Page 47 of Forever Mann

“Ok, then, what’s your question?”

“I have a friend who needs help,” she said quietly, seriously.

I had to close my eyes against the pain in my chest. I was overreacting, that was for sure; but, I couldn’t help it. Talking about my past with Perrin weeks ago brought it all up again, and it was still raw. Plus, this was Piper, for goodness sake, and a million memories, and trying to trust someone in a way I hadn’t before. I was gripping the counter, and CJ,so hard it hurt.

“What kind of help?”

“My birthday is this week,” she said.

“I know,” Perrin said with a smile - I could hear it. I could tell from the tone in his voice that he already had her gift purchased and wrapped.

“So is Steve’s,” she said, twisting her hands together.

“Is Steve in your class?” Perrin asked.

“Yes,” she said, suddenly shy of the very conversation she had started. “Last year, when it was my birthday, we brought treats,” she said, looking back up at Perrin.

“For your class, you mean?”

She nodded. “Everyone does,” she shrugged. “But, Steve didn’t have anything . . ..” She looked off and Perrin gave her a moment, before turning her face with large, gentle hands.

“And did it make him sad? Did it makeyousad?” Perrin asked carefully, seeing her eyes tear up.

“I didn’t mean to . . .” she started out, wiping tears off her face, but stopping and letting Perrin wipe them, instead. “But, I think I made him sad. . . .”

Perrin waited, his hand covering herentire backas he nodded encouragement for her to say what she was thinking.

“I don’t want to be mean, P,” she said so quietly I almost missed it.

“Of course you don’t. You aren’t mean,” he reassured her with his low rumble that meant he was being serious.

“But, I hurt someone, and that makes me mean,” she said with a very child-like finality.

Perrin studied her, and pushed her hair back and tucked it behind an ear.

But, before he could say anything she looked up at him. “You don’t hurt people, P. You are nice,” she said, with the same finality still in her voice.

“I have hurt people, Piper. I didn’t mean to, either. But I have,” he said simply.

“But you help people,” she said.

“I know, Sunshine. But I still hurt people sometimes — we all do. Even if we don’t mean to,” he explained.

“You would never hurt Uncle Jack,” she said.

Perrin let out a sigh that was so confusing I didn’t know how to read it.

“I certainly never want to, Piper,” he said, carefully. “And, if I did, I would hope he would forgive me for it. But, that doesn’t mean I couldn’t accidentally hurt him,” he explained. “Would that make me mean?” he asked gently.

She slowly shook her head. “No, I don’t think you could ever be mean. Not on purpose.”

“I don’t think you could, either.”

Piper got quiet for a moment. “So, should I just not bring anything?” She asked, looking at him, trusting him to solve her problems.

My heart clenched.

Fuck, when did all these feelings start. Ready to have them or not, they sure as hell were happening. I felt Rita’s hand on my back, as if she could read my mind.