Three and Out

  “You’re right, but what’s life without a little variety?”

  **Hannah**

  “Where the hell have you been?” Hannah asked, stunned to see Piper standing in front of her.

  The moment she heard that familiar voice ring through the bar, she knew it was Piper, her best friend who had left her without a word…left her to pick up her shifts at the bar…left her during a time when Hannah needed her the most…and left her without even the decency of a good bye. She better have a good reason as to why she treated their friendship like it didn’t matter at all.

  Realizing she’d dropped a bowl of nuts, she quickly gathered them up and tossed them in the trash, as her face turned a nice shade of red. She was always easily embarrassed.

  “Hannah, do you need help?” Piper walked toward her.

  Hannah held up her arm to stop Piper from coming any closer. “Stop, answer the question.” Hannah never swore, but hearing and seeing Piper threw her off, and she was bound for a slip up.

  “I needed to leave, Hannah.”

  “Without even saying goodbye? How could you just leave me, Piper? I needed you,” Hannah said softly, as Piper came around to the bar and wrapped her up in her arms. Hannah wasn’t much of a fighting type, especially with friends, so she caved easily when Piper offered her shoulder to her.

  “I’m so sorry, Hannah. I was going through such a rough time. I just broke everything off with Jax, I went to go be with Mason, and he was with Brooke. I lost everything in a matter of hours, and I didn’t know how to react; all I knew was I needed to get the hell out of here, away from everything that reminded me of my life, and unfortunately, that meant I had to stop talking to you. I didn’t even talk to my family or Lexi…no one knew where I was.”

  “I could have helped,” Hannah offered.

  “And I love you for that, Hannah, but I don’t think anyone could have helped me…except for one person.”

  “Mason?” Hannah asked, as she wiped her eyes and stepped away from Piper.

  “Yes,” she nodded her head. “It’s a long story, but I’m back, and there’s no more running for this girl. I’m here to stay. The only way I’m leaving is if Mason kicks me out.”

  “Kicks you out? What are you saying?”

  “We’re kind of together, figuring things out.”

  “Are you serious? But I thought he was with Brooke, like you said, but then again, I’ve seen him with other girls as well.”

  Piper winced at Hannah’s statement. “Well, he’s not with them anymore. He has a new condo now, and is starting a new chapter in his life, we both are.

  “I just can’t believe this, he’s taking you back, just like that?” Hannah snapped her fingers, not holding anything back. “You used him, Piper.”

  Piper hung her head as she said, “Yeah, I know. I don’t know why he’s giving me a second chance, but he is.” She paused for a second, and then continued. “A part of me wants to believe that he truly wants to be with me, a big part actually, but there is this small voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me, he’s going to fuck me over and his sole purpose in life right now is to break my heart.”

  “Why do you think that?” Hannah asked, feeling a little awkward that they were trying to fall back into their friend roles with each other.

  “It just seems too easy. It should never be this easy. He should have never have given in like what I did to him was nothing. I just don’t get it.”

  “Have you told him this?”

  “Yes, he says it’s because he never got over me. I just don’t know.”

  Hannah didn’t know what to do, so instead, she awkwardly patted Piper’s hand.

  “Whiskey sour, please,” said a customer who came up to the counter, grabbing a handfull of nuts.

  “Sure thing, Harry.”

  Hannah ignored Piper for a second, as she got the drink for Harry, and placed it in front of him. Harry left a ten dollar bill, winked at her, and told her to keep the change. Harry was always a good tipper, especially when the girls were working.

  “Hannah, I’m sorry,” Piper said, as tears filled her eyes. “I can’t tell you how sorry I am about everything.”

