Chapter 3
A lmost naked, hot, and wet.
My body had caught on fire as Scott carried my ass across the pool, and I’m still reeling from it.
Just surrounded by a six foot three mass of hard, smooth muscle and?—
“Jenna, your cell’s vibrating. It’s Kate,” Coralie said, holding it out to me.
I’d been getting ready with Coralie, Scott’s sister, and Chloe, Rex Svenderson’s wife. Rex was the first-string goal tender for the Wolves and was also set to play in the All-Star game in a few days.
“Oh, shoot. Sorry. I was in a world of my own then.”
Unable to meet her gaze in case she’d suddenly developed telepathy and could read my thoughts like all older sisters seemed capable of, I took the phone from her outstretched hand and answered it.
“Hello.”
“Jenna.”
“Kate, is everything okay?”
“I needed to call you. It’s?—”
“Are you alright? Is everything okay?” I rushed out, not letting her finish.
She paused and then, “I’m calling to tell you . . . to put me on speaker! I feel like I’m missing out!” She giggled.
Relief and annoyance flooded me all at once. “You are a terrible person,” I chided.
“I had you going for a minute there, didn’t I? Truly, everything is fine. Cash drawer is in the safe, everything in the back chiller is to your exact specification, and Rams helped me lock up and walked me back to my place. Now tell me everything.”
“Thank you. I’m glad it’s all okay. I feel even more guilty that you’re not here though.”
“As much as FOMO is kicking my ass, it really was the right call for me to stay put, and I was more than happy to look after Cupcake. Also, getting carded everywhere isn’t fun for anyone. My time will come, and when it does, the first place I wanna go is Full Moon!”
“You know you’ll be the guest of honor when it’s time,” I told her, sweeping the eyeshadow brush across my lid with my free hand. She had another two years to go before reaching twenty-one.
Full Moon was the team bar frequented by the Wolves, and seeing as all of Scott’s brothers play for them, we were there a lot.
“Thank you for saying that. Imagine Gunner, though, he’s one overprotective wolf, that’s for sure.”
“They all are, but what’s he done now?”
“I just got a message this afternoon thanking me for my enrollment in the next Krav Maga course at the gym near my dorm.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, she wasn’t the only one who’d been roped into self-defense classes.
“Well, join the club. These Madden men and their associates want us to be able to protect ourselves. I’m glad I have a few moves up my sleeve, just in case.”
“Hell, if it makes me look anything like Gal Gadot, sign me up.”
I laughed again. “So, you want me to fill you in so far?”
“Yes, tell me. In fact, I’m video-calling you now. Accept please!”
We connected with ease and her face filled the screen. Coralie and Chloe placed their heads next to mine, and I recounted my time aboard the flight and then what little was left of the afternoon.
“The whole gang played Marco Polo with Jack and chilled out by the pool. Now Coralie, Chloe, and I are getting ready together. Once we’re dressed, we’ll head over to Lexie’s suite. Oh, and Theo’s fire buddies have arrived so we’re on our own from here on out.”
She sighed wistfully. “Sounds like a good time already.”
“It really has been.”
“Well great. Now don’t forget to update your socials and me separately. All of you. Spam me, girls!” she yells, “I’m invested in this night. This is our trip now. Show me everything.”
A laugh bubbled out of me, and Coralie and Chloe snickered too.
“I’ll let you all get back to it. Have the best time.”
“Okay, thank you. And thanks again for helping me out.”
“No problem. Love you all. Throw Jack in the pool for me!”
We laughed and waved, blowing kisses at her until she begrudgingly ended the call.
“Did Gunner really set her up with some self-defense lessons?” I asked Coralie while I liberally applied my mascara.
“He sure did, and you know what? If he hadn’t, one of the others would have gotten there soon enough.”
“We’re lucky, huh?” I smiled looking at her in the mirror. “To have so many people looking out for us.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Chloe agreed out loud and Coralie nodded.
“Now, who wants a drink?”
Coralie and I clapped in support of Chloe popping the champagne and she poured a glass for each of us.
“Oh, yum.” Coralie closed her eyes. “I don’t usually like it, but this is delicious.”
“Yeah, it’s a nice one,” I concurred, lifting the glass to my lips again.
“Come on, girls. Let’s finish getting ready.”
