5. Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Scarlett
This was not supposed to happen .
The look I saw etched across Levi's face as he said those horrible words plays on a loop, squeezing my heart painfully. Why would he regret something so incredible? I have never been touched like that. I've never had sex like that . It felt like—good lord, I can barely bring myself to think it—it felt like making love.
I cringe remembering the way I ran as fast as I could. Away from him and his big...regrets.
I ducked in the elevator and up to my room. I washed my face, because why not keep my streak alive while my world is crumbling, and tried to make myself look as normal as possible before meeting the ladies for manicures. Even drunk, Betty can sniff out juicy gossip like a pig hunting truffles. But I haven't been able to stop our sexy moment from playing on repeat in my brain.
"Addy, did I show you the video I found recently from Alex's Quest & Odyssey event last year? The one with Teddy at the lumberjack station?" Melody asks, as she scrolls through her phone.
"Oh no, did you get one?" Addy grins, switching her two-month old daughter, Cleo, to her other breast to feed. "He was mesmerized," she says to me with a little grin.
Betty walks to the couch to sit next to Addy. "I'll take the little pumpkin when she's done eating."
"Thank you, Betty," Addy says, giving her a grateful smile. "Paige is going to need extra time to make me look good today."
"I heard that, and no I won't. You look beautiful," Addy's sister Paige calls out as she puts the finishing touches on Cole's sister, Brynn. "We're going to be the sexiest bridal party Duhring Park has ever seen."
"You certainly picked some hot dresses." Paige's friend, Caitlyn, gestures to the rack of sparkling bridesmaid dresses near the window, before she continues working on Miranda's eyeliner. In the end, Miranda let us each pick our own dress, as long as it was long and had some shine to it.
Miranda, hair up in massive curlers, sits still as Caitlyn works. "Yes. I want all their guys desperate to get them naked."
The memory of Levi's hand sliding up my dress last night has my cheeks heating. The way his short, scruffy beard tickled my skin as he sampled my goods has me squeezing my thighs together with the memory.
"You're a good friend," Caitlyn says with a little laugh.
"After the ceremony, ladies," Betty cautions. "Let the photographer get some decent pictures before your mountain men make you indecent ." She wiggles her eyebrows, and Cora hoots.
"No promises," Cora warns. "Foster's ready to stake his claim in front of Cole's friends, Miranda."
Miranda laughs. "Those guys are big flirts. Did you hear they're all moving to Duhring this coming spring? Jameson is starting his own construction business, and he's hiring Max, Hayes, and Emmett to work for him."
"Excellent." Betty claps, nodding happily. "We need some new young blood to replace all the men you ladies have taken off the market lately."
"One hour warning, ladies," Violet calls out, as she pops her head into the room. "Oh, Miranda. Cole is going to die when he sees you." She blows us all a bunch of kisses and hustles away.
"I think Violet's found her calling. Good idea hiring her for your wedding." Betty smiles at the now closed door, and Miranda nods.
"When Brooks suggested it, I was like, say less ." Miranda laughs.
"Here it is!" Melody holds out her phone. Teddy's little voice, tinny from the speaker calls out, "More!" and adult laughter mixes with a repetitive banging sound.
Just what I need. Adorable kid videos to distract me from the fact I had hot once-in-a-lifetime sex with my brother's ex-best-friend last night.
I stand and hover behind Addy and Betty as they laugh at the video on Melody's phone. My heart stalls, and I let out a little gasp when I realize the banging sound is coming from a hot lumberjack splitting logs like it's nothing.
The same lumberjack who was doing a different kind of banging last night.
In a supply closet.
With me.
Levi's brawny muscles strain against his tight t-shirt as he chops one piece of wood after the other with seemingly no effort. I watch mesmerized by his strength. This explains how he was able to hold my curvy ass against the wall as if I weighed nothing.
My skin heats, and I pull the soft robe away from my neck, trying to fan down the flames. In the video, little Teddy once again demands, "More!" and Levi turns toward him with a brilliant grin and tells him, "You got it, bud."
Oh, lord. Can I get pregnant from a video?
