25. Noah
25
I arrive at my brother's house a little late the following Saturday night. And not because I hate bachelor parties. But because my infuriating sexy roommate and I had a fight an hour ago that ended with me fucking her to see my side of things.
I wanted Charlie to come back here after the party tonight, but she insisted on booking a room at the Inn so she can stay through the end, make sure everyone gets home okay, and possibly pull an all-nighter making last-minute arrangements for the wedding next week.
I might have said something along the lines of ‘that’s a hard no’. And it sort of spiraled from there. I'm still not clear on who won but by the way she submitted herself to me makes me feel like it was a solid one for Noah and zero for Charlie.
“There he is,” Levi calls from the round table he’s got set up in the den.
“You keep that thing on indoors, Indie?”
My brother chucks his cowboy hat, keeping his eyes on his cards. “Oh good, Tess’s nickname is catching on.”
I see Dad next to Chase and take the empty seat on the other side of him. “Hey.”
Dad looks up, giving me a curt nod. We don’t fight often, not that I consider dinner at his house last weekend a fight, but when we do, it’s always fixed with an understanding nod and a firm handshake.
“Get lost on your way over?”
Oh, and teasing.
“Charlie and I had a…disagreement,” I mutter.
He grins, scanning me briefly. “Looks like you worked it out.”
I look down, finding my fly open. “Fuck.”
Chase laughs, handing me my cards. “We’ve been there.”
Levi points at me behind his cigar. “And don’t gloat just yet. It might feel like you won, but she’s got that in the bag.”
They’re wrong. I totally won. It was settled. She’s spending the night with me. In my bedroom. Not the Inn so she can plan the weekend ‘without losing focus’, or whatever she called it. I haven’t been a distraction from her planning. If anything, I’ve been helping.
I ignore them and shift my cards with a sigh.
“Come on man, we’re just teasing.” Chase pats my shoulder. “What was the fight about?”
“Whether you and Pepper are gonna make it, I argue no,” I grumble.
He laughs. “Oooh it’s a secret. She definitely won.”
Levi chuckles. “Come on, man, we’re family. What was it about? This is a safe space.”
Dad shakes his head with a grin, but keeps his comments to himself.
I sigh and deal my card. “Where are your friends?” I ask my little brother, referring to the hockey players I’ve come to hate in the last few weeks.
“They’ll be here soon. Landon’s driving. You got to check out his new ride.”
New ride? Is he trying to impress Charlie? I’m sure once the dumb jock gets here, the teasing about Charlie will stop. A wicked thought crosses my mind. If they don’t, will Landon call off his date with Charlie?
No. She’s not mine to mess with. The whole point of our arrangement is to prepare her for their… big date .
“What’s he drivin’ now?” I ask.
“An ice blue Aston Martin. This car is sick.”
I’m going to be sick.
Charlie doesn’t care about this stuff. She’s not superficial.
I hate that an image of Charlie sitting in the passenger’s side of his ‘sick new ride’ comes to mind. She’s in her pale blue silk bridesmaid dress, conveniently matching the car, her hair blowing in the wind.
Fuck this is messing with me.
“A little flashy,” Dad comments.
Dad probably made more money in his career than a guy like Landon will see in a lifetime playing a professional sport. He never spent his money on things like fancy cars. Just proves that Landon is not the kind of guy Charlie needs.
Bet he wouldn’t build her a mobile library.
Fuck, quit it.
Chase shrugs. “Which is weird because he’s not the type. But then again, a lot of people in this town pegged Pepper all wrong.”
Levi nods. “True. I mean, what are we supposed to think when the rich girl from town ends up engaged to a wealthy politician?”
Chase shoots his gum across the table and Levi catches it. “You’re disgusting. And predictable.”
Levi’s doorbell rings and Dad gets up. “I’ll get it. Anything’s better than listening to you fools.”
I watch him leave the room and turn to my brothers. “So, if Dad is here, who’s Jackson with tonight?”
Levi sighs. “Sleepover at his friend Luke’s house. Becky said she’d be happy to have him spend the night.”
"And?" Chase probes with a grin.
Levi grumbles. "And that I should 'feel free to stay over' as well."
Chase laughs as if this is the first time he's hearing it. "That's going to be a classic."
“Rebecca Callaway’s house? That was better than leaving him with Tess?”
“Does anyone even know where Tess lives?” Levi asks defensively.
Chase and I exchange a questioning glance. “Dad might. Isn’t that kind of thing on a job application?”
“Nope,” Dad answers, stepping back into the room with three large hockey players behind him. Though not quite as large as Dad. “All I need to know is that she’s good with the customers and shows up on time.”
“That’s going to come back to bite you in the ass,” Levi mumbles.
Chase greets his friends and we agree to start a new game.
Dad nudges me. “Let’s grab a drink in the kitchen.”
I stand and follow him there.
Dad doesn’t drink so I know this is about something else. “What’s up?”
“I’m sorry about last week. How’d things work out when you left?”
“You were right. Charlie needed to know it wasn’t about her. I never knew how to tell her.”
He watches me. “You didn’t tell her all of it.”
“I don’t want Charlie getting the wrong idea.”
“And what’s that?”
“That we’re getting back together.”
“Then what the hell are you doing with her? Some sick way of saying goodbye?”
“Maybe.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but between the three boys I have left, you’re probably the dumbest.” He pours himself a glass of iced tea and goes back into the room.
I pull out my phone, needing some reassurance that I’m not a complete asshole.
Did you win our fight earlier or did I?
Charlie : I did, silly.
Just wondering.