Resilient (Rebound Book 2)

by Thompson, Nikki Mathis

  “Well, he’d be barking up the wrong tree with Maddie if he wants to fill a house with kids,” Paige pointed out.

  “That may be true, but let’s see if they make it to the first date. The kid convo is a bit premature,” Katrine joked. She glanced over to where Maddie and Shawn were talking. Her sister threw her head back and laughed, so they seemed to be having an entertaining conversation. She would love to see her sister with someone who was stable, emotionally and financially. But Maddie had a revolving door kind of love life. She hoped one day that would come to an end. It had to, right?

  Charlie was off being hostess and Maddie was still talking to her foxy companion. So that left Katrine, Paige, and Izzie at the sweet side of the dining room table. They were oooing and aaahing at the variety of temptations.

  “Oh yum, look at all of these pastries. I love the cream filled ones.” Paige got very animated when it came to dessert. For a split second, Katrine thought of another person she knew that had a serious sweet tooth, but she let that thought go as quickly as it had arrived.

  “No way, I can’t eat anything with cream in it. It looks like spoodge,” Izzie said with disgust.

  “That’s revolting Iz, for god’s sake. Make me lose my appetite, why don’t you,” Katrine said, giving her a just-sucked-on-a-lemon face.

  “Well, it does. I can barely eat hot dogs,” Izzie added.

  “What’s wrong with hot dogs? No cream filled center there,” Paige noted as she piled her plate with fluffy pastries and various fruits covered in dark chocolate.

  “Have you ever peeled the skin off of a hot dog? Think about it. Remind you of anything?” They all paused for a moment then made the connection. “See…penis in a bun, anyone? No gracias, if I’m going to put something that looks like a penis in my mouth, I want an orgasm in return. Ya know?”

  “Well, you can always diddle after a dog. Problem solved,” Paige smiled.

  “Thank you, guys. I’ll never eat a hot dog again,” Katrine said, turning to leave the buffet line before she really overdid it.

  “Why not?” Ian asked, having walked in on the tail end of their conversation. They all looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

  “A hot dog reminds me of a penis, that’s all,” Izzie said flatly. When in doubt, use the truth. Ian wasn’t phased one bit. He’d been front row center to many an inappropriate conversations in the past six months. He was a pro by this point.

  “I guess I could see that. Mine’s more of a foot-long bratwurst, though. I haven’t packed a hot dog since 7th grade.” He was completely straight-faced as he filled his plate. The girls were silent for a split second then Izzie burst out laughing. The other two joined in.

  “Oh, Ian, you crack me up. And if you’re packing that kind of meat, I don’t think that mini you brought will be able to handle it. You need a woman with a real vagina, call me.” Izzie blew him a kiss and walked out, double fisting the dessert plates. Paige followed. Katrine’s shoulders were shaking she was silent laughing so hard. Her friends were so crazy. Thank God for that.

  “Great, now I won’t be able to enjoy any meat in tube form. Oh well, I was always a burger girl, anyway.” She smiled at him and started to leave.

  “Wait a sec. I feel like I haven’t hung out with you at all. It seems like we’ve been on opposite ends of the room all night.”

  That’s because I’ve been avoiding you, Sherlock.

  “You avoiding me or something?”

  Shit.

  “Not at all.” She set her plate down.

  “You didn’t like Amber.” It wasn’t a question, but this one she didn’t have to fib about.

  “Of course not, Ian. She’s pretty and seems very friendly. I was just giving you your space. Things between us have at times been convoluted. I just didn’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

  “Me feel uncomfortable or you?”

  “Well, both,” she laughed.

  She looked up and was greeted by his familiar shimmery blue eyes. She couldn’t help but notice the way his lashes almost touched his dark brows.

  Why do guys always get the long lashes?

  It was just one of those things.

  “Katrine, what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” He lightly tapped the side of her temple, then tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. He pulled his hand away. Old habits die hard.

