Stranded

by Chance Carter

  “That is surprising. I thought they couldn’t make it until the day before the wedding?”

  She shrugged. “Honestly, it probably has more to do with the fact that Molly and Gerhart are here for the week than their desire to spend time with me. They can’t stand to be outdone.” She turned back to the mirror and sighed. “We’re all having dinner together tonight. Molly and Gerhart too. You’ll come?”

  “Of course.”

  Val smiled at me in the mirror and started blow-drying her hair.

  A year of wedding planning and I still hadn’t met Val’s parents. The opinion I’d formed of them thus far was unfavorable, and I wondered how they would behave at dinner. It would make things interesting, that was for sure.

  The door slammed and I bolted upright in bed.

  “Sorry!” Val said, wincing. “I didn’t realize you were asleep.”

  I blinked at her, then turned to the window. It was just starting to get dark outside.

  “I didn’t realize I was asleep either,” I said. “I must’ve dozed off.” I reached for the remote and turned off the TV, which was playing a home renovation show.

  “I just came back to get ready for dinner,” she said. “We’re meeting at the restaurant in an hour.”

  “You need an hour to get ready for dinner?” I asked.

  Val smirked. “I need an hour of peace before I have to go back into the lion’s den.”

  “Fair call,” I said. “Your parents have met Garrick’s before, right?”

  “Here and there.” She collapsed onto her bed, sighing. “They haven’t seen each other since our engagement dinner, but they’ll be fine. It’s more posturing and subtle one-ups than any open hostility when they get together.”

  “How was your day with them?”

  She flopped her head to the side to look at me. “I swear we talked about work for half of it. The other half was bearable but not something I would look forward to doing again anytime soon.”

  I scooted to the edge of my bed and hopped over to Val’s, sending her bouncing on the mattress. She giggled.

  “We need to turn that frown upside down,” I said, poking her in the ribs. “You’re on vacation and you’re getting married to the love of your life. Who cares if your parents are being their typical selves? Let’s do everything we can to have fun tonight.”

  She grinned at me, returning my poke to the ribs. “I’m glad you’re here. It wouldn’t be the same without you.”

  “Does that mean you’ll let me throw you a bachelorette party?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows.

  Val snorted but shook her head. “Who would we invite? My mom? Molly?”

  “We don’t have to invite anyone. It can be just the two of us.” I prodded the tip of her nose.

  “Just the two of us getting shit faced at the hotel bar? You know I love you, but I’m not sure that’s worth being hungover on my wedding for.”

  “You need to think outside of the box, Val,” I said. “Tell you what. Leave it to me and I promise you’ll have a good time. And that you won’t be hungover on your wedding.”

  She studied me, deliberating, before finally giving a short shake of her head. “Fine. I trust you.”

  I pumped my fist in the air and Val rolled her eyes.

  “I’m going to go have a soak in the bath,” she said, shifting to the side of the bed. “Do we have any wine in here?”

  “My bag.” I pointed to the closet, where I’d tucked my backpack in just behind the door. “I brought some of that merlot you like.”

  “You’re the wind beneath my wings.”

  I blew her a kiss.

  Val grabbed the bottle of wine and poured each of us a glass, then retreated to the bathroom humming happily. I moved back to my own bed and turned the TV back on, though I didn’t pay attention. I was too busy running through options for Val’s bachelorette party. It had to be a success.

  I’d been to more weddings than I could count, but this one was different. I always strove for perfection, but it was more important this time. Val meant a lot to me. Her happiness was my happiness, and this wedding was so important to her that she’d called to book me almost the second she got engaged.

  An hour later, I had a plan, and Val had a wine buzz. We tumbled out of our room, giggling, and I nearly ran face first into Levi’s chest. I wheeled backward in surprise and his hand shot out to steady me. One touch and electricity crackled under my skin.

  “Steady there,” he said.

  “I’m good.” I twisted out of his grasp. “Thanks.”

