10. Elio

10

ELIO

I wake up with a renewed sense of purpose, my mind racing with thoughts of Piper. The connection we shared all those years ago still burns hot, wild, perfect. I'm determined to rekindle that flame.

As I get ready, I can't stop thinking about how I'll approach this. I know I need to be cautious, to tread carefully. I can't assume that all is well between us simply because we had sex. I remember her wariness, which I'm not sure is specifically about me or life in general. I smile as I think back to having to breach her defenses with charm and patience in high school. I can do it again. I will do it again.

Needing to see her, I drive to her home, planning to arrive about the time she returns from taking her daughter to school the day before. A daughter. I can't deny how envious I am of the man who made a child with her. A child who should have been mine.

But I still hold to the fact that Piper isn't happy. I know I can fix that for her. I haven't met her child, but I'm fully prepared to embrace her.

As I drive to Piper's house, I map out the conversation in my head. I suppose the first thing is to find out why she left, and if I was at fault, to find a way to make amends. I'll tell her that I never stopped thinking about her, that she's the only one who's ever made me feel truly alive. And I'll ask her, straight out, if there's any chance we can start over. Maybe I should make my case a bit more before I ask that. I don't want to give her any reason to doubt me.

My heart races as I pull up to her house. I feel like I'm on the edge of finally having everything I ever wanted. I'm excited, yet nervous. What if she says no? I shake that from my head. I know she and I are meant to be together. She might try to push me away, but not even she can deny our connection.

I trot up to the front door ready for the next phase of life. I knock, one last time replaying what I want to say.

The door opens only a crack. I can barely see Piper, and what I do see is a woman wearing large, dark sunglasses. I lean in because I think I see the hint of a bruise on her cheek. Alarm bells start ringing in my head.

"Piper, what's wrong?" I push the door open, ignoring her attempt to keep me out.

"Nothing. You can't be here, Elio."

"Something is wrong." I shut the door. I reach for her glasses.

She jerks away. "Just… leave me alone."

I stare at her, feeling a sense of helplessness. "I can't." I reach for the sunglasses again, gently removing them. She's caked on makeup, but there's no doubt that she has a black eye. "Fucking hell. Did your husband do this?" He's a dead man. The deed is as good as done.

"No. I drank a little too much wine last night out of guilt for cheating on my husband."

She's lying. "I don't believe you."

She scoffs. "You always did think the world revolved around you."

"No. I always thought it revolved around you."

For a moment, I see something in her eyes that gives me hope. But as quickly as it's there, it's gone.

"What happened?" I ask, reaching out to brush the bruise on her cheek.

She flinches at my touch, and my stomach twists with dread. Something is very wrong here.

"Did he do this?" I ask. The haunted look in her eyes is all the confirmation I need. "Did he find out about us?"

"There is no us, Elio. Why are you here? You need to leave."

"Is he here?" I'll kill him with my bare hands.

"No. He's not. But he's my husband. What we did was wrong?—"

"No!" I point my index finger at her. She recoils like she thinks I might hit her. "Fuck. Piper. I would never hurt you. And if he's?—"

"He's not." she insists, but not very convincingly. "I've been unpacking and a book fell off a shelf and hit my cheek. That's all."

Lies. It's all a lie, but why? "I can help you. Let me take you away?—"

"I don't need a knight in shining armor. Especially one like you."

What the fuck does that mean? "What the hell, Piper? You're not a woman to put up with this bullshit."

"And yet you're still here."

I'm the bullshit? "I'd never hurt you?—"

"That's a lie. You did hurt me."

"I never… your husband struck you. Fucking hell, you have a daughter."

Her eyes flash with heat. "Don't you judge me. Gabriel is a good provider."

I scoff, wondering if I fell through Alice's looking glass. "So the fuck what? That gives him a right to hit you? Why are you defending him?"

"I told you, it was an accident unpacking. Why are you even here? You got what you wanted yesterday."

"No, I didn't." The perfect life I'd imagined for us is slipping away. I reach for her, desperate to make her understand. "What I want is you, in my life, like we planned. You and your daughter."

She shoves me away, her expression hardening. "Save it, Elio. You've already proven that you don't really care, so why should I believe you now?"

Her words cut me deep. I'm shocked, but also angry. How can she accuse me of all this? I made promises to her. She's the one who left.

"At the very least, let me help you?—"

"I don't need your help, Elio. I can take care of myself."

I stare at Piper, my dream dying again.

"What we had is dead."

How can she say that? "No. You can tell me to take a hike, but you can't dismiss what is between us."

"I'm married. I have a daughter. My life is here, with Gabriel."

Murderous jealousy fills me. "I can give you everything you want, and you still want a man who hurts you?—"

"You're no better."

If she drove a stake through my heart, it wouldn't hurt as much as those words. "Piper, don't do this."

She shakes her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's too late, Elio. I made my choice a long time ago. You need to go and stay away from me."

I want to argue, to tell her that it's never too late to change her life, but the haunted look in her eyes stops me. I want to pull her into my arms and make her feel the truth of feelings. Something is fucked up here, and I might walk away now, but I'm sure as hell going to do whatever needs to be done to keep her and her child safe.

"Please," I ask one more time. "Let me help you. I can't just leave you here, not like this."

She stares at me in an attempt to be strong, but underneath I see anguish. "You have to. I… I made a mistake letting you back into my life. I never should have given in to you."

Her words feel like a punch to the gut, and I have to fight to keep my composure. "Don't say that."

"I don't want you in my life. I need you to leave, now."

Her tone is final, and I know there's no arguing with her. Defeated, I nod. "Okay. If that's what you want, I'll go."

I turn to leave, my heart shattering. But I can't bring myself to walk away, not without one last plea. "Promise me you'll be safe. Call me if you need anything?—"

"I won't." She averts her gaze. "I'll be fine. Just go, and don't come back."

I linger for a moment, desperate to change her mind, but she opens the door to let me out.

I turn and make my way to the porch, pausing only to glance back at her one last time. "I love you, Piper. Always."

Her breath hitches, but she doesn't respond. Instead, she shuts the door.

I stand on the porch, my mind racing as I try to make sense of what just happened. Piper is in trouble. That much is clear. And she's pushing me away, denying what's between us. Okay, so maybe I have to accept that she doesn't want me. But she's also refusing to let me help her. She has to know that I can protect her. Maybe I should have been clear that I could save her without expecting anything in return.

The sound of the deadbolt sliding into place tells me I won't have the opportunity to say any more today. But this isn't over. I may be leaving her house, but I'm not giving up. I'll find a way to protect her, to get her and her daughter to safety.