Chapter 27
Act II, Scene XIX: The Layla Montague Inn
Kalina
‘Y ou don’t look like you slept well,’ Savi greeted as I arrived at the inn. She held out a mug of tea.
‘I didn’t,’ I sighed and took the mug from her. ‘Thanks.’ I dropped my bag on the floor.
I’d spent half the night replaying my last date with Charlie, then the rest of the night replaying Mae’s event with Titan.
My head spun.
‘What were you up to last night?’ she asked over the rim of her mug, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
‘Nothing warranting that look.’ I took a sip of the tea. ‘I went to the DB Diamond event with Titan.’
‘You did?’ Her eyebrows found their way into her hairline.
‘Yes, why are you being weird about it?’
‘I’m not.’
I scoffed.
‘And you went on a second date with Charlie?’
‘Yes. He took me to the aquarium.’
‘How cute.’ she gushed. ‘One of your top ten dates.’
‘It was cute. We had the whole place to ourselves.’
‘Oh my God. What?’ Savi yanked me down beside her onto one of the navy-blue couches. They were definitely not here the last time I’d visited.
‘I like these,’ I said as I brushed the textured fabric.
‘Enough about the couches. Tell me more.’
‘He called in a favour. We saw all the exhibits without the crowds.’
‘Wow. He’s really made up for the music festival huh?’
‘Yeah.’ I laughed nervously. I hadn’t told Savi the full truth about that night. She would ask about Titan and I couldn’t lie to her face as easily as I could over text. I needed to talk to Charlie first.
Besides, Ted and Savi were linked via brainwaves and while I trusted Ted with my life, I wasn’t so sure he’d be able to keep it to himself.
Besides the fact I’d already ruined one, maybe even two, close relationships in Ted’s life. First Jesse and now, Titan. I wanted to do it right this time, and avoid any other broken friendships.
‘He’s so romantic,’ Savi said dreamily.
‘He is,’ I agreed. There was no doubt about it, but if we were reminiscing about romantic nights, then my birthday with Titan ranked number one.
‘And?’ She was almost salivating.
‘What?’
‘Details.’
‘We kissed. Properly this time.’ I took another sip of my tea.
She squealed. ‘You’re awfully chill about it.’
‘It was nice.’
‘Nice?’
‘Yes, nice.’
‘Nice is not selling a good time. Nice is what you say when it’s not going well.’ She crossed her arms over her chest. ‘What’s wrong?’
She was onto me.
‘Nothing’s wrong.’ I set the mug down on the coffee table, beside a plate of pastries. ‘I don’t want to get too excited yet.’ I twirled the ring on my finger.
‘That’s pretty,’ Savi said and nodded at it. ‘Is it new? I saw it at dinner.’
‘It is.’
‘It’s cute. Seems to help with your biting.’
Lately, it was the one thing I never left home without. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her it was a birthday gift from Titan, but I thought better of it.
Like a little memento of what we’d shared. A secret for the two of us.
‘Real question, can you tell me what we’re doing today?’
I smiled knowingly. ‘It only took you ten minutes to ask. A new record.’ She’d been asking for weeks, but I wouldn’t budge.
‘Let me surprise you with one thing today, okay? It’s your bachelorette and you need to relax. What I can tell you is to dress comfortably. But, I have tonight sorted.’ We were having a sleepover themed karaoke night.
‘I’m so excited.’
‘You know I dress for comfort.’ She rubbed her belly.
‘Is she moving?’
Savi nodded. ‘Still little bubbles.’
‘I can’t wait to meet her.’ We chatted some more, enjoying my niece’s involvement in our conversations. She was already such a big part of our little club.
‘We have to be out of here in about forty-five minutes.’
Savi shoved the pastry she’d picked up into her mouth.
‘Forty-five minutes! You could’ve chewed.’
She struggled, chewed, swallowed, then downed the rest of her coffee like it was a shot. ‘No time. Let’s go.’