  “Garrick!” Val exclaimed, throwing her arms around her fiancé. The next thing I knew they were making out like teenagers against the wall.

  “I let her get a little drunk,” I admitted quietly.

  Levi crooked a brow. I answered with a shrug. Once the two lovers came up for air, I smacked Val on the butt and gestured down the hall.

  “We’re gonna be late,” I said.

  Val grabbed Garrick’s hand. “Sorry. I haven’t seen him all day.”

  “How are you doing, wifey?” Garrick asked, brushing his lips over her knuckles.

  I got behind the two and gave them a gentle push as they started catching up. You wouldn’t think that a few hours of separation would give them that much to talk about, but Val and Garrick started chattering away like they hadn’t seen each other in years.

  Levi and I trailed behind them. I figured after his limited greeting earlier, we would walk to the restaurant in silence. I intended to, anyway.

  “Did you have a nice date?” Levi asked.

  I swiveled my head to look at him but he stared off into the distance.

  “I did. Thanks for asking.”

  He sucked on his bottom lip. “You should be careful with Josh.”

  I let out a bitter laugh. “Yeah. I know all about your little rivalry,” I said, looking ahead. “Thanks for the warning, but frankly it’s none of your business.”

  “Just looking out for you.”

  “If this criticism of who I choose to spend time with wasn’t the first thing you’ve said to me all day, I might believe that.”

  I was finished talking to him. I walked faster until I caught up with Garrick and Val, plastering on a smile and joining their conversation. Levi’s stare burned a hole in my back the whole way to the restaurant.

  We were the last ones to arrive, and I instantly felt bad for leaving Molly and Gerhart alone with the Fieldmans for longer than necessary. They all stood to greet us, the picture of good humor, but the atmosphere was tense.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Frankie,” Val said, shuffling me over to her parents.

  “Frankie, these are my parents.”

  Her dad, a tall beanpole of a man with square glasses and an impeccably pressed shirt, reached his hand out first. “Victor,” he said.

  I shook his hand and moved on to his wife, who fixed me with a wide, albeit cold, smile.

  “Justine.”

  Valerie was the spitting image of her mother. They shared everything from their blonde hair to the way they stood with their shoulders back and their chins held high. Justine’s hair was twisted in a chignon so tight I speculated that she’d end the night with a massive headache.

  “It’s great to finally meet you,” I said.

  They nodded in acknowledgement and sat down.

  I scurried over to greet Gerhart and Molly, who each gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I took a seat between Val and Molly, which put me directly across from Levi. I got the urge to kick him under the table but decided against it.

  The dinner conversation flowed well, though it was almost unbearably polite. How Gerhart managed to contain his boisterous personality I might never know, but I caught him shifting in his chair once or twice like his clothes were two sizes too tight. Even Molly looked uncomfortable.

  I kept mostly to myself, paying attention and nodding when people spoke but not contributing much. Valerie’s parents intimidated me and, despite knowing that their opin
ion mattered little to my best friend, I wanted them to like me. I figured the best option was to do recon tonight and work up to speaking to them.

  Between courses, I caught sight of Josh approaching from a table nearby. Relief flooded my bones.

  “Aunt Justine,” he said, greeting her with a kiss on the cheek. “You’re looking lovely, as usual. I didn’t expect to see you this early in the week.”

  He moved on to give his uncle a firm handshake while Justine explained.

  “We didn’t think we could step away because we’ve been so busy with orders, but our management team practically forced us.” She smiled cattily in Molly and Gerhart’s direction. “I’m envious of you two for being able to pick up and go. We’ve been run off our feet this quarter.”

  I suppressed an eye roll. For a woman who oozed composure, Justine sure had an immature streak.

  Josh’s eyes alit on me and he smiled. “Frankie, you look sensational.”

  “Looking quite dapper yourself,” I replied.

  And he did. Josh had switched out his casual sweater for a dark gray t-shirt and a black fitted blazer. It hugged his lithe form and gave him an effortlessly handsome appearance to go with his effortlessly handsome smile.

