4. Noah
4
Present
P epper is uncharacteristically quiet this evening at Dad’s house for Sunday dinner. And eyeing me suspiciously.
This has Charlie written all over it.
She definitely told her she’s not participating in any wedding planning as long as I’m involved.
And that’s just fine.
I chance a glance at my younger brother, wondering if I’m going to get an earful out in the backyard later when he conveniently asks me to look at Dad’s sprinklers or something.
“How’s wedding planning?” Levi asks.
Chase gently pulls his hand from his fiancée, giving her a piercing glare. It’s amazing she lets him get away with that.
“Pepper fired our second wedding planner two days ago.”
“She suggested I arrive at the ceremony on a hot air balloon.”
Dad shrugs. “Could work. It is outdoors.”
“What was wrong with the first one?” I dare ask.
Jackson, Levi's nine-year-old kid raises his hand. “I know, I know. Crazy lady wanted a photo booth.”
“What’s wrong with that?” Dad quarrels.
“ That was fine,” Pepper starts. “But then she wanted a self-serve cocktail bar. That’s just asking for trouble.”
Chase stretches in his chair. “I can take a hint. You want to plan your own wedding.”
“What’s there to plan? I’ve got the guest list, the venue, the groom…”
“The veil,” Levi jokes.
Chase chuckles and Pepper shoots him a hard glare. “I’m not wearing that veil. So… I guess there is something I still need.”
“Well that’s easy, you should just get one that goes with your dress,” Dad suggests.
Pepper goes quiet and Chase glares at her. “You don’t have a dress yet?”
“It’s not just something I can pick out. I was supposed to go with Charlie a few weeks ago and then…”
The table goes quiet.
“How is she?” Dad asks.
Frustration settles on my future sister-in-law’s face. “Well so far, she’s refused to let me help her pack her mother’s things. And last night, she tried to duck out on the wedding.”
“What?” Chase snaps, then glowers at me. “Why?”
Dad lets out a low growl. “Maybe…it’s not a good time right now?”
Pepper holds up her hands. “She’s still coming . She’ll think about the maid of honor thing, but I told her no pressure to plan anything special. I just want her there.”
Since we started talking about my ex, Pepper hasn’t spared me a single glance.
Her eyes linger somewhere in my direction and a small smirk forms her lips. Something only I would notice since it’s the kind of stuff I’m trained to look for in a courtroom.
“Anyway, I dropped the subject and we talked about her birthday bucket list instead.”
“Birthday bucket list?” I slip.
As if I wasn’t the one who asked, Pepper looks at Levi and Dad. “Her twenty-fifth birthday is in June and there are a few things on her pre-two-five bucket list I want to help her do,” she explains cheerily. “Well,” she scoffs. “Not aalll …although that would be interesting.” She perks a brow at her fiancé.
"Jackson, go catch a firefly in the backyard or somethin'," Levi grumbles.
Jackson rolls his eyes, taking the hint, and steps out the back door.
“Like what?” The question comes from Dad who’s seen a few too many birthday shenanigans between his four boys.
“Skinny dipping in Hideaway Lake. Get a tattoo and…” she glances up and I swear her eyes sweep mine briefly. “Oh, I forget the other thing.”
I bet.
Dad's brows shoot up and he stands to clear the table.
“You’re not…doing all those things with her, are you?” Chase asks casually.
Smooth.
Pepper smiles like she can’t help herself. “Like I said…there are just some things a gal-pal can’t do.”
“You were quiet at dinner,” Chase grumbles in the kitchen.
I shrug, wiping off the plate. “Hard to get a word in.”
“She’s just trying to make everyone happy. She wants to keep it simple for my benefit, to make it not a big deal for Charlie, to invite everyone important.” He sighs. “And paying very little attention to what she wants. That’s why we need Charlie. Charlie will focus on Pepper , not everyone on the guest list.”
I nod. It’s the first thing anyone said all night that’s made sense. “She’d be good at that.”
Chase raises a brow.
I wince. “Still want me as your best man? Not too late to pick Levi and get Charlie back on board.”
“Charlie wants you on board. You’re just still too much of a shit to see it.” He walks out and I throw my towel down.
That’s the problem.
I don’t see it anymore.
It’s after eleven when I finally get back to my house. I like the drive here at night. The clear moon in the midnight sky. The outline of the mountains. I made the mistake of bringing a date back here once—the one time I brought anyone back to Hideaway Springs from Denver. She was the sister of a client for corporate fraud. The case was easy. The redhead was hot. We spent many evenings together, usually at the hotel I’d stay at when I’d pile my Denver clients into one long weekend.
But then she wanted to come here .
And hated every minute of it. Every cricket, every tree rustle was some animal she thought would jump out and attack her in the dark. And that was just the walk from the car to the front door. Heaven forbid I took her out back to my jacuzzi.
I ended the night early and took her home. Reminding myself of another reason why I like it here. Most women hate nature.
I love it. I love this view, the sounds, the serenity of it. I travel a lot for work, deal with the rowdiest of clients, suffer from headaches because of them.
It’s not the most favorable, but I’ve got the best property in town. Not the biggest—that belongs to my brother Levi. But it’s secluded, the way I chose to be a long time ago.
Alone.
I never make it to my bedroom. I’m lying awake on the couch way past midnight. My mind running over what Pepper said at dinner.
I should ignore it.
It was intentional. I’m a lawyer. I see right through that shit all day.
But hell if it isn’t working. What’s the other thing on your birthday bucket list, Charlie?
Or is Pepper full of it?
The irrational part of me wins and I find myself on my phone scheduling another grocery delivery first thing in the morning.