Page 32

CHAPTER 31

CLAY

KARAOKE

After spending the day around the house with TJ and catching up on some project planning work, we meet everyone else in town. TJ and I grabbed an early dinner after he insisted he has nothing important to do when he wanted to tag along. I figured he would have less free time on his hands than he seems to. Or maybe he’s just lonely, like I’m slowly realizing I was back home.

Either way, I see why he likes towns like Bend and Jackson. Everyone seems to leave him alone. And when he wanted to tag along tonight, I was more than happy to let him join since he’s hosting us after all.

I texted Lizzy to see if everyone else wanted to get dinner. She sent back a jumbled text. All I could make out was that they already grabbed a bite to eat, so it looks like it’s a night out on the town - not that I plan on getting too wild. I’m driving Lizzy’s Bronco and just want to enjoy my time away with everyone without a hangover.

When I walk into Cascade East with TJ, an old locals’ après ski bar, I immediately realize that Lizzy clearly has other plans tonight. She’s up on stage with Grace, singing karaoke. Fittingly, she’s singing a song about a certain pink clad doll and her boy-toy. I smile to myself, knowing my girl doesn’t want a pretty, clean cut blond city boy. She likes it real and rough.

We walk through the dimly lit, wood-paneled bar looking for Tanner and V. The place immediately reminds me of the Silver Dollar Cowboy Bar back in Jackson, mixed with the locals crowd of Roxy’s in Park City .

I spot them close to the stage, sitting around an indoor gas fire pit made out of stones and timbers. I feel the soles of my boots stick to the floor with each step as I walk towards them.

Yep, this is definitely a locals’ dive bar.

TJ and I walk around the fire pit with me grabbing the chair next to Tanner.

V sees me first and smiles softly, tipping her drink to me. I tilt my head, gesturing for her to look behind her. She turns and I chuckle when her jaw drops as TJ pulls out a chair and sits down beside her.

“Looks like you’re going to have to win back your fiancée.” I give Tanner a brotherly punch in the shoulder, prompting him to snort a laugh. V pulls her attention away from TJ, just long enough to glare at me.

“Ha. Ha. Ha.” V mockingly laughs at me. She hops out of her chair and into Tanner’s lap, grabbing his face and kissing him, much to his surprise. “Very funny.”

I laugh and tilt my head towards the stage where Grace and Lizzy are flipping through a list of song options. “So what’s up with them? It looks like they really got after it early.”

Tanner grins back at me as TJ and V both look up at the stage, hollering song suggestions to Grace and Lizzy.

“Looks like you need to push her a little harder on her workouts. She got tired early in the afternoon and went to the lodge.” He looks back up at the stage and shakes his head. “Grace joined her and it looks like they had their own little pre-game happy hour.”

“Sounds about right,” I say, looking back up at my sister and the woman I’m falling for. She hops off the stage and heads towards the bar.

I look to everyone around the fire pit. “Anyone need a drink? I’m going to grab a beer.”

They wave me off and I make my way up to the bar beside Lizzy and order my beer .

She hears me and turns, smiling so wildly. She claps her hands to her face. “Oh my god, I’ve been waiting all day to see you.”

She practically leaps at me, pulling me into a hug and rubbing her face into my chest. I look back to the stage and fire pit area, seeing that no one is looking our way. I lean down, kissing the top of her head, inhaling the smell I’ve become completely addicted to.

“Missed you too, princess.” My voice is low and the sounds of the bar are loud, but I know she hears me by the way she hums into my chest. She holds me tight and doesn’t let go.

I pull her back just enough for her to look into my eyes.

“Looks like you and my sister are having quite the afternoon.” I look down at my watch, smirking. “And evening.”

She rolls her eyes and slaps my chest. “Don’t be a party pooper.” She smiles again, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes or have the unrestrained brightness that melts my heart.

I lower my gaze to meet hers, noticing a frown appearing.

I tilt her chin up, running my thumb over the indent between her lower lip and chin.

“Hey, everything ok?”

Her lips pull together in a line and her brows knit together.

“It’s nothing. My dad called today. Just threw me off.” She looks up at me, smiling softly now. “Can we just have fun tonight and talk about anything else?”

I nod. “Anything you want.”

She stands on her toes and plants a kiss on my cheek. “Thank you.”

I grab my beer, now the only one I plan to have tonight, and watch as she practically skips off back towards the stage to join Grace.

It looks like my night just got a whole lot more interesting.

I watch as Lizzy points at the song list, jumping up and down, smirking devilishly at Grace who’s grinning right back at her. She pats Grace on the back before walking off the stage towards the bar.

They have done at least four or five songs over the last hour, each a bit sloppier than the last.

I head to meet her at the end of the bar, standing next to her, but she doesn’t notice me. I watch as she leans over the bar, standing on her toes to stretch out to flag down a bartender. Seeing her stretched out, her ass up like that, makes my dick twitch.

