Page 32 of Lead Me A Stray

“That’s not fair,” she cries, moving toward me as I back myself toward the door, shoving my feet into my boots. My truckis still at the bar, but right now I don’t mind because I could use a good walk.

I need to get out of here, but not before I land one last parting blow. “You’re right, it’s not fair, because I’m fucking head over heels in love with you when I never had a chance.”

I hear a gasp, but I don’t know if it’s from my sister or Piper as I turn and push my way out onto the street. Honestly, it doesn’t matter. They can have a good laugh over it.

It wouldn’t be the first time.

17

PIPER

“Holy shit, I’m so sorry,” I hear Rory say behind me, my mouth hanging open as I try to process the last sixty seconds.

“He’s right. He’s been nothing but amazing and you?—”

“You have to go after him!”

It’s the urgency in her voice that has my feet finally moving, throwing boots on, my heart racing as I burst out into the sunshine. His truck isn’t here but that clearly hasn’t stopped him from putting one foot in front of the other to get as far away from me as possible.

But he’ll have to try harder than that.

Taking off at a dead sprint, my legs burn and my stomach rolls with guilt and nerves and the fear that I’ve just ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

“Mack,” I call, aware that he’s ignoring me when his back stiffens but he doesn’t turn around. “Wait.”

“No,” he snaps, his hands in his pockets when I finally reach him.

“Mack.” With everything I have in me, I grab his arm and force him to turn, using my momentum to pull him closer to me. “Would you stop?”

“For what?” There’s a flash of devastation in his eyes before it’s gone again, indifference falling over his face like a mask.

Why did it take me so long to notice?

“Because I’m sorry and I don’t have a good excuse other than I was scared shitless and I panicked. I wanted it to be real and I was terrified about what would happen if I said it out loud and I was wrong. God, Mack, I didn’t want to be wrong.”

“But it was okay to brush me off to Rory? Like I was just some fucking party boy? You just flat out denied me.” He throws his arms wide, his face flushed as he tries to turn away again, but I stop him, forcing him back a step as I invade his space.

“I was scared and I dug myself a hole, and every time I opened my mouth, I made it worse.”

“Piper, youknewI was there. You told me to just give you a minute. And still you couldn’t tell her fast enough hownot seriousthings are.”

“Because every guy before you was a douchebag and Ijustbroke up with another one, and I didn’t want her to think I was just using you.”

“Aren’t you? I mean, hell, my cum is still inside you. I told you I’ve never done that before. Never even considered it, but I did with you because I thought we were in this together.”

“Wearein this together. You have no idea how terrifying it is to be happy, Mack. To be so screwed up for so long that I can’t automatically trust what my eyes and heart and body are telling me.”

“Then trust me to show you.”

“I do, but I can’t say that’s the last time I’ll get caught up in my head,” I tell him, reaching for his hand, my eyes filling with tears when he lets me thread our fingers together.

“I won’t stay if you deny me again. I can’t.”

“I won’t.”

“Piper, don’t?—”

“I’ll shout it from the rooftops if that helps.” When he doesn’t answer right away, I cup one hand around my mouth and shout, “Hey, everybody. I’m falling for Mack?—”