Chapter 16 Couldn’t Be More
COULDN’T BE MORE
Ember
Since last Friday after our evening at Silk and Spice, the next week flew by.
Drew had to reschedule our Friday meet-up because of a work thing that popped up, and I’d rolled my eyes when I’d first read it, only to remind myself that we weren’t even friends.
We met up, fucked, and parted ways. Sure, the moment in the shower was a bit intense, and yes, so we kissed.
But the most we communicated was the occasional exchange of jabs during our planning.
It was truly nothing—especially not something to get bent out of shape on when plans didn’t pan out.
Right? Right.
We kissed one time. Nothing monumental.
Did we have absolutely phenomenal and mind-blowing sex? Yes. Did I feel more at ease when I was in his arms? Possibly, but did that mean anything at the end of the day? Nope.
It was just a kiss.
I’d been texting back and forth with Aspen and Ivy more, making plans to have a girls’ night soon. It was hard though, when my only night off I spent with him, and all the rest of my time was spent working or trying to catch up on sleep from our escapades. It didn’t leave much time for socializing.
I also hadn’t heard from Wyatt since he stopped by the bakery, and I still hadn’t opened the folder he’d given me.
I knew I was being irresponsible right now.
If it was truly my father trying to ruin my life, literally, I should grow some balls and confront him.
But did I? No. I was being a giant baby about this entire thing and doing my utmost to just ignore it. As if that would help make it go away.
Forcing out a long breath, I sank back into child’s pose.
Stretched out on my yoga mat—when I was supposed to be over at Aspen’s in the next thirty minutes—I was fighting off a wave of nausea and extreme nerves.
I’d thought maybe a quick yoga flow would help calm said nerves, but so far, it was just making me feel ridiculous for even having these feelings.
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone out with friends.
It hadn’t happened as an adult, that was for sure.
I’d had one friend throughout school, but my one and only boyfriend had seen to destroy that friendship from the inside out while she stood giddy at his side.
Finding other women to trust had been hard ever since, so I just hadn’t made the effort.
Instead, I’d focused on getting good grades, saving up money, and making business plans that no one believed in except Grandpa.
But Aspen and Ivy were sweet. We weren’t braiding each other’s hair or having pillow fights, but I could see us going dancing together or maybe to a yoga class. Simple things that I imagined adult women did together in their free time.
My phone started vibrating, and I looked over to find it was a group video call coming in, but the name across the top of my screen made me smile.
“Bakery Bitches” was sliding across with a bunch of pastry emojis plastered after it. I hit the answer button and propped my phone against my water bottle on the floor across from where I was seated.
“You are so not ready yet!” Ivy squealed into the speaker. I looked at the top half of my screen to reveal a half-dressed Ivy who was currently running a straightener through her long blonde hair.
“I get ready quickly, don’t panic,” I replied.
Aspen laughed. She was already fully dressed, makeup and hair done. “This is true, Ivy, and don’t worry, Ember. I’m only fully ready because it’s my party, and it would look bad to make Ro greet all the guests alone.”
“Um, is his family coming?” I questioned, the nerves suddenly swirling in the bottom of my stomach.
Aspen and Ivy knew everything that Wyatt had told me.
It wasn’t as if they knew all about my father, but I gave them a brief enough explanation to explain exactly why the situation had bothered me so much.
It wasn’t a reunion I was looking forward to when it inevitably happened again.
Aspen bit her bottom lip. “Ugh yes, they’re all coming. I’ll tell him to fuck off and leave you alone if you want!”
I smiled, though it felt forced. “No, don’t be ridiculous. It’s his brother’s and soon-to-be sister-in-law’s house. I’m a grown-up, I just may whine a little later.”
Ivy finally set down her straightener and started jumping up and down. I swear this girl was like a walking, talking, box of sunshine. “Oh! I’ll bring the wine, and you can whine. Pun intended. Get it?”
I nodded while pinching my lips together in an effort not to cry at how lame that joke was. At least now my smile was genuine though.
“Got it,” Aspen and I said in unison.
We talked for a few minutes before I hung up, and I was determined to get my shit together and get to Aspen’s. Rolling up my mat so CC didn’t get any wise ideas about a new napping spot, I stripped out of my comfy clothes and pulled out my costume.
Stepping into my black fishnets, checking them over in the mirror to ensure they set on my legs evenly, then into the green body suit that made up the majority of my costume.
The top fit more like a corset, making my boobs look phenomenal.
The base color was a deep forest green with small pieces of ivy that swooped up and around my curves beautifully.
Another fifteen minutes, and my light red hair went from a messy bun to soft wavy curls, my eyeliner was sharp enough to kill a man, and my lipstick was a deep red that gave off Gothic vampire vibes—or in this case, sexy villain out of a DC comic book.
Honestly, I looked hot as hell and for once I didn’t feel conceded saying that.
I tied the mask around my eyes for the final piece, trying to push down the thoughts that came with this mask every time I so much as looked at it.
Tonight was not about him, and I wouldn’t be holding myself back because an anonymous man who gave me a fake name, was good in bed.
That would be insane, kiss and all. My mind slipped to Wyatt, and I quickly shut that down.
I knew that he’d be there tonight, it was at his brother’s house after all, but steering clear of him was the best option out of all of them.
