Page 127 of Hard Count
Neither of them said anything.
Eventually, Noah took a step back and held out the flowers.
“Ralphs on Olympic. Sorry I had no time to stop at Erewhon. What do you get the guy who has everything?”
“I love them, they do look like they need some water.”
Noah laughed, “I don’t have a speech.”
“Good.”
“I’m not going to have one either.”
“Good.”
“I couldn’t handle being without you. I have a few days before the conference round.”
Piper set the flowers down as Noah put his hand on the back of Piper’s neck.
Piper said, “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
“Vivienne said if I told you, you’d tell her no.”
“She was probably right.”
“Yeah.”
They sat in silence for a moment.
“I saw him today. Jayson.”
Noah’s hand stayed flat on his neck.
“I know.”
“He came to the house, and tried to kill me.”
“I know.”
“He had a gun.”
Noah said, “Vivienne told Carmen. Carmen told me. In the car on the way here.”
“Piper?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re okay?”
“I’m okay.”
Noah exhaled. He kept his hand on Piper’s neck. Piper kept his on the flowers.
After a while Noah said, “What are we doing?”
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know, or you’re not allowed to say?”
