Page 56 of Lilacs and Leather
She closes her eyes and takes a few more measured breaths. I want to push, but the calm feels too delicate right now. She turns her head heavily, opening her eyes to look at me again. I see the silver lining her eyes and tense. But she blinks and it disappears.
“I’d like to eat first, too. And have those mimosas on standby,” she says with a little smile.
“Okay. But if you’re not comfortable—”
“I’m never going to be comfortable with this conversation. But you deserve to know. I trust you.”
The bite in her voice leaves no room for argument. I stand and move to lean over her, my hands against the back of the couch on either side of her head. She looks up at me, and there’s a pain in her eyes that makes my heart twist. I lower my lips to hers, relaxing a little as she returns the kiss without hesitation. I give her a reassuring smile as I stand straight, gathering my suitcase and heading down the hall to my room, texting the kitchen to tell them to add a couple of bottles of champagne and orange juice to the order.
Twenty-Two
Lydia
I sigh as I watch Rhett walk away down a hallway opposite of Mateo’s before turning to look out of the balcony doors.I hadn’t really been able to take in the details last night, but in the light of day, it was hard not to be blown away. The common area is an open plan living room, dining room, and kitchen with sliding doors out onto a wide balcony opposite the elevator door. Two hallways extend in either direction, where I assume the bedrooms are located. Mateo’s room had a spectacular en suite bathroom, with a separate clawfoot tub and a tiled shower big enough for six people. They decorated the entire suite in creams and red with gold accents, keeping with the art deco style of the entire hotel.
As I hear the shower turn on from Rhett’s room, I pull out my phone. I had a few missed calls from Rhett, as well as his texts letting me know he was on his way home. My phone had been in my pocket all night, and I’d all but forgotten about it. I pull up my contacts and find the number I’m looking for.
Me: Hey, Sam. It’s Lydia. I just got your invitation. Congrats! Sorry if Mom pressured you into sending me one.
I send the message and jump when I receive a quick reply.
Sam: Thanks. Mom didn’t pressure me to do it. I want you there. Or have you forgotten that we’re still siblings?
Me: How could I possibly forget that lol
Sam: You gonna be there? Or are you going to blow us off again?
I sigh, rolling my eyes. It was always like this with Sam. Every conversation was a duel, something to win. He always knew exactly how to get a rise out of me when we were kids, and it seems that he hasn’t lost a step over the last four years.
Me: I’m going to try. Have to see about my work schedule and stuff. I’ll send my RSVP when I’m sure.
Sam: Darren’ll be happy to see you again.
My blood runs cold at the mention of that name, my fingers freezing over the screen as I fight to breathe normally. My fingers shake a little as I slowly type out my reply.
Me: He’s going to be there?
Sam: Yeah. He’s one of my groomsmen.
My stomach drops out of my chest, and I feel the hollow space in my gut where it’d been fill with ice cold panic. I close my eyes and count my inhales and exhales, trying to keep my cool.
Sam: That going to be a problem?
Me: As long as he doesn’t come near me, then no, it won’t be.
Sam: Really, Lyd? It’s been four years. He messed up and he knows it. Why do you have to keep holding onto that shit?
I feel my skin flush as anger floods my system, replacing the icy panic with flaming rage. I narrow my eyes at my phone, my nails tapping rapidly as I type.
Me: You know why. I’ll let you know if I’ll be there. Have a good one.
I throw my phone on the cushion beside me, closing my eyes and breathing deeply. The panic and anger in my gut mix until I feel like I’m going to be sick from it. I focus on the traces of scent that I can pick up from the air around me, Rhett’s whiskey, Mateo’s lemonade, and something spicy and citrusy I don’t recognize. The combination settles my churning gut until I finally feel more in my body and not in my head.
My brother, Sam, had been dating Allison Goodreaux since I’d been in high school, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to find out they’re finally tying the knot. I’d always felt like Ally was way too good for my brother, and secretly held out hope that she’d come to the same conclusion and leave his arrogant ass, but it seems that was in vain. Ally is a beta, a kindergarten teacher with more patience in her left pinky toe than I have in my entire body. We’d been friendly enough while I still lived with my parents, and I might have gone so far as to call her a friend.
It should excite me to hear that my brother is finally deciding to settle down, but all I can feel is churning anxiety. I’d dodged too many life events since moving to Georgia, and I doubt that my parents would take kindly to me missing the wedding of my eldest brother. But knowing that Darren will be there still makes me pause and consider if the fallout would be worth it. My father may finally try to enforce rank on me, now that my mother has confirmed my general location. Or worse. They’d send someone to find me, and it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to imagine who the first person to volunteer would be.
The elevator bell pulls me from my thoughts for a moment, and I glance over as the doors open. An older woman pushes a cart over to the kitchen island, unloading the contents onto the counter. I smirk as I see the pair of champagne bottles in their ice buckets, as well as the glass carafes of juice that are set out next to the domed plates. The woman hums to herself as she works, not even glancing in my direction. With a sigh of satisfaction, she smooths the fabric napkins before pushing the cart back into the elevator and heading out.