  Why does he have to be so god damned charming? Why does he have to smell so good? And why does he have to look at me like that?

  Now that she wanted him to look at her that way, it was too late. Shaking herself out of her internal monologue, she said, “Sorry, I was lost in thought for a bit.” He smiled a knowing smile, like he was used to it. “I don’t know, Ian. I guess I’m so used to having you to myself that I just need an adjustment period. I’m happy that you’re happy and that you found someone nice.” Though she would rather be the nice person in question.

  He didn’t say anything. He just tilted his head like he was trying to puzzle something out. He touched her shoulder. “Katrine, I…”

  “There you are. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Katrine sighed and Ian’s hand dropped. Amber had the worst timing ever. She stopped and looked at both of them. Was it obvious they were in the middle of an important conversation? “I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?” she said shyly.

  That would be a yes on the obvious…

  “Of course not, Amber. I was just telling him how you had my thumbs up.” Katrine grinned and thought she sounded quite sincere.

  Thumbs up, middle finger…which ever. Okay, maybe happy for them was a bit of an exaggeration.

  “I’d better get back to my friends. They’re gonna think I choked on a pastry.” That was her cue to exit the scene. She offered them a small smile and quick wave.

  Choked on a pastry, Jesus.

  If I was more lame, I’d be crippled.

  “Hey Trine, where ya been?” Charlie asked, shifting slowly from one heel to the other. She had apparently received the severely buzzed memo.

  “Oh, I was just talking to Ian,” she said casually.

  “His new girlfriend seems very nice. What do you think, Katrine?” Paige asked sweetly.

  “What? I think she’s friendly and attractive. I haven’t spent much time with her, but she seems perfectly lovely.”

  “Puh-leease. Spare us the sunny corners, you’re okay, I’m okay bull. We know it bugs the shit out of you that he’s graduated from his dedication to all things Katrine phase,” Izzie said in a teasing voice. They were all looking at her like they were expecting her to confess a deep yearning or some ‘woe is me’ speech. She wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. She was not even close to being in the mood for that.

  “I’m fine. Did it bother me at first, yes. Does it still a little, yes. But I’ll tell you what I’ve told everyone else who has asked. I want Ian to be happy and he has every right to date. Speaking of date, where is my dear sister?” Katrine was ready for a subject change and pronto.

  “Here she comes. And she looks quite smiley,” Jane sang.

  They watched her walk up to them. She had a drink in her hand and a dreamy smile on her face. They waited for her spill.

  “What?” Maddie said, feigning ignorance.

  “You know what. You better start talking!” Charlie warned.

  “Wait, wait. I need a drink for this,” Katrine said. They all agreed. With fresh drinks in hand, they watched Maddie eagerly.

  “Okay, go,” Katrine urged.

  “All right, you nosy hookers. Not only is he hot, he’s also very funny. He didn’t bring up his lawyering shenanigans once.” She paused to take a slow sip of the dark brown liquid in her glass. “He’s from Louisiana originally, so he has that whole southern gentleman vibe.”

  “So what gives? Did you make out by the pool? Do it in the bathroom? What?” Charlie wanted details and she wasn’t getting enough from their reluctant story teller.

  “No, of course not,” Maddie s
aid, marginally offended.

  “What? Don’t act like that would be such an outlandish claim. Don’t make me list your various ‘hi my name is, let’s hook up in the broom closet’ instances,” Charlie teased.

  “Well, he isn’t like that and I can be as chaste as the next gal if I feel like it. Shit, guys. I’m not a beast in perpetual heat. Give me some credit.”

  “Sorry, you did say you were getting psychotic because you hadn’t had sex in a week, so we just assumed. Sorry, Mads,” Jane apologized.

  “Yah, sorry, sis.”

  “It’s okay, I have set a past precedence. And I’m horny as hell, that was no lie. I’m going to fuck my vibrator within an inch of its battery life when I get home,” Maddie said, making them all snort with laughter.

