Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
LIVIANNA/LILY
Now
Champagne Hearts & Quiet Trespasses
Something follows me into tonight, and I can't tell if it's memory or regret.
Isqueeze Callum’s hand and point to an open Blackjack table. “Oh, let’s go over there.”
“Are you gonna gamble?” He pulls out a chair, and I sit down.
“I’m just going to watch a couple of rounds so I remember how to play.”
“Watch and learn, vixen.” He sits in the chair beside me, pulls a few hundred dollars from his pocket, and lays it on the table.
The dealer changes it out for blue chips. He plays a hand and wins.
“Yes!” He slides the winnings into his stacked pile of chips. “You’re my lucky token.”
I kiss his cheek. “And you’re mine.”
“Does that mean you’re in?” He hands me more money.
I stare at it for a moment, and then at him. “You’re just giving me money to throw away?”
“Who knows? You might win.”
I consider it for a second, but that damn memory that came to me when Hunter was greeting us has me distracted.
I glance around the room and spot a small bar in the corner. “Callum, I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get a drink.”
“They’ll bring you one if you wait.” He peeks at his cards the dealer just laid down.
“I know they will, but I’m taking up a seat.”
He taps the felt top. “Hit me.”
I rise to my feet and run my palm over the top of his shoulders. “You stay here, and I’ll be right back.”
“You know where to find me.” His attention stays on the game. “Grab me a cherry soda if they have one, please.”
“Of course.” I scurry off in search of a nice cold drink and a place where I can take care of my issue.
The bar is a low counter in the far corner with a server already positioned behind it.
I rest both hands on the surface and angle toward the room. “Champagne and a cherry soda, please.”
The bartender nods and turns to get my order. I pull my phone from my clutch and open Jaxon’s thread, typing before my composure catches up with me.
Me: Just tell me honestly so I quit remembering things and get embarrassed. How many times did I try to kiss you and you rejected me?
The response arrives faster than I anticipate.
Jaxon: Why? Did something happen?
Me: Yes. I tried to kiss you on New Year’s Eve years ago, and once again, you stopped me. I need to know how many times I did that so I’m not getting slapped in the face when my memories reappear.
Jaxon: What did you remember?
Me: Just tell me how many times you rejected my advances.
I glance over my shoulder toward Callum. God, this is terrible—me texting Jax about this while I’m celebrating my wedding to Callum. I visibly shudder.
Jaxon: Three times. Why?
Me: So, once in that weird room above your office in Paris, once on the beach, and once on New Year’s Eve. Are there any other times I’ve made a fool of myself?
Jaxon: You never made a fool of yourself.
Me: Says you. You’re not the one who constantly made moves on you. Jesus, I’m mortified.
A few moments pass before his response comes in.
Jaxon: Don’t be. You only did that three times. There was never another instance where you tried to kiss me and I rejected you.
I set the phone face down on the counter, my hands shaking. I’m not sure I believe him. Something about his response isn’t sitting well, but I can’t figure out what.
“Fuck. I need someone to tell this to.”
“I’m all ears.” The good-looking male bartender pushes my champagne toward me.
“Thanks, but I didn’t really mean to say that out loud.” I take one sip, letting the cold of it settle at the back of my throat.
Across the room, Callum wins another hand just as the server sets a cherry soda in front of me.
“Can you charge these to my room?” I take another drink.
“Yes, Mama. What’s your room number?”
“We’re in the penthouse. I’m not sure what the number is.”
“No problem, Ms. Hemings. I can look it up for you.”
“Thanks.” I throw back the rest of my bubbly. “Can I get another one?”
“Of course.”
The frosted doors open, and Ella’s through them before they have fully cleared, bolting straight for the Blackjack table with the aim of someone who has planned this from the lobby. I take our drinks and join them near Callum, setting his cherry soda down next to him.
“Perfect.” Ella drops into my empty chair and sets both palms flat on the felt. “I knew we’d find you two in here.”
“That seat’s taken.” Callum gestures to me. “It’s Livianna’s chair.”
“Is she playing?” Ella puts her money on the table.
The dealer changes her cash out to red chips and pushes them to her. Callum gazes at me with the question in his eyes. I shake my head and take another drink. I’m too rattled to gamble.
“Guess it’s your place now.” He focuses back on the game.
Callum’s laugh carries across the room the second Ella wins her first hand.
“Oh, you wanna go?” He taps the space in front of him.
“I already went.” Ella stacks her new chips.
Quinn grabs my elbow and pulls me away.
“What’s wrong with you?” She leans against the bar at my side.
“Nothing.” I rotate the flute stem between my fingers and flip my hair over my shoulder.
