Resilient (Rebound Book 2)

by Thompson, Nikki Mathis

  “What’d I miss?” Charlie said, joining them. They pointed at Tristan’s elevated material and Charlie joined in the chuckles.

  “Tristan, it’s a spa filled with half naked women, what could possibly turn you on in here? You are officially the horniest person I know.” They filled her in. “Oh wow,” she said, rubbing her neck. “If I had a penis I’d be popping a tent, too.” More laughter. “Sorry I was late. My pastor just went on and on this morning,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “Charlie love, I’m surprised they let you inside. Your mouth is way too dirty for church, don’t you think?” he teased.

  “Hey, Jesus was a sailor,” she said, like that totally proved a point.

  Katrine laughed, then had to add, “He was a fisherman, Charlie.”

  “Sailor, fisherman, same difference.” Katrine and Tristan shared a look and shook their heads.

  Now they all had a full glass and were quite comfortable on the cozy furniture. Katrine could just hang out here all day and save the two hundred dollars. But luckily Charlie and Tristan were treating her to a belated birthday spa day. She really had the best friends ever.

  “God, I hate not having a bra on,” Charlie bitched as they waited for their second treatment to start.

  “Why did you leave it off then?” Tristan asked, adjusting the cucumber slices he’d taken out of his water and placed on his eye lids.

  “I was so relaxed after my massage that I forgot. Now my nipples are rubbing against my belly button.”

  Katrine snorted, picking the wrong time to take a sip of her drink.

  “Charlie, you always exaggerate,” Tristan sniffed.

  “Exaggerate, you say? Last night was date night.” She rolled her eyes. “When I took off my bra, my left boob unfolded into Michael’s mouth. Yes, you heard me…unfolded.” Tristan sat up so fast his cucumbers fell off. Katrine’s shoulders were shaking as Charlie mimed taking off her bra and unrolling her boob.

  “Your husband is loaded, Charlie. Just get them done if they bother you so bad,” Katrine suggested. Tristan nodded in agreement.

  “Hell no! Then he’ll think he has the right to touch them all the time. You know how he is about his investments. He would work in some titty ownership clause. I can just hear him, ‘I paid for ‘em, I get to play with ‘em.’ No fucking thank you!”

  “I guess it is convenient, when you think about it. He can play with your boobs from across the room. You don’t even have to get off the bed,” Katrine said with a straight face. That didn’t last long when they all started to laugh.

  “So you and Ian, you two an official item now?” Charlie asked, adjusting her robe then taking a sip of her white wine.

  “Yes, I believe so,” Katrine said with a smile.

  “That’s good, you two seem perfect for each other,” Tristan said.

  “Well, before I even thought of him that way, he’d become one of my best friends. And I loved him as a friend. So it wasn’t such a stretch to love him in a deeper way. I feel comfortable with him and we have so much fun together. He’s kind and loyal, keeper material for sure.”

  “Kind and loyal? Are we talking about Ian or a golden retriever?” Tristan mocked.

  “Oh, come on, you know what I mean. He’s hot and we have great chemistry, too.”

  “But are there fireworks?” Charlie asked seriously.

  “He definitely made me see stars a few times in Mexico,” Katrine laughed. “Seriously, there are sparks.”

  “Good, I don’t want anyone getting hurt,” Charlie said in a way that made Katrine a little uneasy. She had the feeling Charlie was talking about Ian getting hurt, not the other way round.

  “Hey, I don’t want anyone to get hurt, either, okay?”

  “We know you wouldn’t hurt him on purpose, Katrine,” Tristan added.

  Et tu Tristan?

  How the hell did I become the heartbreaker in this scenario?

  The massage therapist came for her and she was glad to get away from them. They were starting to piss her off. She didn’t say anything, she just followed her masseuse towards the door leading to the treatment rooms. As she walked away, Tristan called after her, “Trine, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” Katrine just shrugged and hoped the massage would loosen the tightness that had just taken hold of her shoulders.

