Chapter 12 - Giselle
GISELLE
I evened my line of vision with the bullseye in the center of the dartboard.
The shots the guys had been buying all night had gone to my head, and things were a little less clear than I would’ve liked.
Despite recent celebrations, I was not a heavy drinker.
But tonight was about letting loose. And I’d say I was entitled to.
I’d been through hell, and now I was surrounded by people I could trust, as well.
I released the dart. It sailed through the air before missing the board and sticking right into the wooden wall paneling.
“And that right there is why she’s your partner, Thayer, and not mine,” Kason called to Thayer, who was at the bar getting more drinks.
“If I wasn’t so drunk, I’d be insulted,” I said to Shay who smiled.
“You’re better off,” she admitted. “Your brother’s way too competitive.”
I looked across the bar at Thayer waiting for our drinks.
His pronounced jawline with just a hint of stubble and his shaggy hair were such a contrast. At twenty-one, he was still part-teenager but part-man.
He was part-snow rat and part-gentleman.
He was part-wild and part-calm. His eyes cut to mine and I froze, completely caught staring at him.
His mouth pulled up in one corner, and something about the smug grin melted my insides.
What was I doing?
One minute, I was all in with Gino. The next, I was in bed with my brother’s best friend. I just felt so damn confused about everything. But, I’d like to believe, after everything that happened to me—my life flashing before my eyes—I was entitled to feel that way.
“Giselle?”
I turned to find Kason holding out my three darts.
“Your turn,” he said.
“Will it matter? You’re single-handedly kicking our ass. Sorry, Shay,” I added, realizing I might’ve insulted her.
“No worries,” she assured me. “He’s totally carrying us.”
We shared a laugh as Thayer walked back to us with our drinks. Everyone took theirs, but since I was up to throw, he placed mine on the high-top table to our right.
I evened up my throw and released the dart. This one actually hit the board.
“Woot woot,” Shay called.
“Shay,” Kason admonished. “She’s the competition.”
Shay rolled her eyes.
Using her encouragement, I tried again. This time, the dart soared right to the top of the board and hit the twenty slot.
“Nice,” Thayer said, holding out his fist for me to bump.
I bumped his fist, and warmth spread up my arm. This was getting ridiculous.
I tossed my last dart. Another miss. I shrugged, knowing two out of three was a record for me. I sat at the table and sipped my drink while Kason threw his darts. Of course, they landed in the twenty, ten, and fifteen slots.
Thayer stepped up next and threw his first dart.
Bullseye. I clapped, and he glanced over at me and smiled.
He turned back to the dartboard and released his second dart.
Another bullseye. I clapped even louder, and a woot slipped from my lips.
Thayer laughed before throwing his final dart.
It wasn’t another bullseye, but it was enough to push us past Kason.
“Sit down, little brother,” I called to Kason.
Kason flipped us both off.
Thayer shook his head and glanced at me, a sheepish look in his eyes.
Before I could say anything, Jesse interrupted. “Anyone wanna play pool?”
“I’m in,” Kason said, following Jesse to the pool table. Shay trailed after them.
Thayer and I didn’t move. He leaned against the table and scanned the crowded bar.
For a moment, I wished he’d touch me—like the slight brush of our fingers that morning, or the gentle touch of him moving a stray hair away from my eyes.
But he did neither. Why would he? We were both dating other people.
Last night was an anomaly. Something unexpected and a one-time thing.
“You think you’re ready?” I asked.
His eyes narrowed as he looked to me. “For what?”
“To compete.”
“Probably not.”
“That’s not how it looked today,” I said.
“You saw one trick.”
“I saw you in your element.”
“It could’ve been a fluke,” he argued.
“Nope. That’s not what today was,” I assured him. “You’re amazing on a board, Thayer.”
He rolled his eyes like he didn’t believe me.
“Come on. You know you are.”
“You’ve never told me that before,” he challenged.
“Just because I’ve never said it, doesn’t mean I don’t think it.”
“What else are you thinking and not saying?” he asked.
I swallowed around the large lump in my throat. “Nothing. Just that you’re good, and you need to compete again.”
“That’s it?”
What was he asking me? And why did I feel so flustered? My damn cheeks felt like they were on fire.
“I just need to do it?” he said, spinning the conversation back to what I’d actually asked.
“It’s that easy,” I assured him.
He stared into my eyes, as if he’d asked a question and was awaiting my response. The problem was he hadn’t, and his gaze was filled with something unfamiliar. Something making my insides all fluttery.
