Chapter 33
Julian
Ever squeals. I’m halfway through our joined bathroom before I hear her follow-up giggle and stop my charge.
She’s been on the phone with her sister for a while now.
Relief to hear her excitement has me padding back into my room, folding laundry in my lame attempt at hovering.
Like I hovered all afternoon. If she noticed, she didn’t let on.
This girl rallies better than people twice her age.
She simply got back to work. She bantered, made jokes and hustled her ass off until the last of the campers cleared out and went back to their campsites.
Some choosing to leave early, the diehards sticking it out, rain or shine.
She took off for Allie’s as soon as she felt cleared to leave, saying she needed to call her sister.
I told her I’d meet her there shortly. No one at Brew knew about her meltdown except me and Lilly.
Lilly hugged her on her way out, but I never saw them discuss it.
We were all too busy keeping the guests happy.
As soon as I could leave, I dashed into my place, grabbed my laundry bag, threw it into the Jeep and rushed to Allie’s.
As I stepped through the door, the hum of her muted voice filtered down the stairs.
She didn’t sound distressed, but I used my laundry as a reason to be in my room.
Not to eavesdrop I told myself, just to be close if she needed me.
Seeing her shut down on the office floor earlier gutted me.
I stayed calm for her. But I wanted to smash that fucking dick’s face.
I knew I didn’t have all the details. I wanted her to tell me on her own.
I didn’t want to pry. But based on the reaction I got from Chase, he felt plenty responsible and possibly even guilty. It wasn’t hard to get him to leave.
“Young? Chase Young?” I stand at the arched entrance to the game room and call his name like a hostess calling for a reservation. When he answers, I ask to speak with him outside. We step away from the group and he follows me out the double doors of the café.
Once outdoors, I turn and face him squarely.
“You and your group need to leave.” The look on his face tells me he knows that I know exactly who he is.
And I know he wonders who the hell I am and how much I know.
I can tell when he makes the decision to gamble on me not knowing all the details.
He squares his shoulders and tilts his chin up to make himself taller.
I take pleasure in seeing that he still has to look up to look me in the eyes.
When he opens his mouth to argue, I stop him with one finger raised between us.
I move my face to within an inch of his and say, “You can tell your friends whatever you want. I’d go with something believable and blame it on the marina.
We overbooked the site and the people coming in are celebrating a special occasion.
And you’re just such a standup guy, you agreed to give up your space and go home early.
The weather sucks anyway. And for your kindness, the marina agreed to waive your fees.
Or you can tell them that you’re not welcomed here, and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.
Or you can tell them what a fucking douche you are, and you had the choice to leave or get your ass kicked.
Either way, you’re going to haul your ass back to your camp, pack your shit and leave. We clear?”
He opens his mouth again to speak, and I roll my weight onto the balls of my feet.
My fingers twitch as I clench my fists at my side.
I really don’t like violence. I’ve seen enough of it within the walls of my own house growing up.
But that doesn’t mean I’m not human. Every cell in my body wants to beat the shit out of this asshole.
Part of me wants him to give me a reason.
It must show, because after a brief stare down, he nods and turns to go back to the game room, presumably to tell his friends.
I stay busy in the dining area checking on guests, making small talk until I see him and his group leave the café.
Once I tell Ever he’s gone, I stay in the dining area until I watch his group’s vehicles leave the marina.
Ever has already returned to the kitchen making burritos with the littles when I rejoin them.
She laughs and banters with them like she didn’t just have a meltdown in the office.
My chest swells watching her. That she doesn’t realize her own strength makes her stronger.
She’s not actively projecting strength. She’s just strong.
Picturing her like that stamps down the surge of anger from reliving the morning. The click of the bathroom door reaches my ears just before her hands snake around my middle and her cheek presses into my shoulder blade.
“Hi.” Her soft breath warms my skin through my shirt.
“Hi, sweet girl.” I turn in her arms and clasp mine loosely around her lower back and look down into her flushed face. Her cheeks always go pink when I call her sweet girl. I kiss each one lightly. “Your talk with your sister sounded . . . exciting?”
