Katie thought about what she had learned on the drive. Well...continued to think would be more accurate. After the big ‘reveal’ she had told Jason she had a headache and wanted to take a nap, and had sat with her eyes closed for the last hour of the drive, faking sleep.
She realized during that meditative interlude that she wasn’t even mad at Nick, really. Maybe it was because so much time had passed - and since he was gone, it’s not like she could confront him about it, anyway – but, really, she wasn’t devastated, or even upset, that he had been with other girls.
She was mainly mad that Jason had kept it from her. She had always trusted him, and it felt like he had betrayed that trust. She knew logically that he was not the one to blame but it still stung.
As she and Jason walked up to the hotel lobby, Katie texted Sophie to let her know that she had arrived, and to ask how Sophie was feeling. Sophie texted back that she was feeling much better and that she would see her soon for massages and facials.
When Katie looked up from the text exchange, she saw Jason walking towards her with two card keys in his hands. “Got us all checked in!” he smiled cheerfully, “Come on. You're on the third floor. I'll carry your bags.”
Katie smiled back weakly. She wasn't over being mad at him yet...but DANG IT she did like how he was always thinking of her needs, taking care of her...why did he have to be so infuriatingly gallant?
When they arrived at the door to her hotel room, Jason inserted the key and held the door open for her. After she had walked inside, he smiled and placed her bags just inside the door.
He gave her a quick hug and said, “OK, Kit Kat, I'm gonna go and get settled in my room. Text or call if you need anything, OK?”
She nodded, feeling torn. As mad as she was right now, she didn't want to see him go. Still, she let him walk away down the hall without saying anything.
Katie spent a few minutes exploring the hotel room. She poked around in the empty drawers, unpacked a few of her items of clothing, and hung some of her dresses in the closet. She looked in the bathroom, opened up the tiny bottles of shampoo and conditioner and smelled them. She pulled aside the drapes and spent a few minutes gazing down on the people hustling and bustling through the courtyard that her room had a view of.
She stood in the middle of the room and sighed. She was beginning to feel a bit claustrophobic in here. She decided to head downstairs to check out the hotel grounds. She pocketed her key and grabbed her purse, heading out the door and down the hall. Even though she was only planning to walk around the hotel and surrounding landscaped areas, she still couldn't help feeling the small flutter of excitement that accompanies exploration of new territories.
Even if it was just a hotel she had never been to before, she was headed out into the great unknown!
While she was passing through the lobby, she saw a familiar face at the check in desk. She walked up and slung an arm around the shoulders of her diamond friend, and the two of them chatted as Chelle got herself checked in.
“So, where's David?” Katie asked, careful not to let the cheerful tone in her voice waver.
“Oh, he couldn't make it. He had to work at the last minute. But, that's OK, because I was able to bum a ride with Eddie so I didn't have to drive by myself.”
“Well, that's good,” Katie smiled and then gave her friend an impromptu hug, “I'm so glad you're here, Chelle! I'm so glad we're reconnecting!”
Chelle returned the hug, and when she pulled back, she looked directly into Katie's eyes. Katie thought she saw uncertainty there.
Chelle said hesitantly, “Look, there's something that I need to talk to you about.”
“OK,” Katie agreed readily.
“Umm...maybe we should go sit down,” Chelle replied, and the two of them settled onto one of the comfortable couches in the lobby.
As soon as they were seated, Katie asked, “Are you pregnant?”
Chelle laughed nervously and said, “No, I wish that was all it was.”
Katie took her friend's hand, “Look, whatever it is, just tell me. It's better to know something than not to know it, even if it's unpleasant to hear.”
Chelle nodded and took a deep breath, then dove in, saying, “Look...I don't like to tell stories out of school, but I really think that you need to know this before you see everyone at the wedding tomorrow.”
Katie nodded.
