15. Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Stella
" E den has her claws out for you," Luna announced when she and Aurora dragged me out for drinks again the evening after the presentation.
It was a Friday, and I didn't mind. I needed a good drunk. I'd sleep all weekend, I decided. It wasn't like I had a garden to tend or anything. I could just lie in bed and stay there.
Also, I didn't mind getting a drink after the day I'd had. After the meeting in the conference room, we met as a smaller group in Nina's office.
Nina had been stern to the point of rude with Eden, telling her and Silas that they needed to get themselves aligned on a brief, and not ever think they can walk in and behave in that manner with one of her people.
Eden had blubbered angrily, while Silas profusely apologized. I tried to escape Nina's office, but knowing my boss wouldn't allow it, I sat quietly, pretending I was somewhere else.
That meeting concluded with assurances from Silas, scoffs of disdain from Eden, and warnings from Nina. I stayed the hell out of all of it.
"If you say you don't want to work on this project, we can find someone else," Nina assured me when it was just the two of us in her office.
"Why wouldn't I want to work on this project?" I asked quizzically.
"Eden is—"
"No worse than some other asshole clients I've worked with," I cut in.
Nina chuckled. "I hate that you won't tell me why you feel so poorly, but I am enjoying the more assertive Stella, who is giving me a run for my money when it comes to cursing."
The truth was that I used to never curse. I was a good girl. But there were pivotal moments in our lives when you simply had to detonate a few F-bombs to get your point across and feel cleansed within.
"Nina told me she had a come to Jesus conversation with the Rutledge siblings." Luna looked at me for confirmation.
"She did," Nova, who had seen it firsthand, replied. "Nina was stupendously fabulous. Eden was just blabbering, and Silas looked like he'd die when Nina said she'd pull out of the project if this behavior continued."
We were at Artillery, a bar set in the heart of historic Savannah on Bull Street. It was housed in a restored 19th-century armory, and the interior paid homage to its military heritage with high, ornate ceilings, and dark wood paneling, with vintage firearms and military memorabilia encased in glass displays. Soft, amber lighting cast a warm glow over the plush, deep green velvet seating, creating intimate nooks and crannies that encouraged hushed conversations and lingering glances.
I watched the bartender while the others talked from the cozy corner table we'd settled into. He moved with the precision and flair of someone who truly loved his craft, busy concocting an array of colorful cocktails. The shelves behind him held a mesmerizing display of spirits from floor to ceiling, interspersed with antique artifacts and bottles that looked as though they could contain potions from another time and place.
"Is something goin' on between you and Noah Carter?" Aurora put her hand on mine, and squeezed.
"Nothing is going on between us," I replied easily. It was mostly the truth. Noah and I had a past, but that was buried. Today, we were nothing to each other. The present was here, dark as it may be, and I had to get through it, live through it, and hope the other side wouldn't be quite so bleak.
"It's pretty obvious something is," Luna muttered. "He watches you. During the presentation, he couldn't stop looking. Why do you think Eden had her knickers in a twist?"
"He's dating her," I mumbled. "Between me and her, it's obvious that the ex-super model will always win."
I hadn't bothered with makeup in weeks. The best thing I could say about my hair was that it was mostly clean. I didn't even bother to blow dry it; I simply twisted my unruly hair into a knot when wet and let it dry like that.
"Eden is a snake," Luna snapped.
"She's not the nicest person I have met," Aurora added. She was a sweetheart, and her mild comment made me smile.
Luna raised her glass of the Artillery Punch, a Savannah staple, with a mix of brandy, rum, bourbon, and a splash of champagne, garnished with fresh fruit. I clinked her glass with mine, a dry gin martini with a twist, stirred to icy perfection, as did Aurora, who had opted for something lighter, a peach bellini, beautifully presented, with a delicate slice of peach perched on the rim of her glass.
"To one of the most beautiful gardens Savannah is going to soon see," Luna grinned. "That was one hell of a proposal, Stella."
"I can't wait to sit in that gazebo with a picnic basket." Aurora leaned in, and dropped a kiss on my cheek. "Even if it means the public will be traipsing all over the museum."
"Eden is such a cu…" Luna groaned, trailing off.
I looked around and saw Luna's brother, Lev, and his best friend, Dominic Calder. Luna would be off my case now, because, speaking of something going on, those two had enough chemistry to light up Savannah.
"Ladies." Lev did the hug and kiss routine.
Dom was meeting Aurora for the first time. She had not grown up as Luna and I had as part of the old-money Savannah society—which meant she was way less messed up than us.
They ordered drinks, and we did the usual small talk about the weather, and this and that. As we sipped our drinks, the soft clinking of glasses and the low murmur of conversation around us blended with a gentle jazz track playing in the background, Luna studiously avoided Dom, and he was having none of it.
"What are you drinking?" Lev asked Dom.
He'd ordered a Sazerac, while Dom, more adventurous, went for one of the bartender's specials, which was a vivid concoction that shifted colors from blue to purple as he stirred.
"I'm not sure," Dom stated. "I think it's got a touch of lavender."
"That's a very girly drink for you," Luna scoffed.