Dressed up and ready to paint the town red, we headed to Lexie’s suite. When Anna opened the door in a flourish of bouncing blonde curls and wearing a little black dress made for her petite frame, holding a tray of purple shooters, I knew we were going to have a night to remember . . . or maybe not.
“Lexie insists you take a shot on entry.”
“Yes, ma’am!” I yelled so the bride-to-be would hear me and reached for the closest one.
She replied with a whoop as Anna stepped back and let me in. That’s when I got my first look at Lexie.
She had on an off-the-shoulder, white satin mini-dress that looked absolutely stunning against her darker skin.
“You look beautiful, Lex.”
“Thank you. You’re gorgeous too. This outfit does everything for you.” She beamed, and at that moment I’d be okay wearing a trash bag.
She was the type of friend you needed in your corner. No one could build you up better than Alexa Woods. A cheerleader to her core.
I hadn’t been as brave as the girl standing in front of me, opting to go for pleather pants and a lace crop top rather than a flirty dress. I was definitely built more like a swimmer than a ballet dancer, but I felt good, the outfit accentuating my hourglass figure, and with the help of the girls earlier, my curtain bangs were swooped and voluminous—a far cry from my usual braid or topknot.
“Okay, a toast,” Anna declared, and we each took another shot glass off the tray.
“To our friend, my sister from another mister, Miss Alexa, but not for much longer, Woods. From your impeccable taste in fashion . . . and men”—we all whopped at that because Theo was one of the best—“you are without a doubt a beacon of light. You were certainly my lighthouse, guiding me back to safety through the raging storm. I don’t know what I’d do without you, what any of us would do without you. Now we know you’re ready to marry that man. I think even waiting just these few short months is killing you.” She giggled with tears in her eyes, nodding.
“But can you pretend, just for tonight, you’re dragging your heels and want one last night of freedom?”
She looked us all in the eye as if saying a silent promise. “I can do that!” she cheered, and we raised our glasses to the future Mrs. Madden.
Ecstatic didn’t even cover how I felt for her in that moment, but as I took my shot, I couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.
Actually, jealousy didn’t even cover it. But I wasn’t envious of my friend and the wonderful things happening to her. She deserved them. Deserved to be with a man as amazing as Theo Madden.
The lump that I could barely swallow around was the knowledge that I’d never be a Mrs. Madden. Scott was never going to want me back. He was never going to see me as more. Suddenly all the confidence I had in myself deflated down to little more than a limp pleather-clad shell.
My phone pinged and I reached for it out of my clutch.
Scott: I’m already getting shit from Ace and T. You all doing okay?
I rolled my eyes and smiled. It had only been an hour and a half since we’d last seen each other.
Me: No, got a little crazy this past ninety minutes. Chloe already has a face tattoo and Lexie married someone else.
Scott: Funny. Have fun but let’s not get any of us arrested having to bail you out of a situation you stumbled into.
I didn’t reply. Just thumbed into the camera app and sent him a selfie sticking out my bright purple tongue.
I was glad for the little interruption that pulled me from my impending spiral.
This was no time to lose it. It wasn’t my night and none of this was about me. There was only one solution—more shots.
As Anna and Lexie gathered up their purses, I sank two more—I want to say violet-flavored?—vodkas. And then another one for luck. That helped to push down those feelings of desperation, even with the side-eye Coralie was giving me.
One day I’d be strong enough to let this all go. Let go of this dream I was never going to manifest into reality, no matter how hard I wished for it. Or yearned for it. The problem was, today was not that day.
But soon. Soon I would let him go.
“Who’s Gabriel?” Lexie blurted out as I took a sip of my cocktail.
Not long after Scott and Theo’s mom had wished us a good night and headed back to our hotel, we were seated at a low-lit table in MO Bar and Lounge, staring out through the panoramic views.
It was right on the waterfront, and the place had a sophisticated feel. Not a spring break vibe to be had.
The server had just finished setting down all the food we’d ordered, and I was reaching for a slice of burrata toast when Lexie asked the question.
“I dunno.” I shrugged as I looked around our fivesome. “Is he a firefighter? I mean, I don’t know all of them.” The joke fell flat as I took in Coralie’s amused expression.
“Who do you . . .” Then it clicked. “Oh, you mean Gabe? He’s my coffee guy.”