No, but you can from the unprotected sex you had last night.
My core clenches in response, but the dread and worry I'm expecting doesn't hit.
Oh no. I want to have his babies.
"You look beautiful, Miranda." Betty's voice jolts me back to reality, and I turn to take in the stunning bride.
"Caitlyn, I love it!" Miranda squeals, as she studies her reflection in the lighted mirror. "And I still look like me."
Caitlyn grins. "Yes. The secret to excellent makeup." Looking at the list on the table, she turns to me. "Scarlett, you're next."
I give Miranda a careful hug so I don't mess anything up, and then sit in the chair by Caitlyn's makeshift station.
"Paige, when are you and Anderson tying the knot?" Caitlyn asks as she applies foundation to my skin.
"Next spring." Paige steps back and assesses her work on Brynn. "Gorgeous." Brynn scoots off the stool, and Paige turns toward her sister. "Addy, your turn."
"Good timing." Addy hands Chloe off to Betty, who turns her and starts patting for a burp.
"Paige and Anderson are going with something small, though," Addy tells Caitlyn.
"I'm trying to convince them to use The Hollywood . Can you imagine the marketing I could do with pics of Anderson and Paige's wedding at our place? Barbie and Ken getting married. Swoon." Cora wiggles her eyebrows at Paige, who laughs.
"Oooh, come to Vegas, and I'll do your hair and makeup for free." Caitlyn turns to Paige, excitedly. "The hotel I'm going to be at is gorgeous, and their chapel is amazing. Not cheesy or kitschy, at all. It's indoor or outdoor, depending on the weather, and you get both spaces."
Paige hums. "I'm sure it's beautiful. But we're going to keep it local so the kiddos can take part."
"You're starting a new job?" I ask Caitlyn.
"Yep. I need something new. Too many people and memories where I'm at." She gives a small smile, in spite of the cloud passing over her features. "Sin City seems like a place I need to experience at some point in this lifetime."
"I'm thinking of leaving the city too," I tell her, and then realize it's the first time I've said it aloud.
"You are?" Cora exclaims.
"Since when?" Miranda asks.
I sigh and gaze around at my friends as they all look at me with concern. "I don't have any plans yet. I haven't quit my job or anything, but I think I need a change." I turn back to Caitlyn. "Maybe I'll move to Vegas in a few months. You need a roommate?" I joke.
"Anytime, babe." Caitlyn winks at me and then focuses on my makeup as I pointedly refuse to look at anyone in the room.
After a moment's pause, Melody clears her throat. "Brynn, tell us about your guy."
"Ooh, yes, Brynn." Betty turns her full attention to Cole's sister, and I am grateful to be off the hot seat for the moment. "Last we heard, you declared you were not interested in dating, and now you show up a few months later at a family wedding with that tall drink of water. Is it serious?"
Brynn blushes prettily, glancing at Miranda who mimes locking her lips and throwing away the key. "I won't say anything to Cole if you don't want me to."
Brynn bites her lip. "Yes, it's serious."
Addy pipes up. "Like, you're moving in with him serious?"
Brynn hesitates and then nods, glancing at Miranda again, who claps excitedly. "Yay! Cole and I think he's great. And you living in Festival Valley year-round is going to make your brother so happy." Miranda beams at Brynn.
"Was it love at first sight?" Melody asks, dreamily.
"Um, not for me. I thought he was another rich guy being a jerk, but he claims he knew in an instant. Maybe there really is something in the water up here." Brynn smiles with the memory.
"Love and hate are a fine line," Betty muses.
I flush, remembering how I chose to ask Levi why he hates me, while he was worshiping my body. He didn't say he didn't hate me, though. What did he say?
Everything I said in my letter is still true .
What did he mean? What letter?
Unease slides through my body and settles like a pit in my stomach. A nagging thought hits me. I need to know why Drake and Levi stopped speaking.
"Cora, could you hand me my phone?" I ask. My stomach is queasy as I send out a text.
Call me when you get a chance.
Does the letter explain why he hates me?
If what he did to me last night is hate, then I might be able to live without love.