I stand next to her, shaking my head when she turns and notices me standing there. “You’re drunk.”

She stands straight and steps toward me. “Am not.”

I arch an eyebrow at her, clearly not believing her. “We should get you home before you do something stupid.”

She leans into me and hooks a finger into one of my belt loops, pulling me closer. “Like this?”

I look again towards the stage making sure our friends can’t see us. I pause when I see Grace pointing two fingers at her eyes and then at TJ, gesturing for him to join her up there. I raise my eyebrows and look down at her. “Yes, exactly like that. You’re lucky no one can see us right here. Now come on, I’ll take you back to the house.”

I step away and she stumbles forward, her face landing in my chest. “Ok. Fine. Maybe you’re right,” she says, “but you’ve been drinking too,” emphasizing it in a singsongy tease, poking my chest with each word.

I clench my jaw and exhale through my teeth. If she wasn’t so adorable like this, I doubt my patience would last this long. “I’m twice your size and I’ve been nursing the same beer since we got here. Now come on, let’s go.”

I hook my arm around her and she begrudgingly follows at my side.

I walk past the table where Tanner and V are sitting, stopping on our way out. I hear Grace and TJ singing another round of karaoke and notice they have a crowd gathered around them now.

“Hey, I’m heading back early. Just a little tired. But I think she’s had a little too much fun tonight and is going to call it a night too. I’ll take her back to the house with me.”

V looks at Lizzy and frowns. Lizzy tosses her hand back with a sigh. “I’ll be fine, V. Grumpy McGrumperson here is just being his usual no fun self, convincing me to be responsible too.” She flicks her eyebrows at me and I glare back at her. She might be tipsy, but she knows what she’s doing and she’s definitely starting to test my patience now.

“Yeah, right. That’s exactly it.” I look at V and Tanner, cocking my head at Lizzy. “Good luck getting this one up in the morning for first chair.”

Tanner and V both laugh and I tip my chin before gesturing for Lizzy to lead the way out of the bar.

When we get to her Bronco, I open the door for her. I watch as she steadies herself on the grab handle, still a little off balance. I grab her by her hips and help her up. She turns and glares at me, fire in her eyes. “I can do it myself, Mr. No Fun.”

I scowl back at her. “I don’t care. I’m helping you anyways.”

My eyes stay locked on hers as I pull her seatbelt across her chest, my knuckles grazing the soft fabric of her sweater when I feel her hard nipple pressing through. Fuck me. She’s not wearing a bra tonight.

She grins at me, knowing what I just felt. “See? One of us knows how to have fun.”

Now she’s testing my patience in a different way .

I buckle her in, close the door, and walk to the driver’s side. When I get to the door, I reach for the handle and hear a sound.

No. She didn’t.

I reach for the handle and yep, it’s locked.

My eyes meet hers and she blows a kiss at me. I look down at her hands and see the one resting on the lock button.

I mouth brat before pulling out her car keys, the ones she must of forgotten I had since I drove her SUV from the house. I jingle them in front of the window and I watch as she relents and unlocks the doors.

I get in and get situated before starting the car and driving off.

After we leave the parking lot, I feel her finger tips run up and down my thigh. Even through my jeans, it sends a shiver up my spine.

“You need to lighten up.” She stops her hand when she reaches the bulge in my pants from just learning she’s not wearing a bra right now. She hums and runs her finger over my crotch, making me squirm in my seat.

“Not now. The roads are bad and I need to focus.” As much as I would love to feel her touch, I’m not going to be distracted and put us or others on the road at risk. I grab her wrist with one hand and set it back in her lap.

“You know you’re cute when you’re mad.”

I glance over at her and I see her biting her lip, looking at me.

OK, she’s definitely buzzed.

“We’ll get you tucked in bed with a glass of water and some ibuprofen soon enough.”

I look over again to see her press a finger to her lips as her eyes roam my body. “I bet you would have looked really hot in your ski gear.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, sure. If you say so.”

I turn at the roundabout, heading down the road to TJ’s house when I hear her slap her hands to her thighs .

“Oh my god, yes. You should totally come out and ski with us. You said it yourself, you can still ski.”

I feel my grip on the steering wheel tighten. I know she doesn’t realize what she’s doing right now, but it still hurts, bringing back so many memories.

I swallow, keeping my eyes on the road. “Appreciate your enthusiasm, but it’s not going to happen. You know that.”

We pull into the driveway and I park the car.

“Oh come on, don’t be a party pooper. Come out with us tomorrow.” She clasps her hands together like a prayer. “Please.”

My jaw clenches and I practically hear my molars grind. I turn, snarling at her. “Lizzy. Drop it. Now.”

