Chapter 21
CHAPTER 21
MARIAM
G abby squealed with laughter as Elizabeth told us about some of the marketing faux pas she’d encountered in her former job at a hotel in the Florida Keys. I had laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face and I had to admit, I was enjoying getting to know these girls.
When I’d first started thinking about traveling, my greatest fear had been doing it alone. I’d known Gemma and Laurel would never join me. Gemma lived for the Events Co and Laurel, while she could write anywhere she went, had the bookstore to think about.
The place was like her baby, as was her Golden Retriever, Doodle. Since they were the only friends I would’ve considered asking to join me, that meant I would be going solo. It had held me back for a long time, and I never would’ve imagined meeting friends like these so soon after I’d arrived at my first destination.
“What about you?” Gabby asked, turning to face me as she twirled her fork in the Chinese noodles we’d ordered for dinner.
Technically, we were having a movie night, the first Christmas movie already cued up on my TV, but none of us were ready to start watching just yet. I poked a piece of my chicken and glanced at her.
“I think my funniest stories involve blunders Gemma and I made with events,” I said, thinking back to all the laughs we’d had. “Like with our first wedding, the bride wanted bubbles as confetti. We got a great deal on a bulk box, bought it, and they were these beautiful little tubes with white toppers. It turned out they were unpoppable bubbles though, made of glue. It was such a mess. Every guest had these splotches of glue on them after that looked like spiderwebs.”
The girls burst out laughing, Elizabeth nodding enthusiastically. “I’ve seen those. I can imagine that glue clinging to the poor bride’s hair.”
“It wasn’t our best work,” I admitted, giggling as I shook my head. “At least the couple laughed about it. They said they loved having a funny story to tell about their wedding instead of some tragic family drama going down, and everything else went smoothly.”
“Nice,” Elizabeth said.
I turned to Gabby. “Your turn.”
She chuckled. “I once sent flowers to my boss’s wife instead of a coworker who’d had a death in the family. His wife completely freaked out on him when she saw the name on the card. She thought he was having an affair. It was a total disaster, but eventually, at least she believed me when I apologized. I had to show her the obituary.”
I grimaced. “Ouch. At least you sorted it out yourself. A lot of people would’ve just gone to cower in a corner and hope for it to blow over.”
She shrugged. “That’s not me. I’ve always been serious about taking responsibility. I’m the second eldest of six sisters, so there was always a lot of finger pointing in our house. If we hadn’t learned accountability, every day would’ve been a war.”
I chuckled. “You’re lucky. I only had Brian and he’s so much older that he was out of the house long before it could turn into a warzone.”
“I’m the youngest of three,” Elizabeth volunteered. “My brothers were the worst. I love them to bits, but jeez. They did not make things easy for me growing up. One time, they literally stuck a painted bullseye on my back and yelled ‘Run! You’re a moving target.’”
I laughed. “I get how that must’ve been awful in the moment, but I would’ve given anything for that kind of relationship with my brother.”
“Speaking of your brother,” Gabby said hesitantly, glancing at Elizabeth before turning back to me. “What’s going on between you and Arland?”
My insides went ice cold. I really liked these girls and I was trying my best not to get attached, but it was becoming increasingly hard every day. I loved Sun Valley and I’d been enjoying my job a lot more than I thought I would, but ultimately, all of this was temporary.
Including what was happening between Arland and me.
For the girls, however, this was just the start of their careers at the Chalet. I wasn’t ashamed of my relationship with him, but we’d agreed to keep things on the downlow and I didn’t want to affect the way they thought of him, so I played it off as nothing.
“What are you talking about?” I waved my hand around aimlessly. “The only thing going on between us is that we’re working together.”
Gabby arched an eyebrow at me. “I’ve known him for a few years now and I’ve never seen him look at anybody the way he looks at you. He’s the rich guy who’s way too charming for his own good, and he’s known for being completely and utterly off the market.”
“Wait, you know him?” I frowned. “Why did Brian introduce you to him the other day, then?”
She flushed. “I should’ve said I’ve known of him for a few years. Everyone around here knows about him. I’d never actually met him before, but I’ve seen him a lot. He never looks at any women, no matter what they do to try and get his attention, but he can’t seem to keep his eyes off you.”
“I think he’s falling for you,” Elizabeth said with a wide, happy grin. “Even if you don’t see it, he really never stops staring at you. I don’t need to have known him for years to know that means something with a man like him.”
I chuckled and shook my head at them. “There’s no way he’s falling for me. He’s, like, almost twenty years older than we are. Even if there was something between us, do you have any idea what people will say? They’ll assume I’m just a gold-digger.”
“Who cares what people say?” Elizabeth asked. “If you want to keep insisting there’s nothing going on, then fine. That’s your business, but don’t deny it just because you’re afraid of judgment.”
“No one would bat an eye anyway,” Gabby added with a shrug. “Arland’s family is a huge deal in this town. They’re the richest, most powerful and respected family in the area, and they have been for years and years. People wouldn’t dare speak out against what Arland is doing. Especially after what happened with his ex.”
“I heard about that,” I said quietly, desperate to ask her for more details about it, but I didn’t want to pry into his life.
If he wanted to tell me more, he would. Besides, when it happened, she would have been too young to actually remember it going down. She must’ve just heard rumors around town growing up, and speculation and opinion wouldn’t help me learn more about the facts.
I sighed. “Even if people don’t judge us, I’m only here through the end of next month. That would make things a little challenging if there really was something going on, wouldn’t it? I mean, hypothetically, we would just be setting ourselves up for heartbreak.”