“She’s engaged.” Her eyes go wide, brows arching up.
“Isn’t she my age?” I share her surprise.
“M-hm.”
“Wow.” I snug my arms tighter around her.
“But they act like an old married couple already, so I guess it’s good they’re making it official. They’re both like old souls.”
“You sound thrilled for them.” My words drip sarcasm. My chin is tilted up and resting on top of her head, my arms still wrapped securely around her.
“No, I am. I just . . . Chase is Ryan’s best friend. I’m going to have to see him at the wedding. Fuck, am I going to have to walk down the aisle with him?” She pulls back and turns her frown on me, eyes wide.
“Well, it’s not happening right now, so that’s a worry for another day.”
“No . . . you’re right.” Then with a heavy sigh, she adds, “Thanks for today, Julie. Sorry for the meltdown.”
“Why do you do that?” I tighten my arms around her again. I want to shelter her from all the shit that makes her want to shrink, apologize for who she is.
She shrugs in my arms and squeezes me a little tighter. “What’d you say to him anyway?”
“Basically, for him to tell his friends there was a mix-up in the schedule and they needed to check out early. Or I would tell them my version. He agreed to go quietly.” I feel her cheeks arch up against my chest.
“Thanks for that.”
“You already said that.” I toss her line at her.
“And you’re welcome, Ever. Always. Whatever you need.
” I want her to explain what happened back home.
But I don’t want to push her, take her back to that panic she felt.
I exhale a deep sigh and wait. When she says nothing, I ask instead what she feels like doing with the rest of the day.
It’s late afternoon and I think we all were glad to leave Brew and hope that the campers didn’t need us until tomorrow.
“We could go grab a quick workout. Or figure out what to make for dinner. Or maybe you just want to be alone?”
“I’m kinda beat. Aren’t you tired? You were awake before I was. Not that that’s anything new.”
“I’m not tired. But I’m more in the mood to relax than workout.”
“Same. In fact, I could use a hot shower.”
“Okay, maybe I’ll go figure out dinner while you shower.” The domestic vibe of our conversation puts a dull ache in my chest and a longing in my gut. I ignore the urge to rub the tattoo on my chest.
Ever leans up on her toes and presses a soft kiss just below my ear. Before she releases her arms from my waist, she speaks so close to my ear her breath raises the hair on my arms. “Maybe you could just help me . . . wash my back?”
Her words send blood rushing to my crotch.
She turns and steps toward the bathroom, and I follow in her trance.
She turns on the spray and closes the door to wait for it to heat.
I’m there in her space. I step to her and capture her lips in mine, pushing hers apart with my tongue and tangling it with hers.
I clench the hem of her shirt and roll it up her body, only breaking the kiss to whip it over her head. She does the same to my shirt.
I roll her leggings off her hips and down her thighs. No thong! My pants strain with that knowledge. Her fingers fumble with the waistband of my joggers and push them down my hips, taking my boxer briefs with them. My hands cup her face as I kiss her deeply, and she’s panting when I pull back.
The bathroom is steaming and fogging the air.
As I reach for the door handle on the shower, Ever pulls her sports bra over her head.
I hold the door open, and she dips under my arm, steps into the spray, closes her eyes and leans her head back under the showerhead.
Water sluices off her body. I step in and close the door.
She opens her eyes as it clicks and pins me with her storm-cloud gaze, dropping her hands to her sides.
I step to her and join her under the spray, swiping my hand down my face to clear the water from my eyes.
I seize her hips and brace her against the side wall, so the spray still reaches both of us.
I lean my face into her and kiss her again while I pull her hips to mine.
Her hands flying to my ass, fingers digging in, is all the encouragement I need.
My hand drops to her vee. I touch her slowly, tentatively.
I break the kiss to ask, “Are you sore?”
“Uh-uh. Maybe a little. I don’t care.” She grinds into my hand, reaching for my wrist to make me give her what she wants.
She’s so wet, and not from the shower. I slip a finger inside her and swallow her moan with another deep kiss, my tongue mimicking my finger. She lifts her leg and hooks it on my hip, giving me more access. She’s never done this. She’s moving on instinct.