Chapter 27
chapter twenty-seven
Jude
Today's vocabulary word: downplay
"It was a lizard? On the curtain?" Gary wheezed, his eyes shining and his face warm from laughing.
"A lizard," Audrey replied.
"But it must've just been a little guy, like the ones we see around the yard," Mom said. "They won't do any harm."
"It was three feet long if it was an inch," Audrey said, holding her hands up to the approximate size of the beast. "It was—"
"It was a dragon," I cut in. "I'm sure of it."
"And this guy," Audrey said, leaning into me, "jumps out of the shower, traps it in the reusable container I'd packed with my homemade scones, and bolts across the parking lot in nothing but a towel.
" She sanded her hands together. "I don't know what the good people of Grandwood Valley thought when they saw that show but that's a story they'll tell for years.
Between us, it wasn't much of a towel. I wouldn't be surprised if the locals saw a whole lot more than the sunrise that morning. "
Once again, Gary and my mother doubled over laughing. I'd lost count of the number of times Audrey had them in stitches during drinks and dinner as she told them a sanitized—but also sensationalized—account of the past few days.
I didn't know how she did it with such grace, not to mention the comedic timing, but I appreciated the hell out of her for it. I also appreciated the chance to size up Gary.
He seemed nice enough. Bald as a bowling ball and barely scratching five-eight, he made a point of pulling out my mother's chair and requesting refills on her iced tea as soon as she hit the half-empty mark.
I gave him credit for downplaying his role in the restaurant.
He could've talked a big game but he kept it low-key. No one liked a guy with an ego.
All the same, I still planned on dropping a note to a buddy of mine who owned a private security firm and asking him to dig around in Gary's closets. Just to make sure this guy wasn't into money laundering or some shit.
"I can't believe all the trouble you had," Gary said, pressing a napkin to the corners of his eyes.
"It was one adventure after another," Audrey said.
"I'm just happy you're here now," Mom said. "There's so much to talk about and we only have a few days before you leave again." She hit me with an exaggerated glare as she hefted the infamous binder to the table. "We should start with the date."
I was ready to respond with some noise about saving this for another time but Audrey's knee pressed into the outside of my thigh as she dropped a hand to my forearm.
"Don't you think we should meet up for lunch tomorrow, Janet?
Just the girls?" she asked, a gorgeous smile aimed at my mother.
"We need more time to talk than what these guys will grudgingly endure. "
"I love that idea," Mom said, "and I know just the place."
"Juniper and Ivy?" Gary asked, pulling out his phone. "Or Canyon Crossing?"
Mom grinned up at him like he was really fucking wonderful. "You read my mind," she said. "Juniper would be amazing."
"I'll get the corner booth reserved so you have room to look over all of your designs," he said.
"Perfect. We'll make a day of it," Audrey said, giving my arm a squeeze. "I'll give you our ideas for dates and you can show me everything you've dreamed up for our big day."
My mother's eyes turned to hearts. It was exactly what I'd wanted out of this. That overflow of joy and optimism for the storybook ending she'd wanted for me. The promise of so many good things to come.
But the victory was a hollow one. Come the end of summer, our story would unravel and all of this would end.
Maybe that was the real curse of this whole scheme—not that I'd lose Audrey all over again but that after everything I'd done to fulfill my mother's (nearly) last wish, I'd be the one breaking it.
"I think it's adorable," Audrey said.
I led her through the hotel lobby, our luggage in one hand. "I think it's desperate."
"Come on," she said. "He brought his car in to be serviced for something new every week for two months and then started bringing in his friends' cars just for a chance to see Janet at the front desk, and you don't think that's cute?"
"If you want my honest opinion, I'd say it rings some stalker bells."
"No, it doesn't!" she said. "It would be one thing if he'd asked her out during those two months and she turned him down. He just didn't know how to approach her."
"Which is a skill issue if I've ever seen one.
" I shot her an exasperated glance as we waited to check in but there wasn't any real heat behind it.
I liked when we argued about things that didn't matter.
Like Mom and Gary's meet-cute. "He's old enough to know how to ask a woman out. He's been around the block."
"How does it feel?" She glared right back but her smile gave it away. She'd forgotten about resenting my entire existence long enough to enjoy this debate. "Having all the answers and the moral high ground?"
I ran a hand through my hair. "It's going to feel damn good tomorrow when you're debating color palettes and types of buttercream for sixteen hours."
She rolled her eyes as we stepped up to the desk. "You might feel differently about that when you realize you're wearing a pale pink tux with a crown of baby's breath to this wedding."
I laughed and handed our information to the representative. She pecked at the keyboard for a long moment before sucking in a breath and motioning another staff member over. Audrey and I shared a glance before I asked, "Is there a problem?"
The newcomer turned to us with a saccharine smile. "I'm afraid there was an incident in one of the rooms you booked," he said.
I rubbed my forehead. "What kind of incident?"
"An electrical matter," he said.
I cast another meaningful glance at Audrey. Her brows pitched up and the humor in her eyes was gone. She asked, "Is that a big problem around here?"
"It was an unusual incident," he replied. "Unfortunately, we're only able to offer you one room tonight. We expect the second will become available tomorrow after our standard check-in time of four in the afternoon."
I drummed my fingers on the desk. I didn't think we'd survive another night together. "You couldn't have notified us any earlier?"
"You have our deepest apologies," he said. "I can offer you complimentary breakfast for the duration of your stay."
Audrey's cheeks puffed as she blew out a breath.
With that breath went the perfect posture and every last piece of the mask she'd worn to charm Mom, Gary, and Rita.
The color in her cheeks drained and her eyes went heavy.
Her whole body seemed to slouch. It had to be exhausting, being everything to everyone.
With a sigh, she asked, "What's the bed situation in this one room?"
He pursed his lips and I knew this wasn't going to work out well for us. "It's our signature select California king pillow top."
"I should've known," she muttered. "This better be a phenomenal breakfast."
"It's actually very good," the first representative said.
I shifted to face Audrey. "We don't have to do this. We can—"
"No, Jude, we can't," she said, her voice cracking like she was about to cry.
"I'm so tired. I don't have the emotional strength to figure out a new plan because this place casually catches on fire sometimes.
I intend on taking the longest, hottest shower of my life and then popping a giant sleeping pill.
If you want to do something else, you're welcome to leave me here. "
"Like hell I'm leaving you here," I said.
She shook her head. "Fine. We're doing this. Again."
The room was free of both ceiling leaks and reptiles, and Audrey spent forty-five full minutes in the shower while I talked to Percy.
She stayed in the bathroom another half hour and I had to assume she just needed to be alone.
After being the main attraction for Mom, Gary, and Rita, she had to be mentally wiped out.
When she emerged, she pulled some extra pillows from the closet and drew the boundary lines on the bed before climbing in. She didn't say much and, as threatened, fell asleep before the end of a sitcom rerun.
I flipped over to an F1 race when I knew she was out.
I was exhausted but I was too worked up to let myself relax.
I couldn't stop replaying a carousel of moments from the past few days.
Then there was the pounding heat of last night.
I couldn't get away from the memories of her hands on my skin, her lips pressed to mine.
I kept feeling the weight of her against me, the way she'd leaned in without hesitation. So fucking reckless—but so right.
All I knew was that she'd kissed me back last night. She'd reached for me, she'd wanted me. And I was ruined for it.