Semua Bab Choosing You: Bab 81 - Bab 90

ETHANTwenty hours. That’s all the time I’ve given her and even then, I couldn’t stop calling. Texting. Trying to get her to talk to me. My messages and calls went unanswered and so I’m here outside her room, knocking the door down. At first I thought she wasn’t home. Maybe she picked up an extra shift, or went someplace to study. But I heard her in there minutes ago, silently moving about, and possibly hoping I’ll go away. Never. Twenty hours has been enough time without her. It’s been too fucking long and just long enough to lose my mind. I knock again.“Piper. Please open the door.”At first it was a subtle knock. But since the moment I realized she’s in there, they’ve become heavier and my voice fills with more desperation. It’s like she’s slipping through my fingers the longer she doesn’t answer. I can’t let that happen. There’s an audience forming too. It started with a few people. The nosey girl across the hall checking to see what all the commotion was. Then some girls leaving

ETHAN“Hey, have you heard from Sabrina?” I run into Jordan in the hallway like he’s on his way to my room. And he shakes his head. “I was about to ask you the same. How long do pedicures take?”I shrug. “Shit if I know.”“Want to go hang out,” he asks almost awkwardly.“Because your girlfriend’s not available?” It’s funny that this is the turn our lives have taken. I mean, maybe I can believe it for Jordan. But both of us? No one could’ve ever told us last summer that before the year was out, we’d both be in relationships. What makes it more amusing is that it seems we’d rather be with our girlfriends and are only considering going someplace because they aren't free.We both crack up.“Come on, man.”I drive. And we end up at the only bar we can go to, where our ID’s aren’t a factor. But since it’s a Monday we’re trying to lay low because the place isn’t so crowded.“Want to shoot some pool?”“Later,” I say, eyeing the table with the memory of Piper bent over it on one of our dates.

ETHAN“She’s pissed,” I tell Jordan, shuffling the phone from one ear to the next.“Talk softer,” he tells me, obviously moving between classes himself, but still dealing with a hangover.“Can’t. You’re royally fucking screwed,” I reply. “There isn't a soft way to put that.”He groans. “What did I do?”“You don’t remember?”“Fuck,” he groans. “I kind of do. But it’s all a daze. Sabrina was there. Then she wasn’t. Then she was.”“Sorry. She was only there once. The rest was Shaina and it’s all on social media.”He groans again.“Yeah, I don’t know who took the picture. But Sabrina showed up first thing this morning when I was in bed with Piper, three seconds away from burying—”“Alright," he cuts me off.“Point is: I’m public enemy number one—two. And I haven’t seen or talked to my girl since. So you need to fix this.”“I got it,” he says.“Great. Get on it now. I see Piper in three minutes and I’m not sure if I’m getting the one I woke up with or the one your girlfriend is training on

ETHANIt took some doing, mostly because Jordan has been a significantly less appealing version of himself than usual, but he agreed to go to the club to get his mind off everything. Since we’ve been here, all he’s done is look at his phone, pull up pics of Sabrina that he thinks I can’t see, and nurse the same beer. I’m doing the same. Nursing a beer that is. But I’m doing it for a different reason. I’m hoping once Piper and Sabrina show up, Jordan can stop moping around and I’ll be leaving with my girl. That’s the way I expect things to go. I don’t expect to see Adam and Antonio, even if paying Antonio’s brother is the reason we got in, in the first place.“This was a good idea,” Antonio says, flopping down on the couch beside Jordan.“Yeah,” is basically all I can come up with to say over his enthusiasm. He wasn’t exactly invited since the last time we were all out, he encouraged Jordan to let Shaina sit on his lap.Unable to read the room, Antonio still looks around happily. “Guys

ETHAN“Ethan? Are you going to say anything?”I don’t know what to say. I’m looking at my girlfriend who is literally an entirely different person. But still just her.“Who else knows,” I ask.“No one. I’m not exactly allowed to tell anyone. But I didn’t want to keep it from you anymore.”“You didn’t tell Paisley?”She exhales, but it's more with humor. “I never really trusted Paisley so no. She didn’t even know I liked you when I did. I’ve kept this to myself since I was thirteen.”“That’s… a lot for a kid to carry. And mourn the death of their parents.”“Yeah,” she replies. “But I wanted to do it. I want my family legacy. Same as you. I understand what that means, carrying on for them. I’ve worked hard all my life to see to it that it happens.”“And you will,” I tell her.She smiles. “Then you’re not mad?”Now I’m confused. "Why would I be mad?”“Because I kept this huge secret from you.”“It’s big. But, it’s not like you betrayed me. Is your legal name Penny?”“It’s Piper,” she say