Chapter 20

Abby and Isach left the wedding reception in a rented limo amidst a flurry of cheers, tears, and well-wishes. I stood near Trent and Chloe, watching as Abby and Isach emerged from the limo’s sunroof and waved.

Chloe sighed and rested her head on Trent’s arm. “I can’t begin to express how happy I am for those two.” She sniffled. “I think I’m more emotional now than I was on my own wedding day.”

“Not possible.” Trent pressed a kiss to her temple, then winked conspiratorially at me over Chloe’s head.

“So, what’re the plans now?” I asked, shoving my hands into my pockets.

“We have to get the girls home and to bed.” Chloe straightened and yawned. “I’m exhausted, too.”

As if on cue, Chloe’s Aunt Beth and Uncle Dean emerged from the dispersing crowd, each of them holding one of the twins. Sarah’s thumb was shoved in her mouth, and her eyelids drooped. Emma was already passed out cold on Dean’s shoulder.

I smiled at the sight of them, and then my gaze roamed the crowd in search of Piper. Looking for her was instinctual, so was the feeling of utter calm that came over me when I found her. She stood near the banquet hall entrance with her sisters. Sophie waved her arms. Sabella rolled her eyes. Piper frowned. What on earth was going on over there?

Narrowing my eyes in concentration, I honed in on their conversation. Eavesdropping like this wasn’t my finest moment, and I hated myself for invading what was obviously a private conversation, but an uneasy weight had landed in my gut. Something was wrong, and I needed to know what. How else would I be able to help Piper?

“We only have ten days,” Sabella said with frustration.

“Exactly, and I intend to take full advantage of what time we have left.” Piper crossed her arms defiantly.

Time we have left? What the hell did that mean? I shifted on my feet.

“We should be using this time to get our affairs in order. Not flirting with vampires,” Sophie said.

I stiffened, and my hands curled into fists by my sides. I’d known Sophie wasn’t pleased with how close Piper and I had gotten, but I hadn’t expected her to be so hostile about it. If she knew this wasn’t some inconsequential flirtation, that Piper was my soulmate and I was fully committed to her, would Sophie’s attitude change?

“If Piper wants to stay here with her vampire for the next ten days, then that’s her right to do so,” Peyton said.

Shock rippled through me. Peyton wasn’t one to talk much, and I was positive that was the most I’d ever heard her speak, but to hear her defend Piper’s desire to stick around—with me—rocked me to my core.

“Jax?” Chloe snapped her fingers in front of my face.

Blinking, I turned my attention to her. “What?”

She laughed and shook her head with amusement. “I said, we’re leaving to take the girls home.” Her gaze darted behind me, then landed back on me. “You should take advantage of tonight.” She subtly nodded in Piper’s direction. “Just be quiet when you come home.” With a pat on my chest, she turned and walked away.

I blew out a breath. I wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the night with Piper, but after everything I’d just heard, I wasn’t sure that was a likely possibility. Whenever I had a disagreement with my brothers, it ruined my entire mood, and I usually wanted to be left alone. Would Piper feel the same way now, after arguing with her sisters?

Only one way to find out. I turned in her direction but stopped cold when I came face to face with Piper. I stumbled back a step, and she smiled, her eyes sparkling.

“I never knew sneaking up on a vampire was so easy,” she said softly, her tone teasing.

“It is when you cheat and use magic.”

She laughed, the sound light and airy. “Despite what you believe, I happen to function without magic a majority of the time.”

I opened my mouth to reply but quickly snapped my jaw shut when Sophie approached. “Have you seen Trent and Chloe?” she asked.

“They left to take the girls home,” I said, careful to keep my tone level.

The last thing I needed to do was let on that I’d overheard their conversation—or that I knew Sophie was upset Piper was spending time with me.

“Did Sabella and Peyton leave?” Piper asked.

“Yes, they’re headed home to attend to business.” Sophie barely looked at Piper when she spoke. “I’m going call it a night, too. Are you coming, Piper?”

I remained still, waiting to see what Piper would say. She glanced at me with a questioning look, pleading, almost as if begging me to rescue her from having to leave with her sister. I had no issues with being her hero.

Clearing my throat, I said, “I was thinking about going to the falls for a little while. Would you like to go with me?”

“Yes,” Piper said a little too eagerly, and I couldn’t tell if her enthusiasm was for not having to leave with Sophie or for spending time with me. She stepped closer and looped her arm through mine. “We won’t be out too late.”

Sophie hesitated, her gaze bouncing from me to Piper. Finally, she nodded. “Do take care of her,” she said to me before spinning on her heel and walking away, head held high.

Piper huffed. “Honestly. She acts as if I’m not a grown woman fully capable of taking care of myself.”

I chuckled. “Good. Then you can take care of me, because I fully admit I’m a child in a man’s body.” I winked at her, and she rolled her eyes, which made me laugh harder. “C’mon.” I ushered her toward my car and opened the passenger door for her.

She slid into the seat. I shut her door and walked around to my side. Soon, we were on Route 73 and headed toward Roaring Brook Falls. Personally, I much preferred Bushnell Falls, as it was a little more secluded and not such a tourist trap, but to get there we’d have to walk, and Piper wasn’t exactly dressed for a hike through the woods.

I pulled into the Roaring Book Falls parking lot and killed the engine. Then I twisted around in my seat and rummaged around in the back until I found the jacket I’d tossed back there a few weeks ago.