  At that moment, Ryker popped through the bar door and called out, “There’s my boo.” Not even noticing Piper, he walked over to the bar, leaned over the counter, and grabbed Hannah by the hand. “I had to see you before your shift truly started, but don’t worry, I’ll be around for a while. There are some chicken wings in the back with my name on them.” Ryker grabbed Hannah’s face and kissed her senseless, making Hannah blush in front of everyone in the bar. “Damn, I missed you.” He felt her forehead and said, “Oh no, I think you’re coming down with something; I think you need to come home with me.” Ryker laughed to himself and then nodded at Piper as a polite hello, but when he actually saw who it was, he stood up straight.

  “Piper, what the hell?”

  Hannah looked at Piper, and she didn’t miss the surprised look on Piper’s face either…from seeing the over-affectionate but incredibly sweet Ryker kiss her. He didn’t care about PDA protocol. When he wanted to kiss her, he kissed her, same thing when it came to holding her hand, pinching her butt, and wrapping his arm around her waist. Sometimes he could get really handsy, and that was when she put an end to it.

  “I guess I should say the same thing,” Piper said, as she looked between the two of them.

  Ryker rubbed his forehead and said, “Shit, I haven’t talked to Mason in a while. Wait,” Ryker’s head shot up, “Please tell me Mason knows you’re here.”

  “She’s staying with him,” Hannah interjected, calming Ryker’s searching eyes. He smiled down at her and pulled her across the counter again for another kiss.

  “Wow, you guys are kind of cute,” Piper said, making Hannah beam. She agreed.

  Ryker effortlessly hopped over the counter and wrapped Hannah up in his arms with her back to his chest.

  “Aren’t we?” Ryker said, while slightly swaying them back and forth. The man was adorable.

  “Ryker, why don’t you go sit in your booth? I’ll bring you a beer and some wings in a few minutes, okay?” Hannah said, while tipping her head back to look at him.

  “You’re going to tell her how good I am in bed, aren’t you?” His grin spread across his cheeks.

  “Ryker,” Hannah playfully slapped his shoulder and shooed him toward his booth, but not before he grabbed her one more time and pulled her in for a soul-searing kiss that made her dizzy when he let go. She watched him swagger over to his booth, putting on a show for her. That man.

  “Earth to Hannah,” Piper said, shaking Hannah out of her thoughts.

  “Sorry. So, umm, we’re together.”

  “I can see that,” Piper said, looking back at Ryker, who waved from the booth. “God, he has not changed a bit.”

  “He hasn’t,” Hannah said with a smile. He was still the same goofy, instigating, handsome, and caring man she’d come to know.

  “Are you going to tell me what happened?”

  Hannah started wiping down the counter as she said, “I don’t really like to talk about it.”

  Piper blew out a long breath as she said, “Hannah, I know I don’t deserve your friendship right now, and I don’t deserve your understanding, but please let me at least try to be there for you. I was a shitty person a couple of months ago. I was lost, and didn’t think I had any options, but now I’m back and I want to make things right…especially with you. You mean so much to me, and I know I didn’t show that by leaving, but Hannah, you really mean so much to me. Please give me another chance.”

  Hannah studied the worn wood of the bar counter top as she weighed her options. What it came down to was, she didn’t have many girlfriends, and she was dying to actually talk to someone about everything, especially her relationship with Ryker.

  Taking a leap, Hannah said, “Todd had a second life. He was married with kids in New York.”

  “What?!” Piper practically sh
outed, as her eyes bugged out and what seemed like steam came out of her ears. Hannah had seen that face before, Piper was going to kill.

  “Yup, his wife came into the bar with a child on her hip and told me to quit seeing her husband. I’ve never been so embarrassed and brokenhearted in my life. I clearly got rid of all of Todd’s things, told him to never contact me again, and then lived in a state of depression for a couple of months after pushing Ryker away. I had no one…”

  “Shit,” Piper pulled Hannah into a hug and held onto her tightly. Piper was taller than Hannah, and skinnier, but she was full of warmth as she wrapped her arms around Hannah and held her closely. “I’m so sorry you had to go through that alone.”

  “I’m sorry you had to be alone too,” Hannah replied.

  “So, how did Ryker happen?”

  “I hit him with my cart…in his privates.”