If there was one thing Savi enjoyed it was parties and celebrations, and the events leading up to the wedding had her pretty excited.
The forty-five minutes turned into twenty-five and I took the extra-long route to our first appointment of the day.
‘A full body massage,’ Savi squealed as we walked up to the glass doors of L’ Aurore Spa .
‘A full body mama massage,’ I clarified. ‘Then it’s pedicures, and lunch.’
‘You spoil me, Lina.’
‘You deserve it so, enjoy.’
It was a bit of a selfish treat, but we both needed it. She was growing a human and I grew an existential crisis. I made up for the lack of sleep the previous night and napped during my massage.
Over lunch, I gave Savi the rest of the afternoon’s itinerary. ‘We have a little shopping stop, I know you hate it but trust me…you’re going to love this.’
‘I trust you,’ Savi said. She took a bite of her perfectly grilled salmon. ‘I wouldn’t trust anyone else with this.’
‘I appreciate that.’
The shop in question was Madame Enchante , a luxury lingerie store.
‘Lina, have you seen me right now?’ Savi gestured to her loose T-shirt dress.
‘This is Ted’s gift to you…and himself.’ I pulled the black card from my purse. ‘I’m not going to think about it too much so let’s go.’
‘Well, who am I to deny the man?’ She shrugged.
We entered the store where Savi proceeded to enlist my help.
‘You know, this would have been a great time to message Ted?’ I said, seated on the bench outside the changing rooms.
‘I want it to be a surprise.’ She did a twirl in front of the panelled mirrors. ‘I think this is it.’
She decided on a red lace bra, panty and garter belt set, with various straps and clips. Her belly was still easy to hide in clothes, but in this, it was on full display.
‘He will be very pleased I am sure.’ The man was obsessed with his wife. ‘This might actually kill him.’
‘Great.’
I loved that this was her aim.
‘You don’t want to get anything? While we’re here?’ she called out from her stall.
‘Me?’
‘Yes, you . I saw you eyeing the dark green bodysuit.’ Savi stepped out of the changing room and narrowed her eyes at me.
‘And wear it for…myself?’
‘Of course. Always for yourself, but I thought maybe you’d want to wear it for a special someone…I mean, if things go well, maybe Charlie will be a bit better than nice.’
I shook my head. ‘Firstly, there’s nothing wrong with being nice and secondly, we’ve only been on two dates.’
I walked out of the changing room, but she was right. I kept stealing glances at the beautiful dark green French lace one piece.
She was hot on my heels and grabbed it from the rail. ‘Look, your size.’
‘I don’t think it’s worth the price.’ I gazed at the tag.
‘Come on, he’d love it.’
Without thinking I replied, ‘He would.’
‘So, you do want to wear it for him.’
She didn’t need to know the he I’d been referring to was Titan.
‘You know what? You’ve done so much for Ted and me.’ Savi took the item from my hand. ‘This is from us.’
‘Wait, what?’
‘You deserve it,’ she said with a grin and hurried to the counter before I could stop her.
‘Savi…’
She was fast for someone who had a baby pushed up against her organs.
‘Don’t make me fight you. Besides, it’s been scanned and can’t be returned.’ She shrugged.
I conceded and gave her a quick hug. ‘Thank you.’
With our bags in tow, we headed back to the Inn
While we’d been out, the space had been transformed by the event company. Lounge seating was set up in the main area with multi-coloured velvet couches, beanbags and large pillows. A blow-up screen with a projector sat in front of it, and small tables were scattered around the room housing snacks and drinks. Warm beverages were set up on the bar along with the desserts.
‘For movies and karaoke.’ I gestured to the screen.
‘Pizza is on its way and so is the rest of the party.’
‘This is perfect.’ She wrapped an arm around me and snuggled into my side. Her version of a hug, which I gladly accepted.
‘One more thing but we need to go upstairs.’