"I like all things girly." Dom winked at me. "How are you doing, Stella Bella?"
"Good," I lied. I didn't know why people asked such questions, did anyone ever tell the truth?
Dom nodded thoughtfully. "That's not what I hear."
I smiled despite myself. "Then why ask?"
"Because I thought you'd tell me how you were really doing and—."
"And then what?" Luna demanded. "You gonna fix her life, ‘cause you're so good at that?"
"Christ, Luna, why do you have to go for the fuckin' jugular," Dom sighed. "I care about Stella."
"Do you even need me here for this discussion or is it foreplay? Should I leave?" I asked sarcastically, rising to my feet.
Luna sipped her drink, and then contritely said, "Stella, honey, I'm sorry. And it's not foreplay ."
In the past, I would have cheerfully and agilely averted a confrontation like this—smoothed the social edges, and brought the group back to polite conversation. Now? Fuck that.
"Stay, Stell." Aurora pulled me down. "And, you two," she waved at Luna and Dom, " behave ."
"This whole arguing for no good reason is gettin' old," Lev muttered. "And Dom's right, Luna, you go half-cocked at him all the—"
"She's got reasons and mind your own business," Dom interrupted tightly.
See? Never-ending drama. Dom could say what he wanted to Luna but no one else could, not even her brother.
"Or you could both just fuck each other outta your systems," I suggested.
Everyone stared at me. Dom choked on his fancy drink. Lev thumped Dom on his back. Aurora burst out laughing. The others joined, easing the tension.
"Christ, who are you and what have you done with Stella Hunt?" Luna chuckled.
"Yeah," Dom and Lev said in unison.
We meandered off tense topics, and moved into ones that made me uncomfortable. Because they had to do with Noah.
"I hear that Silas Rutledge is hittin' up people for campaign funding." Lev leaned back in the booth.
"We had dinner with him at Old Vic's." Aurora took a sip of her drink. "And Gabriel said he and Silas met."
"Silas Rutledge was always a fuckin' politician." Dom raised his glass in a toast. "His sister is a piece of work. Is she really dating Noah Carter? In New York, it looked like they were just doing some casual fuckin'."
"Rumor is they're getting engaged," Lev announced.
"Noah's good people! She's obviously drugged him or he's been taken over by aliens if he's gonna put a ring on her finger," Dom commented. "Can't see them lastin' as a couple."
"Weirder couples have lasted in Savannah," Luna reminded him.
"Most people think Gabriel and I are weird," Aurora interjected.
"Nah, you two are cuter than fuck," Luna teased.
Savannah was a city that thrived on gossip. My poor heart felt stabbed whenever I heard about Noah and Eden, because each time I had to deal with the reality of my feelings for Noah.
I loved him. I hated him.
He made me feel like the most important person in his life. He made me feel like dirt on his shoe.
He made me feel beautiful. He made me feel small and ugly.
I had the best sex of my life with him. He'd also done something to make sure I'd never feel safe with any man again.
"You okay?" Aurora asked, and I flinched.
"Can everyone just stop askin' me that?" I quipped. "I am fine . Stop asking me. Please . I have at least five people ask me every day. What the hell am I doin' that makes you think I'm not okay ?"
"Well, for one, this outburst," Aurora replied calmly.
"Fuckin' hell." I took a sip of my drink.
"And the fact that you're cursing," Luna interjected. "You never hardly curse."
"Unlike you," Dom pointed out.
"I'm not very ladylike, Dom. But you know that. You said so." There was hurt in Luna's eyes.
"That was a long time ago, Moonbeam," Dom replied softly.
Luna got up then, as if there were springs on her feet. "Don't fuckin' ever call me that again."
She walked away to where the restrooms were, and Aurora followed her, excusing herself.
"You don't want to join them?" Dom cocked an eyebrow. "I thought women went together and had summits in the head."
"Stop playin' with her. You did that enough before you left for New York." I pulled out some money from my wallet and threw the dollars on the table. "Tell them I wasn't feeling well."
"Hey, you." Lev got up and put his arm around me. "I was going to ask if you were okay, but I'm worried you'll knee me in the jewels."
I groaned.
"That be hard to do since you have none," Dom teased.
"Fuck you, Calder," Lev replied, flipping him the bird.
Lev walked me out of the Artillery. We were not close, but we were friends.
"Regardless of how much it pisses you off, I gotta say, Stella Bella, you look like hell," he stated when we were out of the bar.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Are you gonna tell me how I need to wear makeup?" I demanded churlishly.
"No, I'm gonna tell you that your smiles are fuckin' lame. You look depressed, babe."
I shrugged.
"This about your dad askin’ for his investment in Savannah Lace back?" Lev put a hand on my shoulder.
"Can we not talk about—"
"Stop it," he interrupted. "I'm not Luna, I'm not gonna back off."
"Why?"
"Because we're friends, Stell. I've known you since we were babies."
"I'm tired, Lev."
He pulled me into his arms and held me. I leaned against him and wanted, very much, to start crying. But I knew if I started, I wouldn't be able to stop.
He stroked my back, and I let him comfort me. And he did. He really did, until I heard Noah's voice.
"Hey, Steele, how's it going?"