  Piper snorted.

  “You can say dick, boo. It’s okay,” Ryker startled both of them, making them jump.

  “Jesus, Ryker,” Hannah held her chest. “I’ll be right over with your beer and wings.”

  “Don’t worry, boo. I got it covered. Already put in my order for multiple baskets of wings, and I can just grab a beer.” He reached into a cooler and pulled out a bottle, easily taking the top off by hitting it against the counter.

  “How many baskets, Ryker?” Hannah asked, as she put her hands on her hips. “I know you can eat like a horse, but remember we talked about you starting to incorporate vegetables in your diet?”

  “They’re not just for me,” he said, while taking a sip of his beer.

  “I’m not joining you for dinner. I have to work, Ryker.”

  The door opened, and Hannah turned to see Mason, crutching his way into the bar with a huge grin on his face.

  “Way to leave a guy hanging out on the road all by himself,” Mason smiled as he headed over to Piper and placed a kiss on her cheek.

  “You did not crutch all the way over here, did you? You know you can use your phone,” Piper chastised.

  “Meatloaf dropped me off. He was getting some knots rubbed out of his back. Ryker sent me a text and said there was a redheaded devil at the bar, and apparently we needed to catch up.”

  Piper spun to Ryker and said, “Redheaded devil? Really Ryker?”

  He held his hands up in defense, “Hey, I only speak the truth. You’re some kind of dangerous, but a good kind.” He winked. “Beer, Donkey Dick?” Mason nodded, placed a kiss on Piper’s cheek and then went over to the booth they used to sit at almost every night.

  Hannah and Piper looked at their boys as they talked, clinked beers, and joked around.

  “This is oddly familiar, but so different,” Piper commented, as they both watched Mason throw his head back and laugh.

  “It is, but good different.”

  “Great different.”

  Hannah and Piper spent the rest of the night catching up and maintaining the bar. Even though Piper wasn’t employed at the bar anymore, she still helped Hannah out, so they could talk about everything that was going on in their lives. Hannah was happy, for the first time in a while. She had Ryker looking at her like she was the only woman in the world; Piper, her best friend was back in her life, and for once, Hannah could actually see a future coming together for her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  **Piper**

  “Your hand is clammy,” Mason said, as he held up their clasped hands, examining their connection.

  They were almost to Jesse’s house, and all Piper could think about was how nervous she was. She knew she didn’t have the greatest track record where Mason’s friends were concerned, so she was nervous to see how they were all going to react to her presence.

  “Just a little nervous, that’s all.”

  “Why? You have no reason to be nervous. Everyone loves you.”

  Piper glanced at Mason and gave him a sarcastic “I’m sure” look.

  “Seriously. Jesse doesn’t really know you, but once he sees what a sac-shrinker you are, he’ll love you. Everyone else knows you.”

  “Ryker was eyeing me yesterday; I don’t know if he’s happy that I’m back in your life.”

  Mason shrugged his shoulders as he told her to turn right at the street coming up. “Ryker was just worried, but I set him straight last night. He gave Hannah a second chance, why can’t I give you one?”

  “I think the circumstances are completely different.”

  “They seem the same to me,” Mason said, while kissing the back of Piper’s hand, making her feel guilty. When she was around Mason, she either felt guilty for what she did to him, or not good enough, given his stature and personality. He was gruff most of the time but sensitive and a kind and caring man, something she was only privy to see. She was lucky, and she didn’t believe she deserved him, not one bit.

  “Why the frown?” he asked, while smoothing out her forehead.

  “Do you ever think you could do better?” Piper asked, as she pulled into the big driveway and put the car in park.

  Mason turned in his seat, as best as he could, given his bulky size. “Not now. I’m not doing this now. You know you’re good enough, perfect for me, so get your ass out of this car and have a good time.”

  “But…”

  “Piper,” Mason said sternly, “I’m not fucking doing this. Where is the strong confident woman I first met? I want her back. I want the girl who told me to fuck off on a plane, who stole my clothes at a wedding, and who had me begging to take her on a pool table. I want that girl. The pity party is over; we are moving forward.”