I look away, shut off the SUV and get out. I walk over to her side and open the door. I offer her a hand to help her down, unable to look at her.

She knows not to push this button. And right now, it doesn’t matter if she knows what she’s doing or not. I don’t want to deal with this.

She takes my hand, her warm, soft skin easing some of the tension coursing through me. I look down, seeing that the bratty, playful look on her face is gone. Her blue eyes are soft but dead sober and locked on mine.

“I’m sorry. I forgot. I didn’t reali-”

I bring my hand to her cheek before cupping the nape of her neck.

“Please. Just drop it and move on.”

She nods and I help her down, shutting the door behind her and leading her inside the house.

I walk her up to her room, not saying a word when we stand at the door. She stops and turns to look at me.

“I mean it. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you that.” Her voice is hushed and filled with remorse. I might be pissed but there’s no way I can stay mad at her .

I reach out and tilt her chin up to me, looking her right in the eyes. Her eyes might be soft and understanding, but she holds my gaze as always, never backing down from me.

“Just please never push that with me.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath. “A few people, like my doctors and physical therapists, like Grace and Kayleigh, they know I’m physically fine. After my rehab and recovery from the injuries, everyone kept asking why I wouldn’t ski again. Just get over it, move on. You know you can do it. ”

She reaches out to me, running the backs of her fingers over my stubble. I lean into her touch, reaching up to hold her hand against my face.

“I hate that. I hated having to talk to people about it. I hated having to relive everything and explain it.”

She stands on her toes, placing a soft kiss on my other cheek. “You don’t have to tell me anything else. I won’t ever push you on trying to ski again. I’m sorry I got carried away.”

“Thank you.” I lift her hand off my cheek, kissing her palm.“Your turn now.”

She gives me a questioning look. “Um, what?”

“Do you want to talk about your dad calling and why you spiraled?” I cross my arms and lean against the door, raising my eyebrows. “You called it an early day on the slopes and went a little wild with my sister. Any other day, I’d just say that’s you being you, but you seemed off.”

She reaches her hand out and takes mine, her eyes pleading.

“Can we talk about it in bed?”

I look back down the stairs from the loft to the main living area. “Everyone else is still out. I should stay out here so I’m on the sofa when they get back.”

She pats me twice on my cheek. “Relax. Not a single one of them has come up to the loft at night. No one’s going to notice.” She pulls my hand and leads me into her room. I shut the door behind us and follow her to bed.

I strip down to my boxers and get under the covers. My eyes follow every movement as she walks to the dresser and peels off her jeans and sweater before changing into her pajamas. I could watch this every night for the rest of my life and never get tired of it.

She climbs into her side of the bed. I drape the covers over her, pulling her in to be my little spoon.

I reach behind me to turn off the light on the nightstand. She sighs and her head slumps into the pillow.

I run my palm over her hair, stroking it and tucking the loose strands of her ponytail behind her ear. It’s soothing me as much as it is her. With her body pressed against mine and my arm wrapped around her, I can feel her chest rise and fall with each breath.

“Whenever he calls, whenever we do talk, it just feels like it’s never about me.” Her voice is a shell of itself, not the normal fierce, defiant one that drives me wild. I keep stroking her hair and holding her tight.

“It feels like I’ve never been enough for him. No matter how hard I try, it’s not enough. I’m not enough.”

I run the backs of my fingers over the pulse point on her neck and she reaches up to grab my hand, holding it there. “I know it’s not the same, but I’ll tell you every time I can. You’re more than enough. You’re so, so much more than enough.”

“Am I being childish for wanting more from him?”

I huff a laugh. “Sorry, I know it’s not funny. But it’s far from childish.” I sigh. “But if it bothers you that much, have you ever talked to him about it? Told him how he makes you feel?”

She rolls over and looks at me, confusion lacing her expression.

“Because if there’s one thing I’ve never seen you be afraid of, it’s challenging someone. You challenge me, you call me out on my shit. You don’t put up with BS at work. You don’t let people talk down to you. ”

She hums thoughtfully before resting her head on my shoulder. “I might just do that someday. I don’t know when, but someday.”

“Good, because from everything you’ve ever told me about him, it sounds like he does love you. He sent you to private prep school, he sent you to a damn good college, he took you traveling, and taught you to ski. To me those sound like things someone who loves you would do.”

I bite my tongue, holding back what my heart wants me to pour out.

“Maybe he’s just bad at actually saying how he really feels. Maybe he’s not much for talking, like me.”

She tilts her head up, looking up at me, her eyes a sky blue in this dim light. “There’s no one like you. You’re one of a kind.” She kisses my chest and I feel her eyes flutter shut as she breathes against my skin.

For the second night in a row, I watch her fall asleep in my arms, exactly where I want her.

And for the first night in my life, I fall asleep knowing that I’m in love.