Piper Keller   

"He what?" I ask Liz for the second time, still outraged at her he nonchalant attitude. I wish she'd take my near melt down a little more seriously.

"I know how you must feel. But this will be good for you." She states, convinced she knows what she's doing.

"How could this be good for me? You're the one who basically warned me away from him. Now, what? You're changing your mind?" I ask, bewildered.

"I'm not changing my mind. I sincerely think he's up to something and I have no inkling on what it could possibly be. However, he wants to show it to someone else. So, this could clear up a few things for you." She points out.

I feel my mouth start to get dry and lick my lips. "He's showing it to someone?"

"Yes, he didn't say, who. So don't ask."

He wants to parade his girlfriend in front of me, and she acts like its not a big deal. Thats a huge deal! I don't want to meet anyone Xavier is involved with, why would he want to hurt me like that? I've been nothing but nice to him and I certainly don't owe him even a smidgen of courtesy.

"I don't want to meet anyone he's with. It's humiliating and awkward, how can you not see that?" I question, getting upset.

"Like I said yesterday. Its all about closure for you. Its about putting the past in the past and moving on with your life. This could be a huge blessing in disguise. An opportunity to open your eyes to the truth, that Xavier Sterling is a big pile of steaming hot dog doo-doo and you don't need him. Let the poor girl he's with be ruined by the selfish prick and don't look at her with envy but empathy, because we both know he'll just throw her away like he did to you." I can see that Liz wants me to be impressed by her speech but it doesn't help. I take a deep cleansing breath and close my eyes.

"I will show them the house. I will be professional and cordial. I will not let him hurt me, this is fine. I can do this." I
open my eyes to see Liz lift her eyebrow at my self-affirmations.

"You'll go far, grasshopper." She teases, as she hangs up another baby outfit. The closet is near to bursting. I roll my eyes at her and start to help.

Saturday

    I couldn't sleep last night. I don't know why I let this man do this to me. Its made me angrier than I've been in a really long time. I feel pathetic that Xavier hasn't even been in my life over a week and I've become unhinged by him.

This isn't the me I want to be. By the time I see his car pull up to Wheeler Realty I'm ready to face him and his "someone else" as an adult. That means plastering on a fake smile and being perfectly pleasant and accommodating for my client. Client, that is all this is. I open the door and make my way to the car just as Joe opens his door.

"Its fine Joe, I got it." I say, already halfway to the back door. The door opens and Xavier's long figure unfolds from the black leather seats.

"Mr. Sterling. You ready to see your house today?" I ask, nicely. My question gives him pause for some reason. "Oh, thats right. Don't worry, theres nothing to hate about that house." I whisper, coming to a stop at the door. I give him my most assuring smile and climb in, prepared to deal with meeting his significant other.

When, I lower my head and slide in, my eyes meet a familiar face. "Madeline! Its so good to see you again. How's Charles?" I ask, still in momentary shock at seeing Xavier's mother. Its been years since I've last seen her. She called me after she found out that we had broke up, but that was the last time we've spoken.

"He's doing well. Working on his short game he calls it. At the club, golfing regularly." She huffs, but I see the loving affection in her eyes.

I remember her always pestering him to retire to spend time with her and he's still not around enough for her liking. "And how are you?" I ask, specifically.

"No complaints. Well, all but one. My sons seem to think they don't need me in their lives. I've recently had to remind them of the fact." She states, glaringly lovingly at Xavier.

"Is this about the house? He didn't tell you?" I ask, smiling as they glare at each other.

"No! Can you believe that? His own mother!" She states, hurt.

"Yes, mother. The audacity of a grown ass man not consulting with his mother about something that doesn't even concern her is simply egregious." Xavier says, sarcastically.

"It concerns me that my son would choose to take this step without so much as informing me. I don't care that you would like a place outside the city, but Xavier I should be told of the move. A phone call at the very least wouldn't hurt." She complains.

I can practically hear Xavier's teeth grinding together in an attempt not to argue with his mother. "Next time I'll be sure to do the right thing and call. You know I'm also thinking of taking a shit later today, would you like an update on that progress as well?" The tone of his voice is so completely serious I have to smother a smile.

"Don't be so crass, Xavier. I raised you better than that." She scolds.

"Obviously, you failed somewhere." He grumbles under his breath.

Trying to ease the growing tension in the car I turn to Madeline. "The house is lovely."