“Can we just move out of hypothetical territory here?” Gabby asked. “I’ve seen you making eyes at him too, you know? We won’t say anything and we’re definitely not here to judge. Just know that we’re on your side.”
“Thanks.” I left it at that.
To my relief, they started talking about people they both knew while we finished our food. I listened and commented when I could, but part of me was panicking inside. If they had noticed the fireworks sparking between Arland and me, did Brian suspect anything too?
I felt guilty for keeping secrets from him, but there was no sense in stirring up that hornet’s nest unless we had to. And this thing with Arland had an expiration date, so we would never have to involve my brother at all. The only one whose feelings got hurt would be me.
Once our meal was done, we finally watched the movie we’d chosen, all of us cuddled up on my couches with the city lights twinkling outside. We had an easy camaraderie that I appreciated. It honestly didn’t feel like I’d met them so recently.
After the movie, Gabby and Elizabeth went home and I cleared up our takeout boxes and cups. My phone started ringing and I reached for it, smiling when I saw an incoming video call from Laurel.
“Hello?” I lifted the phone and grinned at my friend. “You’ve got great timing. The others just left.”
“How was it?” she asked a moment before Gemma’s face popped up as well. Laurel smiled. “Hey, Gem. Mariam was just about to tell me about their movie night.”
“It was good,” I said, sitting down and curling my legs up underneath me on the couch. “It’s been fun getting to know Gabby and Elizabeth. I just wish you guys could meet them.”
“So do I,” Laurel agreed, sighing as her gaze drifted to the roof. “I’ve been trying to figure out when I’d be able to get away to come visit you, but I’ve been leaving Grace alone at the store too often as it is.”
“Maybe January will be better?” I suggested. “The Christmas rush will be over and isn’t the store always closed for the first few days of the year anyway?”
“It is,” she said, bringing her eyes back to mine and smiling. “Maybe I’ll bring Leif. We’ll make a vacation out of it.”
“That sounds amazing.” Excitement trickled through me. “Maybe you can meet Arland then as well. I have a feeling we might just make it as a couple until January. Unless Brian finds out, that is. If he does, he’s going to kill me and I won’t ever be in a relationship again. Except if I meet a hot ghost. Go ahead and write that book.”
Gemma chuckled. “Brian loves you way too much to kill you. Besides, I’m sure he’s too busy with Everwood’s opening to pay much attention to your love life.”
“True, but apparently, Arland and I haven’t been as discreet as I’d thought. Gabby and Elizabeth brought it up earlier and asked me what was going on between us. They said there’s been a lot of staring. I didn’t even realize.”
“They’re women, though,” Laurel said. “We pick up on these things. Men don’t really, do they? Not often, anyway. Even if they do see things, they tend to just leave ‘em be and keep their noses out of it.”
“Men, yes,” I said. “Brothers? Not so much. I suppose that’s the risk we’re taking, though. If things keep going well between us, Brian will eventually find out and we’re going to have to face his wrath.”
“You’ll survive,” Gemma said confidently, bringing her phone closer to her face and grinning at me. “How’s it been? I’ve always wondered about older guys.”
I felt my cheeks turn red and I averted my gaze for a moment, but I found myself wanting to tell them the truth. “It’s been amazing. Is it possible to wake up every single morning and like someone even more? Even if you already liked them a whole lot the day before?”
“It’s totally possible,” Gemma said immediately. “I feel the same way with Noah. Maybe I should talk to him about joining Leif and Laurel when they come visit. It could be fun to all spend some time together.”
“Do it,” I urged her. “It’ll be after the opening, which I really wish you guys were coming to, but by then, the resort should be operating smoothly enough that Arland and I could sneak away to hit the slopes with you guys.”
“I’ve never been on a slope,” Gemma mused. “I’m not sure I’d make it all the way down in one piece, but it might be worth all the broken bones if Noah’s there to nurse me back to health.”
“When is the opening?” Laurel asked thoughtfully. “I know you mentioned it before, but I can’t remember the dates.”
“It’s the week after Gatlinburg,” I said, referring to our annual Christmas shopping trip in Tennessee. “My parents will be in town for the event, so it’d be great if you guys could be here for backup.”
“It’ll be fine,” Gemma said. “I’ll see what I can do about flying out for it, but with these events I’m planning for the band and the Gatlinburg trip, I’m just not sure I’ll have time. Don’t worry about your parents, though. Your mom will keep her opinions to herself with everything going on at the resort.”
“We shall see.” I drew in a deep breath and released it slowly, trying not to get stressed out about my parents’ visit before they were even on a plane. “Speaking of Gatlinburg, I checked my schedule and it looks like I’ll be able to make it after all. I’m just going to be working hard to make sure all my work is up to date before I leave.”
“Excellent.” Laurel grinned. “I’m so glad we’re going to be able to go. Keep us updated if you’re not getting everything done though, okay? We can always do the trip again next year.”
“No,” I said, shaking my head as I returned her smile. “We’re going. It’s a tradition and I’m pretty sure that by then, we’re going to need all the girl-time we can get.”
All three of us had never been in relationships at the same time, and these relationships we were all in now felt different. They felt serious. None of us knew what the future held and how everything would work out, but I already knew that finding time together would soon be harder than ever.
We’d started all our traditions years ago and I’d be damned if we started skipping them as soon as I’d moved or we all suddenly had men in our lives. These girls might not be related to me by blood, but they were my sisters and that was never going to change.