cool.”
“Hey.” He gets in front of me to block me from walking toward the doors. “Meet me at my office early Monday morning. Say eight? We can talk about the schedule for the semester since everything has been approved.”
“I can’t,” I answer slowly, eying Ainsley.
His lips purse. “Right. Well, the class starts at ten, so maybe we can meet before the start of mine.”
I’m not sure he even wants to talk about the class. At least, it’s not the main focus now that there’s a baby elephant in the room. I can tell by the way his stature is tense, and how he tries not to look down at Ainsley but fails. The corner of his eye keeps traveling downward, his jaw ticking like he’s upset. He has no reason to be.
“I can meet you at the classroom around nine-fifty if that works for you?”
His head bobs once. “I’ll see you then.”
My lips rub together. “Okay.”
I walk forward without him stopping me, then squeeze Ainsley’s hand once before turning again to face him. He hasn’t moved. “I’m dedicated to this opportunity, Carter. I’ll make sure to separate my personal and professional life. I promise.”
His brows pinch. “I’m not worried about that, Piper. I just…” He sighs. “I didn’t know he had a kid.”
I knew it. “I thought so.”
“She looks like him.”
“She does,” I agree, smiling at Ainsley. Her thumb is in her mouth again as she looks between me and Carter.
His lips part, but nothing passes between them before he tips his head once and backs away. “I hope you two have a good weekend.”
It feels forced, like he has more to say but can’t get the words out. Something tells me Monday will be interesting when we find time to talk. And based on the way his eyes flick between me and Ainsley for the millionth time, I’ll need strong coffee to get through the conversation.
Because he looks hurt.
And I have no idea why.
The restaurant Jenna and I wind up in after twenty minutes of searching for somewhere to eat has a line longer than the last one we tried getting into. My feet ache from the heeled shin-high boots she made me wear with my tight skinny jeans that she insists makes my legs look longer. I don’t care what she says, my five-two figure isn’t going to match her five-eight one no matter what clothes I slap onto my body.
“If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to go Jeffrey Dahmer on some innocent person,” Jenna complains, slumping into my side.
Laughing, I push her away. “If we left when I said we should have, we probably could have missed the crowd.”
She groans like a little kid. Although, that’d be an insult to Ainsley. “It was a long day at work. I needed to put new warpaint on. Plus, do you see how tight these pants are? I swear I had to get a running start just to jump into these bitches.”
The man in front of us turns, his eyes casting downward at Jenna’s thighs. A sleezy smirk spreads on his face before the woman next to him smacks his chest and glares. He sighs and turns back around, leaving Jenna and me staring at each other before breaking into quiet laughter.
“Anyway,” she says, “it’s not like this is our only destination tonight. I’m determined to get you out. I don’t care if it’s a bar or club—”
“No.”
“Pip—”
I cross my arms on my chest. “I didn’t like going out when I was younger. What makes you think I want to now?”
She eyes me, her black-lined lids narrowing in disapproval. “You’re twenty-six, not forty. Plus, you’re kid free for the night thanks to your parents. Why not go out and have fun while you can?”
I gesture around us. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
She blinks.
I blink.
The line move, but barely allows us to get anywhere. “Listen, I appreciate you wanting to help me get a life. Mine may be boring compared to yours, but I like it. This is the kind of outing I enjoy. Bars aren’t my scene.”
Jenna looks around the suited man and cusses under her breath. “I swear to god, I’ve never seen this place so packed before.”
“It’s a Saturday night,” I remind her. After the class this morning, I’d been determined to stay in and watch Netflix all day with Ainsley. I was lazy and mentally preparing for whatever Monday brought. All I wanted was to get Carter out of my mind for a while. Then Jenna called and said we were going out. My argument that Ainsley was here was moot when she contacted my parents and had them agree to watch her. I regret ever giving her their numbers, but my parents love Jenna like a second daughter because she’s always looking out for me.
“You used to drink,” she insists, bringing the conversation back to a place I don’t want it to go. “Remember that time we were all hanging out in your dorm room at Maryland U and Chris brought rum and Coke? After your second huge glass, you felt the poor guy up in front of everyone.”
I’m ninety percent positive Chris didn’t mind me groping him. “I remember just fine. Thanks for reminding me that I grabbed his junk in front of people who probably took pictures and smacked his back in congratulations.”
She snickers, causing me to elbow her. “It doesn’t matter. As soon as I got Ainsley, I only wanted to focus on her
. I’m here to make something of myself so I can support us better. Not go out and get handsy drunk like I’m twenty-one again.”
Her bottom lip sticks out as we move forward. I know it’s her way of silently telling me I’m no fun, but I’m fine with that. My version of fun has never lined up with hers. She liked dragging me to frat parties where I watched her dance with jocks all night while I hid in the corner waiting to go home. I took her to campus movie nights where we both devoured popcorn and made fun of the movies they showed until people threatened to kick us out. I drank on occasion, but never much more than a cheap beer here and there because I knew I’d spend most of my night holding Jenna’s hair back while she vomited.
We’re standing for another few minutes before I hear my name being called from somewhere off to the side. My eyes scan the tables and booths until they lock on Carter’s.
Carter-frigging-Ford.
Jenna leans close to me. “Piper?”
“Hmm?”
She wraps an arm around mine. “Is that hot guy calling out your name or have I become delusional from my state of starvation?”
Snorting, I nudge our shoulders. “Stop.” I lift my hand and wave at him, offering a friendly smile that I’m not sure he’ll see in the dim lighting. He waves us over, gesturing toward the open seats in front of him. I start to shake my head, but Jenna doesn’t even give me a chance to turn him down before she’s pulling me away from the line and toward the table he’s occupying.
I nearly trip over the step that leads to the section he’s sitting in, which would have taken both Jenna and I down. Glaring at her before we stop in front of him, I tighten my hold on her arm.
“I thought that was you,” he says, looking between me and my best friend. He reaches out. “Carter Ford. It’s nice to meet you.”
Jenna smiles and shakes his hand. “Jenna Green. How do you two know each other?”
I’m about to explain that I’m in his class, when he takes the lead. “Friend of the family. I’ve known Piper since she was a kid.”