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Chapter Fifteen
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2021-06-10 22:15:36Piper decided to take a stroll down past the harbour towards The Ship Inn. It was only a matter of time before she ended up at her old haunt. Plus it gave her the headspace she needed to think about the awful nightmare she'd had about Dale last night. A little perspective was all she needed and the sea air would do that for her. The trained therapist in her knew that she couldn't brush how she was feeling under the carpet, but at the same time, it was hard to think about Dale again. She was naive to think moving home would solve all her issues.
As Piper neared the pub she saw two familiar figures sat on the bench at the bottom of the stairs. She smiled as memories came flooding back once again of the three of them sat in that exact spot many years ago. For just a moment it felt like no time has passed until she felt two sets of eyes on her.
She approached Seb and Will with a little trepidation as she hadn't expected to bump into both of them so soon, especially Seb. He'd made it abundantly clear the other day that he was far too busy for a reunion.
Will smiled and waved her over as she approached "Piper, come sit down and have a drink with us". And there was that Hollywood smile once again that made her feel welcome.
Seb on the other hand remained perfectly stoic, his eyes watching her intently, making her feel like she was under a spotlight. Did Seb even realise how uncomfortable he could make her feel without actually saying a word? Goodness knows how he reacted to his enemies!
"Hiya - this is a nice surprise". Piper said slipping into the seat next to Will. She smiled at both brothers. Seb returned her smile, but to Piper, it felt like more of a grimace.
"Can I get you a drink?" Will asked getting up.
"Erm, that would be nice. Can I have a glass of house red please?".
And once again, Will was walking up the stairs to the bar leaving Piper alone with Seb.
"We need to stop bumping into each other like this or people will start to talk". Piper tried to humour this time to break the ice with Seb.
"People can think what they like". Seb replied a little too sharply.
Piper shrunk back a little in her seat not knowing what else to say. Why did Seb still seem so angry with her? Unless he was just generally always in a bad mood and it had nothing to do with her?
Seb seemed to notice Piper's discomfort and sighed "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to come across so harshly. I tend to put my foot in my mouth at times and I don't always think before I speak".
Wow, an actual apology from Seb.
"It's ok". Piper shrugged " My humour is rubbish at times".
Seb actually smiled "I am glad that you're back you know. Just wanted to let you know that".
Piper was stunned into silence at how candid Seb was. But inside, she was glowing at the fact he was glad she was back. Small miracles!
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As the three of them sat reminiscing the sunset slowly crept in. It was such an honor to be able to witness the beauty of the harbour every single day. Seb listened more than he spoke, but every now and then he would utter a word to let Piper and Will know he was listening. He felt so at ease as stories were relayed from their youth. One of the funniest was when Will decided to hide a dead fish at the back of one of the drawers in the Headmasters' office back in secondary school. Mr Smyth was so livid when he finally found what was causing the terrible smell in his office that he called an emergency assembly. The only outcome was that he became redder and redder in the face to the point they all thought he was going to keel over at any moment. Good old Mr Smyth - he never did find out who the culprit was. He wasn't a bad chap, just very strict and anal about everything. "I think it's my round". Piper said getting up.
