16. Charlie
16
N ot Ready."
It’s been two days since my dinner date with Noah and I have been a raging inferno since we left the restaurant.
How dare he suggest I’m not ready to go on a simple fucking date?
A date that is not happening, but he doesn’t know that.
I mastered the silent treatment all weekend. Which is hard to do. Especially hard when I came home Friday night to find brand new lavender sheets and pillowcases on his king-sized bed.
I thanked him dryly and retreated to my room for the remainder of the weekend. Only stepping out for nourishment and fresh air.
The most Noah and I spoke was when he asked to borrow my car for a quick errand this morning.
On the bright side, I was able to finalize a lot of wedding details and have a list prepared to run through with Pepper when I see her later.
It’s Sunday, the night of Chase and Pepper's post-season party. The same one I originally said no to, but after Noah basically told me I’m undatable, what’s a girl to do but put on her hottest outfit and own it like the slut everyone thinks she is.
Everyone but Noah, obviously.
“Because you can’t be a slut if you’re not ready to have sex,” I mutter out loud as I slip on a sleeveless black dress and a pair of pumps.
Pepper threatened that if I come in a cardigan or purple striped socks, she’s making me change into her Ice Queen uniform.
I toss my phone and mints into my purse and search for my car keys before remembering Noah has them.
Stepping out, I walk down the hall. The sound of my heels on the wooden floor carries through the house. I pull the front door open to find two cars in the driveway. Noah’s sports car and a shiny white SUV.
Neither of which are mine.
I turn on my heel and run right into Noah.
He doesn’t catch me this time. I just bounce right off him.
“Where is my car?”
He glances over my shoulder and sighs heavily. “I…wrecked it.”
“You wrecked my car? When? How?”
“Yes. This morning. Pretty badly.”
“W-well where is it?”
He shrugs. “At the shop. Don’t worry, you’re not stranded. I got you a replacement. It’s a loaner, but you’ll—”
“How do you wreck a Toyota? You drive a freaking sports car without a single scratch.”
He jerks like I’m not making sense. “The roads were a little rough coming up hill on that thing. I swerved a bit and totaled it.”
I release a breath, my eyes dropping to his chest. “Are you okay?”
He walks around me. “A lot better than your car.”
I close my eyes and release another slow breath. “Three.”
He turns back to me. “What?”
“Three. Bad things happen in threes. And this is it.” I smile. "I should be good now."
“Okay, so you lost your apartment, that’s one. What’s two?”
My little project…
I shoot daggers with my eyes. “Being stuck with you.”
He puts his hands in his pockets, scanning me. There isn't an ounce of desire in those eyes. Zero. In fact, he almost looks like he hates my outfit.
I shake my head and turn, pulling my phone out. “I’ll just call an Uber.”
“Why? We’re going to the same place.” He holds up a set of car keys. “And you’re driving.”
“I don’t drive big cars.”
“Well, I sure as hell can’t drive—so you’re it. Let’s move.”
I settle into the driver’s seat and feel the space out. It feels new. It smells new. And what kind of loaner only has thirty-seven miles on it?
“How do I start it?”
“Push the button with the red light around it.”
“Oh, cool. Where is the lever to select gear?”
“There isn’t one. Just hit D for drive.”
“Ooooh, I don’t know about that. I need the lever to feel in control.”
“It’s awkward at first, but you’ll get used to it,” he grumbles like the overconfident jackass he is.
“Hmm…kinda like sex, right? Except…there are no buttons, I actually get a joy stick.” I chuckle at my own joke, and it helps my nerves.
“Can you focus, please?”
And there’s the added bonus of aggravating Noah.
“Hey, I’m not the one who wrecked a car this weekend.” I grip the steering wheel like it’s my last lifeline and wince. “Okay, press it.”
“You press it.”
“No, you.”
He sighs and presses the D. I remove my foot from the break and turn the wheel, steering us out of the driveway and onto the road.
A road that feels like it was paved overnight.
“Wow,” I breathe.
“Yep. Just keep it steady until we get on the main road. The bumps are still there, you just don’t feel them as much.”
I don’t take my eyes off the road until we reach the first red light. The car stops running suddenly and I lift my hands off the wheel. “What’s that? What happened?”
“Should have told you about that. It saves gas and is better for the planet if it shuts down when you’re at a light. We can turn that off if you like.”
“Might be for the best.”
We arrive at the cottage in one piece. My best friend takes one look at my outfit and nods in approval.
“Good choice,” she whispers, hauling me into the kitchen.
