56. Katrinia
56
Katrinia
M y arms are laced behind Cooper’s neck as he sways me in the middle of the room. I look over at Luna and Theo and smile. My heart so full of gratitude and happiness that they found each other.
“I’ve never seen him like this. I don’t remember Theo ever being this happy. Goofy and funny, sure, but look at him Coop.” I sigh as I rest my head on his chest to appreciate the happy couple.
“I don’t think he’s ever been this happy.”
I feel Cooper kiss my hair and I close my eyes as a tequila fueled heat warms my body. I love the way his hands tighten on my hips when I run my nails across the nape of his neck.
Pulling back I smile before I kiss him. Using my hold on him to deepen our kiss, I’m obsessed with how my man melts for me. Knowing I’m the only woman who’s ever been able to bring him to his knees. It drives me on my quest for more.
It’s then, when my tongue wars against his, there’s a cough next to us.
We break apart to find Sebastian smiling before he waves a hand over his shoulder and says, “Oh you love birds are so cute. I need to borrow your man here for a quick second.”
“You can’t have a quick second because a second is a second and it’s always quick.” I may have slurred my words but I’m sure he gets the point.
“You are correct. Beauty and brains. Mr. Cabrera is a lucky man. Sooo about that…” Sebastian gestures to the group of men assembled in the foyer and Cooper drops my hips.
“Gotta go. My services are being requested.” Cooper winks before he grips my chin and gives me one last chaste kiss before he walks away.
“I love you!” I call after him from the middle of our makeshift dance floor.
“YA tebya lyublyu” He repeats the sentiment in perfect Russian, even a few drinks in.
As I watch Cooper leave I feel someone take my hand and drag me away.
“Come on! The boys are leaving!” Luna relates as she drags me out towards the pool.
Stella, Luna’s sister Aurora and Olivia are already seated out by the pool with a tray of glasses and what looks like a pitcher of blended margarita.
“You are going to be welcoming baby number two if you keep it up like this.” Stella scrunches her nose as she teases Olivia.
“It’s a wedding! There’s always someone who has to be a sloppy drunk at a wedding. I just so happen to volunteer as tribute.” Olivia sticks her tongue out at Stella before taking a big long slurp.
Luna drags me down to sit next to her before she reaches for two glasses, handing me one. “Well, I say that person deserves to be me since I’m going to be entering into a family who hates me.”
She struggles for a minute before she wraps her lips around the straw and nearly downs her drink in one big sip.
“Where is Carmen anyway?” I lean over to ask.
“The boys decided at the last minute to go into town for a guys night so she and Tony tagged along for a ride. They are going out to a quiet dinner. Apparently we are too lively for her.” Luna grunts out a sigh as the ladies try to console her.
“Well, get it all out now before she comes back.” Stella sits, crossing her legs and laying her hands in her lap looking every bit the polished and sophisticated icon I imagined her to be.
We haven’t officially met in person, until this trip, as she’s been busy expanding the company since Luna stepped into a management position. Luckily Luna is who I mostly report to for work related things. Meaning I haven’t had much interaction with Stella. So I’m seeing her for the first time in person here on this trip and it’s been a little intimidating if I’m being honest.
“You’ve known Carmen for a long time, I hear. How can Luna get in her good graces?” Stella asks, setting her attention on me and I shake my head.
“I’m not the one to ask this question. That woman has hated me since I was seven.” I take a sip and when I look up everyone is staring at me.
“You met Cooper when you were seven?” Olivia gasps. Shock written all over her face.
“Yeah, that’s when I moved to America and down the street from the boys.”
“Wow.” Aurora props herself up with an elbow on her knee as she looks over with heart eyes. “All this time and that man still looks at you like that ?”
I blush as Luna jumps in to save me.
“Their story is a fairy tale. One I hope Theo and I can come close to someday.”
I look over at her and take her hand, “You’re already there.”
“So enough with the sappy shit, okay? Spill the deets on mama Carmen.” Stella instructs, refilling our glasses from the pitcher.
Luna and I both shake our heads and giggle.
“Umm well -”
I’m cut off by Stella’s phone ringing.
She snatches it off the table and looks down at the contact as annoyance steals her features.
“Hold on, I have to take this.” She holds up a finger. “Don’t spill a single ounce of mother-in-law tea before I get back.”
Stella gets up to leave the group but we all hear her shout anyway, “What Madison? I’m fucking busy.”
Olivia cringes as she sips her drink.
“Who is that on the phone?” Luna leans in to ask Olivia.
“I shouldn’t say anything but…” Olivia looks over her shoulder before she continues, “Madison is Stella’s sister. Well step-sister really. There was a bunch of drama that broke out our freshman year at university. It all happened before I met her and she never talks about it so I’m not even completely sure but… I know Madison’s been calling her for the past few days and Stella has been less than thrilled to hear from her.”
We all look over to where Stella paces back and forth in front of a stone wall. The Balearic sea meeting the setting sun in the horizon as her backdrop makes her look angelic. While her long blonde pony drapes down her back. The gold clasps on her bikini sparkle in the setting sun against her glowing skin and I’m shocked that she’s single.
I’ve never met anyone more stunning, though intimidating, than Stella. Luna says she’s married to her work. Living by the philosophy that money never breaks her heart, but I don’t think that’s entirely true.
Her heart breaks. I can see it in her eyes. No one else might be able to see it but I can. As someone who knows all too well about living with a broken heart, her armor isn’t invisible to me.