December (The Page Sisters Book 1) (16 page)

T
HE
P
AST

Danny age twenty-four

December age fifteen

My sisters and I skate up and down the black asphalt road of our neighborhood street. It is summer and school is out. The weather is dangerously sweltering. It is hot. It is ninety degrees. The sun in the sky is nothing more than a burning yellow sphere, threatening to boil us to death.

I practically collapse into the poolside chair next to Gary. Gray dragged our pool chairs out into the front lawn. My mother is into trailer-trash décor right now. We have poolside chairs with no pool. Huge inflatable pool balls, no pool. We do have an actual pool table next to the deck. Mom and Papa Pete play pool at night.

We also have outrageously tacky plastic pink flamingos in front of the rosebushes. I love my mom and all the stages she goes through. 

Gray is sitting pretty in his mirror multi-colored sunglasses and vibrant striped tank top with his long, muscular legs bursting out of his white denim cut-off shorts. His wavy ash-brown hair is pushed away from his handsome model-like face. I swear he has greased his high cheekbones to emphasize how beautiful he is.

He eats sliced watermelon out of a bowl on his lap. Juices from the watermelon drip from his full bottom lip, and I have to roll my eyes because if I don’t, then I’m afraid I might moan or do something even more stupid. Gray is the vision of summer. And his sights are on January in her mini shorts and her neon pink bikini top as she skates up and down the street. She’s happy, laughing and smiling. He flexes his newly formed biceps each time she passes us.

“Showing off?”

He gives me a sardonic grin. “You can’t help but notice, huh?” He flexes his biceps again—sculpted muscles moving under golden brown skin. “Try not to strain your eyeballs or anything. I can see that you’re checking me out. And I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

“You’re so very stupid,” I say without irony. “I see you checking January out. Just go talk to her. Man up, Gray.”

“It’s complicated.” He takes a bite out of a triangle-shaped slice of watermelon, then offers the leaking bitten fruit to me.

I take it, eating the cold fruit because it’s simply too hot to argue. He has always done this. He offers me his spoils. Gray has to at least sample it for himself before he gives it to me.

He’s a greedy bastard. 

“Nothing is as complicated as it seems. You like her. She likes you. You have to put yourself out there, Gray. You have to take the lead, be a man. She likes that. January likes aggressive guys. So take charge, you freak.”

His tinted lenses are directed at me and he lifts a brow. “What do you know about being a man and taking the lead? Who has taken manly lead in your life?”

I feel myself instantly blushing under the scrutiny of his gaze. “Shut up, Gray. You know what I mean.”

He snorts, munching on more melon. “Yeah. I know what you mean. But everyone isn’t built like you are, December.”

“Just don’t waste your time pining when you could be boning.”

“Jesus Christ, December,” Gray says, recovering from the fruit he almost chokes on.

“Girls aren’t that difficult to figure out,” I mutter, tossing off my loose T-shirt. I reach for the button of my yellow shorts and stop. Gray’s tinted leans are aimed at me. He isn’t shy about staring, so I feel the need to point it out. “You’re staring at me.”

“You took off your shirt.” He says it likes it’s his defense and like he has the right to look because of it.

I stare at the sprinklers that’s about to come on, then back at him. “I’m hot. The sprinklers are about to come on.”

He doesn’t say anything. Gray simply stares. He’s eating his watermelon like it is popcorn and stares at my chest, completely unabashed at the moment. Gray stares at my chest as if I have the most amazing chest in the world, which I don’t, not even close. My breasts are immature compared to January’s double D’s. I have C-cups, but I guess they’re kind of big for my age.

Shrugging, I settle back in the chair and thrust my chest out. I must have some appeal now if he’s checking me out. He looks away briefly but looks at my chest again. “You can’t be out like this? You have to go.”

“What?” I frown at him. “Why?”

“I can see your nipples.”

“So?”