“What?” I asked.
He shook his head, and his attention snagged on my brother dancing around the pool table.
“I’ll be there,” I said.
Thayer looked back at me. “Where?”
“Wherever you compete.”
He looked surprised. “You will?”
“Of course.”
“Why?”
I sipped my drink, letting the liquor dictate my words. “Because I know you need me there.”
He laughed, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d amused him. Angered? Yes. Annoyed? Oh, yeah. But not amused. “Do I?” he asked.
“I think you do.” I really liked the way he was smiling at me.
“You think you’re my lucky charm or something?” he asked, a slight chuckle in his voice.
I shook my head. “No. I’m just one of your biggest fans.”
His eyes lingered on mine again, but this time his look was less flutter-inducing and more tortured. “Come with us tomorrow.”
“Snowboarding?” I asked incredulously.
He nodded.
“I haven’t been on a board in years.”
“Isn’t that a shame?”
“Not really. I’m terrible.”
“Now see? That’s where we disagree. I think you used to be rad. You just stopped going out there.”
I rolled my eyes, knowing he was being more than generous in his appraisal. I’d snowboarded maybe five times a season. I was in no way good.
“You just need the right teacher to get you back into it.”
“Oh, and let me guess. You could be my teacher?” I asked.
“If you want me to be,” he said, his voice dropping to a lower tenor.
Holy shit. Whether it was my drunken haze or not, it felt a lot like Thayer was flirting with me, and I was all for it.
“What are you two huddled up over here talking about?” Kason interrupted us.
“We’re not huddled up,” I protested, shaking off the trance Thayer had held me in for a minute there.
“We were just reminiscing about our victory over you,” Thayer said.
“Well, I just kicked Jesse’s ass at pool,” Kason said, ignoring Thayer’s comment. “And we’re ready to head back to the house.”
I jumped off my stool, and a wave of dizziness washed over me. I quickly grasped the table for balance.
“You good?” Thayer asked.
“Fine,” I said as I steadied myself.
Kason eyed me. “Are you?”
“Well,” I began, “you guys haven’t stopped serving me drinks all night. And, as you know, I’m a bit of a lightweight.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry. I wasn’t even paying attention.” Without another word, Kason lifted me off my feet and threw me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing at all.
“Put me down,” I demanded.
“Nope.”
“Kason. I’m warning you. Put me down right now.”
“Or what?” he asked as he walked us to the exit. “You’re gonna tell Mom and Dad?”
“I’ll never forgive you.”
“Right,” he said, dismissing my threat as he stepped outside into the cold night.
Our security guard came out of nowhere, leading us to our SUV.
“I’ll tell Shay all of your embarrassing secrets,” I threatened.
“I’m an open book. Shay knows all the bad stuff. And she still loves me.”
I didn’t have a comeback for that, but it didn’t matter. Kason tugged open the SUV door and placed me in the backseat.
The other doors opened, and everyone piled in.
Thayer and Jesse sandwiched me in the middle row.
It was a quiet ride back to the house. But I’d be lying if I said that the feel of Thayer’s arm and leg pressed to my side didn’t have my mind wandering to other places.
But, just like in the bar, as much as I willed him to touch me, he didn’t.
I was such a fool to think that he’d even want to.
We’d spent the last year ignoring each other.
Why now, when I was at my most vulnerable, would I think he’d want to do anything else?
Despite his kindness toward me last night, me rejecting his kiss had ruined everything between us.
Once we pulled into the driveway back at the house, we waited per usual until security entered and did their thing. When they came back outside, I worried my brother planned to carry me again, so I shuffled out of the SUV behind Thayer, who surprised me by linking his arm through mine.
“I got her,” he told Kason.
“I’m fine,” I said to them, trying to pull my arm away from Thayer.
He held on tighter. “Just hold on to me in case there’s any ice.”
We followed Shay, Kason, and Jesse up the front steps. Once inside, they shed their jackets and dropped onto the sofas. I withdrew my arm from Thayer’s and promptly headed for the stairs.
“Good night,” I called to them.
“’Night,” Shay and Kason said.
“You good, Giselle?” Thayer asked.
I stopped and glanced over my shoulder, locking eyes with him. “Of course.”
He nodded, and then I continued upstairs.
Once I got to my room, I checked my phone, realizing I hadn’t looked at it all night. A slew of texts from Gino filled the screen.
Gino
How’s Utah?
Gino
I miss you
Gino
Is everything ok?
Gino
Please call me
Gino
Did I do something to upset you?