We reached one of the bedrooms and I handed Savi a gift bag, which I’d hidden when she went to the bathroom earlier.
She pulled a cream silk night shirt from it, turning it over in her hands and gasped at the monogrammed pocket.
‘Mrs. Montague. I love it.’
‘You get changed, there's a pair of fuzzy slippers in there as well.’ I pointed to the bag. ‘I’ll meet you downstairs.’
I walked to the bedroom I’d be occupying later, where a dusty pink silk sleep shirt waited for me.
While Savi got ready, I went downstairs to set up the playlist and got the drinks from the fridge.
The bell over the door rang out.
Of course Lexie was the first person to arrive and dressed in bright pink lingerie covered up with a sheer black robe.
I guess people slept in all kinds of things.
‘Hi, Lina.’ She leaned down and air-kissed both of my cheeks.
‘Lexie, hi.’ She was Savi’s soon to be sister-in-law and I had no issue with her, per se.
It’s not like she was the one who’d dumped me.
‘Lina, this is so cute. Please, you have to help my friends when the time comes.’
I laughed awkwardly. ‘Sure, but isn’t it a little weird?’
She laughed, but I was fairly certain she didn’t know why. ‘Not at all.’
Lexie always acted as if it were the first time we were meeting. Every single time.
Maybe Jesse hadn’t told her about our history?
‘Let me show you around. You can take a photo with the camera and leave a note on it for Savi,’ I said, and pointed to the table with the Polaroid cameras.
I let her walk around while I greeted the other guests who trickled in. Savi came downstairs, ready to mingle.
Our cousins and Savi’s friends were excited about the evening but even more excited about the Inn.
‘This is kind of a soft launch of The Layla Montague Inn,’ I said to Savi.
‘You're right. Let me network.’ She disappeared into the crowd.
I walked to the bar to grab one of the sparkling pink drinks when one of our cousins stopped me.
‘Who are you dating? Charlie or Titan? I’m getting mixed information from the aunts and I want to check before I pursue.’ She giggled like a schoolgirl.
‘Oh no, Savi's looking for me, sorry.’ I disappeared before they could respond.
The BAAs were busy.
I found what I thought was a quiet corner and took a sip of my drink.
‘It’s a frenzy out there. I must say I’m really glad I don’t have to deal with all that anymore.’ Lexie waved her hand in front of me as if to emphasise the huge rock on her finger. ‘Good luck with that one.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘Oh, I overheard the conversation. You know Titan, always moving from one to the next. Be careful there. Nothing but heartbreak lies in that direction.’ She took a long sip from her bottle. ‘Anyway, enjoy it while you can.’
I blinked rapidly at her, my mouth opening and closing in silent protest.
‘I’d thank you not to spew such nonsense about my brother,’ Scarlet said as she came to stand beside me, and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. ‘Just because he didn’t want to settle down with you, doesn’t mean the same applies to Lina.’
Lexie looked a little ashamed. ‘I didn’t mean it like—’
‘I know what you meant. Stop.’ Scarlet pulled me away from her and towards the snacks.
‘Thank you. Sorry, I froze. She surprised me.’
‘Don’t mention it. I’m tired of the shit talk on Titan. He gets enough of it from our father, and I don’t need to hear it from her.’
I knew both of them had a strained relationship with their father, but Titan never spoke about it with me.
‘I love your pyjamas,’ I said and we both looked down at the navy-blue dinosaur print set.
‘Thank you. I got it from the boy’s section.’ The cropped length of the T-shirt and very short shorts said as much.
‘They’re super cute.’ I laughed.
Scarlet dragged me along to karaoke with her, but the thought niggled at the back of my mind for the rest of the night. Would Titan be interested in me the way I was with him? Scarlet was only protecting her brother and wanted to prove a point with Lexie.
But maybe he didn’t want the same things I did. Maybe Lexie was right and the moments we’d shared were in the past and he’d moved on to the next person.