He mutters something under his breath and looks away again. I follow his gaze to across the street. Gray’s staring at his house. Danny’s BBQing in their backyard. I can smell the delicious scent of hotdogs and hamburgers cooking on the charcoal grill. He runs his fingers through his longish hair and sighs.

“You’re going to have to put your shirt back on or leave. You can’t expect me to sit here when you’re about to get wet.” He pauses and takes a deep inhale and exhale, his face flushing red. “Once the sprinklers are on, you’re going to be all soaking wet and that flimsy material will be totally transparent.”

“So?”

His brows almost rise to his forehead. “I can already see your nipples.”

“So?” I ask, reaching into the bowl on his lap to take a slice of watermelon.

“Please, December,” Grays pleads, begging. “I can’t help but look. I’m looking now, and I’m going to look when your top is drenched. Please, please take pity on me. I can’t look at you in your see-through soaked top and still be breathing to tell about it the next day. Danny will kill me. Do you know how many times he’s already bruised me from staring at you when we went to the water park? That was only a week ago.” 

We did go to a water park last week. It seemed like my sisters and I had the interest of every male in the park. The Oliver brothers didn’t have a good day that day. No. That wasn’t their day at all. The brothers made us keep our shorts on. We were forbid to be fully out in our swimsuits. The poor guys. They couldn’t handle it.

July had a lime green bikini that revealed her wicked curves and her blonde locks were summertime perfection. Jarvis vowed to fight anyone who dared to look at her in his presence. He kept her at his side at all times. Jarvis had one arm around her waist and the other was fisted at his side, ready to strike.

Miles kept close to May. He kept her distracted enough to keep all of her attention on him and what they were doing. May didn’t want anyone but Miles. So it was kind of perfect for them, except when guys began salivating over her in her flowy dress that revealed what kind of scandalous swimsuit she wore underneath. I think that just about gave Miles an aneurism.

January wore the most revealing bikini there was. She wore a strappy strawberry pink-colored swimsuit that bared her huge boobs and toned stomach and long legs. January wore heels. She wore heels in a water park and got away with it because she looks like a fucking model. Poor, poor, stupid Gray. He played at being her very best friend in the world. They ate at the places January wanted to eat. They played the games January wanted to play. They rode the rides January wanted to ride. He was her best friend until she turned her back. When January turned her back, Gray would become her guard dog. He would growl at everyone in her proximity. Gray actually growled.

As for Danny, he didn’t growl. He didn’t threaten to fight anyone. He didn’t have me glued to his hip. Danny whistled. He freaking whistled.

Whenever I’d get too ahead of him or if some guy began talking to me and wanted my number, this horrible high piercing noise would come blaring from his tightly pressed lips. Danny whistled and glared at me. I’d return at his side, sulking like a puppy returning to their master after breaking free of their leash. The man has a horrible whistle and a death glare I now see when I close my eyes.

“Fine,” I mutter, turning over. I give Gray my back. “Are you happy now?”

“I can see your ass now.”

“Jesus, what do you want me to do, wear a garbage bag?”

“That might help.”

“He won’t hit you for being next to me, Gray. You’re so scared of Danny. It’s funny.”

“Fuck yes I’m scared of Danny,” he admits shamelessly without regard of pride. “Shit, I’m down right terrified of him. The man kills for a living. Danny has a perfect aim. He has a trigger finger and never misses a target.”

“What does he do? What’s his job in the military?”

“Nothing. I’ve said too much. We should go see that new movie tomorrow.”

“Whatever.” Cool water rains down on me, cooling my heated skin. I release a long sigh and shiver from the spray of cold water.

“Ow. I’m sorry, Man. Stop hitting me.”

I turn and watch Danny whack his brother upside his head. Gray frowns at me, rubbing his skull. “It’s all your fault, December.”

“It’s not her fault your eyes are staring at her ass,” Danny hisses, thumping him in his ear. Gray flinches. “Keep your eyes down when it comes to her. How many times do I have to tell you not to look at her?”

Gray covers his face with his arms, blocking violent thumps and smacks from his brother. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I won’t look. I told her to put her shirt back on.”

