Page 41 of Deal Breaker
“We need to be out of here in an hour and a half. I thought you might need some time to sober up.”
Jodie squinted at me. “What the hell are you wearing?”
In my haste to get out of Max’s room, I had grabbed the nearest thing to me to cover my nakedness. That thing turned out to be Max’s dress shirt from yesterday. “You’re full of all the questions this morning.” I busied myself grabbing my wash bag and some fresh clothes from the dresser.
“And you’re doing a grand job of avoiding them.” She pushed herself up on her elbows and fixed me with an enquiring look. “That looks a whole lot like a dress shirt. Did you and Trent get it on?”
“It’s too early to be starting on the gossip.” I made sure not to make eye contact. One look, and I’d crumble and tell her all about Max. If anyone had to know first, it should be Autumn. “I’m going to get a shower. I’ll give you a call when I’m finished.”
“Ugh. Fine.” She flopped back down on the bed. “Can you make me a coffee?”
If that’s what it took for her to sober up, then it was a done deal. “You got it. The stronger the better, right?”
I flounced out of the bedroom, fully expecting to bump into Autumn this time. There was no evidence of her being up and about yet either. Max’s dress suit jacket still lay over the back of the sofa, and the glasses of champagne we’d abandoned were still on the table, along with the half-finished bottle. On my way to the bathroom, I picked them up and threw the liquid down the kitchen sink, getting rid of the evidence, so to speak. I’d wash them up after I’d showered.
The irony of being in the bathroom again after a less than satisfactory start to the morning with Max wasn’t lost on me. At least this time I wasn’t freezing my tits off.
I switched on the shower, stepping underneath the warm jets, trying to stop my mind racing.
Normally, I wasn’t the kind of girl to jump straight into bed with someone. But Max was different. We’d known each other for years. Maybe that was the problem. No mystery, no excitement.
Lies, all lies.
There had been plenty of mystery and excitement. The gentle throbbing between my legs was testament to it.
But I had to besurebefore taking things further.
Last night’s shenanigans could well have been the result of too much alcohol and getting caught up in the moment. Weddings were one of the most romantic events and brought out all sorts of feelings you didn’t know you had. Emotions running wild. Happiness, joy, and the celebration of love.
I couldn’t help thinking there was more to it. But of course, Max and I hadn’t had a chance to discuss things properly. Before long, we’d be back in New York, me at the law firm, him at the construction company, only bumping into each other on nights out with our friends. I sighed. Life would go back to normal, and last night would become a distant memory.
Once I had dried off and dressed, I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail and put on a slick of makeup. Despite the beginnings of a dull hangover, I was looking forward to getting home and chilling out in my apartment until I had to go back to work on Tuesday. Tomorrow would be a day of Netflix and fast food on the sofa, for sure.
Jodie had at least begun to make a start on packing. Still dressed in her wedding outfit, she padded from the wardrobe to her bed, throwing clothes into her bag without folding them.
“Do we have coffee yet?” Her eyes shone expectantly.
“All good things come to those who wait.” I placed Max’s shirt on my bed, unsure whether to drop it into his room. My bag sat at the foot of my bed, relatively untouched from the time we’d arrived. It wasn’t going to take me too long to get packed and ready to go.
“Well, I can’t guarantee how good I’m going to be if I don’t get caffeine soon,” she grumbled.
“Okay, okay, I’m going.” I paused at the door, looking her up and down. “Bathroom is free, by the way.”
A pair of socks narrowly missed my head as I went back into the living area, chuckling to myself.
There was still no sign of Autumn or Max. If they didn’t turn up soon, I’d start to worry. I set about making a pot of coffee and checked the refrigerator for any breakfast supplies. There wasn’t anything left from yesterday, so we’d have to stop for something on the way home. I wondered if Bart’s Bar and Grill served pancakes. While I waited for the coffee, I washed and rinsed the glasses, before drying them and putting them back in the cupboard. I hid the champagne bottle in the trash and started tidying up the kitchen in preparation for our departure.
The front door of the cabin banged, and I spun around, fully expecting it to be Max. Autumn, clutching her shoes in one hand, purse in the other, wearing yesterday’s wedding attire topped off with a Holiday Springs resort staff jacket, was a sight to behold.
“Shit, rumbled,” she giggled.
“Exactly where have you been all night Autumn Coady? And why do you have Holiday Springs staff gear?”
The glint in her eye meant I didn’t really have to ask.
“You remember the guy I persuaded to bring us pizza on Friday night?” Autumn’s cheeks flushed.
How could I forget? He was one of the reasons Max and I had been in such a state of flux.