  Okay, so my change of heart may have been a result of jealousy over Amber. And my declaration of love may have been spurred on by a fear of him breaking up with me. That doesn’t mean that I’m not serious about this. I’m not going to hurt him.

  She almost had herself convinced, almost, but not quite. The tightness had turned into knots by the time she laid on the massage table.

  Damn it!

  Katrine didn’t want to spend her hour second guessing herself. She wanted to relax and enjoy. But her stomach was churning a bit and she started to feel guilty. She cared about Ian and would do her damnedest not to hurt him. She had no precognition when it came to hurt. She would have sworn her husband would have never hurt her. And as for her affair with Xander, Katrine wouldn’t have predicted that outcome. Bottom line, no one knows how the story will end. Best to just enjoy the ride. Katrine was at peace with that, so she relaxed into the table just as the hot smooth stones were being placed on her back.

  They hugged goodbye and Katrine thanked them for the wonderful day. Tristan apologized again, but she assured him that there were no hard feelings and gave him a tight hug.

  “Hey, even I was worried he might get hurt somehow, but to hear you guys say it, too—it just upset me. But you were just being honest and I’m glad you guys are looking out for Ian, too.”

  “I’ll see you girls in a few weeks. We’re still on for dinner, right?” Tristan asked.

  “Wouldn’t miss it,” Katrine said as she made her way to the car.

  “Like I’d let you bitches have fun without me,” Charlie yelled and slid into her white Porsche Cayenne.

  “Until then, fruit roll-up tits,” Tristan called, blowing her a kiss. Charlie flipped him off and drove away.

  Chapter 18

  The next month flew by and Katrine and Ian slid into an easy rhythm. She was finally able to cross over to a place where Xander was a pleasant memory, but past tense. Her focus was on the wonderful man in her present and she found a contentment she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. Teddy was more than okay with the arrangement. In fact he seemed more excited than Katrine had expected. He said that it made him happy to see her with Ian.

  “He takes good care of you, Momma. Someone should take care of you for once.”

  “Sweetie, you take very good care of me.”

  “I don’t do as much as I should,” he said, looking at the ground. Katrine scooted as close to him as she could and put her arms around his shoulders. “Baby, you take care of my heart and that’s all I need in this life.” He smiled and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

  “I love you, Momma.”

  “And if I loved you anymore, my heart would explode.”

  “Hey, sis, what’s up?”

  “You have a minute?” Maddie asked.

  “I was in the middle of researching competitors, so yes I have a minute and then some.”

  “Yuck, sorry to bother you at work, but I wanted to know if I could bring Shawn to movie night this week.”

  Whoa, this was big. Maddie had never brought anyone to movie night. “Of course! That would be great. Ian will be glad to have some extra testosterone. Maybe he’ll even persuade Shawn to swing the movie vote his way.”

  “Not if he wants to get any.”

  “Maddie, you would manipulate your boyfriend with sex? I’m shocked!”

  “I admit it with pride. One of the many things that makes us stronger than men is our vaginas. That bearded beauty puts them at a disadvantage every time. Men are ruled by their dicks and I plan to reap the benefits.”

  Katrine chuckled quietly at her desk. “Let’s have dinner before, too. The weather is supposed t
o be gorgeous, so we can cook out.”

  “Sounds like a plan. Tell Teddy I’ll take him to the movies this weekend since he won’t be there on movie night.”

  “Oh, he’ll be so excited. There are like four movies that he’s just dying to see. Also he has a soccer game Sunday morning.”

  “Count me in. Love ya.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “Dude, you’re cooking the steaks too long!” Maddie whined.

  “Mads, I know what I’m doing. Relax,” Ian said calmly, looking adorable holding the large metal spatula.

  “Please don’t overcook my meat. It makes me grouchy.”

  “Madeline, what doesn’t make you grouchy?” Katrine teased, handing her a cold beer.

  “Baby, you can get grouchy all you want. As long as you take it out on me later,” Shawn said as he wrapped his arms around Maddie’s waist. She smiled and leaned into him. His voice was so smooth and deep it was swoon inducing. Katrine must have had a look on her face because Ian said, “Yeah, baby,” in a low, deep voice. “See? I can be sexy too,” he teased.

