Plus, it wouldn't be hard to get a few days off. I could pull some double shifts to cover the missed time. Before thinking too much about it, I agreed, “I'll be there.”
Anastascia was still squealing when I hung up.
Chapter 2
My chest was starting to tighten as I stepped into the terminal. I scanned the waiting crowd, looking for a familiar face, but wasn't really surprised when I didn't see one. My flight had actually arrived on time and Anastascia was chronically late. I decided it would make more sense for me to get my bags, then head toward the entrance and wait for her. I could call her on the way and let her know to look for me there.
I'd only gone a few steps past the next gate when something hard ran into me, almost knocking me to the ground. I heard a deep voice utter an oath and then a pair of strong hands caught me. It all happened so fast I'd barely started processing the fall before I was in some stranger's embrace.
I tilted my head back to get a better look at who was holding me. He was tall, well over six feet, with messy, golden blond hair and a pair of eyes so dark they almost appeared to be black.
I knew those eyes.
I absorbed the rest of his features. Handsome, with features that toed the line between pretty and masculine. Lips almost too full for a man, but not quite. A small, thin scar ran through the bottom one. A scar he'd gotten three weeks into my freshman year at St. George's.
Reed Stirling was three years older than me and, aside from Anastascia, had been the nicest person at school. I'd watched him step between a bully and his victim, and I'd never forgotten it. He'd even talked to me once or twice, though only to say hello. I'd had a crush on him for years even though I'd known I'd never had a chance.
The Stirlings were old money, the kind who'd had an apartment in the city worth millions, as well as a house in Chestnut Hill near the school. They'd also owned a vineyard in Italy and a villa in France, or something like that.
“I'm so sorry.”
Reed's voice brought me back to the present. Under his tan, I could see his cheeks turning red. I took a step back, taking a deep breath to regain my composure.
“It's okay,” I said. “No harm done.”
I looked up at him again, unable to stop the twinge of disappointment when I saw no recognition in his face. It wasn't surprising, not really. The two of us hadn't had any classes together and we hadn't been friends. His sister and I hadn't been friends either...
“Reed!”
I winced as I heard an all-too familiar squeal. I took another step back as my former classmate threw herself into her brother's arms.
I loathed Rebecca Stirling.
As she released her brother, I turned to go, but I was too late to avoid being recognized.
“Piper?” She sounded surprised.
I fixed a fake smile on my face and turned back towards her and Reed. “Rebecca.” She didn't look any different. Same dyed light blond hair and cold hazel eyes. She was taller than me by a couple inches, nearly twice that with her heels. If anything, she looked even thinner, bordering on skeletal. She'd always been slender, but I knew that starved look wasn't natural.
“Piper?” Reed looked puzzled as his gaze went from me to his sister and back again.
“Piper Black,” Rebecca said promptly. “She went to St. George's with me.” Her lips pursed. “She was a scholarship kid.”
“Well, Piper Black from St. George's, let me apologize again for almost knocking you down.” Reed held out a hand without acknowledging his sister's last comment.
I shook it, trying to ignore the little tingle through my hand and up my arm. I wasn't going to act like some smitten schoolgirl. I'd all but forgotten about Reed over the years. I wasn't about to revert simply because he'd shaken my hand.
“Back in town for the reunion ?” Rebecca asked.
Before I could answer, I heard the voice I'd been waiting for.
“Piper!”
I breathed a sigh of relief as Anastascia threw her arms around me for a quick hug. When she stepped back, she gave Rebecca a dismissive look, nodded at Reed and then linked her arm through mine. I didn't even have a chance to say anything to either of the Stirlings as Anastascia led me away, keeping up a steady stream of chatter about how much she'd looked forward to this and how much fun we were going to have.
By the time we reached the baggage claim and she'd paused to catch her breath, I'd regain my composure enough to tell her about bumping into Reed and then seeing Rebecca. I kept my tone casual, even Anastascia hadn't known about my crush. That secret had been for my mother only. While my friend wasn't anything like the other rich kids in class, I wasn’t sure how she would've reacted if I’d told her I had a crush on a guy like Reed.
