Chapter 19
I met Macy and the rest of the bridesmaids early the next morning for the final fittings of our gowns before we went to the spa for a pampering session.
Things were quiet through facials and massages, but when it was time to sit around, getting our manicures and pedicures done, the conversation turned to me. Mainly, it turned to Milo.
Karly took a sip from her mimosa and grinned at me. “What happened with that guy? He’s handsome, Sara!”
Maggie, who’d wormed her way into spa day, giggled. “I wish a guy would show up and sing to me like that.”
Megan shook her head. “I didn’t get the feeling that you were too happy to see him showing up.”
I stared down at the pale cream color drying on my nails. “I wasn’t. I also didn’t realize you were all there, watching.”
“What’s the deal? Megan’s right. Despite all signs pointing towards go, you put the brakes on.” Karly winced. “In front of everyone, too.”
Macy sat down and caught up with the conversation. “Men never change. He’s a cheater. Once a cheater, always a cheater.”
“Jason cheated on his high school girlfriend, you know? He was too young and dumb to end things because it was scary, so he just started seeing another girl.” Jason’s high school friend, Tiffany, laughed. “Actually, they might still be together. You might be the other woman, Macy.”
Macy’s jaw tightened, but she just shrugged. “Jason doesn’t count.”
“Why? Because Jason is perfect and everyone knows it? Not everyone can have that. Some of us get left with the guy who cheats on you but shows up, very apologetic.” Karly sighed. “At least he made the effort. None of my cheating exes ever even apologized.”
“Well, I think you should give him a chance. That song was so romantic.” Maggie looked lost in her own world. “I asked him for a copy of it when I saw him this morning, and he was—”
I frowned. “He was here this morning?”
Maggie frowned back at me. “Yeah. He was looking for you. It’s totally uncool for you to not give him a chance.”
“Maggie. It’s her life. If she doesn’t want to give the cheating creep a chance, she doesn’t need to.” Macy looked back at Tiffany. “Which girlfriend was it that he didn’t break up with?”
“Why was he here? He was supposed to leave last night.” I thought of him wandering the resort, bothering people, looking for me. It made me so angry that I envisioned sending Lucas after him. Not that I ever would. I didn’t believe in violence. Much.
“Her name was Candace. She was so pretty.” Tiffany grinned. “He called her Candy.”
“So, she was a stripper?” Macy bit back at her.
“He didn’t leave because he loves you. How can you be so mean to him? He told me that you’re his entire world and he needs you back.” Maggie glared at me. “I can’t believe you won’t even talk to him.”
“He’s a lying snake. You shouldn’t feel sorry for him.” I fanned my hands, trying to get them to dry faster. I needed to find him and make him understand.
“Okay, everybody. Let’s just take it down a notch.” Megan reached out and put a calming hand on Macy’s arm. “Jason is marrying you in just a couple of days. I highly doubt he even remembers anyone named Candy.”
“No, we were just talking about her last night. I still see her around town all the time.”
Macy stood up and marched out of the spa, her toe separators flapping in the wind. Megan swore and hurried after her, understanding that Jason’s blood was about to be spilled by a stressed Macy if she didn’t interfere.
“What’s the big deal?” Tiffany shrugged and went back to her magazine.
“My mom says some women just can’t afford to be picky.” Maggie gave me a cutting look, the innocent teenager gone. “If I were you, I’d rethink sending Milo away.”
Karly scoffed. “You may be a kid, but no one’s here to stop me from knocking you down a peg. We don’t do that to other women. We don’t try to make them feel like shit. Fuck that.”
I was shocked to have been so thoroughly insulted by a child, but it didn’t last long.
Shock quickly gave way to anger and I shook my head at Maggie.
“One day, you’ll understand that no matter how cute a guy is, some things are way past the breaking point.
That song he sang? It means nothing when he’s done the same song and dance for at least a hundred other women. ”
“Whatever.”
I looked at Karly and rolled my eyes. “I have to go make sure he’s gone.”
She nodded and sent one more scathing look at Maggie. “I think we’ll just leave Maggie here to think about her actions.”
I managed to hold my laugh in until we were walking out of the spa together, our own toe separators slapping the floor. “You really just said that.”
“Yeah, it felt like something a parent would say to their kid. Felt right, honestly.” She grunted. “Little asshole. I can’t believe she said that.”
“Her mother is a piece of work, from what Macy says. I’ve only met her a time or two and I get the same vibe.”
“Fuck them both then.” Casual, like she hadn’t just said that about a kid, Karly shrugged and pointed to the bar. “I’m going to grab something before retreating to my kingdom for the night. I happen to know that a certain groomsman is stopping by later and I want to be ready.”
I waved goodbye to her, happy to know that I wasn’t the only person hooking up at the wedding. I did wonder who she was sleeping with, but it wasn’t my business. I was more focused on finding Milo and murdering him.
I’d walked all over the resort and still hadn’t seen him, so I went to my room and got changed into real clothes before finding my phone and calling him. I was on a mission. I wanted to handle it once and for all. I didn’t want him showing up again.
“Sara? Hi, baby. I was hoping you’d call after you got the flowers I sent to your room.”