Lexie raised a perfectly arched brow and pouted her lips.
“Should we google your coffee guy?”
“I mean yeah if you want to?—”
“Holy shit,” Anna screeched. “Jenna, this is not your coffee guy ,” she said, throwing up air quotes, “this is the heir to a bloody Italian coffee giant. He’s worth, whaaat?” She fell back into her chair like she was dizzy.
“And this is the guy who comes into your shop when he’s just passing through ?”
Coralie threw up more air quotes and I felt like I was a step behind this entire conversation.
“How do you even know—” I shook my head. “Why am I even asking? Kate spilled the proverbial beans, huh?”
Her blue eyes sparkled as she smiled. “You could say that. Now it’s time for you to spill. Tell us what’s going on.”
What was there to tell? It wasn’t that he wasn’t a nice man when he was around, and the gifts were certainly sweet and thoughtful, but what was there to say?
“Honestly, nothing. She’s blowing this way out of proportion, and I tell her this every time he sends me a gift.”
Chloe leaned forward. “How many times has he sent you a gift, Jenna?”
“I dunno, like, five maybe? Not sure, and they’re all these hand-picked, handmade, traditional kitchen tools he finds all over the world.”
They really were lovely.
“The latest one is this incredibly intricate pastry roller, but I suppose you could use it on fresh pasta or—What?” I asked as I stared at the four sets of eyes blinking back at me.
“I think I’m with Kate on this,” Coralie said through a giggle.
“Me too,” Lexie concurred.
“Yep, one hundred percent,” Anna agreed.
And then I looked to Chloe, who just smirked. “Afraid to say it, but I think this is way more than you thought it was. This billionaire is into you.”
“No way!” I nearly choked on the sip of drink I had taken.
“Yes way!”
“No, he’s just being friendly.”
“Nope. He’s not. He’s making moves.”
“No.” I shook my head. “And the invite to the plantation, that’s just smoke without fire too.”
“Um, she said nothing about being invited to any plantation . . .”
I took a large gulp of my drink this time. They were like vultures. Extremely pretty, genuinely amazing vultures.
I heaved a sigh. “Okay, fine. He’s invited me twice now to his family guesthouse slash hotel in Nicaragua, or Peru. No, Columbia, I think. I don’t have many details because I haven’t said yes or anything.” I shook my head. They had me all in a tizz.
“Are you crazy? Why?”
I placed my martini glass down on the table and sat up straighter. “Because, well, for one, what would I do about Cupcake? And two, this is my vacation. I’m here with you guys and Scott, and that’s enough for me.”
They all sat staring at me. “Why are you looking at me like I’ve said something wrong?”
“You didn’t say anything wrong, sweetie, it’s just that this sounds like an incredible opportunity. Are you sure you couldn’t swing the trip?”
“No?” Why did that come out like a question—I hadn’t even given it a second thought.
But as they grilled me, the alcohol loosening me up, I began to wonder why I hadn’t thought more deeply about it. That text from earlier was definitely an invite, so why had I dismissed it like it wasn’t?
“What does Scott say about it all?”
Ah, and there it was. I was always distracted. I was always too deep in Scott—either my feelings or our life together.
Our together, separate life.
What was I even talking about?
The purple shots were definitely working.
I laughed but it sounded forced, even to me. “Nothing. I haven’t told him because it would just be a waste of time. I’m not going so . . .” I shrugged. “I’m telling you, there’s nothing to it. What would someone like him want with someone like me ? Let’s not get carried away, girls.”
I leaned back again and crossed my knees, “He’s funny and good-looking. Rich. Swings by every once in a while. I’m probably amusing to him.”
“What do you mean? Amusing to him?” Lexie asked.
Why had I suddenly started overheating?
“I don’t know. Like I’m proud of what I’ve done and what I’ve accomplished, don’t get me wrong. I’m not underselling myself, but to him I’m just some small-time baker who geeks out over pastry embellishing wheels.”
“I think you need to take a long, cold stare in the mirror, Jenna.” Lexie’s tone was chastising. “Because not only are you beautiful, inside and out, you’re incredibly talented at your craft, driven, and smart. I’m not surprised he’s falling all over himself to get your attention.”
I knew I was blushing from the compliment.
“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re a catch and anybody would be lucky to have you. Now come on, it’s time to get our dance on.”