Chapter 8
Daniela
The next morning, I wake to the sound of voices in the kitchen. I lean over and check my phone. Eight in the morning. Yep. Way too early for all that commotion.
I drag myself to the bathroom to quickly make myself presentable before joining the morning rendezvous, then head for the kitchen in search of some coffee.
As soon as I step into the hallway, I freeze. The voices are clearer now, echoing through the space. There are two male voices. One is Liam’s, and the other is distinctly Dex’s deep baritone .
Before I can decipher what they’re talking about—or what he’s doing here so early—I turn right around and crawl back into bed.
This is already proving to be harder than I anticipated. It was easy to pretend nothing happened when I was hours away. Now, I’m running into him at every turn in this stupid town, and it’s…not ideal.
I text Layla.
Daniela: What’s going on?
Layla: Sorry, did they wake you?
Daniela: Nah. I just woke up frothing at the mouth for my best friend’s famous coffee that she makes just for me. ;)
Layla: Give me five minutes and I’ll bring you coffee in bed, princess.
Daniela: You’re an angel. Are you sure you want to marry Liam? I’d take you.
Layla: Wow, thanks for the offer. Unfortunately, you don’t have the proper equipment to keep me satisfied.
Daniela: And what could your fiancé possibly have to offer that I don’t?
Layla: A dick.
Daniela: Fine. You couldn’t handle me anyway.
She never responds, but five minutes later, there’s a knock at my door.
“Your majesty.” Layla bows dramatically as she enters, balancing a mug of coffee in one hand .
“Ugh, you’re my savior,” I groan as she hands it to me and settles onto the bed beside me.
“So, you heard who’s here and you’re hiding, huh? I thought you didn’t care?”
“I don’t care!” It comes out way less casually than I would have liked. “But it’s eight in the morning and it’s too early to deal with that shit.” I stare down at my caramel-colored coffee, then take a sip. She put plenty of cream and sugar in it, just for me.
“Why is it so weird between you two? Did something else happen?”
I sigh. “You know something happened.”
“I mean, besides the hookup. Was there something else? He used to ask about you, and then he just…stopped.”
Looks like my plan to push him away was successful.
“No. We’ve been this way since we first met.
You know that. I don’t know why but we just can’t seem to go five minutes without bickering over the dumbest things.
” I stop to take a breath. “And the audacity of that man! To basically announce that we’d end up together two minutes after meeting me just because our best friends are together. Gag.”
Layla looks far too amused. “Oh, come on. He was joking. What’s that thing they say about hate and love being very close emotions in your brain?”
“I do not know what you speak of,” I retort, giving her a scowl .
She laughs.
“Anyway,” I continue. “I mean, I may have ghosted him after the holidays last year. He reached out…a lot. I just couldn’t deal with…any of it.”
“Hmm…” Layla studies me, and I keep my expression neutral.
“Well, he is the best man, you know? You’re going to be seeing him all summer. So why don’t you just suck it up and be the badass bitch I know you are. The one who isn’t afraid of confrontation or awkward situations.”
“He does seem to be popping up a lot already…” I grumble. “Does he actually do anything though? I mean I know he runs the restaurant, but…it seems like he’s always around.”
“I think he just does that to keep himself busy, honestly. His parents are like, insanely wealthy. You know it’s not cheap to actually live anywhere around Lake Tahoe, right? It’s outrageous.”
“So he’s a spoiled rich boy?”
“No, he actually works a lot besides at the restaurant. And he travels every so often for work. I think they do a lot of investing or something. Also, he donates a lot of money to charities and the community. Like, a lot.”
“Hmm.” I huff out a breath and concede. “Okay. You’re right. No more hiding. But you’ve seen how we are, constantly butting heads since the moment we met. I’m just trying to avoid that. It’s annoying. He’s annoying. ”
Layla squints at me, assessing. “Okay, so I’m just going to call it like I see it. You like him and you’re fighting it, for whatever reason. He’s actually very sweet, you know. Definitely a relationship guy, according to Liam. But I haven’t heard about him seeing anyone in…a long time.”
“Oh, okay. So he’s gorgeous, rich, and in touch with his emotions. That’s great. I still don’t like him,” I insist.
She nods. “Tall and tattooed. He’s definitely your type…physically.”
“Yeah well, so what if he’s hot? I don’t even know him that well, honestly.”
“Yeah, you’ve made sure of that.”
I shrug. She’s right. Our lives are getting too intermingled. I’d like to keep him at arm’s length. No one wants to deal with my baggage—it would only end badly. Hooking up was a mistake, and I can’t let it happen again.
Layla is still looking at me in that way that she does. The way a lifelong friend who knows far too much about you looks at you when you’re being stubborn. Like she knows me better than I know myself.
“Are you…doing okay with everything?” she asks. Her tone is more serious now, with a hint of concern laced in.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I admit honestly. I mostly am. Nobody is ever completely fine, though, are they? Everyone has gone through different shit in their lives at one point or another. It’s all about how you handle yourself despite it all.
“Do you still go to your meetings?”
“No. I haven’t been in a while. They weren’t really doing anything for me anymore. I do still see my therapist once a month. After my best friend abandoned me, I needed someone to vent to.” I tease.
