“They’re separated by two hours,” Gavin said. “It’s the only night they were both free.”

“Fine, but you’ve got to find a way to cancel Carol on Wednesday.”

“Why? You’re wide open that night.”

“Yes,” Emmitt said. “But she was arrested at Walmart last week for driving one of those electric carts while drinking wine from a Pringles can in the parking lot. I don’t date felons.”

Gavin clapped him on the back. “You play, you pay. Remember, this is your way of apologizing, so don’t chintz. Go all in, make them feel special. Do what you’ve got to do to keep your life status quo.”

“Is that how it’s done then?” a voice asked, and they all turned in unison to find CJ standing there.

Piper watched the “oh shit” look hit Gavin’s face, but he quickly smoothed it over with an easy smile. “You already know how it’s done, remember?”

CJ shook his head, turned, and walked out again.

Gavin watched him go, a muscle working in his jaw, but he did not go after him. There was a lot of healing that needed to happen there, she knew, but she also knew that the kind of chemistry and history those two had was worth fighting for. “Nice self-sabotage,” she said.

Gavin shook his head at her. “Said the kettle to the pot. And I’m fine, I know what I’m doing.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.” And with that, he pivoted and strode into the crowded living room. The opposite way that CJ had gone.

So he wasn’t going to fight for love. He’d never been much of a fighter. It’d always been easier for him to walk away. She got that. But she also got that some things were worth digging in for and holding on. At least in the movies anyway. She started after him, but could see him talking and laughing with a group of Emmitt’s fishing buddies. If he was going to put out the illusion of truly being okay, then she was going to have to let him.

Cam slipped an arm around her. “I was thinking we could slip out for a bit.”

She met his heated gaze and thought maybe it wasn’t just in the movies after all. “To do what?”

“Anything you want.”

“Still standing right here,” Winnie said. “Although I have no idea why. You kids be careful now, you hear?” And then she too vanished into the living room crowd.

“Anything I want?” Piper repeated to Cam. “That’s a lot of power to just hand over.”

He laughed. “Babe, the power’s always been yours.”

Since she’d spent most of her life feeling as if it was the exact opposite, this sounded appealing. Very appealing.

“Like that smile,” he murmured, wrapping an arm around her, nudging her back against the pantry door.