When You Became Mine Read online

  She was funny. She didn’t mean to be, but I’d find myself chuckling at her antics nonetheless. She’d come home from the mall a few days ago with an oriental rug that was the ugliest thing I’d ever seen. Proudly, she’d laid it out, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, and then proclaimed that she loved it. She’d been trying to get a rise out of me, and I refused to give in to her, instead telling her I thought it fit the space perfectly. The mini tantrum she’d thrown after not getting the reaction she’d wanted was so damn funny I’d had to sprint from the room to keep from letting her see me laughing at her expense. Every day, I’d find myself laughing to myself over something she’d said or done. And every day, I’d have to remind myself to keep it together.

  So, yes, I knew she was living in my house.

  And she was driving me crazy.

  “Georgia, don’t you have an extra bedroom in your apartment?” I asked, cutting my eyes to where she sat on the edge of my couch. She’d slipped her shoes off and was rubbing her feet over the god-awful rug, a sly smile on her face.

  “Nope,” she chirped.

  She was lying.

  “You’re lying.”

  She continued to push her toes into the carpet as she looked me in the eyes. “Okay, I’m lying.”

  “I knew it. Listen, do you—”

  She gave a brisk shake of her head. “Don’t even ask. It’s not happening.”

  I groaned. “Why the hell not?”

  Georgia laughed and tilted her head to one side, making a show of looking me over. “What’s the matter, Law? Piper being here bringing back old feelings? Or have those feelings never actually gone away?”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  She finally stopped making a dent in the rug and pulled her feet under her, shifting to get more comfortable. I groaned again, knowing she was about to launch into one of her famous speeches.

  “Listen, I—”

  She threw a hand up and I bit my tongue. “Lawson, you aren’t fooling anyone. And you never have. Well, except for maybe Piper, but that’s because she’s been too wrapped up in Hampton to see you.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not trying to fool anyone.”

  She laughed and continued without missing a beat. “We all know how you feel about her, so stop trying to convince me otherwise. Hell, stop trying to convince yourself.”

  “I’ll stop arguing with you if you’ll let her come stay with you.”

  She pursed her lips together. “You don’t want her leaving and you know it. And please, don’t try to tell me you’ve moved on. You may have put a thousand miles between you and her, but I know you never actually let her go.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  She pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes. “I know what you did.”

  My eyebrows rose. “What I did?”

  “You really think I believe Mom won those concert tickets? Coincidentally the day after that loser she was supposed to go with dumped her?”

  My heart began to pound, but I shook my head. “Don’t know what you’re talkin’ ’bout, Georgie.”

  “Uh-huh.” We sat and stared at each other for a beat, a battle of wills. But I refused to cave and confirm her suspicions. Instead, I steered the conversation back to safer territory.

  “She’s driving me insane!” I said, unable to keep the exasperation from my voice. “She’s messy and loud. She talks to me all the damn time. She doesn’t pick up after herself. She hates my cat!”

  Georgia’s eyes sparkled. “Sounds to me like she’s just what you need.”

  My eyes nearly bugged out of my head. “Just what I need? Have you lost your mind? What I need is my house back. Look”—I gestured toward the front door where three random socks and four shoes lay—“every time she walks in, she leaves half of her wardrobe behind!”

  Georgia stuck her thumbnail in her mouth, her lips twitching. “Maybe next time she comes in, help her ditch all of her clothes?”

  I jumped to my feet and pushed a hand through my hair. “Jesus.” I turned back to where she was grinning like the Cheshire cat and proclaimed, “That’s the problem. I want to!”

  Georgia’s jaw dropped. I’d never admitted my feelings about Piper to her before. To anyone. And now, there I was, telling my little sister I wanted to jump her best friend. I’d be shocked too. Thankfully, she recovered quickly and picked her jaw up from the floor. “Lawson,” she said quietly. “Tell her.”

  I shook my head. “How would I even begin to start that conversation? ‘Hey, Piper, I know you just removed a bullet from someone in the ER tonight, but if you have a minute, I’d like to gut myself for you and tell you I’ve been in love with you for as long as I can remember?’” I squeezed the back of my neck. “Come on, Georgia.”

  She pushed forward to the edge of the couch, resting her elbows on her knees. Her face was serious, the playful teasing gone. “Lawson, what’s the worst that could happen?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. She could laugh in my face and tell me I’ve lost my mind.” My chest tightened. No, I couldn’t tell her how I felt. It was better to live in misery not knowing than it would be to deal with the rejection that was sure to come.

  “Quit being a pussy!” Georgia’s voice was exasperated. “You’re just being a coward.”

  “You’re right,” I admitted, striding to the front door. “Can we please talk about something else?” I’d just bent down to pick up Piper’s stuff when she threw the door open, nailing me in the head with the solid wood door. “Fuck,” I groaned, falling onto my ass.

  “Ohmygod, I’m so sorry!” she shouted, dropping her bag before sinking down in front of me. “Crap, Lawson, are you okay?” With an arm under my elbow she helped pull me back to standing. “Go sit on the couch, let me look at you.”