  “Are you going to see him again?” Paige asked.

  “He asked if he could call me sometime and I gave him my number, so we shall see.”

  “So is it fair to say Wes is between gigs again?” Katrine asked.

  “Hell to the yes,. Shawn makes him look like a vagrant miming for spare change. I think it’s time to try a new type of guy. Money isn’t a big deal to me, but Shawn just seems sophisticated in a way that intrigues me.” They all gave her hugs and their support. Katrine, for one, was ready to get off of her sister’s roller coaster ride of a love life. But when she thought about it, she no longer had any room to throw stones, or pebbles, or any sediment whatsoever.

  Chapter 7

  “Can I have your attention, please?” Charlie’s husband bellowed, perched upon the pale stone lip that surrounded their generous fire place. “I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It’s always so nice to have all of our closest friends in one room. My beautiful wife put this all together, and per usual, it was impeccable.” Everyone agreed and clapped a little, some raised their glasses toward the hostess.

  “Charlie, when we met I was a broke college kid eating ramen noodles and giving plasma for beer money.” The room was filled with chuckles. “When I saw you on that first day in freshman English wearing a scowl, short shorts, and Doc Martens, I knew. I knew that you were the girl for me. You are a handful and spitfire, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The way you take care of this family astounds me. I might make the money, but baby, you bring the heart. Without you I don’t work, this family doesn’t work. I love you more today and that’s the truth. To fifteen years with the best woman a man could ask for. Love you, baby.”

  There wasn’t a pair of dry female eyes in the house. Charlie was no exception as she made her way over to her husband. They embraced and whispered to each other. Katrine wiped her eyes and got that feeling, that feeling like someone was watching her. She crooked her head to the side. Ian was gazing at her in a way that a man with a new girlfriend at his side should not be looking at another woman. She was transfixed for the brief moment their eyes held. He looked away and she looked down at her shoes. A delicious shiver danced down her spine and her stomach dropped in a pleasant way. What did it mean? Katrine would worry about that later.

  “You ladies ready to go home? I’m beat,” Marcus asked as he re-joined them. They agreed and made their way over to Charlie and Michael, enveloping them with thank you’s and warm congratulations. They all grabbed their coats and headed out. Katrine didn’t see Ian before she left. She had every intention of saying goodbye, but they were all being herded by Jane’s eager husband. She’d call him tomorrow. Her mission to get severely buzzed was a no go. She was glad, because going for a run in the morning was sounding pretty good right about now.

  The ride home consisted of gossip and a play by play of the highlights of the party. They all agreed it was a total success. Charlie outdid herself as usual and everyone had a great time.

  “Marcus did you and the boys have fun?” Katrine asked.

  “Yeah, it was a good time. I didn’t think they could fit a hundred people in their living room, but towards the end of the night the two lines for the bar were six people deep. I felt like I was at a club. Did you see those drunk women dancing on the coffee table?”

  “Oh my gosh, I thought Charlie was going to rip the extensions off,” Jane laughed.

  “That was hilarious. I almost wish she had. That would have made my night. Who gets on top of people’s furniture at our age? What bitches!” Maddie shouted, her volume a little loud for the cozy confines of the car.

  “I know. You’d think they would show a little more class than that. It just goes to show you can have money, but you can still act trashy…Just like those housewives shows,” Izzie said.

  “Is it just me or did it seem like half the chicks in her neighborhood had fake racks?” Katrine asked. They all agreed. Not that it was any different from the city. Women loved plastic surgery in this town.

  Izzie and Maddie had been dropped off and they finally made their way to Katrine’s. It seemed like this leg of the outing took hours. She was tired, and when she looked at the time illuminated on the dashboard, she groaned.

  “Ugghh, one-thirty, I haven’t been out this late in ages. This is gonna leave a mark. Thank you so much for driving us, Marcus. That was so nice of you. I bet you haven’t had that much crazy in the car in a long time.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle. You girls are entertaining as hell.” Katrine smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek and then one for Jane.

