26. Charlie
26
“ I can’t believe you’re leaving me.” Pepper cries in the back of the limo on our way to Hideaway Springs from the spa in the city.Lonnie went home after dinner and Tess drove separately, so it's nice to have some time to talk.
The three of them raved about my purple tulip tattoo for half the night, discovering it in the sauna after our massage. Tessa has tattoos, but not as colorful as mine.
“I’m not leaving, we’ll still see each other. Just like you and Lonnie. You don’t live in the same town, and you hang out all the time.”
It’s unfortunate I can’t be as tipsy as Pepper is right now. I have too much to do tonight to be at the liberty of having more than one tequila shot and a glass of wine.
I learned that Pepper is an emotional drunk. And right now, I have nothing to soothe her anticipated separation anxiety because I’ve still got nothing concrete about where I’m living.
A new building is going up in Denver right down the block from the Children’s Museum, where I applied for a job. But before I can be approved for the apartment, I need that job— or any job, really. I gave my notice at the library. This week will be my last, which isn’t convenient since I have a lot to wrap up before my last day and, coincidentally, no time to finish planning for Pepper’s wedding.
I really didn't plan this through.
This weekend alone at the Inn should help. There will be no hot naked distractions, no stressing over how to tell Noah that I don’t really have a date with Landon for the wedding. And no big date night plans with him either.
I need to stay in a cave and plan and schedule and—maybe cry. Because the last few weeks with him have been…addicting and incredible and…all I ever wanted.
And in one week, I have to give it up.
Will he throw me out when I tell him I lied? Will he hate me forever?
Or will he lift me off my feet and call me his?
Sadly, in my experience with Noah, I've only known the former.
“It’s not the same,” Pepper whines, then watches me strangely.
“What?”
“I guess I was hoping that with you living with Noah these last few weeks, things…might happen with you two. And maybe you’d stay?”
I manage a smile. It’s hard not telling my best friend about what’s going on with Noah. Especially when I was one of the few people who knew about her fake relationship with Chase last year.
“It’s complicated, Pepper. And I… managed to complicate them even more.”
“How?” she gasps. “Did you kiss him? Oh, tell me you kissed him. Did he kiss you back?”
“I didn’t kiss him.” I wince. “I slept with him.”
She gasps dramatically. “You’re sleeping with him? Wait! Is this a bucket list thing or are you two finally giving into all this sexual tension?”
“Neither. It’s more of a 'I’m pathetic and self-destructive situation.”
“What?”
“Somehow he thought I had a date to your wedding with Landon, and I…”
She grins. “You didn’t deny it, you little sneak. So, what, he got jealous?”
“He…got a little heated, I think. He insisted that I’m not ready.”
Pepper giggles. “Sounds like he's not ready. Who do you think you are, having sex at twenty-five? So, how’d you end up in the sack?”
“He wanted to… prepare me.”
She nods like this is a thing. “Lovely. And how long has this been going on?”
“Two weeks.”
She grins and shakes her head. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“Yes, I am. Did you miss the part about my imaginary date next week?”
“So just tell him you called it off.”
“I can’t. The deal was that this is a no-strings-attached, physical learning experience. If I tell him I called off the date, he’ll think I’m falling in love or something.”
“Are you?”
My heart skips a beat. “I’m not falling in love. I’ve loved him from the beginning.”
Pepper sighs. “I love you, Charlie. If Noah never says it, just know that I do.”
“I’m cutting you off.”
We arrive at the Inn fifteen minutes before the start time on the invitation for the local guests.
“How do I look?” Pepper asks, spreading her arms like she’s Vanna White.
“Don’t you have a different outfit for the after-party?”
“I do.”
I hand her my room key. “I’m in two sixteen. Change and freshen up.”
My tipsy friend frowns. “Why do you have a room?”
I’m not about to give the bride more to worry about by telling her there are still last-minute details to prepare for her big day.
Details I’m specifically responsible for.
“Um…for just such an occasion. Now go change.”
“Fine.”
I twist her toward the stairs and turn back to the bar, finding Tessa filling up champagne flutes. “Tess, what are you doing? You’re a guest tonight. Not staff.”
“It’s cool. I could use the tips. It’s going to be packed.”
I shake my head. “I totally get that. Well, thanks for coming out with us tonight.”
“Thanks for inviting me. It’s strange…hanging out with a bunch of chicks. I feel like…I should go upstairs and write in my diary or somethin’.”
I laugh. “We need to get you out more often.” Then I realize what she said. "Upstairs?"
Her eyes flash. "Yeah, I um…live in a walk-up…not far from here so…feels like it's right upstairs…" she chuckles, her voice trailing off.
I know not to push someone who is clearly a private person. "Okay, well, thanks again."
Tessa gives me a warm smile and pours me a glass of red wine. “Heard you got a room here. Do me a favor and have a glass. You’re super uptight about everything going well. Relax, it’s a party.”
“Oh, I can’t. I’m actually a little hungry. I didn't eat much at dinner.”
Tess smirks knowingly. “I noticed you scoping out the bachelor party across the room.”
I wince. I was banking on the fact that I was discreet about it but kept peeking at the guy's table. Looking for signs that someone may have said something along the lines of “What date with Charlie? I’m crossing what off her bucket list?”
I realized by the time the check came, I’d barely touched my snapper.
“I’ll go check on those bar bites for you, hun.”
“Thanks, Tess.”
When the guests start pouring in, I cue the staff for the champagne and hors d'oeuvres since Aiden and the boys aren't back yet. Pepper comes down the stairs in record time, making an unintentional grand entrance.
