5. Aspyn
ASPYN
I take off following Deacon as he ascends the steep trail above us, and we hike in companionable silence until dusk smears orange and pink streaks across the sky like finger paints. Peace creeps in, the sorer my calves get.
Losing daylight, we return to the creek, but not before we sit down and see a million stars twinkle in the clear sky overhead. The outdoor dance floor in the distance is lit with white party lights, and reluctantly, we make our way over.
It seems like everyone is dancing or swaying, except Sean, who sits pouting at an empty table not far away. I hate his self-pity more than anything else, and the thought of facing him right now makes my stomach clench and roll.
Turning away, I glance up at Deacon, and his baby blues shine back at me. I can’t help but lose myself in them for a few brief moments.
“C’mon,” he says, leading me to the dance floor.
We both kick off our shoes and join our dirty hands in mid-slow dance as Deanna Carter sings about young love and innocence.
Ignoring everyone’s stares as we sway in each other’s arms, I feel safe and content against Deacon’s chest. We are sweatier than everyone else and a lot more sober, but after the dance, we catch up by doing a few tequila shots together at the bar and then head back out to the dance floor.
When Deacon puts his hands on my hips and uses them to move me around the dance floor, the butterflies intensify until I’m breathless.
His hands on my body feel good, and when he pushes a stray strand of curled hair behind my ear, my heart speeds up.
What on earth is happening tonight?
I glance up at the full moon and blame it on her silvery-blue beauty and the chaos she brings with her.
Around eleven-thirty, Tara finds me at the bar, and she asks me with wide eyes, “Is it over with you two, then? You haven’t danced together once.”
The alarm on her face breaks my heart, and I try to calm my trembling upper lip. I want to burst into tears and tell her I hadn’t been able to make Sean loyal to me, and apologize that we’ll never be sisters-in-law, as we both have always wanted.
“Tara, honey, I didn’t want to ruin your night. This is a day you’ll never have again. Why don’t we talk more when you get back from Jamaica?” I rest my hand on her shoulder and give her a small, comforting smile.
“But you’re the sister I always wanted!” Tara’s eyes fill with tears, and she leans forward to hug me tightly. “What did my brother do?”
With a sigh— “He cheated.”
“That fuck!” Tara practically shouts.
I shush her as she curses her brother the same way I want to.
“I just don’t understand. When someone finds a woman like you, they’re supposed to hold on to her. Not fuck around with other people. You’re the best he could ever do!”
Her words heat me and comfort me. “Thanks for that, honey. Please don’t let this bring you down tonight.
You have one handsome husband to go dance with.
And things will change, Tara, but don’t let him force you to cut me out.
When you get home, I want to see all your photos and videos and hear about the honeymoon, okay?
I hope it’s the best time of your life. You’re a perfect bride, girl. ”
I smooth away a few stray strands of hair and wipe a black mascara tear from her face. “Go back to your hubby and dance!” I command her. “Don’t worry even a little bit about me.”
Finally, Tara obeys, and I lean against the bar with a heavy sigh.
“Well, that sucked,” the bartender sighs from behind me, startling me. His name tag says, “Anders.”
“It was hard to pretend I was still with her brother when I couldn’t even look him in the eye all day.” I roll my eyes.
“So, you’re not dating the tall blond dude with the musculature of Thor?” Anders asks, pouring me another tequila while I laugh and explain that Deacon is just a friend.
As I talk with Anders, he flirts, and I throw back a few more shots, which is probably what leads to my final act of the evening—stumbling upstairs to the rooms and putting my key card in front of every door that starts with a “22,” hoping to find my room through blurry vision.
“What are you doing here?” I ask as the door lock lights up green and lets me in. I’d temporarily forgotten that Anders was following me up here, and I’m confused when he follows me into the room.
“You asked me if I wanted to fuck. I said hell yeah. I thought that was pretty clear,” Anders chuckles. He grabs my braid and tugs me closer with it. Anders kisses me deeply, all tongue, as a fog descends over me, my ability to say no depleted.
“Let me help you with this dress,” Anders says, reaching around my body and tugging it down.
“Out!” A stern voice shouts.
I open my eyes, my body swaying as my gaze finally focuses on Deacon, who reiterates, “I said out!”
Anders holds up his hands. “She asked me, man!”
“Consider yourself unasked!”
“Goodnight,” Anders calls as he turns and walks away.
Deacon shuts the door. “You’ll just feel worse about yourself if you sleep with him tonight,” Deacon stands in front of me with his tie unknotted most of the way, looking disheveled but beautiful. “And you’re so drunk, you can’t consent, anyway.”
“I can’t get my dress off,” I whine, reaching back for the zipper that Anders must have re-zipped.
“I’m sweaty and so uncomfortable! And-and you.
..you ruined my fun!” I don’t mention, mere seconds ago, I had forgotten about the “fun” I wanted to have, overlooking the fact that I had a plus one chasing after me up to the room.
Deacon unzips my dress, letting it plunge to the floor, and then he helps me step out of it without tripping.
I feel vulnerable in front of him in nothing but a strapless nude bra and matching underwear.
Not that he’d never seen me in a skimpier bikini—I had people over to my parents’ place all the time for swimming parties, but this feels different somehow. More intimate. Dangerous, even.
“You get cozy. I’ll grab your suitcase. I’m taking your extra room key, and I’ll be right back.
” Deacon hands me cold water, commands me to drink it, and then he disappears.
Shrugging off my bra, I climb into bed, tugging the sheet up slightly.
My head spins as I finally close my eyes and drift off.
A few minutes later, I feel a presence and open my eyes. They take a while to focus, but I sit up after realizing Deacon’s at my bedside.
“Hi.”
“Take these,” Deacon orders, handing me three pills.
Obeying without a second thought, I swallow the pain reliever with the rest of my water, realizing suddenly I am topless, sitting up against the headboard on full display for Deacon.
“Shit,” I groan, pulling the sheet up and giving Deacon an apologetic look. “Oh, thanks for not letting me fuck Anders.”
“You’re welcome. Do you want me to grab your pajamas?” Deacon asks, but I’m too tired, so I just collapse on the bed.
“I’m nearby. See you in the morning. I have your spare room key, so I’ll get you up.”
“Stay,” I whisper, not wanting to be alone tonight.
“No. Not with you half-naked.” Deacon laughs. “I don’t want anyone to think I took advantage of your drunkenness. That’s not the kind of man I am.”
“I know what kind of man you are.” It’s nearly a whisper.
Deacon is the perfect man. All-American, tall, athletic, intelligent, and charismatic, with a great sense of humor. His body looks like he’s spent his life in the gym, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Deac is all about the outdoors. He loves rock climbing, flag football, and pickup hockey games in the winter.
Naturally athletic, always on the move, down for whatever, whenever, when it comes to sports and outdoor activities.
And I could be counted on to make lots of hot cocoa for those hockey games, or lemonade in the summer.
Rock-climbing, well, no thanks. I’m not up for scaling mountains—I’m not nearly that kind of adrenaline junkie, though I will happily hike up one.
“Then you already know I’m going to park it here in this chair, wait twenty seconds for you to fall asleep, and come back with more aspirin for you in the morning.”
I smile, already knowing that’s the case, and then turn to my side, facing away from him. Feeling secure and warm, a dreamless sleep captures me.