Quinn makes a strange buzzer sound from the corner of her mouth. “Wrong answer. Try again.”
“I’m just keeping an eye on Callum.”
“No. You’re fidgeting with your hair.” She flicks the side of my glass. “How many of these have you had?”
“Quinn.” My grip on the glass tightens.
“Livianna.”
“Come here.” I guide her to the far end of the bar, away from the noise. “I’m having a minor problem.”
“Tell me.” Quinn faces me fully.
“Have you ever behaved in a way that makes you want to go back in time and physically remove yourself from a situation?”
“Elaborate.”
“You’re going to smack me up the side of the head.”
“Why? What did you do?”
“Nothing.” I take another drink. “We ran into Hunter Efron when we came down here.”
“No way! And I wasn’t there.” She cocks her head around me. “Do you think he’ll come in here?”
“Why?”
“He’s hot as sin, Livianna. I want to take a crack at him.” She runs her fingers through her wavy blonde hair. “He’s great in bed, or so I hear.”
“I guess the strippers got to you.” I smirk and lift my champagne. “Do you want one?”
“You know it.” She signals to the bartender and points to my flute. “Can I get one, too?”
He nods and pours her some. Once she has it, we clink our glasses together.
I take a sip. “Where are the guys?”
“They’re all still up there. Ella and I left when the guys and girls started getting more inappropriate.” She shrugs. “Rockstars and their orgies.”
I choke out a cough when my champagne goes down the wrong pipe. “You can’t be serious.”
“Ten more minutes up there with them and I’d be the one looking as though I got caught with my hand in the cookie jar.” She scoots up onto a stool. “So, what happened with Hunter?”
“He reminded me of a time when I celebrated New Year’s Eve here.”
“And?”
“I remembered something.” My cheeks heat. “Quinn, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look at Jaxon ever again.”
“Okay, this just got interesting. What does Jaxon have to do with you celebrating here?”
“The memory that came back to me is about Jaxon.” I glance away with my stomach spinning.
“Not seeing the issue, Livianna.”
“I tried to kiss him.” The next words take a breath to release. “More than once.”
“Seriously? How many times?” Quinn places her drink on the counter.
“Three.” I press my hand to my heart. “He rejected me three times.”
“Livianna—”
“I’m aware of how this sounds.” I angle my back to the room. “But the part I can’t get past is the embarrassment. How do I get over it?”
“Why do you care so much?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”
“Your brain is healing.” She sets her hand on the counter beside mine. “Don’t worry about Jaxon. He doesn’t focus on things like that.”
“How do you know?”
“I don’t, but I can’t see him fixating on something so trivial.”
“Trivial?”
“Sorry, Livianna, but have you seen the man? He’s star-quality handsome. He probably has women trying to kiss him all the time.” She picks up a small square napkin and puts it underneath her flute. “If he weren’t my boss, I would probably try to kiss him, too.”
I groan and throw my face into my palms. “Why do I get myself into these types of situations?”
“What situations?”
I consider her question. “I’m not sure I know, but I did that three times.”
“You’re panicking over a small issue.”
“Well, he was kind about it.” I take my gaze to Callum, then bring it back to Quinn. “Every time I tried to kiss Jaxon, he rejected me. That’s the part that makes it worse.”
“Worse, how?” Her eyebrows knit together. “Why does it matter that he dismissed your advances?”
“He must think I’m some pathetic little girl.”
“That’s not how Jaxon works. He’s nicer than that.”
“But…” My insides twist and turn. “I feel awful that I’m letting this bleed into mine and Callum’s night, but I just don’t know how to feel now.”
“What you feel is guilt.” Quinn turns toward the table for a beat, and then back to face me.
“Exactly. I’m here celebrating my upcoming nuptials, yet I can’t escape feeling so…” I search for the right words, but they don’t come. “I don’t know what my problem is.”
“Your memory is coming back, Livianna. You’re bound to remember things that are uncomfortable.”
“I love Callum and this kind of shit has to stop interfering with my life.” I take a long drink.
She tips her chin toward Ella’s victory whoop when it bounces off the low ceiling. “Then don’t let it.”
The hand ends, and Ella claims it with a proud grin. Callum stacks his remaining chips, pushes back from the table, and joins us.
“Ladies, do you wanna go dancing?” He slides his arm around my waist.
“Yes.” Quinn’s off her stool before he finishes. “It’s a must.”
“I’ve been waiting for someone to suggest that.” Ella checks her makeup in a small, mirrored compact.
“How about you?” Callum pulls me closer.
“More than ready.” I lean into him, needing the affection to steady my racing thoughts.