“He did tell me to put my shirt back on,” I mumble in Gray’s defense.

Danny gives me his death glare, but I have to suppress my laugh. I can’t take him serious in his Chef Boyardee hat and apron that has I’m a Master Chef Go Tell Your Momma written boldly on the front.  “Then put your shirt back on.”

I pick my wrinkled shirt up from the ground and toss it over my head. It gets wet from the sprinklers. I frown at both of them. “Are you guys happy now?” 

Gray nods in relief.

“For now,” Danny says, his eyes holding me where I am.

I wink at him.

He smiles as he walks away, shaking his head.

T
HE
P
RESENT

“You did what?” January asks, perplexed. Her eyes are wide, almost popping out of her skull.

“I told him to he either be rough or nothing at all.”

My sisters gape at me in horror. I’ve told them how I lost my virginity to Danny six times already. They stare at me, speechless each time. They seem to be in a stunned trance of disbelief.

“I can’t believe he left you afterwards,” July whispers. “That’s just wrong.”

“He says we need to mature as a couple before we have kids. Danny’s right. But I don’t think I’m pregnant. I mean, I could be—we didn’t use any protection—but I don’t think I am. It’s way too early to tell.”

“Oh, my God,” January murmurs, her eyes growing even wider.

“You could have told us, December,” May says as she brushes my hair. “You’ve been through a lot. But we are your sisters. We love you, December. We’re here to support you.”

We’re all snuggled in the hotel bed. I’m all cried out and stuffed with food. My sisters dropped everything and came bursting through the door after I called. We ordered room service and desserts galore. We kind of went crazy with room service. We ordered every ice cream topping. I love my sisters and I should have known that they are never too busy for me.

“I didn’t know how.”

“You could have told us about Josh too,” July adds, shaking her head. “I didn’t take him as a jerk. The man warships the ground you walk on. So does Danny.”

“He’s not a jerk,” I say quietly. “Everything’s complicated.”

“And he asked you to choose?” May asks, braiding my hair in two thick French braids.

“Basically. He gave me an ultimatum, which is something he said he wouldn’t do after I gave him one about my virginity. Danny said he couldn’t be intimate with me anymore if we’re not exclusive. I get it. I do, but it makes feel kind of...trapped.”

I wince when I say it.

“Ouch,” January replies. “The word ‘trapped’ is not a good one when referring to a relationship. I thought Danny makes you happy.”

“He does,” I declare. “He makes me happy, but he makes me angry and miserable, as well. He infuriates me. But I love him.”

“Do you want be with him?” July asks, spooning over her banana pudding.

“I guess. I don’t know.”

“I think you’re afraid,” May whispers. “And that’s okay. You have two men that would give you the world to make you smile. That’s a lot. It would be overwhelming for anyone.”

“The real question is why haven’t you set boundaries with Josh?” July questions as she shakes a can of whipped cream and then sprays her pudding cup with it.

My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”

“Well, you said he’s your friend,” she starts a little too casually, “if that’s true, then you have to set boundaries. There should be some lines you never cross as friends. Kissing and oral sex is one of them.”

“I don’t do well with boundaries,” I say defensively. “Josh and I have done pretty damn well for the past four years. When Danny came home, Josh felt the need to take things to another level.”

“December, if you want both men in your life when all this blows over, then you’re going to have to set some boundaries,” May says softly, tickling the ends of my braids against my nose.

“I know,” I murmur just as softly. “I’m learning.”

“Yes, baby sister, you are,” January replies, annoyingly pinching my cheek good-naturedly.

“Whatever. Let’s get off me. How are things going with Gray?”

January gives me a slow smile that says a lot. “Gray is fun.”

I lift a brow. “Fun? That’s all.”

“We’re having fun. I think he senses that I need that after Luke.”

“That amazing,” May says earnestly. “Gray has always made you happy. I like you with Gray.”

“I like her with Gray, too,” I say, waggling my brows at January.

“Gray is goofy and hot, so yeah. I like you with Gray, as well,” July adds, still playing over her pudding.