“Well, at least you've gotten that out of the way,” Anastascia said. “Now, let's forget about that bitch and start talking about what we're going to wear tonight.”
I smiled, but my heart wasn't in it. What had I been thinking, coming out here like this? What was I supposed to say when everyone asked what I was doing in Vegas? And what about clothes? I hadn't even thought about that when I'd packed my bag. I'd grabbed some jeans and a couple nice shirts, and borrowed a cheap red dress from Tammy. I didn't own anything that would even compare to what I knew the other girls would be wearing tonight. I had exactly one dress and it was the stiff black one I'd worn to my mother's funeral, and then to various job interviews. Well, except the last one. Funeral dresses didn't exactly advertise a body that men would pay to see nearly naked.
“Earth to Piper,” Anastascia teased. “If you're not careful, you're going to get left behind.”
I look around, startled. I hadn't even realized we'd reached the train station. I gave her a puzzled look. I would've thought we'd be taking a taxi to her apartment.
She smiled, most likely guessing what I was thinking. “I moved out after graduation.”
“Seriously?”
Anastascia had gone to Columbia for their paralegal program and I knew the law firm she wanted to work for was just a few blocks away from her family's place.
“Mom and Dad bought me a place in Fishtown.”
My eyes widened. “Are you kidding?”
She shook her head as she stepped onto the train. I followed, taking the aisle seat next to her.
“I'm still at Masters and Griffin, but I wanted a place of my own. One of their friends was selling their place so my parents asked if I wanted it.”
She kept gushing about her new place as the train started to move. I was happy for her, but at the same time, I couldn't help but be jealous. I shared a tiny two-bedroom apartment with another stripper and could barely make rent while her parents had bought one of those brick row-houses for what was probably just under a quarter of a million dollars. I looked out the window as we started to pass my old neighborhood. It hadn't changed in the past two years and as I saw kids playing basketball as we passed, I wondered if I knew any of them.
“I bought you something,” Anastascia said suddenly.
My eyes narrowed. “Why?”
“Because I missed your birthday and Christmas twice these last two years.” She was still smiling, but I could see the sympathy on her face. I was right. She knew things weren't going well for me. Her voice softened and I could see compassion in her deep brown eyes. “And because I knew you'd be thinking about not having anything to wear tonight but you'd be too proud to ask for help.”
“Ana,” I started to protest.
She put her finger over her mouth just like she used to do when we were younger and I'd start telling her she was being too generous. “It's your birthday and Christmas gifts, as well as an 'I'm glad to see you' present. Besides, I can't return it and we don't wear the same size.”
That was true. I was about five-six and nothing to be ashamed of in the bust department, but Anastascia was five-eleven without heels and somewhere in an E cup. I'd borrowed a couple t-shirts when we were younger – and wore them as nightshirts. Whatever she bought me would end up going to Goodwill if I didn't accept it, and considering that was where I bought most of my clothes, I nodded.
“Thank you.”
She beamed.
When we got off at Fishtown, I was surprised at how quickly it all came back. I might have been in Vegas for the past two years, but this city was in my blood. I wasn't sure if that meant I'd come back permanently some day, but it did mean I felt at home even though this wasn't my neighborhood. I smiled at the fishes decorating the doors and sidewalks.
“This way.” She led the way, telling me about her job as a paralegal for a civil rights law firm.
I'd never been a very talkative person, so it was just like old times as she let the conversation flow from one topic to the other. She'd occasionally ask questions, but when I'd only offer a short answer, she didn't push it. Talking on the phone with her had been different. I'd forgotten how much of our friendship was intuitive. She knew when to move on and when I wanted to talk but was reluctant to do so. A lump formed in my throat as she showed me to the guest room. The pain I'd been expecting at seeing the city again wasn't coming from memories of my mother, but rather from how much I missed having someone around who cared about me.
She left me alone to clean up and by the time she returned with my dress, I'd gotten my emotions back under control. I would enjoy this time with her, but I wouldn't forget why I'd left or why I was going to stay away.