Chapter 8
Take the chance or you’ll always wonder what if.
Violet buried her face against Tripp’s chest for one last moment before she opened his hotel room door. “I don’t want to leave, but I’ve got to get ready for brunch.”
He followed her out into the hall, still shirtless and so delicious it took all her restraint not to push him back into his room and jump him again. But the final sendoff for Sarah and Ian was in a few hours and she needed a shower and coffee. And then it was relaxing time.
And hopefully more naked time. Lots and lots of naked time. With Tripp.
“Fine,” he groaned, but pulled her tight against him before claiming her mouth in a kiss she felt all the way to her toes.
A small gasp made both of them stop and turn to find… Oh no.
Ian was a few doors down, his eyes wide. “Ah… I was just checking in with my brothers… I didn’t see anything,” he blurted, before tucking tail and running.
Violet winced then dropped her head against Tripp’s chest. “What are the chances he doesn’t tell Sarah?”
“I’m guessing zero considering they just got married. If he starts their marriage off with a lie—”
“Oh my god, Tripp, it was rhetorical. Of course he’ll tell her.” Despite the tension in her core, she laughed lightly, kissed him and then stepped back. “I’ll see you downstairs at brunch?”
He nodded as he stepped back and grasped onto the doorframe to simply watch her. The heat in his eyes was enough to set her on fire.
But somehow, she made it to her room, showered, chugged coffee, changed into a lightweight, calf-length dress covered in a dark floral pattern, then made her way downstairs even as that same tension coiled tighter and tighter.
She hadn’t received a call or text from Sarah so…maybe everything was okay? Maybe her best friend didn’t care that she was… whatever, with Tripp.
As she stepped into the already bustling restaurant downstairs, she spotted Sarah immediately.
Aaannd, her best friend waved her over to the table, her eyes a little manic. Ian got up and disappeared toward the drink station, looking a little like he was running. Coward.
Okay, so maybe this wasn’t good.
Pasting on a smile, she made her way through the restaurant and basically collapsed into a seat facing the bank of windows that overlooked a gorgeous courtyard. She saw none of that, however.
Nope, she was carefully watching her best friend. “Ready for the honeymoon? You guys all packed?”
“Are you serious right now? I just find out the best news of my life from Ian, and that’s all you can say?”
“Wait…what? You’re happy about this?” That she’d hooked up with Tripp?
“This is like the best thing ever. This is your wedding present to me. You can return everything else. Because we’re going to be sisters for real one day.” Sarah grasped her hands, that wild look still in her eyes, but now Violet realized, she was just ridiculously happy.
“Oh my god,” she said with a laugh, even as relief rushed through her. “You’re definitely getting ahead of things.”
“Yeah, we’ll see,” Sarah said with a sniff. “My brother has been into you forever. Like, forever, ever.”
“Well, I’m into him too, now that I’ve seen him naked.” She grinned and picked up Sarah’s mimosa, because she needed it.
Sarah blinked, made a barfing sound, then cackled. “I freaking hate you. I swear, that’s the only time you’re allowed to say that. Because gross.”
“Fair enough.”
“I’m not kidding about how into you he is. He literally asks about you every time we go to visit him.”
“Look, we’re just… I don’t know. Taking it slow.”
“Take it slow, take it fast, I don’t care. Just…don’t screw this up,” she whispered. “Because you two are so perfect for each other. I literally never dared to hope that you’d see him that way but… I love you guys together.”
All of this was a shock. “It doesn’t bother you that I’m older than him?”
“By five years. That’s nothing. And it’s not like you were creeping on him before. He’s almost twenty-seven and lived all over the world. He’s lived his life and so have you. It’s not weird.”
An invisible tight band she hadn’t even realized had been cinching her chest, snapped free. “Thank you… For being okay with this.”
Sarah started to respond but then grinned at something over Violet’s shoulder. And when she turned to find Tripp striding up to their table, Sarah started humming the wedding march.
“Your sister is insane,” she mock-whispered as he sat next to her.
“Yeah, I know. I’ve been telling everyone that for years. Finally, someone is listening.”
“I can hear you guys.”
“We’re not whispering,” Tripp sing-songed in the way only a brother could. “And unless you want to watch, I’m about to kiss your best friend.”
“Okay, I changed my mind. This is too weird.” She made more barfing sounds.
“Too late,” Violet said with a grin.
“If you guys start making out in front of me, I won’t tell you what I learned about Belinda.
” Sarah’s expression was smug as they both gave her all their attention.
“I heard from Aunt Birdie that Belinda is okay now. Or as okay as can be. They got her into a good rehab center. She’s been dealing with a lot of shit the last two years and…
she needs help. She’s been drinking too much and recently started taking pills.
Birdie’s hopeful that if the whole family rallies around her, she’ll get sober. ”
Violet nodded, feeling bad for the woman. “Did you find out if she was behind the weird stuff?”
“Yeah. She paid someone to steal the flamingos and unleash them. And she hooked up with one of the waitstaff at the restaurant, then asked him to help her sabotage all the desserts. She also sent the fake emails trying to cancel vendors—which I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me about until yesterday.
” Sarah’s expression was sad as she shook her head.
“I’m just glad she’s in rehab. We’re not close, but I still hope she figures her life out. ”
“What about Ian’s ex?” Tripp asked. “Because Violet and I saw her on one of the security feeds outside the restaurant the night of the rehearsal dinner.”
“She called me later that night,” Ian said as he returned, a couple mimosas in hand.
He passed one to his new wife. “She said she missed me, wanted to know if I really wanted to go through with the wedding…yada, yada.” He shook his head slightly.
“She loves drama. Not me. And as far as I know, she wasn’t involved with Belinda. ”
“Yeah, we think she was just contemplating making a scene. Luckily, she thought better of it,” Sarah said, before leaning back and kissing her husband.
“At least the mystery is solved,” Violet said as she turned to Tripp, who smoothly took one of her hands in his.
She loved the way her hand fit with his, as if they’d been made for each other.
“I know we haven’t had a chance to talk, but I’m home for a few weeks… What does your schedule look like in the near future?” The deep timbre of his voice wrapped around her, and made her knees go weak.
Good thing she was sitting down. “My schedule is very flexible.”
He grinned at the word flexible, and heat curled deep inside her.
“I swear to god, you guys, you need to dial it back before I really do lose my brunch.” Sarah laughed as she said the words, taking out any of the sting.
Violet picked up her mimosa and simply winked at Tripp over her glass. As soon as possible, she wanted to get him alone again. He’d told her that he had his hotel room for a few more days and she figured they both deserved the downtime.
And she didn’t plan on leaving his room once.