“Okay guys,” January says, blushing slightly. “It’s not serious yet. At least I think it’s not serious. I mean, I just got out of a really messy situation.” She shudders, her eyes losing focus.

“It’s okay,” I tell her, rubbing her arm. “He’s never going to touch you again. I will kill him before he does.”

“We will all murder him before he ever lays another hand on you,” July vows.

“He doesn’t touch you, January,” May says.

She looks up at us, her magnificent honey brown eyes shimmering with suppressed tears. “Thanks, guys.”

“Okay, let’s get have a little fun,” July says, shaking up a can of whipped cream again. I don’t get a word in before I’m blasted in the face with cold cream. It feels my mouth and shoots across my eyes.

I jump up to get the other can. July runs to the bathroom, squealing with laughter as I chase after her. She laughs loudly from behind the safety of the locked door. The girl is fast on her feet.

I turn and blast January, who is laughing uncontrollably. She takes all the uneaten cupcakes and throws them at me like grenades.

I take cover under the table in the dining room area as pink frosting splatters everywhere, exploding into bombs of crumbled cake. May takes my back, slinging green Jell-O on January. July comes out from hiding, spraying May down with whipped cream and dumps a small bowl of colorful sprinkles on top of her hand.

I pull July’s feet from under her and drag her to the ground, pinning her to the floor as May gets a container of chocolate fudge and dumps it on her.

We’re all tangled on the floor, drenched in whipped cream and fudge and sprinkles, laughing hysterically at the end.

“Oh, how the Oliver’s wish they were here,” I say, smiling for the first time today.

“Only in their wildest dreams,” July says through a laugh.

“I have fudge in my ears,” January groans.

“I have sprinkles where sprinkles shouldn’t be,” May counters, laughing hard.

***

Snow flurries flutter around me when I get out my car. I’m at Piper’s bakery. We’re about to have coffee. I’ve been dreading this moment since she called me yesterday. But today is a new day. And I had an incredible time with my sisters last night. My sisters restored my hope. So I’m going to do the impossible and behave like an adult. Both Danny and Josh think I’m incapable of confronting my issues head on. This is my chance to prove them wrong.

I’m met with the faint smell of lemon cleaner as I walk through the glass door. The bakery is empty. Everything is put away. A cute younger guy in the classic pink and white retro Sprinkles and Beyond uniform with short copper hair cleans off the tables.

“Are you closing?” I ask.

He looks up at me and smiles. “Yeah. Piper wanted to close early today. You must be December. She told me to tell you that she’s in her office and to go on in.”

“Okay.”

“Do you want anything? I can grab you something from the kitchen, if you want.”

“No, thank you,” I say over my shoulder. I walk down the corridor and past the chrome and steel state-of-the-art stylish kitchen. Piper’s face is almost pressed into the screen of her desktop computer when I peek inside her office door that’s ajar. Her thin golden brows are knitted together. She seems in deep thought.

I knock.

She looks up and smiles. “Hey. Thanks for coming. Come on in.”

“No problem,” I say, sitting in one of two plush pale yellow chairs in front of her granite-topped desk. I stare at all the pictures of Josh at different ages on her desk and frown. She has photos of a Josh themed timeline, from when he was a blonde-haired boy to him as an adult man with a darker blonde beard. I’m hit with wave after wave of emotion staring at so many pictures of Josh’s smiling face. It’s clear that Piper loves her brother.

“How is your day been?”

“I’m surviving,” I reply.

“That’s great,” she says through a bright smile. “Let me fix you some coffee before we begin. I buy these coffee beans from Costa Rica and they are divine. You’ll love it.” She lifts from her swivel chair to pour me a steaming cup. Piper fixes the coffee the way I like it–with a lot of sugar and even more cream. I guess she remembers how I like coffee because I bought it from here so much. She has a good memory. 

She hands me the warm deep purple mug and sits back down behind her desk. “I don’t want to take up much of your time, so I’ll get right to the point.”