  She tugged the stethoscope from around her neck and gestured for me to sit down.

  “No, I’m fine,” I said as I rubbed the knot that was already forming on my scalp. Thankfully, it was covered by my hair.

  Georgia cleared her throat and Piper turned. “Hey, Georgie! What are you doing here?”

  She shrugged, a sly smile on her face as she replied, “Just came to see my big brother. Seems he’s having girl problems. Thought I’d give him some advice.”

  I shot her a look, hoping she could see the murderous thoughts that were flashing through my mind and she’d shut up. When she kept grinning and then winked at me, I narrowed my eyes.

  Piper pushed back to her feet and looked between us. “Girl problems, huh? You didn’t tell me you were seeing anyone.”

  Still rubbing my head, I grumbled, “I’m not.”

  I winced and the confusion on Piper’s face quickly changed to concern. “Seriously, come sit down, let me look at your head.” She was all business, her medical training taking over, and she pushed me toward the couch. I sat down and let her poke and prod my head, all the while trying to ignore the way her fingers felt sifting through my hair.

  She squatted down in front of me and pulled a penlight out of her scrub pocket, shining her light in my eyes. I tried to look away, but she grunted at me, pulling my attention back to her eyes.

  I’d forgotten what a brilliant shade of blue they were, and the longer she checked my eyes, the more time I had to study them, to see the flecks of gold that were scattered through the clear blue. She continued to look me over, her face just mere inches from mine, and I could feel her soft breaths on my cheeks.

  I wondered what she’d do if I leaned in, just a few inches, and brushed my lips over hers. Would she sigh, letting her lids flutter shut and lean into me? Throw her arms around my neck and melt into my body as I pulled her close and continued to explore her mouth, tasting her, the way I’d wanted to for the last ten years?

  She stopped shining the light into my eyes but didn’t move away. We stayed that way, staring into each other’s eyes, for another moment, and I swear to Christ I saw her body begin to sway
toward mine. My heart began to gallop as her eyes did in fact flutter shut.

  Fuck.

  I cleared my throat and her eyes snapped open. My voice was gravelly as I asked, “Am I going to live?”

  “Ah, yeah.” Her voice was hoarse and she quickly cleared the emotion away.

  I pushed off the couch and grabbed her hand, pulling her to her feet. Her body was close to mine, too close, and I suddenly needed some air. “Told you I was fine.”

  I slid past her, careful to make sure that no part of me touched her, and headed down the hall. “Georgia, you can let yourself out. I’ve got an early morning.”

  It probably made me a pussy, but I couldn’t be in the same room with either of them any more tonight. I needed a shower, a cold one, and about a week to get my head screwed back on straight. What the fuck was wrong with me? I almost kissed her, in front of my sister. Jesus.

  As I slammed the door shut, angry at myself, I heard Piper ask, “What was that all about?”

  Georgia giggled in response and I hauled ass to my bathroom to keep from hearing whatever embarrassing shit she was about to spill.

  I was in fact a fucking pussy.

  13

  Piper

  “Ah…this is just what I needed,” I said on an exhale. “Oh, yeah, right there,” I murmured as the massage therapist’s fingers dug into my shoulders. “God, yes.”

  “Are you about to get a happy ending, Pip?” Hampton asked, eliciting a chuckle from Smith.

  We were lined up in the massage room, face down on the beds, in the midst of a couple’s massage. Well, a threesome’s massage.

  “Maybe I am,” I retorted, my giggle fading into another moan. Andrew, the massage therapist assigned to me, expertly rubbed the tension out of my muscles and I couldn’t stop the groans of pleasure that had been escaping my lips for the last half hour.

  “If you think this is good, just wait until we get to the pedicures. Melinda rubs your feet so well, I’ve thought about switching teams just for her,” Smith chirped from the other end of the room.

  “You know you aren’t interested in giving up what I can do for you.” Hampton chuckled. I couldn’t see his face, but I could almost guarantee that line had been accompanied by a wink. Modesty was never his strong point.

  “If Smith has any more connections like these, I’m gonna work on stealing him from you,” I quipped.

  I’d really been missing my best friend the last few weeks, in serious need of some girl time, and someone to talk to about Lawson. When Hampton had invited me to a spa day, I’d jumped at the chance to relax. He hadn’t mentioned that Smith would be accompanying us, and even though I was disappointed that I wouldn’t have him all to myself, I’d been able to relax. I’d even found myself giggling at Smith, glad to have this time to really get to know him better.

  The therapist finished his massage, much to my disappointment, and advised us to get dressed and move on to phase two of the day: mani/pedis.

  Once we were settled into our chairs, our feet soaking in the bubbling hot water, I leaned forward, asking Smith, “How the heck did you get us in here? This place stays booked months in advance.”

  Smith winked, his eyes twinkling, and said, “I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

  Hampton nodded beside him. “Yeah, up your sleeve and down your pants.”

  I groaned. “God, Hampton, do you think about anything else?”

  He lifted a shoulder. “Well, I used to. Until I met this guy.”

  “What can I say”—Smith waggled his brows—“I’m a man of many talents.”

