Veiled Affections

Chapter 11

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Copyright © 2024 Cassey9

Piper sat on the edge of her bed, her mind swirling with a whirlwind of emotions. The kiss with Mitch had been unexpected, intense, and now left her grappling with a myriad of feelings she wanted to explore further.

Glancing at her phone, Piper hesitated for while before finally deciding to text Mitch. "We need to talk." The words seemed inadequate, but it was a start.

Seconds felt like an eternity as Piper awaited a response. Doubt started to creep in as her phone remained silent. Had she misinterpret their moment? Mitchell Wilder had been the one to kiss her, twice!

The sound of her phone buzzing snapped Piper out of her thoughts. Mitch's name flashed on the screen and she couldn't help the rush of excitement that inadvertently coursed through her.

"I know Piper. How about tomorrow?"

"After the game."

Without hesitation, Piper's fingers moved swiftly over her phone screen as she typed in her her response. Each tap echoing the racing beat of her heart as well as the anticipation that mingled with her apprehension.

Piper's thumb hovered over the send button for a heartbeat before she finally pressed it, sending her acceptance. The mere thought of seeing Mitch face-to-face sent her emotions into a whirlwind. The Wilder Sibling had dashed out of the bathroom after a call from her teammate.

But, she wouldn't pass up of this opportunity. They both needed to confront the unspoken feelings that had surged in that moment and had since lingered and if they went unaddressed would become weighty and only serve as a barrier.

~~~~~Next Day~~~~~

Piper sat perched on the stool, absently twirling a spoon in her bowl of cereal as the morning sunlight streamed through the kitchen windows. The day weighed heavy on her mind, it was the match and all Piper could think of was the conversation with Mitchell that loomed afterwards.

The lingering memory of their kiss replayed incessantly in her mind, with each replay making Piper crave for a repeat.

A kiss on the cheek, informed her of another presence in the room. Piper watched her mother as walked towards the fridge a serene smile on her face. She observed her mother's composed state with relief. Each day was a small victory, her mother surprising her by remaining sober, hinting that perhaps not all was lost.

"Good morning, sweetie."

"Hi, Mom," Piper replied with a flicker of a smile tugging at her lips. She appreciated the peaceful aura her mother brought into the room, especially amid her own inner turmoil. "What did you have in mind, Mom, for our day?"

"You remembered, sweetie?"

Piper let out a mock gasp, feigning surprise at her mother's question. "Of course, I remembered Mom," Piper replied, a faint smile on her lips. "Should I go get dressed? Are we going somewhere?"

"Yes, but finish that first," her mother responded, nodding towards Piper's unfinished breakfast. "We'll grab some breakfast together and then see where the day takes us."

Piper saluted her mother with her spoon and returned to her cereal. Wasting food was an absolute no in their household. As she ate her cereal, Piper hoped that the day ahead would offer a welcome distraction from her racing thoughts and emotions.

"Want to come to the game with me later?" Piper asked.

"No, sweetie. Soccer has never been my thing," her mother replied with a gentle smile and sipped on her glass of water.

~~~~~~~

"See you later, Mom!" Piper called out, racing out of the front door. Kurt's pick-up truck stood at the curb with it's windows rolled down. Piper could make out her friends seated inside, with Kurt in the driver's seat and an empty front passenger seat.

Piper swiftly slipped into the vacant spot in front. "Hey, guys!" She excitedly greeted as she settled in.

"Hey," Kurt replied amid the loud chorus of greetings. His next move though, stunned Piper when he unexpectedly slid over the console to plant a lingering kiss on her cheek.

"Hey? Why does Piper get the shotgun seat?" Natasha jokingly questioned from the backseat.

"Honey," Rayland chuckled, leaning over to kiss his girlfriend's head. "We're cool back here. Plus, Kurt needs to up his game. Piper needs to be at the front for that to happen."

"Kurt," Piper called, unsure of what to make of Rayland's words. She'd made things clear on where they stood.

"He's kidding," Kurt reassured with a chuckle as he raised his hand in mock surrender.

"Alright, let's hit the road!" Kurt replied, his tone slightly strained by Piper's words.

"Yes! We need to get the best seats," Piper stated trying hard to ignore the nerves that clung in the air. The game was in the next district and she wanted them to arrive a bit earlier to look for the perfect spot to cheer Mitchell on.

"Yes. Hit it Kurt," Natasha excitedly bellowed from the backseat.

As Kurt started the car and pulled off, the sound of laughter and conversation filled the car, creating a lively atmosphere. Kurt couldn't help but occasionally steal glances at Piper, she looked absolutely beautiful tonight.

Piper pulled out her phone, going straight to her texts. Her fingers slid over the screen, lingering on the texts exchanged with Mitch. She hesitated for a moment, contemplating on her next move. Should she send Mitchell a good luck message for the game, or should she clarify their plans for meeting afterward? She deliberated internally, weighing the options in her mind.

'Good luck on your game tonight.' Piper quickly typed the words and sent.

Mitch reply was fast despite lacking in words, but the single smiley emoji face was enough to make Piper's heart soar with delight.

Would everything fall into place eventually? What did the future hold for her and Mitch? These thoughts swirled in Piper's mind, adding an extra layer of excitement and uncertainty to the night's events.