Chelle plowed forward, “Here's the thing. After you left The Grill last night, I overheard Tiffany and Kylie talking about how awkward it was for them to be taking shots in front of you...when it was about stuff they had done with Nick.”
Chelle looked scared, and then blurted out, “Don't shoot the messenger, OK?”
Katie let out a wry bark of laughter. She said, “If I was going to shoot the messenger, I'd have to start with myself. I already figured that out, and then confirmed it. Apparently Nick cheated quite a lot during our relationship, a fact of which I was blissfully and stupidly unaware.”
“Not stupidly,” Chelle corrected.
Katie smiled a small, sad smile, “Thanks for saying that. I can't help but feel like an idiot, but thanks for telling me I'm not.”
Chelle rubbed her arm, “You OK, sweetie? Are you handling this OK?”
Katie nodded, “Yeah, you know...it was a long time ago. I'm not even that upset at Nick, truthfully. It’s weird because mostly...I just feel betrayed by Jason. I know he wasn't the one that did anything, but I don’t know, it’s just...he was my friend, too! He was my friend for a helluva lot longer than he was Nick's, as a matter of fact, and I just can't believe he didn't tell me.”
“Hmmm.” Chelle murmured noncommittally.
“What?” Katie asked.
Chelle shrugged, “I mean, it's just interesting is all. Even though Nick was the one who cheated on you and betrayed you, the only real emotion that you feel about it is directed at Jason.”
“Well, I'm probably just upset with Jason because...well, I mean, Nick is gone. So how can I be mad at him?” Katie defended.
Chelle said, “I don't know. Last night when you locked herself in the bathroom, you seemed PRETTY upset that Jason had been with all those girls. So here’s the real question you need to answer. Would it would bother you more if it had turned out to be Jason? Are you relieved that it's Nick?”
Katie opened her mouth to answer, and then closed it again when nothing came out. She thought for a minute and then opened her mouth again to speak. Again, nothing came out and she closed it, having said nothing.
Chelle smiled knowingly. She said, with a twinkle in her eye, “Just food for thought. Shall we head over to the facials and massages? We need to be there in a few minutes.”
Katie nodded, her head swimming, and they headed off across the hotel complex to find the day spa. She was supremely confused. Oh, well. Maybe a nice, luxurious massage would be just the thing to help her mentally refocus.
Katie and Chelle walked into the lobby area of the day spa, and the first people that they saw were Jason and Bobby's cousins, the Sloan Girls, AKA The Quad Squad. They were sitting on a long bench gossiping with a very radiant looking Sophie, and when Sophie looked up and saw Katie and Chelle, she squealed.
“Hey, Chelle! Katie! It's just gonna be a few more minutes. Katie, why don't you have a seat so we can grill you on your fabulous life in San Francisco? We haven't really had a chance to yet...”
Haley Sloan interjected cheerfully, “Ooooo, yes! It was so loud at the bar last night we really didn't get to talk. So, Katie, what's it like being a big-time lawyer?”
Katie laughed and sat down, as did Chelle.
Katie said, “Oh, man, I've already bored Chelle with this, so...sorry diamond friend. You have to sit through it again. Well, basically...it's not as exciting as it sounds. I'm on the fast track, that's true...but, honestly, when I think about making partner lately, it seems less like a dream job and more like...I don't know...prison. It seems like committing to 20 years of having no life. Which is biz
arre, because I thought that it's what I've always wanted.”
The Quad Squad and Sophie exchanged knowing looks, and Katie said, “What? What was that look?”
Sophie smiled mischievously and said, “Well, maybe you're figuring out that there's something else you've always wanted.”
Katie's eyes widened. She didn't know what to say. Was it possible they were talking about Jason? She decided to try and play it cool. “Well, yes, it's true. In just the short time I've been home, I've realized how much I've missed everyone all these years. I think I've been really lonely, you know?”
“Oh, we know...” The Quad Squad said in unison, and they all laughed. But Katie couldn't help but feel just a little unsettled that they were alluding to something that she was NOT comfortable talking about. Or even, you know, ACKNOWLEDGING.
