Page 46 of Until the Last Star Fades

She laughed. “Hey, I haven’t shoplifted since freshman year! So, anyway—we went for a walk. It was so warm, everyone was out. Ben was like a bottomless pit, though, still hungry, so I dragged him to that cookie dough shop on LaGuardia.”

Casey sipped his coffee. “I love that place, but it always has a humongous line.”

“Yeah, it was crazy, so we had lots of time to talk Scotland, but for someone born there, he knows jack shit. Said he left as a six-year-old and never went back.” Piper dug in the box, selecting a sugar cookie. “I mean, I left two weeks after I was born, but at least I’ve visited a bunch of times. He wanted to know all about my background, so I gave him the world tour. He didn’t nod off into his chocolate milkshake or anything, so—yay me!”

“How many people can say they’ve lived in Edinburgh, Paris, Tokyo, Toronto, Chicago, and New York by the age of twenty-three? Of course it’s interesting,” said Riley. “You’re interesting.”

Piper chewed her cookie. “I guess being a diplomat’s brat makes for good date conversation. Ben told me a bit about England. He moved a few times and lived in Windsor.”

“Hmm!” Casey raised an eyebrow. “Windsor is home to the most millionaires in Britain, including the Queen when she’s in residence at Windsor Castle.”

“Why Google when you have Brit Twit?” Piper groaned.

“Wow, I had no idea Ben had royal neighbors,” said Riley.

“Is he a toff?” Casey set his coffee down between his Harry Styles-influenced Chelsea boots.

“Toff?” asked Riley.

“Rich Brit. Privileged upper class.”

Piper chuckled. “Doubt it. He wasn’t flashing a platinum card. Our date was cheap and cheerful.”

“I think he’s as broke as I am.” Riley’s phone lit up, sending her heart surging into her throat. Mom? A hockey GIF from Josh filled the screen. Ahh, thank God.

Casey chose another cookie. “I guess he’s never met the Queen, then. Stolen her silver teaspoons, maybe…”

“Ben knows someone even better.” Piper tilted her freckly nose into the bright sun. “Mark Keegan.”

“Bollocks, he does!” Casey snapped the cookie in half.

“He does! Ben said Mark looked out for him at drama school, made sure he wasn’t homesick, helped him learn lines. Can you imagine? Sweet, huh?”

“Yeah.” Riley swallowed, trying to dampen the twinge in her chest. She was happy Piper was spending time with Ben but felt left out, hearing about his past secondhand. Why didn’t he open up about this stuff to me?

“He hasn’t spoken to Mark in a while, though. Ben called him last fall, but his number had changed,” said Piper.

“Well, that’s convenient.” Casey snorted. “Knows him, my ass.”

Piper rolled her eyes and continued. “Ben said they both auditioned for the role of Callum in Lairds and Liars, but he lost out because Mark’s Scottish accent was better. That’s crazy—born in Scotland and you lose to an Irishman.”

“Or maybe Ben’s a shit actor.”

“Casey!” Riley glared. “Maybe Mark just had the look they wanted.”

“Yeah, listen to the future casting director!” said Piper. “Ben told me about beating Mark for a voiceover job. It was a kids show—with puppets! I nearly died! Ben’s puppet-friendly! That was all I needed—”

“Bloody hell!” Casey laughed. “You didn’t make him watch your YouTube channel on your date, did you? I thought you liked this guy. No wonder you didn’t get laid.”

“If a guy—or girl—doesn’t get me or my love of puppets, then good riddance. I’m going to become THE go-to person for children’s television in LA one day, and my future partner will be supportive.” Piper sniffed. “My puppet channel has over twenty thousand subscribers, so I’m doing something right.”

“Did you show him?” asked Riley.

Piper beamed. “He complimented my storytelling and said my puppets looked like Muppets! That’s the ultimate compliment.”

“Your internship last summer at the LA workshop paid off in more ways than one,” said Riley.

“I know, right!” Piper brushed crumbs from her skirt. “Intern now, CEO in ten years. I told Ben that and he said ‘I believe it!’ Aw, Benjamuffin! He’s such a cutie.”