I looked around the room and didn’t see any flowers. That didn’t matter, though. “We need to talk, Milo.”
“I agree.”
“Where are you? I’ll come there.” I was already grabbing my purse and heading towards the door.
“I’m just downstairs in the bar.” He lowered his voice. “Or I could just come up to your room.”
I threw my purse on the bed and stomped out of my room. I hung up on Milo and shoved my phone into my pocket. I basically charged into the lobby a minute later, steam pumping out of my ears like a cartoon. I was so mad that I almost didn’t even see Lucas until I was on top of him.
He caught me in his arms and smiled. “Whoa, there. Where are you off to, Cupcake?”
I blinked, trying to clear the scowl from my face. I didn’t want to put my negativity on him. He’d done enough the night before to put a smile on my face. “Just heading to the bar.”
He stroked my cheek and studied my face. “You’re upset.”
I groaned. “Milo didn’t leave. I’m going to meet him and end this.”
Lucas’s face hardened. “I’ll help.”
I put my hand on his chest and shook my head. “You know you can’t.”
“I can. And then I can toss his scrawny ass out in the snow and lock the fucking door behind him.”
“As much as I’d love that, I have to do it alone.” I realized I was still touching his chest and sighed, letting my hand drop. “It shouldn’t take long. What are you doing this afternoon?”
“Watching over you to make sure that asshole doesn’t try anything.
After that, I’ll be walking you to my suite and ordering more room service.
” He winked. “The benefit of my work being contained to an actual building is that I don’t have to take it with me on vacation.
And that’s just one of the reasons I should be your favorite brother. ”
I laughed and then slapped his arm. “Don’t make me happy. I’ve got to stay mad to do this right.”
“I wish you’d let me help. I think I could be really useful in making the point to him that you’re no longer interested. Especially if he needed an example of why you’ve moved on.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Okay. Don’t stick around for this. If I feel like you’re watching, I’m going to be self-conscious.”
“No promises.”
“I want chocolate-covered strawberries with the room service. And the biggest slice of chocolate cake.” I ran my hand over his flat stomach as I walked past and shivered. “And a bowl of ice cream. Actually, a hot fudge sundae. With nuts and whipped cream.”
Lucas caught my hand and leaned down to press a kiss to my head. “Plenty of nuts and cream to go around.”
Laughing, I faked a gag and backed away. “That was gross.”
“You like it.”
I grinned and forced myself to turn away from him. I walked into the bar and found Milo sitting close by the door. His eyes were narrowed and he scowled when I got closer.
“What was that about? Are you fucking that guy?” His voice was harsh and just a little too loud for my liking.
I sat down across from him and scowled. He made it easy to forget how happy I’d just been to be flirting with Lucas.
“Are you kidding me? First of all, Milo, we’re not together.
Even if I was having sex with someone, it’s none of your business.
Second of all, I asked you to leave last night.
Third of all, you really wanted to sit down and have this conversation, so let’s focus on that. ”
He shook his head. “He touched you like he knows you.”
My stomach fluttered. Lucas did know me. We’d all grown so familiar with each other so quickly. “Milo, focus.”
“How long did it take before you decided fucking someone else was okay?”
“Have you forgotten that we’re broken up because you cheated on me?
You watched me pack my bags and leave without saying a word, Milo.
Why are you trying now?” I leaned in so no one else would overhear us.
“Even if I was fucking someone else, you’d have no reason to be upset.
We’re not together. We’re not going to be together. Ever.”
“I came all this way to make it right.”
“Too little, too late.” I looked him right in the eye and spoke with as much sincerity as I could. “Two years was enough for this relationship. I realize now that we were both settling. I don’t want that anymore.”
“That’s bullshit. We had fun together.”
“Did we? Maybe you’re thinking of the girl you were cheating on me with for six months.” I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Milo. This is over. I’m not interested in settling.”
“Because you have someone else already?”
Yes. Three someones, to be exact. And I didn’t know if they were mine to have, but they’d shown me that I could be happy, wholly.
I didn’t have to settle. I didn’t have to worry that I’d die alone if I didn’t take whoever gave me attention.
I could be picky. “Because I don’t want you.
This ended for me the day I moved out. I should’ve been sad, Milo.
I wasn’t. Do you really want someone who isn’t sad to lose you? ”
He shook his head and leaned back in his chair. “You’re kind of a bitch, Sara.”
I stood up and stared down at him. “And you’re a sorry lay with an inability to understand the word loyal. Can I trust you to find your way out of here?”
He just looked off in the distance and ignored me.
I walked away feeling a release. That chapter closed for good, I could move on.
It terrified me how much I wanted my next chapter to be the three brothers who I knew were probably waiting around, worried that Milo had upset me.
They’d gotten under my skin so thoroughly.
They’d always had that power; they’d just finally decided to use their power for good rather than evil.
Like I’d assumed, the three of them were standing in the lobby, arms crossed over their chests, looking like three angry Greek gods.
I smiled, unable to help it. Walking to the stairs, they fell into step behind me.
A hand settled on my ass and another gripped the back of my neck.
I grinned and sidestepped the hands, earning frustrated growls from them.
Possessive and needy, they rushed me back to Lucas’s suite, barely getting inside the room before they were undressing me.