  “I thought I might run into you here and figured I should look my best.” He winked. “Can I steal you away for lunch again tomorrow?”

  A genuine pang of disappointment echoed through my chest. “Sorry, but I’m busy tomorrow. We’re going skiing.”

  Josh’s smile flickered but he pulled it back up again. “Not a problem. I’m sure I’ll be seeing lots of you.” He kissed his aunt on the cheek and waved to the others at our table. “I’ll let you folks get back to your dinner. Nice to see you all.”

  With that, Josh was gone almost as quickly as he came.

  “That one’s a smooth talker,” I heard Molly mutter to her husband under her breath. “It’s a wonder he doesn’t float away with all that hot air.”

  I snickered. When I looked up, Levi was glaring daggers at Josh’s back, and that only made my wicked grin grow. Was it wrong to enjoy some smug satisfaction from Levi’s obvious jealousy? It wasn’t every day that I got to experience such a thing, especially since Levi was so hot and cold that I still couldn’t tell where we stood.

  What I couldn’t figure out was why he cared in the first place. Was it just because he despised Josh? Or was he just bitter about what he couldn’t have? Either way, my contentment flitted away.

  How was it fair for Levi to be jealous when he would just as soon toss me by the wayside after he was done with me? He probably wouldn’t care at all if I hadn’t told him whatever we had was over. He’d be sitting pretty across the table hoping Josh enjoyed his sloppy seconds.

  I opted not to think about it, and forced my way into Molly and Gerhart’s conversation instead. As far as I was concerned, the person across the table from me no longer existed.

  Chapter 29

  Levi

  Garrick woke me with a pillow to the head and I wondered, once again, why the hell we had to share a room. He rushed me to get ready, anxious to hit the slopes. I managed to choke down a coffee and a muffin before he shoved me out the door, then we went down to Frankie and Val’s room to make sure they were up.

  “Good morning!” Val chirped when she opened the door. She was fully dressed in her ski gear, and behind her Frankie was hopping around on one foot as she tried to shove her foot into her boot.

  Garrick pulled her in for a kiss, stroking her hair back from her forehead. “Ready to go?”

  “Yeah, we’re just waiting on Josh,” she said.

  “Josh?” I asked.

  Her eyes widened. “Shit, I forgot to tell you guys. Sorry. Josh didn’t have anything to do today and he asked if he could come skiing with us. I hope that’s okay.”

  A barbed comment poised at the tip of my tongue but I held it back, offering up a noncommittal shrug instead.

  “The more the merrier,” said Garrick cheerfully. He disliked Josh as much as I did, but he took great pleasure seeing me react to Josh’s incessant flirtation with Frankie.

  Once an annoying little brother, always an annoying little brother.

  Val and Frankie joined us in the hall and we headed down to the cafe to meet Josh. I fumed silently the whole way but tried to look as neutral as possible.

  Of course that little weasel would invite himself skiing with us. He reveled in any opportunity to rub his successes in my face. Frankie was one of the few times Josh got a leg up on me, and he wouldn’t let that go easily.

  Josh rose from his table when he saw us enter the cafe. He hugged Valerie first, but his eyes were on Frankie the whole time. I had half a mind not to go skiing at all, but then Josh would win. I couldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  “Good morning, gorgeous,” Josh cooed to Frankie, pulling her in for a hug.

  Ugh. It was way too early for him to be laying it on so thick. I stifled a gag and kept back while the others made a plan of attack. Frankie’s eyes met mine and her gaze hardened. Then she turned away.

  It was going to be a long day.

  “You’re a natural,” Josh proclaimed, patting Frankie heartily on the back.

  “Hardly. I’m not going to be able to move in the morning.” She stretched her neck to the side and grimaced. “I can hardly move now.”

  “You’ve only done two runs,” Val said, shuffling over to her friend. “Don’t be such a baby.”