  Katrine walked over to him and kissed him as thoroughly as she could while in front of company. “You are plenty sexy. Don’t you worry.”

  Ian opened a bottle of Cabernet and filled each glass. Katrine made a cucumber and tomato salad, adding small ribbons of red onion for color. Beside that sat a platter of enormous loaded baked potatoes bursting at the skins. They moved around the kitchen liked a synchronized team and Katrine noticed Maddie smiling at them. Katrine winked and took the plates out of the cabinet. The girls had fillets and the boys had NY strips, all cooked perfectly. The conversation was easy and fun. Shawn was very intelligent and engaging. He had an easy going personality, just like Ian. They were definitely cooking up a bro-mance. If Maddie was looking to Shawn for movie back-up, she was barking up the wrong tree. She might have to service him right in the living room to sway his vote. But since Katrine had already picked up a movie at the box deal by her work, Maddie got a pass.

  “I picked a movie I knew everyone would enjoy; it isn’t too chicky and it isn’t a mindless dude fest, either.” When she told them what she had selected, they all approved. It was a political drama with suspense and action. Featuring popular actors and a great director, so win win. The night had been a complete success. They all made a plan to go out to dinner soon.

  Maddie and Shawn left hand in hand, warming Katrine’s heart.

  “They are so great together,” Katrine gushed while washing the dinner dishes. Ian was clearing the table and putting things back in the pantry. “Yes, they are. Shawn is a really cool guy and Maddie is smitten for sure.”

  She dried her hands and turned toward him. “I’m in deep smit myself… not only are you handsome, but you’re quite skilled behind a grill. Thank you for the delicious steaks,” Katrine complimented, throwing her arms around his neck.

  “You think I’m skilled behind the grill, wait 'til you see how skilled I am behind you,” he whispered into her ear and slowly flicked his tongue. She giggled and shivered. Katrine showed him how skilled she could be with her mouth. The kiss that started off slow and sweet ended up hot and handsy.

  The rest of the dishes could wait…

  Teddy won his soccer game. Katrine had to tell Maddie to zip it several times.

  “Mads, don’t call the players on the other team losers. They’re just kids.”

  “Hey, I call ‘em like I see ‘em, and those kids suck. Not our boy, though, he’s awesome.”

  They both screamed the entire game. Ian cheered more than yelled. Katrine swore she would never be that mom, but she just couldn’t help herself. She got swept up in the moment. And she was so into the game, the fact that David and Mermadia were there wasn’t even weird. It was a little weird, but it helped that Ian and Maddie were with her. Maddie didn’t say a word to them. She just kind of nodded in acknowledgement. That was very good considering she looked like she wanted to drop kick them both. Katrine said hello and briefly discussed this week’s Teddy switcharoo with her ex. She almost congratulated them on their marriage, but she just couldn’t. She was glad he was happy, because when you’re happy it makes you a better parent, but her good will only went so far.

  “That wasn’t at all awkward,” Maddie said, rolling her eyes as they made their way over to where Ian was standing. He had kept his distance to allow them time to talk.

  “How’d you do?” he asked, pulling Katrine into his embrace.

  “It was fine.” She stood on her tip-toes and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Wouldn’t miss it. Ted, you kicked butt, bro.” Teddy grabbed his bag and they bumped fists.

  “Thanks, Ian.”

  “You were the best player out there, little man.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Maddie.” He smiled shyly and tucked his soccer ball under his arm.

  Ian held Katrine’s left hand. Katrine had her other arm around Teddy’s shoulder, and Maddie was on the other side of Teddy. The four made their way back to Ian’s jeep. Teddy talked about his two goals. Katrine smiled, thinking how beautiful this spring day was. She looked at the people around her and had a moment. One of those moments when it hits you that life is so very good and that you are so very blessed.

