Chapter Thirteen
Dylan
The last traces of daylight faded as countless stars took over the inky sky. I tipped my head back, took them in, and finished my beer.
Jamie was probably having her first dance right about now—glowing and surrounded by people who adored her. The way I’d always pictured it being for us.
Fuck, this sucked.
Being alone wasn’t new. Jamie was the only one who’d ever stuck around long enough to call what we had a relationship, and even that was probably because we were too young to know better.
I was too damaged, too fucking stubborn to connect with someone.
My afternoon with Sean had been proof enough of that. The minute I’d left him in the shower, I was done. And he knew it.
I’d tried not to be rude—it wasn’t like I didn’t want him here—but I’d closed myself off. The emotions of the day were mixing me up. I couldn’t tell what was real between us and what was just me reaching for something to dull the fucking pain.
Where did my feelings for Jamie end, and those for Sean begin? Did I even like him? Or was this all just a misguided attempt to feel better for a while?
Either way, I couldn’t afford to get invested. I’d already given one person that kind of power over me, and I was still wallowing in the fucking aftermath.
Sean hadn’t stayed long after the shower. He’d guzzled a beer and then made an excuse about needing to find a hotel for the night. Said he wanted to get back on the road early in the morning.
But I knew the truth. He didn’t want to stick around and watch me brood.
Couldn’t say I blamed him. And I sure as hell hadn’t tried to stop him.
So now I was alone and hating it. Hating myself for being the asshole I’d become.
The glow of my cell phone lit up the dark of my yard. I didn’t recognize the number, but the only person who’d possibly call me at this moment was my mother. I loved her, but after multiple affairs and countless lies, trusting her was a different story. She was just as closed off and selfish as me.
“Hey, Mom,” I answered, walking inside to grab another beer.
“Oh, chéri, please never call me that again.”
“Chantel.” My throat went dry and my gut clenched. “What’s up? How’d you get my number?”
“Well, I was bored and lonely, watching everyone else have a good time and thought…who else around here could possibly be as bored and lonely as me? So, I stole your number from Aunt Sylvie’s phone and called you.”
“Sounds like you’re saying I’m pathetic,” I managed through a tight laugh.
“Not at all, chéri. I was hoping we could be bored and lonely together. Want some company?” Her voice reached through the phone line and stroked a hot trail down my spine.
“Aren’t you at the wedding?” I popped the top off my drink and tried to sound casual. Tried to keep the need from affecting my tone.
“I was, but now I’m sitting in your driveway, watching you through the front window. You really should get some better curtains.”
“Get in here, stalker,” I growled, hanging up and meeting her at the front door.
“Nice place.” She greeted me with a peck on the cheek.
“Nice dress,” I murmured, kissing the shell of her ear.
After closing the door, I inspected the blue silk gown that hugged all her curves. “What are you doing here, enchanté?”
“I already told you…” She rolled her eyes, tempting me to take her over my knee and spank the petulance out of her. “I was lonely.”
“And I’m having a hard time believing that a woman as gorgeous and magnetic as you could ever be bored or lonely in a room full of people.”
“Alright, you caught me.” The smirk on her face didn’t match the sudden concern in her gaze.
“This whole day just seemed like such a shit show. I mean, it was beautiful. Everything went very smoothly, and there was only one drunk hitting on me at the reception. Whatever. My point is, I knew you’d be here alone, and I thought maybe you shouldn’t be. ”
“You always talk this much?” I smiled at her, feeling the need to keep the conversation light. I wasn’t sure how much more brooding I could handle.
“Fuck off,” she said through a giggle. “I could be dancing with a drunk guy right now, but I’m here with your bossy ass instead. You should thank me for thinking about you. Ostie de batard de marde.”
“You’re sexy when you swear at me. I like it even more when I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Something loosened in my chest when she rolled her eyes again, like some tension that never seemed to leave me had suddenly floated away.
“I’m kidding,” I said with a laugh. “Don’t be such a princess. Come here.”
I grabbed her by the arm and pulled her in. She came willingly, folding against my chest like she belonged there. I kissed the top of her head, and her arms came up to wrap around my waist as she rested her cheek against my chest.
It felt good to have her there. It felt right.
Then it hit me.
I called her princess.
And it didn’t bother me in the least. The pet name I’d called Jamie my whole life had just slipped out, and it had felt like nothing. Like it was any other word.
Chantel was probably the furthest thing from a princess I could imagine. Still, even saying it ironically should have hurt. Should have added to the brutal fucking ache I’d been battling most of the day.
But it didn’t.
“You thirsty?” I asked, ignoring the warmth spreading through me.
“Sure,” she hummed against me. “What are you drinking?”
“Well, I was about to have another beer. I don’t think I’ve got anything fancy enough to match your outfit.”
My hands found hers and I stepped back to look at her. Cheeks rosy, dark hair pinned up to show off the long line of her neck, and every curve calling my name. I spun her around in a flourish of silk and laughter, making her stumble before I caught her in my arms again.
“Seriously, Chantel, you look stunning. Are you sure you don’t want to go back to the party and dance with the drunk guy? I was just sitting in the yard, looking at the stars.”
“Beer and stargazing sound great.” Her smile was full of sweet sincerity.
The old blanket I laid out over the grass in my backyard was worn and fraying, the beer was cheap, and my ability to make polite conversation was shit. But she didn’t complain.
She kicked off her heels and stretched out beside me.
After the day I’d had, the cool air, the quiet, and her company were the closest things to relief I could hope for.
We lay there in silence, and she didn’t try to fill it. That was the best part. She was easy, even when she wasn’t. And the fact that she was so damn beautiful in that blue silk dress didn’t hurt either.
My eyes kept drifting from the stars to her.
The stars didn’t stand a chance.