  Frankie stuck out her tongue and Val returned the gesture. I watched with a bored expression, wishing the chairlift line would hurry the hell up.

  “This time just try to stay on your feet,” Josh joked.

  Frankie pouted. “It’s hard!”

  “Probably because you’re so top heavy.” Josh winked.

  To her credit, Frankie scrunched up her nose at his lewd comment. Josh quickly changed the subject.

  “Maybe snowboarding is more your bag. Do you want to swap out your skis?”

  “No, I like the poles.” She whipped one against his leg. “You can’t do that with a snowboard.”

  I couldn’t stand watching them but couldn’t look away either. Frankie’s cheeks were rosy from the cold and when she laughed her eyes crinkled joyously. She wore her hair in a side braid, leaving her slender neck bare. I thought of all the times I’d kissed that neck and burned at the thought of Josh getting anywhere near it.

  I turned to Garrick only to find Val cuddled up against his side, the two of them speaking to each other in low voices punctuated by giggles. I needed advice. This was driving me crazy and I needed to make it stop.

  But how? Frankie was under my skin and I couldn’t get her out.

  We finally reached the front of the line and I took the chairlift up with Garrick and Val. Garrick nudged me in the side.

  “You seem tense,” he said.

  Now was my opportunity to get a second opinion, but I didn’t know what to say and didn’t want to hear Garrick gloat the whole way up the mountain.

  I licked my lips and shook my head. “I’m fine.”

  Val leaned over. “Thanks for putting up with Josh. I know you guys don’t get along but I think he’s lonely.”

  I didn’t think Josh’s loneliness had anything to do with it, but I forced a polite smile.

  “It’s not a problem, Val. Just as long as you’re having fun.”

  She seemed to like that. “I am. And I hope you are too.”

  “How could I not?”

  We reached the top of the hill and waited for Frankie and Josh’s chairlift. Predictably, they were laughing when they reached us. It rankled me and I took off down the slope without waiting for the rest of them.

  Frankie was the one who didn’t want to screw around anymore. Why did she have to flaunt Josh in my face? Especially in this place. I never expected the ski lodge to mean so much to me but the kind of boundless happiness I experienced here before wasn’t something I got to feel a lot. I couldn’t tell which one of them I was m
ore pissed at for ruining that.

  Trees whipped past me as I hurled down the hill, jamming my poles in with more force than was necessary at every turn. I reached the bottom in what must have been record time and caught my breath as I waited for the others.

  Their shapes materialized in the distance, first Val and Garrick, with Frankie and Josh trailing behind. Frankie lost her footing near the bottom and flopped face first into the snow. She came up laughing, dusting powder from her hair and accepting Josh’s hand back to her feet. He said something to her that made her push him away in mock anger, then the two of them shuffled over to the rest of the group.

  We trudged back to the chairlift and I prepared to live through my hell again. How many runs were we going to do today? I felt like I’d never escape this endless cycle.

  The line was a little faster this time, but by the time we reached the front I’d had enough. Frankie stepped forward to the loading platform and I shoved my way past Josh, giving him a cold look.

  “Take the next one,” I said in a low voice that brokered no argument.

  Josh stood back, shocked, and I took his spot next to Frankie.

  She looked up at me in surprise when she realized I wasn’t Josh. I could tell she thought about escaping, but the chair came and swept us up before she could.

  “What the hell, Levi?” Her full mouth dipped into a scowl. “That was rude.”

  “Are you enjoying making me jealous?” I growled.

  Frankie’s eyebrows tilted in disbelief and she blinked. Once the shock washed from her face, irritation took its place.

  “Are you serious?” She snapped. “You’ve got nothing to be jealous about. I’m not your type, remember?”

  Her reply was as cold as the wind burning my eyes. I never thought those words would stick with her so much. I only said them out of irritation when she insisted we forget our tryst ever happened, like she was ashamed of it. It had nothing to do with Frankie and everything to do with my pride. I never expected it to come bite me in the ass like that.