  Jane was hosting a trunk show at her store, Next Door at Jane’s. A well-known artist from the area was showcasing her hand-made jewelry. Jane had a full spread and plenty of wine, which always helped loosen the purse strings. A portion went to Jane’s store, so the whole gang had shown up. They were happy to contribute because the jewelry was unique and exquisite.

  “How do I look?” Charlie asked, twirling in a circle. She had about twelve bracelets on each wrist and five necklaces. The girls laughed.

  “You look fabulous, daaahhling,” Jane laughed.

  “Don’t get happy panties, Janie, I’m not buying all of these. I think I’ll pass on this short green necklace,” she said, pulling a beaded one out of the group. When it came to shopping, Charlie didn’t mess around. She could drop some serious coin in under fifteen minutes if she was in the mood.

  “Jane, the store looks so amazing. I’m so proud of you,” Katrine said.

  “We all are. Pat yourself on the back, girl!” Paige added.

  “Thanks, guys. It does look great, right? I’m very pleased with the new gourmet sauce section. The sales have been great. I’m thinking a little cafe section next year, just coffee, tea, and desserts. What do you girls think?” They all said it was a great idea. It was nice to see Jane smiling again. She had been so down the last few times Katrine had seen her. Infertility could be all consuming and extremely depressing. Jane was one of the most optimistic and upbeat people she knew, but even she’d been beaten up by it all.

  They shopped around and had a few glasses of wine. When it was time to go, the girls decided to grab some drinks and make a night of it. They hadn’t all been together since Charlie’s party. The night air felt glorious, so when then arrived at their favorite wine bar they took a large round table outside. The menus were slabs of wood with worn parchment paper, very old world. They opted to get a few bottles since they were all drinking. There were nibbles at the trunk show, but they were always hungry, so they ordered more food to snack on.

  Charlie was in the midst of sharing her trials and tribulations of raising a pre-teen daughter when the first bottle was delivered.

  “Guys, I just don’t want her to be popular. The popular girls are mean and they become drunken sluts in high school. I want her nerdy. Playing the tuba, math club, staying in every weekend nerdy.”

  “Not all popular girls are like that, Charlie. You were very popular and you weren’t…oh never mind. That doesn’t help prove my point,” Izzie laughed.

  “I’m about to ship her ass to Timbuktu with the attitude she’s got now. Or maybe I’ll just give up and let her do whatever she wants.”

  “Don’t get lazy about it, then she’ll really get crazy,” Paige pointed out.


  “What’s lazy to some is a progressive parenting strategy to another, just give it a fancy name like the hands off learning model,” Katrine suggested with a grin.

  “Whatever you call it, she’s about to get an old fashioned beat down. There’s only room for one diva in my house.”

  “It’s a phase, we all went through it. Identity crisis, pimples, raging hormones, I hated middle school, it was the fucking worst,” Maddie groaned.

  “Speaking of pimples, I was at the store the other day and I looked down into my basket. Zit paste and wrinkle cream. What’s bad about that scenario? They were both for me. I mean, god! If I have wrinkles, shouldn’t I get a pass on bad skin? Mother nature can be one cruel bitch,” Jane said.

  “You should try my eye cream, Jane, it’s fabulous,” Charlie suggested.

  “Charlie, have you gone to the more earth friendly products yet? You always get the one’s that test on animals.”

  “Maddie, I would blind a basket of bunnies any day of the week if it meant younger looking skin.” Charlie admitted.

  “Whatever, Cruella. I bet you use the tears of Cambodian orphans as moisturizer,” Maddie teased with an eye roll.

  “If it worked, hell yes.” She would probably draw the line at orphan tears, but then again maybe not.

  The wine was flowing and the lips were flapping. And like always, the conversation turned sexual. It’s just one of those things.

  “You know who has the sweetest gig ever? Smurfette. Think about it. Only female in the village, 99 smurfs to choose from, all with different personalities. ‘I think today I’ll take Hefty, tomorrow the one that can build things.’ I mean, you’d never get bored,” Katrine brought up randomly. It doesn’t get more random than smurf sex.

  “And when she wants to work out her daddy issues, there’s Papa Smurf, nice,” Izzie added.