"You got everything you need?" I asked. Paige was about to leave for the beach with her friends. We stood on the porch while her friends packed up the car.
"Yep," she reassured me. "I'll call you when I get there. And I'll be home Saturday night. Don't worry."
"I'm your big sister, worrying is what I do," I said with a smile. "Be safe. Have fun, but not too much fun. Got it?"
"Got it!" she nodded. "I'll be fine!"
I still worried about her being alone with her friends. Not to mention all the older kids that would be there. The older guys being my main concern. But I trusted Paige. She was smart and could take care of herself.
"Alright, here," I held out some cash.
"Whoa!" she said as she counted the bills. "I really don't need this much."
"Things don't always go as planned," I warned. "Take it. Just in case. Hotel rooms, cab rides, anything you need. Okay?"
"Got it," she nodded, stuffing the money in her pocket.
We glanced over to see the car was finally packed.
"C'mon Paige! Time to gooooooo!" shouted Paige's friend, Loni.
"Coming!" Paige yelled back. She turned back to me.
"I better get a hug if I'm not gonna see you for a week!" I demanded.
She smiled.
"I love you," she murmured as she hugged me.
"Love you too, sweetie. Be safe, okay?"
She picked up her bag. "I will."
She ran down to the car and jumped in the passenger's seat.
"Woo! Let's go already!" shouted one of the girls as they pulled away.
Paige waved from the window.
"Have fun!" I yelled, waving back.
"Love you!" she screamed as the car sped up. "Byyyyyye!"
I laughed and kept waving until at last the car disappeared. I sighed and turned to go back inside.
All alone, I thought. What am I supposed to do now?
The picture of Leo and I on the wall stopped me. I stared at our smiles.. How happy we were...
I turned quickly away and picked up the phone.
It only rang a few times before I got an answer.
"Dan? Hi...Do you think you would, uh, wanna come over?...Great...Okay, see you soon."
I bit my lip. Was I doing something wrong? I wasn't sure. But I couldn't face being alone right now...
"I came as soon as I could," said Dan as he walked through the doorway. "On the phone, you sounded...I dunno. Like..."
"Like desperate?" I laughed.
"No, of course not," he said with a smile. "But yeah, a little," he added with a laugh.
"Well thank you for coming," I said gratefully. "It means a lot," I told him as I closed the door.
He laid down on the couch, looking comfortable. "So, are we gonna do it here, or in the bedroom?"
He burst out laughing as my mouth dropped open.
"I'm kidding!" he snorted.
"Oh. Sorry, I'm a little slow sometimes," I said as I started laughing too.
He moved his feet and motioned for me to sit beside him.
"So, what did you have in mind? Wanna take me up on the talking offer?" he asked, still smiling.
I shrugged. "Honestly I just couldn't handle being alone right now."
He moved a little closer.
"Well, like I said. I'm here for you, for anything," he spoke softly.
I smiled at him.
He smiled back at me. "So, let's talk."
"About what?" I asked, looking away.
"What's going on? Come on, I know something's up," he said.
I stayed silent.
"Where is he?" he finally asked. I knew that question was coming.
"He left," I whispered after a long pause. "I made him leave."
"Why?" he asked. I felt him touch my shoulder.
I stared at my big belly instead of looking at him.
"Why? What did he do?" He moved closer.
"He wouldn't stop...drinking," I mumbled.
Dan stayed silent for a few moments.
"Oh," he said softly.
"Yeah," I said. I wiped the tears from my eyes. "I couldn't take it anymore...And now I'm alone."
He grabbed my hand.
"You are not alone...I told you. I'm here," he said as he looked into my eyes.
I looked back into his.
"You're not alone," he repeated. "Piper...I love you. I'm in love with you."
I pulled my hand away.
"What?"
"I love you. I've always loved you," he declared. "I'm in love with you."
My eyes filled with tears again as I tried to process everything.
"Why didn't you.." I choked out.
He stared at the floor for a moment before turning back to me.
"I couldn't say anything," he muttered. "You were so happy. What was the point of telling you? It wouldn't have changed anything. I'm not stupid enough to think you would have left him for me. You would've still been with him. You would've still been having his... his baby," he sighed. "You would have still been his," he added coldly.
I looked away in disbelief. Was this really happening?
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I shouldn't have said that. Any of it."
I couldn't speak.
"Stupid," he muttered angrily. "I'm so stupid."
"No," I finally mustered. "No, you're not."
He looked back at me. His face was confused, but his eyes were hopeful.
"I'm glad you told me," I said slowly.
"You are?"
I nodded.
"I'm confused and completely in shock. My mind is racing and I don't know what to think," I said. "But I'm glad."
He smiled as he slowly leaned in. Our lips met softly then pressed together. We both sunk into the kiss. We broke apart at last. Our eyes met as we each opened them. He smiled and put an arm around me. I rested my head on his chest. I was unable to hide the smile on my face. It felt really right, but I couldn't ignore the blazing image of Leo in my head.
A few minutes passed quietly before he broke the silence.
"What are you thinking about?" he finally whispered.
I looked up at him.
"You.. Me.. Us.. Everything," I said softly.
"There's an 'us'?" he asked.
He kept his arm around me as I sat up to face him.
"I don't know," I whispered. "What are you thinking?"
He stared at me for a moment.
"No," he said simply.
"No?" I asked. "No, there's no 'us'?"
"No," he repeated.
Hadn't he just said he wanted me? That he was in love with me? Yet he didn't want to be with me. I was so confused.
"Don't you want there to be?" I asked.
"You don't," he answered.
I smiled at him. "How do you know what I want?"
He just smiled back at me and pulled me back in his arms. My heart was so happy, I forgot to be sad about Leo.
