Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Natalie
The last thing I expected to be doing under the starry night with the bonfire roaring was playing Frisbee with a couple of kids—Hunter’s relatives—while the guys had a makeshift sorry-ass bachelor party drinking whiskey in the pub.
Cat waded through the sand with two drinks in hand and gave one of them to me.
“That man owes me,” she said.
I wanted to say the same thing about Max owing me.
He had promised to see me tonight. But there was no way I could make myself feel it, really believe that he owed me a thing.
After all, there was so little between us.
Nothing like what Cat and Hunter had. I side-armed the Frisbee over the heads of two young boys and lifted the drink to my mouth.
Practically pouring it down my throat, not stopping because it tasted so good and I was so frustrated, until Cat yelled at me.
“Stop that. You can’t chug a margarita.”
“You know I’m not one for rules. Now that you told me I can’t do it, that’s exactly what I’m going to do.
Let’s go get more of those delicious drinks.
” I took Cat by the arm and then I grabbed Kristen by the arm too and dragged them through the sand with me to the outdoor bar set up to serve the bonfire partiers.
There was a band on the patio and a cool breeze I the air.
I had my Boston Militia hoodie on over cut-off jeans and I knew I looked sexy in a sporty way. All for nothing.
We got to the bar and I took one of the stools.
“Have a seat, ladies. This is where I’m staying and I need someone to commiserate with about what a total fucking waste of time this night is.
I could be spending it with one of the all-time hunks of my life.
” I wanted to say love of my life, because deep down, that’s how I felt.
But I knew I couldn’t legitimately really feel like I was in love.
Though I could be falling. Hard and fast. Until now. Maybe his neglect would cure me.
“Maybe you’ve already had too much to drink,” Kristen said.
“Who me? You ain’t seen nothing yet.” They both stood staring at me. I couldn’t tell if it was sympathy or worry on their faces. “I only had one drink.” I put the empty plastic margarita glass on the bar. “I’ll have another,” I said.
“I suppose you’re right,” Cat said.
“Maybe.” Kristen said. “I don’t see anyone but couples out here. I think all the single guys are at the spontaneous bachelor party.”
With that observation, we all had another round.
And a few more after that. I wasn’t sure upon waking the next morning, how I’d managed to stumble through the sand back to my room, but I had a vague recollection of male voices, strong hands and .
. . . the soft press of lips on my forehead accompanied by a familiar scent.
The memory wasn’t enough to make up for the torture of the killer headache, but at least I wasn’t Kristen.
She was currently using the bathroom and not doing well.
I tried to help, but the door was locked and she refused to let me in.
So I went back to my bed and closed my eyes and waited.
Remembering, or straining to remember those lips, the strong arms around me, tried to remember Max’s face or his voice.
And failing that, I cursed myself for the self-pity that had led to the over-indulgence.
Especially since we had a lot to do today.
Hairdresser and makeup, the bride’s private luncheon in Cat’s suite, dressing in our gorgeous sexy bridesmaid ball gowns, a mini photo shoot, followed by prewedding jitters and pacing around, and then the big show.
The actual wedding ceremony would be the first chance I’d have to see Max today.
The wedding celebration would be the first—and last—chance I would have to seduce him, to have him for a night, to convince him there should be more nights, more to us.
To convince him that there could be an us.
When I opened my eyes to the blinding sunlight and Kristen emerged from the bathroom looking too pale, but upright and wearing an apologetic smile, I bounced out of bed.
I was up for the challenge. The little fire in my chest was nothing but the fuel I needed to throw myself into it and win.
After I was dressed in a casual outfit of a short pink skirt and white cotton sweater, not bothering with my hair and make-up, my face scrubbed clean for the ministrations of the experts, I waited for Kristen. It was ten a.m. I’d have a long time to wait yet before I’d see Max tonight.
The thing was, I wasn’t good at waiting. I was damn impatient. I called to Kristen, who was in the bathroom still getting ready.
“I’ll meet you at Cat’s room. I have an errand to run.”
“See you there. I won’t be long.”
I nodded. My errand shouldn’t take long either.
The urgency I felt was unprecedented. I had to see Max, to let him know how I felt.
There was no way I wanted to let things end with last night’s disappointment.
I grabbed my mini bag and left the room, checking the hall before running in fast small steps in my heels to the door I had emblazoned on my memory.
My heart sped up and the anxiety that had been building all morning, leading me to this rashness, tightened my chest. The anticipation was killing me, making me shake as I knocked on Max’s door.
He opened the door, looked left and right in a swift pivot of his head, then pulled me inside his room quick, before anyone saw me there.
“You’re a sight for hungry eyes,” he said. That melted me good and fast. Whatever angst had me wrung tight disintegrated under the heat of desire. Mine—and his.