“I’m still not interested in meeting anyone, so simmer down.” The last few days with Noah have been frustrating and I just want to make a point and leave. “Please don’t leave me alone with any hockey players.”
She passes me a cocktail, ignoring my request. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
I push it aside. “Did you get the email I sent you about the bridesmaid dresses, favors and florals?”
She glances up. “Umm…yes.”
“Did you pick anything?”
“Ice blue, coasters, and white roses.”
“Coasters? It’s so…flat.”
She sucks her teeth. “Can we not talk about weddings today? It’s a party. Let’s have fun.”
She brushes past me and I twirl, stopping her. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re acting like…you don’t plan on getting married.” I chuckle. “You’re not going to run again, are you?”
She pulls her arm back. “What is your problem? It’s just a wedding. It’s no big deal. I don’t care if it’s teal, black, rice, or doves. None of it matters. So just pick something and have a drink.”
I blink. "Doves? You didn't say anything about doves. You want birds at the ceremony?"
Pepper picks up the cheese tray and storms off toward the living room.
What the hell was that?
A tall figure catches my eye. Chase is leaning against the wall that separates the kitchen and corridor. I blink away from his piercing gaze.
“You alright?” he asks.
I shake my head. “I want everything to be perfect for her.”
“Me too.” He walks over to where I’m standing by the island. “No offense, but if I couldn’t shift her focus to our wedding, then you probably won’t have much luck either.”
“What’s going on?” I ask softly.
“Pepper is not going to run off. At least I hope not. The wedding is weeks away and she was hoping that by now…”
“She’d find her parents,” I finish, my voice a whisper.
He nods, his gaze drifting toward the living room. “It’s heartbreaking watching her hopes in finding them get smaller.”
“Isn’t it heartbreaking for you that she’s not looking forward to your big day?”
He shrugs. “A little. But it’s supposed to be her perfect day. So if she blows off things like silk or cotton or pink or blue…it’s not you or a question on whether she wants to get married. She’s just putting it off as much as possible.”
“She tell you this?”
“No.” He chuckles. “Can you believe it? I could be a therapist.”
I smile and feel awkward. “I should go apologize.”
He glances at his watch. “Don’t bother. She’ll be crawling back in thirty minutes flat, acting like nothing happened and telling you how much she appreciates everything you do for her.”
I perk a brow at him. “That’s awfully specific.”
“It’s my life.”
If she crosses and uncrosses her legs one more time, I’m going to lose it. Charlie has been talking to Landon and a few other players for the past hour. Chase walked her out to the backyard and introduced her to the team before returning to the grill.
Is he in on this set up too?
I feel like a creep standing beside the sliding door of the kitchen, watching her like a hawk. Pepper and Lonnie are behind me gossiping about the new young and hot secretary Coach hired for the upcoming season. And I wish one of them would quit the chatter and save Charlie from being smothered by half the Denver Kings.
When I can’t take it anymore, I slide open the door and step out, treading with caution.
My jealousy has always been out of control with this girl. But I need to pull my shit together. Especially since the last time I got jealous—when I caught photos of a half-naked hockey player on her phone—I toyed with her using a vibrator.
It was out of character. An uncontrolled need for control.
To subtly remind her she doesn’t need a six-foot-five athlete to turn her on.
My brother hands me a beer. “Charlie seems to be having a good time.”
“She’s not.”
Chase frowns, watching her. “Hmm, yeah. Clearly, she’s in distress. The body language, the subtle blush, all that laughing. Should we pull her out now or let her suffer?” he chuckles, and I know I'm the joke here.
“I vote pull her out,” I grit.
“Trouble playing house?”
“She’s a pain in my ass,” I mutter, staring at her like she’s an enemy I need to watch out for.
He smirks. “How’s the new car?”
“She drove it here. Just don’t know how I’m going to convince her to keep it.”
He shrugs like this is an easy one. “Just tell her you traded it in.”
“Have you met Charlie? She doesn’t take anything from anyone.”
“She wouldn’t have made it out of town in that old thing.”
“Then maybe I should have let her keep it.” I blurt out and grunt painfully.
My brother’s lip turns up like he just won some bet. “I’ll go get your girl back for you.” He cracks his knuckles and I grip his arm.
“Don’t. Charlie is not my girl.”
Chase nods and tilts his head. “Then you don’t mind that.”
I turn my head, finding Charlie and Landon alone, walking away from the crowd. He towers over her like a fucking giant and I can feel my nostrils flare.
But I’m not an animal. Not some ram clashing horns to establish dominance. If I wanted ‘my girl’ I’d go directly to the source—my way.