I blow across the hot surface, my eyes on her. “That’s good.”

She winces and tucks a strand of thick wheat-colored hair behind her ear. “I thank you again for coming. I want to first apologize to you.”

I sip at the coffee and moan. This coffee tastes like I bit into a chocolate candy bar. “Why?”

She stares at me with those big water blue eyes that are a replica of Josh’s. I dig my nails into the arms of the chair I’m in. Those blue irises gut me each and every time.

“I’m not usually one to gossip. It’s a nasty habit I tend to do when I drink one too many cocktails. Jessica and I met for drinks. She wanted to meet and catch up, which should have been a major red flag to me because we don’t really hang out. Well, we never hang out. We’re not friends, but friendly around each other. She watched me toss back drinks and begin to ask so many questions.” She frowns at me. “They were mostly about you. I think she got me drunk on purpose. Anyway, I spilled the beans about you and Josh. I feel so guilty. Then she used it against you at your surprise birthday party. I was crawling in my skin that entire night. I feel extremely awful about the whole thing.”

So that’s how Jessica knew Josh went down on me.

“She did get you drunk on purpose.”

Piper flinches. She’s obviously sincere about her apology. I still feel a certain type of bitter anger towards her about it, about everything.

“I feel like a fool,” she says, shaking her head. “I fell for it. I’m sorry.”

“That’s alright,” I say, shrugging and sipping coffee. “It was only a matter of time before she found out, anyway. Not a big deal.”

“It is a big deal,” she protests with a solid firmness to her voice I’ve never heard. “It’s a very big deal. My brother came to me and confided in me and I betrayed him.” She gives me a wavering closed-mouthed smile. Her eyes are watering. “See, I love my brother. Josh means the world to me. He was terrified out of his mind when he came to me and told me about what happened between you and him. He didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know how to handle it. He was revolted at himself because he thought he hurt you. So I told him not to bring it up, unless it was absolutely necessary. I was upset with you for putting him in this situation, but more than anything I wanted to protect my brother. So when Jessica wanted to meet for drinks, I have to tell you, I didn’t meet her with pure intentions in my heart, either.”

Oh, wow.

Piper wanted to hurt me for hurting Josh. But in hurting me, she betrayed her brother. Piper has some fucking big balls. Damn, I’m almost in awe of her. Her honesty has me near speechless. Who knew tiny, dainty Piper was bold. 

“I get it, Piper,” I say, setting the mug on her desk. The coffee is now tasteless in my mouth.

The first tear spills out of her right eye before they’re pouring down her cheeks in clear tracks. “I love Josh. He’s all I have in this world. I can admit to being overprotective of him. But what I did was ridiculous and wrong. It was below me. It was petty and I would like to ask for your forgiveness.”

“You have it,” I say earnestly. “We all fuck up from time to time.”

She gives me a shaky smile, wiping her eyes with a balled up napkin in her hand. “I see why he’s in love with you.”

I make a face, my thoughts unconvinced that Danny loves me as much as Piper thinks. He loves her more. He has to. Danny guards her from me. He has since the beginning. He keeps his secrets from me. I bet she knows everything about him. I’m severely perplexed at why he chases me so hard when he has Piper.

“I have one last thing to say, which is difficult for me,” Piper says, somberly holding my gaze.

“I’m all ears.”

“I want you to leave Josh alone.”

My entire face frowns. “What?”

She toys with the wrinkled napkin between her fingers, staring down at it. “I know I’m overstepping my boundaries here, but I need you to let Josh go. I need you to leave him alone. He’ll be hurt initially. But I know Josh. He’ll move on.”

I don’t even try to conceal my bewilderment and irritation. “Fuck you. I’m not leaving Josh for anything.”

Piper winces but her expression softens. “No, you don’t understand. I’m not asking you to do this for my benefit. It’s for Josh’s. I see the way you and Danny are with each other since he’s been home. Despite what you think about Josh, you’re going to pick Danny. You already have. I’m trying to look out for him.”