I ran my fingers through my hair, a habit I seemed to develop when my nerves were high and then put on my black heels.
“Perfect,” I said to myself as I did one more look in the mirror. “I can do this. Socializing with people my age when I’m not working and safe behind a counter. How hard can it be?”
The sun was already setting behind the Rocky Mountains that encompassed the ranch, so it was already pretty dark as I stared out my windshield, but Aspen had the house lit up with outdoor fairy lights, and a bonfire was starting in the front yard.
Rowan and her really did think of everything to make this party perfect.
I threw my phone and keys in the glove box before climbing out of my Jeep and walking up to the front door. Aspen had already told us to walk right in when we got here, but it still felt like breaking a law of some kind to just wander into a house this stunning without knocking.
It reminded me of a house you’d see on the front of a Colorado magazine, just begging you to come and stay in the snowy Rockies and never leave.
The two-story log cabin, with stone accents, a wrap-around porch, and massive windows that gave you a panoramic view of the land before it.
Nestled right beneath the base of the mountain, it was picturesque.
I walked up the steps and knocked before pushing the door open—if only because my mother would pass away if I didn’t even knock once.
“Ember, is that you?! I tracked you the whole way here.” After Aspen had been taken by her psycho ex, she’d insisted on the three of us having each other’s locations at all times. I thought it would bother me, but truly, it was nice knowing someone cared enough to even ask for it.
Aspen walked out of the kitchen with a massive smile on her face. She looked absolutely stunning—not that that differed from any other moment in time.
“Well hello, Harley. You look hot as fuck. I’m assuming Rowan is the Joker?” I asked with a smile.
She nodded. “He is, although I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that Harley was with Poison Ivy too, so I may have to warn him about how delicious you look in that outfit.” She winked and wrapped me in a tight hug.
Rowan walked out, shaking his head, and gave me a quick one-armed hug. He looked over at Aspen and pulled her roughly against his side before kissing her cheek. “Are you trying to drive me crazy tonight, woman?”
“That’s Harley to you, doll, not woman.” She looked over at me, her pigtail smacking Rowan in the face. “Rule tonight, we’re role-playing. Everyone gets called by their costume name! Sound good, Poison Ivy darling?”
I chucked. “Makes total sense, Harley. Although I imagine it’ll be confusing for Ivy and me.”
Aspen held up her hand. “Ah! You are Ivy tonight. I think you mean Super Girl. She’ll be along shortly. Don’t worry. She’s also bringing her…boy. So we all need to be kind and keep our comments to a minimum.” I watched as she forced a smile, and Rowan rolled his eyes.
Ivy was dating a local guy, Todd, and none of them could stand him. Ivy had recently moved into a new apartment with him, and Aspen was struggling to keep her negative feelings to herself, so instead she vented to the rest of us so she could support her best friend in public.
“Got it. Nice.” I bit my lip to try to contain my smile as Aspen shook her head.
“Ugh, I know. I’m the problem. Come on, Poison Ivy, let’s go make some drinks while we wait for everyone else to arrive.”
“Who else is coming? Besides the fam,” I asked. Maybe I’d get lucky and there would be others here to distract me from her brother-in-law and how much I desired to dump a drink on his head.
“Oh you know, Rowan’s family, a couple of their friends from work, The Raven, the rodeo.
Plus a few friends Ivy and I have from The Roadhouse.
Should be around thirty people, give or take.
” She shrugged as she started mixing us both drinks in a few plastic cups.
“Why? Someone you’re hoping to see?” she asked as she eyed me suspiciously.
“Nope. I’m just here to have a good time tonight, Harley.
You know I’m not out searching for anyone to marry me or some shit.
I’m married to my work.” I shrugged with my practiced speech I’d given to my family a million times now.
Grabbing the cup from her outreached hand, I downed half of it before letting my gaze return to hers.
She stared at me, the smile clear across her face. “Oh, sure. That reeked of someone who’s just here for a good time. Not a bit of baggage to be seen. I also go straight to marriage thoughts when someone asks me a simple question, after all.”
I groaned. “Okay listen, I’ve been…seeing someone?
I guess? It’s a casual thing, no strings, just here for a good time.
But I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if I want more, but again, it’s complicated.
We’re both married to our jobs and agreed it wouldn’t, no, couldn’t be more.
So it isn’t. We may have had a…moment last week, but I haven’t seen him since, so I’m not stressing over it.
At least not tonight. Tonight I’m just here for fun. ”
I hurriedly drank the rest of my mixed drink and handed Aspen back the cup for another. I didn’t want to get drunk, but being buzzed couldn’t hurt my nerves. She nodded as if she had any idea what I was talking about.
“Well does this no strings attached man have a name?”
I shook my head slowly as she arched a brow.
“What does he look like?”
I cleared my throat. “Um, tall? Dark hair?”
“Uh, okay?” she replied, but then thankfully seemed to drop the subject and handed me another cup. Apparently it was clear I needed that more than I needed to talk about this right now.
Doing my best, I walked around and socialized with people, Aspen by my side the entire time for the next hour or so. I was feeling good. Aspen made a great mixed drink, everyone seemed to be having fun, and the night was going well.
That was until I rounded the corner to walk down towards the bonfire with Ivy and Todd, only to literally run into Batman himself.