“Cedar Creek Lake. Lanie grew up here. Noel’s family actually lives right next door, so we are all staying here for the night.”
He rests his hands on the top of the car and stares at me. “Are you sure everyone’s okay with me staying here?” His eyes flick in Zach’s direction. “No one’s pissed are they?”
I shake my head, knowing full well that Zach doesn’t like him being here, but Isaac doesn’t need to know that. “You’re fine.”
On our way into the house, Zach steps directly in our path. “What’s up lovebirds? Did you have a good flight, Ken—” I cut him with a stare and he quickly corrects himself. “Isaac.”
I roll my eyes and try to sidestep him. “Don’t pay any attention to him,” I tell Isaac as I grab his arm.
“Oh, come on. Don’t be that way. I’m trying to be nice,” Zach says as he moves out of my way.
“You’re an asshole,” I call over my shoulder as I lead Isaac into the house.
Once we’re out of earshot, Isaac says, “Are you sure it’s over between the two of you?”
I shake my head. “So over. He’s the biggest man-whore in the band. I can never be with someone like him long term.”
He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me into his side. “Good because I don’t want to get my heart crushed if you haven’t truly moved on.”
I tense at his words. That’s a feeling I know all too well and I hate the idea of having someone’s heart teetering in my own hands. I don’t want to hurt him.
****
The Italian restaurant Lanie picked for her rehearsal dinner is loud with the hustle and bustle of the busy wait staff working their way around keeping dinner guests happy. The white table linens and candles add an elegant touch to the room. Noel rented out the entire restaurant so the band could celebrate in private.
Trip sulks in his chair, bummed by the prospect of not having any random chicks around until Noel’s older cousin in her forties starts giving him the old fuck-eye.
“Dude, she so wants me. I’m going to Cougar land tonight,” Trip tells Zach who is sitting between us. “That chick wants my nuts. Look at how she licks her lips when I look over.”
Riff and I both glance over at the next table and watch the busty, bleach-blond do exactly what Trip said the moment he looks over. Zach and I both laugh at the same time.
“Did you see that!” Trip exclaims. “I’m hitting that tonight!”
“Have fun with that, bro,” Zach says.
“Maybe she has a daughter or something and we can get them to take us back to their place,” Trip says.
Zach shakes his head. “Better rope Tyke into your plans, because I don’t get down like that anymore.” His gaze shifts to me. “I’ve got something much better in mind.”
I swallow hard and try to calm my nerves under his heated stare.
“I don’t think I was supposed to bring this present to the rehearsal dinner,” Isaac says breaking my attention away from Zach’s intense stare. Isaac stuffs the box he carried in with him between his feet.
“I’m being nosey, but what did you get them?” I ask.
“A crystal vase. I know it’s not much and they probably don’t need anything, but I figured it’s the thought, right?”
I lean over and kiss his lips, trying to ignore the fact that Zach’s right beside me. “It’s very sweet.”
“Rolls,” Riff says while practically shoving the breadbasket in my face.
I shove it away with my hand. “I’m fine. Thanks.”
He sits the basket back on the table. “I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss out since you seemed pretty busy and all.”
I fight the overwhelming urge to reach over and smack him in the face and then scream, “What do you want from me?”
When I can’t take looking at Zach a second longer, I slide my chair back and stand without warning.
Isaac peers up at me concerned. “You all right?”
“I’m fine. Just need to use the ladies’ room.”
I storm off in the direction of the restroom and shove the door open. I throw my purse down on the counter and lean against it as I fight back the crazy, mixed-up emotions I feel inside. One minute he likes me…the next he doesn’t. His psycho mood swings are giving me whiplash.
I stare at myself in the mirror, wondering what happened to the levelheaded girl I was a short time ago. Feeling this way is the very thing I wanted to protect myself from, and yet here I stand, miserable that the man I really want didn’t want me back. When I offered him my heart, he crushed it in the palm of his hand like it meant nothing to him. I refuse to let him do it to me again.
I sigh. Why couldn’t he tell me he loved me back when I told him in the bar? Why now when I’m trying to move on and give Isaac a chance. He’s making me feel like the villain in this situation.
The lock on the door clicks behind me and I see Zach step into view through the mirror. “What are you doing in here? You aren’t done torturing me yet?”
He shoves his hands into his jean pockets and nods. “I deserve that. I’m sorry for how I’ve been acting. It’s childish and I really don’t have a good excuse other than seeing you with him is driving me bat shit crazy.”
I turn to face him. “How do you think I felt when you said you were with those two women and then pulled the girl into your lap at the bar? Do you think this is easy for me? I’m trying to move on like you told me to do, but I can’t with you always making things so difficult for me!”