Love's Compromise by Cass Sellars

Author:Cass Sellars [Sellars, Cass]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781635559439
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Published: 2021-10-01T17:23:18+00:00

Chapter Eleven

Piper finally heard the van rumble into the drive. Brook had been gone two hours and she had started to worry. “You okay?” She watched as she heaved a ragged duffel from the passenger seat and slammed the door.

“Yeah. I think the day is just finally catching up with me.” Brook’s expression said that a cooking marathon wasn’t what put that look on her face, and there was more than exhaustion behind her red-rimmed eyes. Now wasn’t the time to pull the details out of her.

“How about you shower and go crawl into the bed for a few hours? When do we have to leave?”

“We need to arrive by four thirty if I want to get all the assembly done without rushing.”

“Fantastic, that gives you at least five hours to sleep.”

Brook raised her finger to protest. Piper grabbed her hand and led her through the door to the bedroom. She dropped her bag on the ottoman at the foot of the bed and gently pushed her into the bathroom.

“Wow. This is fancy,” Brook remarked as she took in the spa tub and double-headed shower.

“Too fancy for what I use it for. Five-minute showers over here. I’ve never even put water in that tub.” She gestured at the copper Japanese soaking tub nestled into the corner of the slate-tiled bath.

“That is a true shame. I bet it would feel awesome.” Brook danced her fingertips over the hammered surface.

“Maybe after the party, you can try it out.” Piper reached into the shower to start the water, handing Brook a fluffy white towel and washcloth. “In the meantime, I suggest a nice hot shower and a good long nap. I put shorts and a T-shirt out in case you didn’t remember to bring any.”

“Thanks.” Brook studied her. She opened her mouth as if she had something else to say but changed her mind and shut it again.

“You’re very welcome. I’ll wake us up at two thirty.” Piper held up her phone to confirm she was indeed setting her alarm.

She turned to walk out, pulling the door closed behind her. Before the latch clicked, she heard Brook call her name.

She poked her head back through the door. “Yeah?”

“You’re a little unexpected, Piper. I don’t have words for what you’ve done for me.”

“You don’t need any. I think it’s time you carve out some space for you. Sleep well.”

“You too.”

Piper closed the door again. She imagined what it would have been like to hold Brook as she slept, to chase her demons away. Piper would have told anyone before now that she didn’t need or want a relationship. She wondered if that was because she hadn’t met someone who made her want to be better. And conversely, whose life she wanted to make better. How infuriating it was to find that with someone so completely unavailable.

* * *

“Can you throw some more quiches in the oven? Those are going like crazy.” Brook spoke quickly while she arranged crackers around a third wheel of brie. “These people act like they’re starving.

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