  “How can I move forward if you won’t talk to me?” Piper practically shouted, as she started to get angry. “I can’t just forget everything, Mason.”

  “Fuck,” Mason hit the dashboard and opened his door. “I’m not doing this now.”

  “When?” Piper shouted, making Mason close his door so no one heard them. “When are we going to talk about it? You can’t keep avoiding this conversation. It’s eating me alive.”

  “What is? Why is it so important to you to talk about this?”

  Ryker’s car pulled up next to theirs, and Hannah and Ryker got out, seeing Mason and Piper in a heated debate. Hannah waved politely and Ryker pulled his pants down and pressed his ass against Mason’s side while shimmying it.

  “Ryker!” Hannah said from outside while grabbing his arm, clearly realizing that Piper and Mason were in a serious conversation. She ushered him toward the front door, while he pulled up his pants and laughed. She scolded him like a child.

  Mason shook his head and looked back at Piper. His temper had calmed down slightly from the interruption, and he asked again, “Why is it so important to you?”

  “I need to know how badly I hurt you. I need to know everything, to get this off my chest, to be free of the guilt I’ve been carrying around for months. I need you to know how sorry I am, how regretful I am, how much I wish, instead of stealing your clothes at the wedding, that I had actually made love to you on the beach. I have regrets in my life, but my biggest regret was not giving myself over to you when you wanted me to, when I wanted to.”

  Mason nodded his head and looked out the window as silence fell between them.

  Grabbing Piper’s hand, he threaded their fingers together and looked down at their connection.

  “You annihilated me, Piper, and I just don’t mean when you walked away. I mean the day I saw you at the bar for the first time after Jake and Lexi’s wedding. There was no turning back for me after that. I may have been an ass at times, I may have been a demanding fuck, but it’s because you stole my breath, you stole my heart, and you stole my soul. I was functionless when you weren’t around; you broke me down and glued me back together with your heart. When I heard you were engaged, after you said you wanted to be with me, I lost it. My life went cold and black; there was nothing left for me, so I turned to the one person I shouldn’t have, not only because of your history with her, but because I was only using her, wh
en clearly she wanted more from me that I just couldn’t give her.”

  Tears rolled down Piper’s face as she listened to Mason. For the first time, she was really starting to understand everything she’d put Mason through, and it gutted her.

  He took a deep breath and continued. “I hated you, I wanted you to hurt, the way I was hurting. Even though I thought about you every day you were gone, and I craved your soft touch and beautiful lips, I hoped you were miserable.” He shook his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was saying. “You annihilated me,” he repeated, “but not once did I stop wanting you or needing you…that’s why you’re with me now, because I need you in my life. I may be a stupid man, but I can see the hurt in your eyes, the pain you went through, the honesty of never wanting to leave me again, and it’s like a fucking drug. I see a future with you in it, and I won’t deny myself of that because I can be one of the most stubborn asses around.”

  Wiping a tear away, Piper asked, “Are you still mad at me?”

  Mason thought for a second as he looked her in the eyes. His eyes were gentle, sincere, as he looked upon her. She couldn’t turn away from him now, even if she tried.

  “No, Piper. I’m not mad at you.” He took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. “I’m fucking in love with you.”

  Piper’s breath caught in her throat as the words she had been dying to hear from Mason a couple of months ago came rolling out of his mouth with ease.

  “You love me?” she asked, almost stunned.

  A small smirk spread across his face as he said, “I don’t think I have ever stopped loving you, Piper, and it kills me that I can’t touch you the way I want to.”

  “Why can’t you?”

  “Because it’s not good enough for me to just be in lust like we were. I want to be in love, I want a partner, and I want a best friend, and we can’t have that if all we do is talk after amazing, wall-banging sex.”

  Piper blushed, thinking back to the time Mason took her up against the wall in the back room of the bar.