  “Night, Trine.”

  “Night, guys. I’ll call you soon, friend.”

  She peeled off her clothes and trudged to the bathroom to wash up. She yawned as she wiped the mascara off of her bleary eyes.

  “I look like I’m up past my bedtime.”

  Her phone chimed as she was brushing her teeth. She walked into her bedroom and checked the message.

  Did you get home ok? I didn’t get to say goodbye

  She smiled.

  Yes, thanks for checking

  She crawled into bed and her phone rang.

  “Hey,” she whispered. Why was she whispering? At two a.m. it just seemed appropriate.

  “Goodnight. There, now I said it,” Ian said with a hint of a smile in his quiet voice.

  “Oh good, now I’ll sleep better.”

  She didn’t hang up and neither did he. Silence hung between them.

  “Are we okay? You seemed, I don’t know, different tonight. I know it’s late, but it was going to bother me until I asked.”

  “Amber’s not sleeping right by you while you’re talking to me, is she?”

  “No, god no, that would be weird. I took her home after the party. So are you going to answer my question? I know when you’re avoiding, by the way.”

  She grinned in the dark, buried in her covers with the phone against her ear. He knew her so well. But when the thought of him taking another woman into his arms and giving her a passionate good night kiss crossed her mind, the grin faded.

  What do I say? I wish you’d kissed me tonight and not her.

  Try again.

  I really want you to stay single in case I decide I want to date you. Thanks!

  No, definitely not.

  It sounded so selfish no matter how she spun it. Even if that’s how she truly felt, she could never tell him. She hated half truths, but in this instance it was necessary. Maybe one day she’d ‘fess up.

  “We’re okay.”

  Kind of.

  “Sorry if I was acting differently towards you. I guess I just feel territorial when it comes to my friends.”

  Especially the ones I want to kiss.

  “I’ll act totally normal next time, I promise.”

  Fingers crossed.

  “Okay, if you’re sure that’s it.” He didn’t sound like he bought her explanation, but thankfully he didn’t press or try to call her out. “Well, again, good night. And sweet dreams.”

  “Night, Ian.”

  She pulled the covers up to her chin and snuggled into her body pillow. Maybe the whole becoming friends first thing had some merit. But wasn’t that the fun part of dating? Getting
to know each other. When that part is already taken care of, what do you do? She guessed it was like starting the relationship after the tenth date. “I know everything about you, so I guess the only thing left is to get naked.” That was one approach. She was no closer to figuring it out when she fell asleep.

  Freelance Whales, nah.

  The Shins, maybe later.

  Kitten, don’t mind if I do.

  “Cut it out” started in her ears buds and she took off. The air was cold, but she knew in ten minutes she would be toasty inside her winter running gear. She had been running two to three times a week since summer ended. She had packed on a few with all of the eating out she’d done with him…

  She let her mind go there today. The times she didn’t have the energy to fight it she just let the memories wash over her. Sometimes it felt like a warm spring shower and other times like a bucket of ice water.

  Her friends had no idea she still thought about him. Well, if they did they never talked about it. Maybe they thought if he was never mentioned then it never happened or they could just pretend he didn’t exist, like a phantom they had a vague memory of. She and Maddie had a few talks about it, but never for too long. Maddie didn’t think he deserved the air time. But here, on the pavement and in her mind, she could think about him as long as she wanted. Sometimes she didn’t think of him at all. But the fact that he might one day become a distant memory made her a bit nervous. She didn’t want the memory of that summer to fade. She didn’t want his face to become a shadow—like in those frustrating dreams where she couldn’t quite get the details of the face to solidify.

  He’d come to mean so much to her in such a short time. Now that the hurt was not asphyxiating, she could look back on their time together with fondness instead of anger. Well, most of the time, anyway. Never having contact with him helped with the anger aspect. So did that mean she still had feelings for Xander? Alone, in her head, she could admit it.