73

Adam

You Can Keep Waiting

The parking lot at Gianna's was quiet. I leaned against the wall with my hands shoved in my pockets, surveying the scene, counting down every new person who walked up, looking for a hint of that blonde hair.

The door opened beside me but I didn't bother looking over. Piper wouldn't be coming to dinner from inside.

"Adam?"

My attention was taken for only a few seconds, to Kassie, hesitant next to the door. I nodded to her and continued waiting. Trying to ignore that horrible feeling in my gut.

"It's been thirty minutes…" Kassie took the place next to me. "Ryan and I have to go soon."

"Piper will be here any minute," I told her, like I believed that.

"Maybe she had something come up?"

I shrugged. Still keeping an eye on the parking lot.

"Adam? I don't think she's coming."

The idea that Piper was avoiding me again was unthinkable. But Kassie was right.

It was all my fault. I lost it twelve hours ago and I was paying for it every minute since then. When I closed my eyes, I could see her face, stricken beyond belief. Shocked. I freaked her out so badly, she wanted to skip dinner with our friends.

No. She'll come .

"She's coming," I insisted.

"Maybe she…forgot?"

"She wouldn't forget, " I said. "Piper doesn't do that. This kind of stuff is important to her and she makes time for the stuff important to her."

But what was the alternative there? I fucked up and I finally drove her away, the very thing I was waiting to happen. Eventually, I knew Piper would get tired of me and she'd close her door for the last time. And still, I couldn't help that sickness, dug down deep inside of me. The restless sickness that hung back, holding on to the hope that she'd walk in, any minute, and everything would be okay.

"Things can happen, Adam."

"You don't get it."

Kassie shifted to the side. "She hasn't answered my texts—"

"It's a good thing I know her a lot better than you do," I snapped.

For long moments, it was silent. My own words sank in and I stopped, blinking. Did I just say that? To Kassie of all people? Shit. I pushed from the wall and glanced at her, giving me a curious look, head tilted.

"Uh…I…" I fumbled with my words. "Kassie, I'm—"

"What about the movie night?"

I paused. "The what?"

"Movie night?" Kassie raised her eyebrows. "Did you invite her?"

When Piper was drunk or when I frightened her away?

"Uh…I can't remember."

"Okay." Slowly, Kassie nodded and I had the weirdest feeling she was analyzing me through a microscope. "Can you come at six? For the movie night?"

I was so relieved we were switching topics, I agreed instantly. "Yeah. I thought it started at—?"

"I need some help putting it together."

"Oh. Yeah. Sure."

"Good." Kassie patted my shoulder and nodded towards the door. "I'll keep them at bay, okay? You can keep waiting. No worries."

"Okay."

I tried to go back to watching the parking lot but I had to say something before Kassie walked back inside.

"Uh, illustrator-in-chief?"

"Yeah?"

Slowly, I shook my head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you."

"It's okay. You keep waiting."