Just then, Aunt Wendy and Sophie's mom, Grace, popped their heads into the waiting room.
“Hey, there, chickadees,” Aunt Wendy sing-songed, “I just wanted to make sure all my little chickees made it into the coop on time. Are y'all good?”
“We're good!” they all chorused.
“Are you staying for massages?” Sophie asked hopefully.
“Oh, gosh, no, honey,” Aunt Wendy waved off that idea, “We've got too much to do. We're busier'n a one armed paper hanger. We just wanted to check in on you girls!”
With that, the “Aunt Wendy Tornado” blew out again as quickly as it had blown in, and Grace along with it.
Just as the two women were headed out, the guys came in.
Katie waved at Jason with surprise, “Are you guys getting massages, too?”
Jason laughed, “Kit Kat, did you even read your itinerary? Did you even skim it?”
Katie swatted his arm playfully, and she definitely noticed the Quad Squad exchanging knowing glances during this little exchange.
Just then, the day spa attendant came out and told the assembled crowd, “OK, we're going to be calling you back in small groups. So, first we have the couple's massages. That's...” she consulted her clipboard, “Sophie and Bobby, and...let's see...Jason and Katie.”
Katie whipped her head around to look at Jason, “Did you have anything to do with this?”
Jason put his hands up in a 'not me' gesture and chuckled, “Hey, maybe it's a "best man/maid of honor" thing.”
Sophie placed her hands on Katie's shoulders from behind and pushed her toward the open door to the back. She trilled, “Clerical mix-up, booking snafu...fate...why overthink it? Just enjoy!”
With that, she sent Katie off after Jason with one final shove.
As Katie walked toward the back, suspicious of the whole thing, she could hear the Quad Squad giggling behind her.
--- ~ ---
Jason didn't know how he was going to make it through this massage. Every time he turned his head, he got another little glimpse of Katie's uncovered flesh. A shoulder here, a thigh there...it was enough to drive a man crazy.
His brain was so fogged with lust that he could barely string two coherent thoughts together. Luckily, he didn't have to, because Katie had been keeping up a steady patter of nervous chatter which he had barely had to grunt agreeably to every 30 seconds.
She had been, anyway, until the massage therapist had intervened, politely suggesting that their massages might be a more relaxing experience if they were enjoyed in silence.
God, that was fine with Jason. He was worried that he was going to be held responsible for remembering some tidbit she came out with during that long, nervous monologue...because, damn, he would never remember one word that was said when Katie Lawson was naked two feet away from him, and he was naked, too.
Just the knowledge that nothing separated their bodies but two feet of air and two flimsy sheets...aw, hell, who was he kidding? He was lying here wondering how he was going to make it through this massage, when what he should be wondering is how he was going to make it through this weekend!
Chapter Twenty
Katie headed back to her room to get ready for the rehearsal, and just prayed that she wouldn't run into anyone she knew on the way. She was far too shaky and addle-brained from spending an hour next to Justin, NAKED on a table while he was NAKED on a table two feet away, to be able to engage in conversation.
She shook her head to clear it.
Wow. She found that to be singularly ineffective.
The entire massage, all she had been able to do was think about the fact that she and Jason were within arm's reach of each other, with nothing but thin sheets covering their naughty bits...OH LORD! It was just too much. She was overheated.
She made it to her room without being stopped, and leaned against the inside of the door once she had closed it. She just needed to stop long enough to take a deep breath. Oh, man. She didn't feel like she had REALLY gotten to do that since she had arrived!
She ran a hand through her hair.
There was no time for it now, either. She had to get ready for the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner afterward.
She moved to the closet and slipped on a sleek red dress and strappy heels, then freshened her make-up, straightened her hair, and added a delicate gold chain and bracelet to the ensemble.