Last Updated : 2021-06-10Live For This Moment Chapter Seventeen
As last orders were called, they all decided to call it a night and slowly started walking towards the main centre of Porthleven.Piper felt somewhat tipsy which gave her the courage to walk arm in arm with Seb and Will. As they reached Harbour road Seb came to an abrupt stop."I'm this way," Seb said pointing up towards Torleven road where he now lived."Oh, I thought you and Will could walk me home like the old times". Piper replied expectantly.Before Seb could respond, Will barged in " I'll walk you home. I'm sure all my brother wants to do is hit the sack after a long week on the boat".Seb could see the hope in Piper's eyes that he'd join them, but all he could feel was Wills eyes boring into his. He was in a catch 22 situation - Piper who wanted him to walk her home, and Will who clearly wanted him to leave them alone.Seb made a decision "You don't need both of us to walk you home. I'll see you soon". And with that he turned an
Last Updated : 2021-06-14Live For This Moment Chapter Eighteen
As Will lay in bed he couldn't stop thinking about Piper. The night had been so amazing and all he wanted to do was kiss her. Instead, he planted a kiss on her cheek, and like a gentleman, he walked away.Oh, but how easy it would've been to move his head slightly and kiss her! But would she have responded? It was best he tread carefully for now.He was so aroused; maybe he could call one of his lady friends to come over? They wouldn't be Piper but they would be a good substitute just for now.Will decided on calling Cleo, who excitedly told him she would be there within half an hour. He'd been sleeping with her sporadically for about 6 months after meeting her during one of his parent's evenings. She had a kid but that didn't matter to him - it was only sex after all.Will decided to freshen up by jumping in the shower. The water and soap suds did nothing to alleviate his erection. If anything they made it throb even more! As the water and soap cascaded
Last Updated : 2021-06-15Live For This Moment Chapter Nineteen
As Seb made his way to his boat his head was heavy and thick from the previous nights drinking. It had been a while since he'd had a hangover and he remembered now why he didn't drink very often. A full day out on the boat was going to test his limits today, especially if it was going to be as hot as predicted. Piper looked so beautiful last night; he wished he'd told her that now. But he just felt tongue-tied whenever he was around her and it wasn't helped that when Will was around he commanded all the attention and did most of the talking. One thing Piper didn't explain though, was what suddenly made her leave her life and career in London. Whenever Will had probed she'd managed to dodge the question. She was definitely hiding something. But then again, Will couldn't judge her - when he'd returned home he refused to talk about his life in the Army and still wouldn't now. He was curious to know how the night ended for Will and Piper after Will had continued walking
Last Updated : 2021-06-15Live For This Moment Chapter Twenty
Piper sat drinking a cup of coffee, reflecting on the job she'd left behind in London. After leaving Uni with a degree in Psychology, she'd decided to go into the counselling side at a private practice.The areas she covered were victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and especially bereavement as she knew how it felt first hand when Miles passed away.Working with those who were affected by bereavement had been therapeutic for her too and had helped her heal. Listening to them made her realise that there were always people out there who were in a much worse place. She loved helping people!Piper still hadn't decided if she was going to try to set up on her own or start applying for vacancies. Working for the NHS was always an option as they were crying out for skilled therapists. She was fortunate to have savings that could tide her over until she decided on her next move and living at home helped with controlling her outgoings.Piper checked
Last Updated : 2021-06-16Live For This Moment Chapter Twenty One
What a night with Cleo, Will mused. It was definitely the best way to end a night of drinking. It was just a shame that it wasn't Piper who had shared his bed and his body. He knew he would have to tread carefully where Piper was concerned or he could end up with a swift, sharp slap across the face. She was a lady who would need romancing, which wasn't something he was used to doing. When he normally found a target, he just went straight in and told them what he was looking for; no relationship and no romance, just simple sex between two mutual like-minded people. But Piper was also his dear friend, and for that, she deserved his respect. Will decided to bite the bullet and called Piper to arrange a date. "Hey Pipes, I was wondering if you were free for drinks Friday night? We could go into Helston and make a night of it? I was thinking we could start at The Blue Anchor Inn and go from there?". "You don't need to ask me twice! I'm
Last Updated : 2021-06-17Live For This Moment Chapter Twenty Two
