Page 106 of Holiday on the Rocks
ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?
Emily met us at the reception venue, and we got all the food into the high-tech kitchen, and had a group hug. She wore jeans, pink sweater, and her long brown hair was in a bun on the top of her head. We opted to not share any details about the possibility of her wedding desserts rubbing elbows with, well, elbows.
Once the food was all taken care of, Emily leaned against the counter and looked up.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Levi.”
He cracked a smile and pointed at Lexi. “Don’t believe a word she says about me.”
Lexi grabbed Rachel’s hand. “Levi, you are dry humping my last freaking nerve today. We’ll meet you in the van, Emily.”
They exited as Emily and I walked arm in arm with Levi beside us.
“So you’re the grown-up Levi.”
“Yes,” he whispered. “But being grown up is a little weird. I’m just unsupervised all the time. Seems unsafe.”
She laughed and leaned in. “I know I’m supposed to hate you, but I’m just not feeling it.”
“Shall we go to lunch?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I can’t eat. I’m just a bundle of nerves.”
Levi leaned in and laughed. “Having second thoughts?”
Crickets.
His brows popped up. “I was just joking.”
She let out a sigh. “I’m good. I think. Just a little nervous.”
I pulled her in for a hug. “This will be the best day of your life.”
We pulled in front of the house and every time I almost forget how beautiful it was. I knew it would always be the bittersweet memory of the Christmas wedding and Levi. The closure of so many open wounds, yet in the scars they'd be little cuts that would never entirely heal, a new scar within the old. I knew with every fiber of my being he would haunt my thoughts for all of time.
My stomach kurplunked when the front door opened and Royce and Clint walked outside. Their faces told me they'd realized Levi had gone with us and had a few hours to simmer in it.
I hopped out of the van first and gave them a wave.
“Hey guys, how was golf?” I flashed my best smile at Clint to try to give Levi some time to leave. But of course he didn't. I looked back to see that “fuck you” grin he was famous for. Come on, Levi!
“Did ya get lots of birdies? Was the course with you?” I giggled. “Get it?”
Clint gave me a pissy grin as his gaze slid back to Levi.
Evan walked out with concern written across his forehead. “Hey girls. And Levi.” He slapped Royce on the back as he passed and walked to Levi. “Did you get the caterer thing all worked out?”
Kristina pulled her gloves off and threw her arms in the air. “You would never believe it! The Super Saver Serial killer had Emily's wedding food in his freezer in his apartment and then the cops came and said we couldn't have it back! And then Levi and Allie crawled up the fire escape, got in the door, saved the wedding food, and got out just before the cops busted all of us!”
It was that awkward moment when I was trying not to look as Clint stared a hole in me. Just when I thought things couldn't get any more tense, my brother walked out of the house.
My brother walked out of the house!
Will, brown hair, same blue eyes as me, and two years older, was there. Mind you, he didn't know Emily or the groom, but he was there. In Colorado. In the Vrbo. Standing between Clint and Royce, both his friends forever, looking as if he was ready to kill someone.
Someone = Levi, the most hated man in Colorado.
Levi was thoroughly amused as he approached my brother. “Will, it’s been a long time.”
