Legend & Lace

26. Just Because I'm Not A Redhead Anymore Doesn't Mean I'm Not Fiery

Chapter 26

Just Because I'm Not A Redhead Anymore Doesn't Mean I'm Not Fiery

After being a redhead for over a year and a half, it took me a moment to process the blonde hair that fell from the towel the following afternoon. Though it didn't match perfectly to my natural color, it came pretty dang close. Lifting a strand, I stared at it, twisting the ends around my finger again and again

No longer was I Laney Conroy. Hattie Devereaux was back and ready to take on the world.

Well, more specifically, Vince Peters.

Drake was in the shower across the hall from his room, which we'd both fallen asleep in around four in the morning after talking more with his family. Whenever he came out, he was going to be back to his normal hair color also. No more blond Warren Tyler.

"Not that you didn't look good as a redhead, but this is the Hattie Drake always used to go on about," Piper said from the doorway with a smile.

"So I heard from your mom and sister when I met them before," I smiled at her. "I also heard your mom pestered him about the two of us when I was in the shower a little while ago, too."

"She's been waiting for a wedding for years...until a year and a half ago, that is," she said, walking forward to sit on the edge of the bed. "She couldn't stop talking about how wonderful you were when you stopped by when you were in the city for Emmy's graduation. I'm just sorry I couldn't meet you then. Gracie couldn't stop gushing either, mostly because she loved how you weren't afraid to tell it like it was with Drake at the time. Obviously, that's changed since then."

"A lot's changed since then," I nodded, grabbing the hairbrush she'd let me borrow and started brushing through the tangles.

"Obviously," she said again.

Tangles gone, I turned to where she'd perched herself on the edge of the bed. The night before, I hadn't really gotten to talk to Piper Garner all that much. She'd been quiet for the most part, just looking at her brother and occasionally me. For only being a few months younger than me, I felt vastly older. But the look in her eyes...well, that made it seem like she'd been through a lot over the past six or so years Drake hadn't been a big part of her life. And I knew she had with her brother being gone.

"I know we barely know each other," I started, setting down the brush and walking over to sit down beside her on the bed. "I feel like I know you, though, because of how much Drake talked about you and Gracie."

Piper half smiled. "Did he now?"

"He did," I told her. "Especially over the past year and a half we've been gone. The family we stayed with...they had two girls, Shannon and Gertie. The way he was with them...well, I imaged that's how he was with you guys."

"I hope not," Piper laughed. "He used to torment us like any big brother would. Gracie was the one to beat him back head on. But me? I used wits as a weapon. You'll have to get Emmy to tell you a few stories."

"I guess I will," I smiled.

She was quiet for a moment, settling even more on the bed, leaning back against the pillows as I moved to do the same. I would have thought it'd be a little awkward with the silence, but it was more of a comfort than anything.

"What's it like, being who you are? You know, with the whole secret society thing?" she finally asked. "I mean, you've been in it your whole life. But with Emmy...I knew something was going on, especially after everything that happened with her in Paris and then what followed those next two years. Drake changed. Her whole family changed. They tried to make it seem like it hadn't, but I knew. They're like a second family to me, so I knew. And now, after everything you all told us last night..."