Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Preston
I’d hardly slept all night. I could give myself a list of a dozen reasons why that was, but the truth was that every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was the look on Jess’s face. How defeated she looked when she’d tried to insist she was just being practical.
If I could erase that word from my damn vocabulary, I would.
She deserved so much more than practical. Or some kind of arrangement.
The fact that she was going to go through with marrying that asshole made me want to tear down the walls.
And that’s exactly why I was going to get as far away from her and her horrible decisions as I possibly could.
“What do you think, Summit?” I pulled a pack made specifically for dogs from the shelf. “Are you up to carrying your own gear yet?”
The puppy looked up at me with his big, brown eyes, eager to please as always. It had only been a few months since Summit had come into my life, but we fit together so perfectly that I already couldn’t imagine things without him.
If only relationships with humans were as easy.
Maybe this was what I was destined for now. Life with a dog. At least he wasn’t going to abandon me to ruin his life by marrying some asshole.
I dropped the doggy pack next to the rest of the supplies I’d been gathering for my trip and tried again to shove thoughts of Jess out of my mind.
Because the truth was, she didn’t owe me anything. It’s not like we were…well, anything. We were barely friends again. We certainly weren’t anything more than that.
Keep telling yourself that, asshole.
A low growl slipped from my throat, surprising the puppy, who growled in return and hopped backward.
The action made me chuckle despite myself and the feelings I’d been trying and failing to ignore.
Because the truth was, I did have feelings for Jess.
I had since we were kids. And spending time with her recently and getting to know her as an adult had only poured gasoline on the fire that had never fully gone out.
“You’re either doing inventory or ransacking the place.”
Brody’s voice jarred me from my thoughts. I spun around with a dehydrated meal in my hands.
“And since you never willingly do inventory, I’m going to go with option B.”
My brother’s easy smile pissed me off. I grunted and tossed the packaged meal onto the pile. “I’m going away for a few days,” I told him. “I needed a few supplies.”
“A few, huh?” He sifted through the stack of things I’d been almost randomly tossing into the pile. “Because it looks like you have enough here for a few weeks.”
I ignored him and shoved the items into my pack. “It doesn’t hurt to be prepared, right?”
Brody laughed, and it pissed me off even more. “Does this mean you aren’t going to the wedding?”
“What wedding?”
He laughed harder.
I squeezed a pair of socks into a ball and resisted the urge to turn on him. I’d been itching for a fight ever since seeing Trevor’s smug face the night before. My big brother wouldn’t have been my first choice to fight, but if he didn’t shut up soon…
“Oh, you know, only the wedding that everyone in town is talking about.” Brody moved around the counter, putting it between us. Smart move on his part. “I thought you were invited?”
“I was.”
“You’re not going?”
“Trails need work.” I continued shoving things, most of which I didn’t need, into my pack. “Someone’s gotta do it.”
“So go later. You shouldn’t miss—”
“I should, actually.” I stopped what I was doing and glared at him. “I don’t know why you care so much all of a sudden.”
For the first time since he’d arrived, Brody’s smile faltered. “What’s going on, Pres? I thought you were friendly with Jess again, since—”
“I’m not going. Okay?”
He was silent for a moment before nodding and pressing his lips together in a knowing smile. “Oh, I see what’s going on here.”
I spun on my heel, rounding on him. “You don’t see anything.”
My big brother only laughed, not in the slightest intimidated by me. “I do,” he said simply. “But you go right ahead telling yourself that you don’t.”
“Oh yeah?” I zipped up my pack and slung it over my shoulder. “And where’s Lauren today? She pregnant yet?”
It was mean, and I knew it, but I couldn’t help myself. I was hurting and pissed off, and dammit if I didn’t want everyone else to feel the same.
This time, when the smile melted off Brody’s face, it stayed gone. His jaw twitched as he bit back whatever he was trying not to say. “Fuck you, Preston,” he said eventually.
I nodded, understanding completely as I pulled the door to the shop open, Summit at my heels. I didn’t even turn around before I slipped out the door and muttered, “Right back at ya, brother.”
Jess
A beautiful bride looked back at me in the mirror. Her curls were half pinned and falling in soft curls around her face. Her skin glowed with the magic of skillful makeup. The dark circles I knew were hiding under her eyes had completely vanished.
She looked perfect.
I stared back at her and felt nothing. I didn’t even recognize myself.
I leaned forward as if getting closer to the mirror might help me see the glow I was sure was supposed to be reflected back at me.
“You don’t like it?” Kat appeared in the mirror behind me, a makeup brush in hand. “We can touch—”
“No.” My fingers hovered just over my lips before I sat back. “It’s perfect. I like it. I just…”
I sat back against the chair and took in the entire reflection. My hair and makeup were perfect. I was dressed in a white velour jogging suit with Bride bedazzled along the right breast and across the back.
I was a bride, and I looked every bit the part.
I just didn’t feel it. And feeling nothing scared me more than panic ever could. I was about to say vows that would cost more than my own happiness.
“Are you sure, Jess?” Kat spun the chair, so I could no longer look at myself. “I can fix whatever you want.”
“Can you fix how I’m feeling?”
The choice had been made. The ceremony was set to take place in a little over an hour.
The time to walk away had long since passed.
I hadn’t intended to say anything at all, but the moment the words were out of my mouth and I watched my friend’s face wrinkle with concern, something gave way in my chest. It was too much to keep in.
“What do you mean?” Kat leaned back against the counter and crossed her arms. “Are you just nervous? Or are you having second thoughts?”