Xavier Sterling

I watch as Pip and mom talk about the house and the nearby amenities. Deciding I don't want to be a part of the conversation. I take out my tablet and finish reading the report my private investigator sent me on Pip. She hasn't changed much, more involved with Wheeler Realty than I would've thought, but she is still the same girl I knew. She has no significant men in her life. She's alone except for Liz and Aaron, which isn't very surprising when I see how hard shes been working these past few years. Career focused is something I can relate to.

    However, it does intrigue me that she hasn't has a relationship with another man. As requested I receive two videos showing Pasquale and Pip leaving a bar and the security tapes from her apartment building. I watch both and my heart starts racing. There is no possible way Pasquale and Pip had any sort of encounter. She was practically passed out when Pasquale opened the door to apartment and he excited within 5 minutes of entering. I was wrong about what happened. Its plain as day in the grainy pixilated video, Pip didn't cheat. Pasquale didn't do anything wrong. If anything I should be thanking him for taking care of her that night. Looking up from the screen I watch her face as she talks, she is absolutely beautiful. Her hair, her body and that mouth. All things I've missed, but nothing compares to the loneliness that only she can fill. Her easy laughter and bright eyes made it impossible to find another. I didn't even want to try. It was and has always been, Piper Keller.

    I remember the first day we met. A friend introduced us at a party and I literally felt my world shift in her presence. She wasn't easy to woo, she was polite but guarded. However, I wasn't deterred from her passive attitude. It only intrigued me more and more. After months of group hangouts and coffee dates, I won her over. I can still recall the momentous feeling it gave me to hear her say, "I want to be with you too." Her blush and the rush of euphoria I felt, hasn't been matched since.

I hear my name and snap out of my reminiscing. "Yes?" I ask, clearly asked a question I failed to hear.

"You look tired, honey. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine." I lie.

The videos and the report have me questioning and remembering everything about Pip's and my relationship. If she didn't sleep with Pasquale. Then why the hell did she break things off with me? I feel my anger mounting. I just spent the last few years balls deep in business to forget an indiscretion that didn't even happen. Only, to later realize I was broken up with and didn't even receive an explanation.

"Xavier, you look like you're going to explode. What happened? Is it work?" Mom asks, trying to understand my sudden change in mood.

"No." I reply, glancing out the window I watch as we pull up to the wrought iron gate. I think back to the voicemail I received from her. The recording was of her, basically saying we should stop seeing each other. She never mentioned any specific reasons and I was too hurt and disgusted by what I was told by friends. An affaire between my brother and girlfriend. Why the fuck did I believe it?

    I run my fingers through my hair trying to release the tension building inside of me. I should've confronted her and gotten the truth out of her and Pasquale. Instead I ignored the two of them, choosing to cut them out of my life rather than let them see what they did to me. The car comes to a stop and I exit with a rush. Taking deep breaths, trying to get myself under control.

My phone rings. "Sterling." I answer, without look at the caller ID.

"Whatcha doin'?" I hear Eva ask, clearly calling to get something from me.

"Nothing. What is it? Going to pester me into coming by for a second visit? I haven't even recovered from last night." I joke, halfhearted. My mind and thoughts still preoccupied by my break up with Pip. I watch as her and mom make their way eagerly towards the tall doors of the home.

"No. I'm calling to tell you we found out we're having a boy and we're going to have a party next month. So when I send out the invitation, I expect you to be able to attend."

"I can't talk about this right now....I need your help." I say, reluctantly.

The silence is deafening. "What is it?" She asks, somewhat frantic. "Who did you kill? I knew this day would come." She states, clearly thinking she's funny.

"You remember when I told you about how my ex girlfriend cheated on me with Pasquale?" I question.

"Yeah, and I still want to gut that bastard for it. What about it?" She asks, confused.

"I had someone do some digging, I got surveillance footage of them at the bar and at the apartment complex she was staying at."

"And...?"

I continue, "From what I can see she did drink with him. They left, he took her home. The video shows them going into the apartment and Pasquale leaving minutes later. There's no way she was with him that night."

"Okay. Why are you looking into this now? You moron! You could've done something about it. Now she's probably married with kids."

"She not with anyone." I reply, knowingly.

Her voice is apprehensive as she asks, "And how do you know that?"

"Because she's my realtor and I looked into these things." I admit.

There's a pause, so I know shes gearing up to lecture me. "Do you have someone stalking her? Xavier, thats so weird and irrational I can't even wrap my head around it!" She yells.

Ignoring her rant I ask, "So, what do I do now? She broke up with me without an explanation and I didn't ask for one because I thought I knew why."

"Get her back you stupid idiot. I don't care what you have to do, just do it." She orders without hesitation.