piperlangloisβ:
THE smallest ounce of tension relieved itself from the set of Piperβs shoulders when Phillip moved his classic shoes to make room for Piper. Stress was radiating off of her ex-boyfriend in waves. Even after all of this time, it was impossible for Piper to ignore. Impossible for her to swallow down the urge to do something, anything, to comfort him. With most of her old options of cheering him up obviously out of the question, she settled on asking,Β βDo you wanna talk about it?β She tried to make the words sound nonchalant. Like they were just two coworkers who could vent about lifeβs problems to each other. Of course, it could never be so simple. Not ever again.
PHILLIPβS question didnβt come as a surprise to her. Nor did the underlying emotions hidden underneath such a seemingly innocent inquiry. He leaned into her, the smell of his intoxicating cologne hitting her nostrils. She met his gaze head-on. Piper was never one to back down from a challenge.Β βYes,β she confirmed. She mirrored his posture and leaned in, resting an elbow on the table. Piper was sure the clientβs cologne still clung to her clothing. A clear confirmation of exactly what she had been up to.Β βEverybodyβs gotta make a living somehow.β Although, certainly, this was never how Piper had imagined herself making a living.
HAZEL eyes rested on the face of the only man she had ever loved, longing to see some sight of the people that they once were. How could they possibly be sitting so close to each other and yet feel like they were a million miles apart? She sucked in a breath, unable to help herself.Β βAre you jealous?β
THE moment he moved his shoes and made more space for her, he regretted it. As if he were saying to her, itβs okay, stay. But the fact of it all was it wasnβt okay and if he were being honest, Philip wasnβt sure if it ever would be between them. He felt like that was just asking too much from the universe as emotions were never his forte. Granted, he could sense them and read them on others, but when it came to himself Philip didnβt want anything to do it with and avoided dealing with it at all costs. Piper had made it easier, even made him want to talk sometimesβwhich was the accomplishment to top them allβbut those times were long gone.Β
βNOT much to talk about,β he replied stiffly, averting his gaze to the empty space on the table between them. Letting his eyes follow the pattern ingrained into the wood.Β βI fucked up and let one of those stupid Babineaux shitheads getaway. Iβm sure youβre gonna hear all about it at the next meeting. Fuck, youβll probably get to witness whatever consequences are dished out.β Philip would admit he prided himself over the fact his mistakes were far and few in between and heβd always taken failureβno matter how small, hard.
HIS brow arched instinctively, as it always did when this topic came up and she did what she could to defend her actions, which had hurt him almost as much as what she actually did. Part of it anyway. Heβd always hated that she had to defend what she did to him, that she choose to be apart of THE HELLKITEβs world, despite all the warning heβd tried to give her. βRight,β he nodded, masking his lack of amusement behind a weak half-smile.Β βBut that doesnβt mean you need to give pieces of yourself away to do it. Otherwise, whatβs the point in even living?β
HER last question made his stomach turn, literally, and he felt as though the whiskey wasnβt going to sit well for much longer if he couldnβt regain control of the slew of emotions now coursing through him. He missed her, of course, he missed her and how relaxed he used to feel simply being in her presence, but never jealous. How could he be jealous of the poor excuses for men she preyed upon. A skill sheβd honed mercilessly over the years.Β βWhatβs that silly saying...β he started, trailing off a little already knowing exactly what it was. βDonβt buy the cow when you get the milk free? Or for cash, same thing.β It was harsh, but it was whoβd heβd become without her. Β