Layla smirks. “Okay. Good.” Then she puts her hands on her hip, her eyebrow raised. “And honestly, we talk way more on the phone now than we ever did when I lived in Sacramento, so I don’t want to hear it!”
“Okay, you got me there,” I admit.
“How’s your mom? Any word from your brother?”
“Mom is great. Same old.” Then I sigh once again. “Jason is…Jason. Turning out to be a lot more like my dad than I’d like.”
“He’ll come around. He’s young.” Layla offers a sympathetic smile, though I’m not sure she believes it herself.
“Maybe.” I shrug.
“That has to be hard for you…you’ve always been so protective of him.”
“Yeah. It is what it is.”
My little brother, Jason, skipped the college phase and headed straight to L.A.
after high school. Not that college is meant for everyone, but he hasn’t done much for himself since.
I barely hear from him anymore, but I do stalk his social media, and I know he’s partying hard and almost definitely using drugs.
I try to call him all the time, but I usually don’t get an answer, just a short text back a few days later.
A short silence falls between us, then Layla hops up. “All right. Ready to face the music?”
“Right now?” I ask, appalled.
“There’s no time like the present! Come on.”
I take a big gulp of my coffee, which is now the perfect temperature. “Fine.”
We emerge from the hallway to find Liam cooking something that smells absolutely delicious at the stove, and Dex on his hands and knees, trapped in a headlock by a seven-year-old. Jackson is rubbing his knuckle into Dex’s hair. I look away.
“Give up, Dexter,” the kid yells, the joy of a sweet victory in his voice. “I totally beat you.”
“Dexter?” I repeat with a laugh, turning my gaze back. “That’s your real name?”
I glance at Layla, who shrugs, smiling. She’s apparently just surprised as I am.
Dex grunts, then gently flicks Jackson off him effortlessly. Rising to his knees, he tugs his shirt back down. It had ridden up slightly during the scuffle.
“Yes, it is,” he says. He’s standing now and his black hair is wild, but somehow it still works for him.
“Jackson just discovered it,” Liam murmurs to us. “He thinks it’s hilarious. I don’t think the teasing will end any time soon. ”
Dex approaches, running his fingers through his hair once—twice—and suddenly, it’s perfectly tousled.
“Yeah, and whose fault is that?” he mutters.
“Mine.” Liam smiles.
“Dickhead,” Dex mutters.
“Daniela, I hope you’re hungry,” Liam says, flipping some food in the frying pan. “I made a ton.”
“Always,” I reply, raising my coffee mug for a sip. “Are you guys always so…active this early?”
I choose my words carefully, not wanting to offend anyone. They are letting me invade their space, after all. I can’t imagine what a place around here costs for the summer. Besides, it was mostly Dex causing all the ruckus.
Layla laughs. “God, no. Dex is doing us a solid and taking Jackson all the way to Reno today to his grandparents’ place. Liam was supposed to, but we have an appointment. He’s staying for the week before they come back for the bridal shower.”
“You mean Dexter is taking me,” Jackson corrects from the living room.
“That’s it, dude,” Dex says, swinging his head toward Jackson dramatically. “We’re listening to Creed. The. Whole. Way.”
“We’ll see,” Jackson smirks deviously.
“Could be worse,” I comment absentmindedly.
Dex whips his head toward me but doesn’t say anything .
I turn my attention to the kid. “I just got here, little dude. You’re leaving so soon?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll see you lots this summer,” he says sweetly before running up and giving me a one-armed hug. He’s too sweet and kind for what he’s been through.
“Are your famous omelets done yet, Liam?” Dex asks, settling into a chair. “I’m starving, and I was promised a home-cooked meal before the road trip.
“I can’t believe you spend so much time at that restaurant, and you still haven’t learned to cook anything good yet,” Layla teases.
“Hey, I can cook things. I just don’t have the talent for it like Liam. Or our chefs. Why do you think I’m always there?” Dex lifts his eyebrows like he’s just revealed a big secret.
“I guess you can’t be good at everything,” Liam teases.
“I guess not.” Dex smiles back at him with a sarcastic grin.
“Anyway…” Layla interjects. “I need some opinions on a wedding debacle.”
“Lay it on us,” I say.
“Okay, so I have a DJ booked for the reception, but for the ceremony I kind of wanted to get some sort of live music…or do I just stick with the DJ thing and have him come earlier?”
“What are your options for live music?” I ask.
“There’s an acoustic guitarist available. ”
“Oooh. What does the groom think?” I turn my attention to Liam.
“Whatever she wants.” He smiles, crossing his arms.
Layla rolls her eyes with a smile. “Not helpful at all. This is why I need you here, Daniela. Tell me what to do, please, I have decision fatigue from this whole thing.”
“Hmm. What would Miles do?” I ask her quietly.
“Who is Miles?” Dex asks, looking between us. I hadn’t meant for him to hear that. And I’m surprised he’s acknowledging me, since he’s barely looked my way or spoken to me since I got here.
“Just an old friend,” I mutter.
“It’s just something we say sometimes,” Layla cuts in, saving me. I flash her a grateful smile.
“You know what, I am going to go with the guitar,” Layla decides. “What do you think, Liam?”
“I love it,” he replies.
“I agree,” I add.