Piper couldn't believe how quickly Friday night had arrived. She stood in the mirror checking over her make-up and outfit choice. She'd decided on a black zip-up top with long sleeves and a sweetheart neckline, followed by a pair of navy blue skinny jeans that hugged her figure perfectly. She finished off the ensemble with a black pair of kitten heels and her black leather jacket. The look she was going for was smart casual, so she'd only applied a gentle dusting of makeup to her pale skin and her hair was put up in a messy ballerina bun. All she had to do now was wait for Will to arrive in the taxi, which judging by her watch would be any minute now. Piper was still a little gutted that Seb couldn't make their evening out and even a little jealous that he'd made plans with someone else. She was also intrigued as to who it could be as Will had made it sound like it was definitely a date. Before Piper's thoughts could wander any further she heard a car
Last Updated : 2021-06-22Live For This Moment Chapter Twenty Three
On arrival at The Blue Anchor Inn Piper found a table by the window while Will went to the bar to order their drinks. The pub was quiet for a Friday night but then again, it meant they would be able to have a civilised conversation without having to shout. Looking over at the bar, Piper got a good look at Will's backside in his jeans, and it was a sight to admire! He had such a toned physic, and his height made him even more attractive. Piper still found it strange that she was looking at Will in such an erotic way. The years had definitely been kind to him. "Here you go". Will said placing the drinks on the table. Piper opted for a glass of dry white wine and Will went for a pint of beer. "Cheers". Piper thanked him and took a big gulp. As the wine went down she felt the familiar burn in her throat and immediately relaxed. "Thirsty?" Will laughed. "Mmmm I needed that. So, has work been ok this week?". "It always is
Last Updated : 2021-06-23
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Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Eight
The previous day had been a welcome distraction for Seb, and spending time with Piper had solidified their friendship and got it back on track. He was still suspicious of why she was being so coy about her reasons for coming home so abruptly. But pushing the issue might inflame whatever emotions Piper was already feeling. He hadn't heard from Will either which was a good thing. No doubt Will would spit his dummy out when he found out they'd spent yesterday together and even though it was platonic Will would still act like he was hard done by. He seemed to have this misconception that every woman was in love with him and would follow him to the ends of the Earth if need be. Well, there were women out there like Piper, who wouldn't fall for his charms and he knew the kiss they'd shared had meant nothing to Piper. Seb wanted to call Piper and arrange another meet-up with her. Calling it a date brought with it expectations that neither of them wanted, especially Pi
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Seven
Dale Ridgeley sat in his office staring at his computer screen like it was miraculously going to type up his student report for him. Since Piper had left he hadn't been able to focus on anything, especially work.How dare that bitch up and leave him without a word! He'd come home from work to find that all the stuff Piper kept as his flat missing, and when he'd tried to call her the number had been disconnected. When he'd contacted her work, they'd politely advised him that she no longer worked there and refused to give him a forwarding address or telephone number. He'd even gone in and tried to sweet-talk the stupid fat receptionist into giving him the information, but she wouldn't budge and hadn't even fallen for his charms. He wondered what Piper had told them about him before she up and did a moonlight flit?Well, it was all lies! Whatever she'd said, she was a liar!When he'd realised her mobile had been disconnected, he'd tried calling everyone she k
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Six
When Seb called and asked Piper if she fancied lunch, she'd jumped at the chance. She'd spent all morning researching her options about starting work but was still none the wiser. She still couldn't decide whether or not being self-employed was the best way to go. "What's the situation with work?" Seb asked, "Have you made a decision on what you want to do?". "Nope, I feel like I'm just waiting for the penny to drop. I never thought it would be so hard just to make a decision. I'll have to do something soon as my savings are starting to dwindle. Are you glad you're self-employed?". "I like not having anyone to answer to and being my own boss is always a positive. It does have its disadvantages though; work is practically non-existent through the winter months so I have to always make sure I've saved enough money to see me through". Seb answered honestly. "But if you were to go self-employed your work wouldn't be seasonal, so straight away you have an advantag
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Five
Will was starting to get annoyed at Piper giving him the silent treatment, anyone would've thought he'd cheated or something with the way she was carrying on. So he told a little white lie? It was for a good reason and with the best of intentions. He just wanted time alone with her. Well, enough was enough - today he was going to go and confront her, and bring her a nice bunch of flowers to help sweeten her up. Flowers bought, he made his way up to her parent's house and rang the bell. Hopefully, Piper would answer the door as he didn't feel like trying to explain to her parents why he'd turned up bearing flowers. They weren't naive enough to believe he was just being kind. For all, he knew she might've already told them of the events of that night. A shadow came into view and as the door opened Will held his breath but put on the biggest smile he could muster. Piper stood there with a look of complete annoyance "What do you want? Generally when someone