“Who’s having second thoughts?”
Charli and Harper arrived in the bridal suite, their hands full of mimosas. Harper handed me a glass and asked, “Are you having second thoughts, Jess?”
I didn’t answer her; I looked past her to Charli, who watched me carefully. She was still the only one of my friends who knew the truth.
Besides Preston.
I’d tossed and turned all night, reliving the way Preston had held my hand and told me not to go through with it.
As the hours went on, and midnight turned into morning, I couldn’t help but read more into Preston’s words. Was there more of a reason he didn’t want me to marry Trevor? Did he feel this crazy pull toward me the way I was feeling it toward him?
And was there anything to that feeling? Or was it only because I was all messed up with everything going on, and he happened to be around, giving me attention?
I had so many questions, and no answers for any of them.
“Jess?” Kat urged. “It’s okay to talk about it, you know. I mean, I think all of us have felt…” She trailed off because none of them had arrangements or business deals or any of the other bullshit I was dealing with. All my friends had found true love with their partners.
“I just…” I started, unsure of how to actually say what I was feeling. “I should be in love, right?” I blurted the question and quickly took a gulp of my mimosa as my friends all stared at me with open mouths.
All but Charli, who looked like she had something to say.
Kat and Harper exchanged glances.
“Um…yes,” Harper said. “I’d say you should be in love with the man you’re about to marry.” She looked over at Charli. “Right?”
“Absolutely,” she said without taking her eyes off me. “That’s the only reason you should get married.”
I looked away and dropped my head.
“Jess? Is there something you’re—”
“Knock, knock!”
My head snapped up as the wedding coordinator popped her head into the bridal suite.
“We need to—oh. You’re not dressed yet.”
“We still need a minute,” Kat said, taking charge. “The bride isn’t pleased with her hair, so I’ll have to redo it.” The lie slipped easily off her lips, and I loved her for it.
“Redo it?” I didn’t have to see the coordinator to know that the woman was panicking. “But the timing will be off and all the guests—”
“Who cares about the guests?” Kat smiled sweetly, but there was just enough steel behind it. “It’s not their day, is it? My focus is on the bride. Now, if you could please excuse us so we can get to work.”
“Yes, of course,” the poor woman stammered. “If you could just let me know when—”
“We will.” Harper ushered her out of the room and shut the door behind her.
When she was gone, and it was just us again, Charli pulled up a chair and sat directly across from me. She took my hand in hers and squeezed. “You don’t have to do this, Jess.”
“What’s going on?” Harper asked. “Are you really not in love with Trevor?”
I couldn’t look at her when I shook my head.
“Oh, shit,” Kat breathed. “Then what are—”
“Jess.” Charli’s voice broke through. “You can change your mind.”
“Everyone is here.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
“I’ll lose everything.” My voice was hardly more than a whisper. “And not just me. My parents—”
“Will understand.” Charli’s voice was so strong and reassuring that I actually believed her. When I looked up into her eyes, she looked so sure. “They will,” she said again. “They just want you to be happy. Money doesn’t matter.”
For the first time, I felt the tiniest flicker of possibility. “But what will I do?”
“You’ll run,” Kat said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Just like Noa did.”
I looked up at her. Her arms were crossed, her lips curled up in a smug smile. She didn’t even know the details, and she had my back. A true friend.
“Maybe Preston will be there in a truck to rescue you the way Asher rescued Noa.”
“Preston?” I shook my head. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Preston.” It didn’t, not really, but the words still felt like a lie.
My head spun with the possibility. I could run. Yes, it was dramatic and over the top, but it would put me far away from the lodge, the wedding, and Trevor.
No explanations. No opportunity for him to convince me it was the right thing to do.
I just needed time to think. Enough time to figure out what to do next and keep my parents from losing everything.
“I could run,” I said, testing the words on my tongue. “Like Noa did.”
Charli held my gaze, her touch grounding me. “Just like Noa did,” she said. “It was scary and brave, but she chose herself.”
“And look at her now,” Harper said. “Happier than she ever could have imagined.”
Noa didn’t have her parents’ entire future hanging over her head when she ran, but I didn’t bother mentioning that because, at that moment, running felt like it could be a very real possibility.
All the women nodded. It all felt so simple to hear them say it. But maybe it didn’t have to be complicated. Maybe it really was as simple as don’t love him—don’t marry him.
There was another knock at the door, followed by the coordinator’s voice. “I’m really sorry to interrupt again, but I think I must insist that we move things along.”
Charli squeezed my hands, and I looked into my friend’s eyes. “Go,” she mouthed.
Decision made, I slid the ring off my finger and dropped it on the table before I launched myself forward in my chair, wrapped my arms around my friend, and squeezed. “Thank you.”
“I’ll get rid of her,” Kat said. “There’s an emergency staircase at the far end of the hall that will take you out the back of the lodge.”
“And then what?” I looked at my friends, who all exchanged glances and shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.” I offered them a small smile, adrenaline rushing through my veins.
A few minutes later, I was running down the back staircase of Trickle Creek Lodge and out into the fresh air. Logically, I knew that nobody was going to chase me, but that didn’t change my need to put distance between me and the chaos that my choice was likely to create.
Beyond the lodge, there was nothing but forest and hiking trails. I looked down at my white jogging suit and the sneakers on my feet and laughed. I was definitely not dressed for a hike. But before I could set off, I noticed the mountain bike leaned up against the service entrance.
Like an invitation.
“I promise I’ll bring it back.” I swung a leg over and pedaled as fast as I could into the forest.