“Here.” I held the jacket out to Piper. “You’ll probably want this.”

“Thank you.” She took the coat, got out of the car, and slipped it on over her dress. Then she rubbed her hands up her arms. “I swear it’s gotten at least ten degrees cooler.”

“That happens a lot around here.” I engaged the automatic locks on my car, then held my arm out to her.

She once again looped her arm through mine, but this time, she rested her head on my shoulder and sighed with contentment. I momentarily closed my eyes, savoring the moment.

“So, were you really planning to come here tonight, or did you just say that so you’d have an excuse to spend time with me?” she asked as we slowly made our way toward the short path that would lead to the base of the falls.

“I hadn’t planned on going straight home, but coming here was sort of a last-minute idea,” I admitted.

“Why here?” She straightened and looked around.

“Because it’s quiet and a good place to just sit and decompress. And right now, it’s not full of tourists.”

“Probably because it’s the middle of winter,” she said.

I grinned. “That’s the best time to be here. The water is mostly frozen but not quite. Most of the wildlife is in hibernation. The air is clean and crisp. It’s nature at its most natural state. Undisturbed. Peaceful.”

Piper stared up at me. “I didn’t realize you were so… poetic.”

I laughed. “Trust me. I’m not.”

We fell silent, our pace leisurely as we strolled closer to the base of the falls. Despite being mostly frozen, the sound of rushing water greeted us. Peacefulness washed over me, erasing all the stress and craziness of the day, leaving me feeling calm. I was grateful Piper had agreed to come with me, though if she hadn’t, I probably still would have come here alone. I needed a little downtime.

Piper stopped, and a small gasp escaped from her. She released her hold on my arm and took a few steps closer to the falls. Then, she turned in a full circle, taking in her surroundings. “Wow,” she breathed out in awe. “You were right. This place is amazing.”

Moonlight filtered through the surrounding trees, the glint catching her hair just right, making the red strands appear fiery. My breath caught, and I swallowed hard. I was instantly transported back to that night six months ago, right after we’d defeated Ivy and Piper and I stood near the pool in Chloe’s backyard. I’d been too terrified to ask her to stay, so I’d allowed myself one final look—her hair sparkling the same way it was right now, and then I’d taken off.

I’d let her leave without so much as a second thought, but I couldn’t do that this time. I wouldn’t. One way or another, I needed to let her know how I felt, and I needed her to understand that if she left again, I’d be devastated.

“I love New Orleans, but the beauty of this place definitely rivals the bayou,” Piper said.

Snapping from my thoughts, I shoved my hands in my pockets and moved forward a few steps. “I’ve always liked New Orleans, but here”—I looked around—“the mountains, the wilderness… this will always be home to me.”

A warm smile lit Piper’s face. “You fit here. I can see that.”

I shrugged. “And you fit in New Orleans, with all the magic and voodoo.”

And that right there was an obstacle I wasn’t sure we’d ever be able to overcome. She probably didn’t want to leave New Orleans, and I certainly didn’t want to leave Keene Valley. At least, not until I absolutely had to.

“Yeah, I guess, but that’s the beauty of magic. It’s everywhere. You just need to know where to look.” She moved to stand in front of me.

I stood perfectly still, and she gazed up at me with so much hope and expectation. For what, I had no idea. I’d given my word I wouldn’t kiss her, so she couldn’t be waiting for that. Could she? I supposed I could find out, but I didn’t want to upset her or end up pushing her away.

“I’m surprised Sabella and Peyton didn’t stay longer,” I said, hoping I could get Piper to say something about what business they had to attend to.

“They never were ones for crowds.” She lifted one shoulder in a delicate shrug. “It’s probably best they left anyway.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because now I don’t have to worry about them constantly complaining about what I do or don’t do.”

“They do that often?”

“All the time,” she said dramatically, then laughed. “Sometimes it sucks having so many siblings.”

“Tell me about it,” I mumbled.

Piper shivered.

“We can go if you want,” I said.

“Not yet.” She turned so her back was to my chest. “I want to enjoy this for a little longer.”

Then she took my hands and rested them against her stomach. I closed the distance between us, and she leaned back against me. I held her tightly to me, letting the steady rise and fall of her breaths lull me into a state of unhindered bliss. Her unique, floral scent carried on the cold breeze and wrapped around me. Closing my eyes, I inhaled deeply.

“I’m really glad you’re here,” I whispered and nuzzled my nose against her neck.

“Me too.” She sighed and tilted her head. “I missed you, you know.”

I froze.

“These past few months when I was in New Orleans and you were here, I thought about you every day.” Her voice was soft, barely audible, but the implication of her words hit me like a freight train.

There was so much I wanted to say right then, but I opted for simple and truthful. “I missed you, too, Piper. Not a moment went by that I didn’t think of you.”

Gently, I spun her around, so she was facing me. Everything else I wanted to say vanished when I saw the vulnerability in her eyes. Admitting she’d missed me hadn’t been easy for her—I knew that by the expression she wore.

“C’mon, we should head home.” I traced my thumb along her bottom lip. “Your lips are turning blue, and the only way I know of to warm them up I promised I wouldn’t do.”

She dramatically rolled her eyes, but she was unable to hide her smile. “You’re not going to make this easy, are you?”

I grinned. “Where’s the fun in that?” With a wink, I slipped my hand into hers, and we headed back toward the car.