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Four
By the time Piper got home, it was past 11 pm and both her parents were asleep. She carefully crept up to her bedroom and quietly got changed into her pajamas. Easing into bed she reminisced over the night and how perfect it was. Seb had walked ger home, said goodnight, and left. He was a true gentleman and Piper loved him even more for it.When she checked her phone she realised there was a text message on her phone. Opening it she stared in horror "You can't keep ignoring me you BITCH! Hiding won't protect you! Escaping London won't protect you either!".It was from an unknown number and she knew enough to know that they'd used an online text service in order to remain anonymous. She started shaking and her heart rate quickened. All she wanted was to be left alone, to forget her past and look forward to her future. There were times she wished she'd just stayed in Porthleven where she was safe and then none of this would've happened.Telling her parents w
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Three
Seb and Piper sat and talked well into the evening just like old friends. There was no awkwardness, no expectations and he seemed so relaxed which he hadn't been in all the time she'd been home. She noticed he was still guarded whenever she tried to turn the topic onto his time in the Army. He wasn't hostile, he would just start looking uncomfortable and then start directing the conversation elsewhere. She also noticed his face would light up whenever he talked about working on his boat and he talked endlessly about it. She loved listening to him and watching him smile so naturally. His skin was gently sun-kissed, but not enough that he looked too tanned and the hairs that were poking through his top were just the right shade of blonde. These were things that Piper was just observing without any kind of hidden agenda or lustful thought. She was done with men for the time being - it was time to finally focus on herself. Her thoughts were broken by Seb "Fancy s
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty Two
Piper was still reeling from the news that Will had tricked her. After Dale she had sworn to herself that she would never let another man manipulate her again. By the end of their relationship Dale had left her a shadow of her former self. The term 'gaslighting' was the perfect way to describe how Dale had made her feel while they were together. London held so many awful memories and now Will had tainted her time back home.Instead of going to the pub for a drink, Seb had suggested that they go back to his cottage which was walking distance from the harbour with a quick stop on the way to grab some beers and wine from Porthleven supermarket. Seb knew enough to know that Piper didn't want to be around people and who was he to judge?As Piper walked into Seb's living room she realised how minimalistic it was, but then again that was his nature so why should it surprise her. There was a simple grey sofa with a white coffee table in the centre of the room and the wal
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty One
The look on Seb's face said it all - he was completely dumbfounded. Piper felt so bad! She didn't mean to blurt that out! What was she thinking? No doubt he thought she was a hussy now! If he was rude and standoffish before this then he was going to be even worse now. "I don't understand?" Seb now looked confused, "What do you mean you kissed? How on earth did that happen? And when exactly?". "Last week after we saw you at the pub. Will walked me home and one thing just led to another. I'm not actually sure how it happened, but I know too much drink was involved". Piper exhaled guiltily. "Oh, you mean after your date in Helston?". Seb asked sarcastically. "What?" Piper asked shocked, "It wasn't a date! Will asked if I wanted to go for drinks in Helston so I said yes. And anyway, it was you who was on a date that night!". Now Seb looked really confused as he started shaking his head "Whoa, I don't think I was. Where the hell did you get that fr
Live For This Moment Chapter Thirty
Seb was mooring his boat when he looked up to see a familiar face standing looking out at the harbour. Piper looked so lost and forlorn that it made Seb curious and sad at the same time. It looked like she needed a friend right about now. "Piper". Seb shouted waving in her direction and ushering her to come over. "You look like someone with a lot on their mind? Fancy coming for a boat ride?". Piper was completely taken aback - Seb offering her a ride on his boat without any kind of hostility directed at her? "Erm... if you're sure? I thought you were too busy though?". "I think I can make time on this occasion". Seb replied seriously. "Hop up, and we can sail the seven seas!" Looking at Piper's face his attempt at a joke had fallen flat. Then again, he wasn't known for being a joker. Piper climbed aboard and took a seat without saying a word. Seb could sense that she just needed some quiet time for now so he started the boat and exited