  I laughed. But when Smith took Hampton’s hand in his, warmth filled my chest and I settled back into the massage chair.

  I’d liked Smith from the moment Hampton had brought him home. There was just something about him that was so charming, right from the start. We hadn’t been able to spend a lot of time together, with our conflicting schedules, but any time we’d gotten together, it had been easy and fun. Just the way it was with Hampton and me.

  It had been a blow when he had announced they’d eloped, though. And I’d been resentful at first. But now, seeing them together, matching wedding bands sparkling in the soft lighting, fingers linked together, I knew this was exactly what Hampton needed.

  And, if I was being honest with myself, it was probably what I needed too. I would have forever been his roommate otherwise. Content to live in my comfortable world, with the man who would never love me the way I had once hoped.

  “You know, I was really upset when you guys eloped—”

  “Aw, Pip—” Hampton interrupted, but stopped speaking when I held up a hand.

  “I was upset, yes. But now…I see that it was good. And not just for you two. It was good for me too.” I cleared my throat, swallowing the emotion that was threatening to make me cry.

  Hampton untangled his fingers from his husband’s and leaned over to me, grabbing my hand and squeezing hard. “I love you so much,” he whispered fiercely. “I always have. And dammit, I always will. You’ve always been my other half. And nothing will change that.”

  His words broke the dam that had been holding back the moisture and tears rolled down my face.

  I knew his words were true. He did love me. As much as I loved him. Our relationship wouldn’t ever change, but instead, it would evolve.

  With my free hand, I swiped the tears from my face and laughed. “Not your other half. Your partner in crime. Smith here is your other half. Love you, Hammy.” I looked over his shoulder at where Smith sat, a soft smile on his face as he watched our exchange, and raised my voice. “Love you too, Smith.”

  “Right back atcha,” Smith chirped.

  I sucked in a cleansing breath. “Okay, enough mush.”

  Hampton nodded and leaned back into his seat, resuming his hold on Smith’s hand. “So, Pip, how’s it going with my big brother?”

  I raised my arms over my head to stretch. “God, I don’t freaking know! One day he’s hot, one day he’s cold. I swear, I don’t know what it is I’m doing to make him mad sometimes.”

  Hampton laughed. “I doubt you’re doing anything at all.”

  “He spends all day in his work cave. Literally, I peeked in there once, and it was like something out of a movie.”

  Smith leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “What do you mean?”

  I shrugged. “Computer monitors everywhere.”

  “What did you say he does again?” he asked, still studying me intently.

  “I dunno. Something to do with security. He’s a computer geek. Always has been.”

  Hampton chimed in, “Yeah, he was recruited by the company he works for before he’d even graduated college.”

  “Ah,” Smith muttered, leaning back in his seat. “I don’t think he cares for me.”

  “Why do you say that?” I asked.

  He inspected his fingernails as he replied, “Just a feeling I get.”

  Hampton laughed. “He doesn’t like anyone, honey. Well, except Pippie here.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh, please. He definitely does not like me.”

  “He may want you to think he doesn’t like you. But trust me, he does.” Hampton was still grinning, like he was in on a joke none of us were privy to.

  “Well, I wish he would quit griping at me to clean up after myself all the time. Maybe say actual words to me when I greet him instead of chin lifts and grunts. And you know, it would really be nice if he would let me spruce the place up a bit,” I grumbled. “I’m used to living with a man who had actual taste in furniture. He wouldn’t know good décor if it bit him in the ass!”

  “Aw, give him a break. He can’t help it that all the good genes skipped over him.” Hampton flexed a bicep, showing off his large muscles and drawing a burst of laughter out of me.

  “Hm…I don’t know. He grew up a lot while he was in Vegas. He may be able to give you a run for your money now,” I teased.

  Only, it wasn’t an untruth.

  Lawson was definite
ly not the same gangly kid who had left all those years ago. And while I’d tried not to notice the changes in him, they were too good to ignore.

  “Enough about Lawson,” I said, ready to change the subject. “I’ve got that interview coming up. I’m so nervous, I’ve been listening to lectures nonstop.”

  “Just be yourself,” Smith piped up. “You’ll be great.”

  I nodded, smiling. It was great advice…for a kid starting their first job in high school. I was pretty sure my mother had told me the same thing when I got hired at the local burger place at sixteen. But I needed actual pointers. “This residency program has been my goal from the start. I’ve been planning for it for the last eight years.”

  “Well, the most important thing to remember is that they will be lucky to have you, not the other way around,” Hampton assured. “If you want, I’ll come to the ER on my next day off and do your rounds with you.”

  I nodded so enthusiastically, I was worried my head might bobble off my shoulders. “Yes!”

  He smiled. “In the meantime, keep doing what you’ve been doing. Listen to lectures, read over every medical book you have.” He paused as I continued to nod. “And the most important thing? Relax.”

  He reached out and gave my thigh a quick pat, his genuine smile setting me at ease. He was right, just like he always was.

  “I don’t know if I can relax, but today is definitely helping.” I grinned and leaned my head back against the chair.