I take her arm. “Remember the first time we had a party here for you and Chase?” I ask.
She grins and glances at the back wall. “Yes, and there were a lot more presents on that wall.”
“And that’s why we never threw you a bridal shower. Half the town already showered you with gifts at your fake engagement party. It would just be rude.”
Pepper waves to a couple of people walking in. “Guess I better go mingle. Wouldn't want to be rude . When are the guys getting here?”
“Not sure. Let me check with Noah.”
How far are you?
Noah: At least thirty minutes. The guys aren't coming back to town with us, so we stayed for a few more drinks.
Noah: Why?
Just wondering.
“Thirty minutes.”
“Lovely. I’m going to go pretend I like people.”
I watch Pepper plaster on a smile and approach some old friends. She pretends she doesn’t like this scene, but this is who Pepper is. She’s a social butterfly.
I’m the outcast.
She shouldn’t be tied at the hip with me.
“There she is.” I hear a familiar shrill voice.
I turn with a fake smile that doesn’t come close to what Pepper can pull off. “Beth.”
She races over and hugs me. “Oh, thanks so much for inviting me. What a turn out, huh?”
“I guess.” I glance around trying to remember whose idea it was to keep the party going through the night with people we don’t particularly care for.
“My date is around here somewhere. Well, we’re just friends really. Is Noah here?”
“No. I’m sorry, Beth, Aiden isn’t here yet either so I need to make sure things are on schedule with the caterers.”
“Right. Well, you know, I used to work here—until I was fired—maybe I can help.”
“Please don’t—I mean, you should enjoy yourself.”
I sneak off to the restroom to freshen up. My cheeks still flushed from this afternoon when Noah flipped me over, splaying my arms across the kitchen island and fucking me to my senses.
I kind of love how much he wants me with him tonight. How much he gravitates toward me in the middle of every night we’re together. We’ve been at it like rabbits the last week, and I’m already missing him, knowing I won’t be under the same roof tonight, much less the same bed.
But alone time is necessary. I haven’t been able to think straight, spending every night with the man I never got over. Especially now that he’s making me feel beautiful, worshiped, special. It’s messing with my head. It’s making me forget our rules.
I suck in a sharp breath, pulling myself together and releasing before stepping out of the bathroom.
I bump into a man stepping out of the adjacent men’s room. “Oh, I’m so sorry,” we mumble simultaneously.
I look up and nearly lose my balance, but he steadies me.
“Charlie.”
“Carter?” I stare dumbstruck at the man I hadn’t seen in three years. Since the night I kissed him in this very lobby.
He wraps his arms around me and I tighten everywhere. “Oh my god, it’s so great to see you. I had no idea you’d be here.”
I pull away. “Great to see you too. Where’ve you been?”
“Oh, I moved to Cederville, a few towns west. I work for a shipment company.”
“That…sounds lovely.”
“How about you? I heard your mom passed away. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m good, thanks—wait, how did you hear that?”
“From Beth, I’m her date,” he says with an innocent smile.
“Her date? You guys have a long-distance thing going?”
“Nope. She dug me out of her phone book a few days ago and insisted I come with her. She specifically said you’d be happy to see me.”
“Did she?”
“And hey, I’m really sorry for screwin’ things up for you and Noah.”
“It wasn’t your fault. We both weren’t…thinking straight.”
He scratches his head. “Are you single now?”
I feel awkward standing barely a foot from him in this little vestibule, away from the rest of the crowd. It feels too intimate but I don’t want to be rude. This guy never did anything wrong. He acted on his feelings and made me feel good when I felt so down.
“I’m not looking, if that’s what you’re asking.”
He nods. “I get it. My timing was never really on point.”
Gah, he’s too sweet. I need to wrap this up and find my good friend Beth and politely ask her to leave. Her date can stay though.
I touch his arm, feeling bad for the poor man who drove all this way because of someone who is delusional if she thinks she can break up Noah and me.
I am perfectly capable of doing that all on my own.
“It was really nice to see you again, Carter. Truly. But I need to go find someone and then I have a party to return to.” I smile to hide the heat radiating from me and step into him for a hug.
“Am I interrupting?”
I pull away and turn at Noah’s voice.
His eyes shift from mine to Carter's and stay there.
“Hey, man.” He extends an arm awkwardly. “Carter Hayes. We went to—”
“I know who you are,” Noah says, all too calmly, but doesn’t take his hand.
Carter pulls his hand back and drags it through his hair. “Well, good to see you two worked things out. Um, excuse me.” He scurries away from us like a scared dog and I turn back to Noah who steps into the small space, crowding me until I’m against the wall.
“What is your problem? Why were you so rude?”
“Is he the reason you got a room here tonight?”
“What?”
“I know you heard me. Was it? Did I interrupt a reunion of some kind?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact, you did. But it’s not what you think.”
“What I think is that for some fucked up reason you don’t want to come home with me tonight. And then I find you here embracing the man you kissed in front of half the town on our anniversary.”
I swallow. “Stop it.”
“Do you have some kind of kink of getting caught?”
I slap him across the face.
He turns back, his jaw working. “What room are you in?”
I glare at him as he steps into me.
“Charlie. What room ?”
“Two sixteen.”
He reaches into my purse, lifting the flap. He perks a brow, pulling my vibrator out.
“That proof enough for you that I wasn't planning on any guests?” I grit.
“Not quite.” He pockets it and plucks the key card to my room, holding it up for me. “Five minutes.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”