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“And then he came back,” Ian said.

“No, I came back and I’m beginning to wish I hadn’t.”

I sighed deeply and moved another step forward. It was almost my turn to order. I was ready to get off the phone with Ian, but I knew he wasn’t done talking.

“Piper,” Ian said. “Listen to me, okay? Don’t let this become one of those things you don’t deal with.”

“What do you mean?” I demanded.

“You hide,” he said bluntly. “It’s what you do when things get rough. You run. You hide. You avoid. You, Piper Prewitt, are an avoider.”

“I am not,” I argued.

“You are,” Ian insisted. “And that’s okay, because I get it. You’ve had to stay strong any way you could, but maybe it’s time to let your guard down.”

“With Logan?” I asked.

“Yes, with Logan,” Ian hissed. “Are you telling me you don’t have any questions for him? That you haven’t thought about him once over the past five years?”

“Of course, I have,” I said. “But…”

“But nothing,” he said quickly. “This is your chance, Piper. All the unanswered questions you have, go get answers for them. And please, this time, don’t be mean to him.”

“How do you know I was mean?”

“Weren’t you?”

I paused, not wanting to admit he was right. I sighed and closed my eyes for a fraction of a second.

“Ian,” I said weakly. “I was a total immature bitch.”

“I know,” he said. “Next time you see him, be nice. Just talk to him. See what happens.”

“And you’re sure that won’t open doors that are better left locked?”

“It might,” he admitted. “But how will you know if you never take the chance to find out?”

“You’re annoying,” I told him.

“Don’t I know it,” he laughed.

“I gotta go,” I told him. “I’m next in line.”

“Don’t forget my scones,” he said. “Talk soon. Love ya.”

He hung up right as I stepped up to the counter. I glanced at the display case beside me and my mouth immediately began to water.

“I’ll have one lemon scone and one apple raisin, please,” I ordered with a smile.

“We haven’t seen you around lately,” Angie said. “How have you been, Piper?”

“I’ve been good,” I said. “Busy with work and things, but good.”

“That’s nice to hear,” Angie nodded. She smiled kindly at me and I remembered why I loved her place. Everything here felt so homey and comfortable. The smell of vanilla and cinnamon was so strong you could smell it down the street. I loved it. “That’ll be $4.95.”

“Okay,” I said, reaching my hand into my purse. I groped around for my wallet, but couldn’t find it. I wrenched the purse wide open and peered inside, but my wallet was nowhere to be found. I slapped my hand to my forehead as I realized I had left it in my parents’ kitchen. I was in such a hurry to leave the house that I hadn’t grabbed it.

“Piper?” Angie asked.