Chapter Forty
Scarlett
“… sharp glass is life’s mirror, always trying to slice you to show you what’s inside”
“Tav, don’t you have a Christmas roast to get back to?”
I rolled my eyes as I stepped off the plane, my luggage waiting at the bottom near Caralee’s transport vehicle. Barnett also adopted a new Suburban. These people with their lookalike cars, never expanding.
Boring. Bring me my bike.
“Happy holidays to you too, Red,” he joked. I could hear a whistle of laughter behind the line. It warmed my cheeks.
“Third or second wife you’re spending it with?”
“Funny,” he snorted. “Neither.”
I gasped. “Fifth, then?”
“Make sure Ryden’s prepped and ready for January first. We need him and Paisley back at the recordin’ docks for a clear soundtrack.” He sighed. “Holidays don’t change nothin’ when it comes to the press, Scarlett. He’s still got some polish’ to do.”
I inhaled the icy chill of Banff into my lungs, watching Ryden push Donny about, fumbling on his own steps.
What have I done?
What have we done…
“Call me on New Years, Tav. Kisses and merry wishes, bye, bye.” I gripped my phone hard enough to crack as I met up with the girls, hopping into Caralee’s Cadi.
Dean knocked on the glass once, throwing a knowing glance at Polly, then jumped into Barnett’s SUV. As the doors shut, I caught a glimpse of Ryden’s burning stare before the vehicle took off towards the chalet.
I could kill something.
As soon as Caralee started the engine, I whipped around to Polly. “Did you and Dean fuck?”
Her eyes widened, a flush painting her cheeks.
“I’m going to take that as a yes” – I pointed to her face – “and not a climate condition.”
Zayla pipped up. “YOU FUCKED DEAN?”
Even Caralee threw a rearview glance in our direction.
“What if I did?” Polly crossed her arms, flipping out her phone. Ah, the safety net of her multi-million dollar deals. Nothing like money to curb a convo.
“SHUT THE HELL UP RIGHT NOW MISS POLLY POCKET SUPERSTAR!” Zayla unclipped her seatbelt, jumping into the backseat with her. “Was it good? He’s so hot, he really is, right Scar?”
I shrugged, “Mhm,” but all I could think about was Ryden.
His hands gripped the back of my thighs, forcing me wide for him. “Fuck.” His voice was throaty, raw. “I’ve pictured you a thousand different ways, but me kneeling at your feet is my trophy.”
I wanted to beg for all his fantasies, but it was coming to life right before my eyes, and I couldn’t hold back my whimper.
He leaned into me, yanking me closer to his mouth. His tongue licked up my centre, and a wave of pleasure rippled through my core like molten heat.
It felt so unnatural, but so right.
Like every ounce of affection we’d held back for almost two decades exploded like an atomic bomb. Right here. In this photobooth.
“Ryden…” I fisted his hair as he gripped my skin, the pressure of his thumb against the well of my pleasure sending me to overdrive.
“You are…” he moaned, licking me off his lips, “my favourite fucking flavour, Scarlett.”
“I can’t believe you, you dirty, naughty, do-gooder!
” Zayla slapped Polly on the knee, laughing hysterically.
“Good thing we have four rooms so you and Dean can shareeeee,” she winked.
“Naturally, I’ll be alone because I’m not bunking with bozo one and two, and Ryden and Scarlett will obviously have their –”
“What?” I came alive, snapping back to reality. “Ryden and I will have what?”
She quirked a brow. “Your shared room.”
My cheeks heated. “Yeah, but. I’m… I want my own space. I want to take my baths and I don’t want you know, a man, there.”
Now it was Polly’s turn to look at me all fucked. Great.
“You always share a room…” She leaned in, peered through my soul. “Scarlett? Care to tell us anything?”
Zayla looked between us two until recognition hit her and I almost jumped right out of the fucking car.
Sometimes, only sometimes, I wished that my friends were a little stupid.
“You… and RYDEN?” She squealed, hopping on top of me.
“Seatbelt on, Edwards!” Caralee scolded.
“Sorry, sorry, ma’am” – Zay strapped in – “You’re trolling ME right now –”
“You can’t be serious,” Polly gaped. “You gave me shit for Dean when you were fucking Ryden? Your best friend Ryden? Your client Ryden? Your –”
“First of all,” I scolded, “I didn’t give you shit for Dean, I asked you a question. Second of all, I’m not fucking him. We just…”
“SHUT UP, SHUT UP, SHUT UP!”
“Zayla, will you come the fuck down?” I let out an exasperated sigh, palming my forehead. Without a doubt, Caralee was processing the information, contemplating if Tav needed to be looped in; conflict of interest, workplace drama, yada, yada, yada. “Caralee…”
“I won’t say a word,” she responded. “Not my business.”
“Thank you,” I exhaled, turning to admire the view of snow-capped mountains and dusted evergreen trees.
I felt both their breaths on my neck without having to turn around. “What now?”
“Was it… good?” Polly asked.
“Is the Ryden Spectre as big as everyone –”
“Do NOT finish that sentence Zayla or so help me GOD I’ll throw you down that slope myself.” I faced them, glancing once again at Caralee who shoved an AirPod in her ear.
Dear God Tav, give this woman a raise.
“Here’s the deal,” I said, “you have two minutes to ask whatever you want and then we go back to pretending this never happened because it’s never happening again, capiche?”
“Why not?” Zayla crooned.
“Yeah, why not?” Polly added.
I glanced at my Piaget. “Ninety-five seconds.”
They peppered me with questions so fast I couldn’t tell who was talking anymore.
“Was it good?” Very.
“How big was he?” We didn’t fuck.
“So he went down on you?” Mhm.
“Just that?” Unfortunately. Yes.
“Rate him on a scale of one-to-ten?” Eleven.
“When did this happen?” Three days ago.
“Where?” In a photobooth behind the club.
“Behind the club?” Yes.
“In a photobooth?” Yes.
“Why won’t you do it again?” Because I’ll lose him. I just won’t.
“Do you think it changed things?”
“Time’s up, ladies. Hope it’s been informative.” I threw my puffer hood up, shoving my own AirPod in my ear.
There was a twenty minute drive left until we reached the chalet, and I was not about to talk about whatever happened with Ryden again. Let alone do it again.
There was only one girl who would ever understand the reasons why I stood firm, and that girl was no longer alive.
If he hated me for what I said, I’d accept that. If he didn’t understand, then he’d have to move on.
It was over and done with now.
I made my mark, set the boundary in stone.
So what if we kissed.
So what if he touched me, felt me, bit me, drowned in me –
It was one time.
We weren’t thinking clearly.
And I almost lost my grip. My sight. What was important.
I vowed to make him a rock star. I vowed to keep him steady.
What the hell was I doing?
To think we could be something more? Him? Me?
We were made to find each other, not to fall in love.
Fall in love… I laughed to myself. What a grim thought.
Swiping to Spotify, I pressed shuffle on Ryden’s first album, sinking into the sweet hum of Grey Heights, thinking back to a happier time before the red light flashed…
And everything went to shit.