She realized that she had chosen to wear two things that were red today. Hmmm...could that be a coincidence? Or...was she subconsciously deciding to “dress to impress” a certain someone who REALLY liked how she looked in red?
A small smile played on her lips as she remembered an incident that had occurred in their sophomore year of high school. She had come to school in a new red sweater. Sure, she had been proud of it. She loved the “high” that came with wearing new clothes or shoes.
But she hadn't realized the true power of the red sweater until she had walked into English class. Jason had stared at her in a way she had never seen him stare at anyone. At first she hadn't liked it...but then, she sorta...had. It was a complicated feeling, and in order to get a little clarity on it, she asked Jason what was wrong with him.
All he said was, “Kit Kat, red is your color.”
She blushed thinking about how many nights she had played back that exchange in her head during high school. There was something so primal about the way he had said it to her.
It wasn’t even that it was some epic compliment or anything. It wasn’t so much about what he had said...no, it was more about the way he had stared and how he had said it.
OK, she needed to drop that mental topic. There was absolutely nothing good that could come from getting herself hot and bothered right now.
Moving on to less-arousing, more-stressful topics. Yep. That should do the trick!
She knew she was going to need to talk to Jason about...everything...before she left this weekend. She didn't think her mental health could stand another ten solid years of running away from it all.
She needed to clear the air with him about the night of Nick’s funeral, the weeks she had ignored him leading up to the funeral, and also the more recent incident in the cab of his truck in the back parking lot of Bella.
She decided that maybe after the rehearsal dinner, she would ask him to go for a walk or something - that way they could get all of it settled before the wedding, so there wouldn't be any weird tension between them.
Proud of herself for making the decision to put her big girl panties on and face Jason, she headed down to the rehearsal with renewed confidence.
--- ~ ---
Katie arrived at the rehearsal, filled with determination. She could take control of her life. It was possible! Her whole body thrummed with purpose and the vibrant electric current that it brings.
She was going to get the JASON SITUATION under control tonight, come hell or high water!
She walked into the lobby of the chapel where the wedding was being held to find a fun atmosphere of barely controlled chaos. The girls were standing together in little groups, chatting and laughing. The guys were horsing around, with Grandpa J keeping them from taking it too far. The older folks were
sitting in the back pews, talking in low tones. Aunt Wendy was moving from one group to another, asking questions, imparting information, and making notes on her ever-present clipboard.
Katie felt a delicious tingle at the small of her back and the hairs on her arms and the back of her neck stood up.
She whirled around to see who was staring at her...and there was Jason. Smiling devilishly, like the sexy cad that he was.
His eyes were taking her in, hungrily, and she felt her entire body coming to life.
Any illusions she had worked up within herself about the prospect of 'taking control' over the effect that Jason had on her were revealed to be utter nonsense.
They stood there like that, looking at one another, heat rising, until Aunt Wendy clapped her hands loudly and said, “This is it, ladies and gents. Let's get this show on the road. We're starting from the beginning, when the fellas are up at the alter and the ladies are about to walk in. So, go ahead and take your places – hens in the back, roosters in the front.”
The crowd began to move around them, but Jason and Katie stood still, entranced with each other, mesmerized.
Finally, Jason strode slowly past her, catching her arm as he went. He leaned his mouth close to her ear as he went past, and whispered huskily, “Red is definitely your color.”
--- ~ ---
Jason stood at the front of the church, watching as the girls made their way down the aisle. He smiled at each of his cousins in turn, and then at Amber.
Then...whoa. Katie glided down the aisle, moving effortlessly, looking like she was walking on a cloud.
What was it about Katie Lawson that caused the whole world to disappear every time she was in the room?
What was it that made him care about NOTHING but seeing her smile every time he saw that gorgeous face?
Damn.
He made a decision, right then and there. He had known it before, but he realized it for sure now. He and Katie were going to have to have it out at some point this weekend. They needed to put all their cards on the table and get on the same page.
My First (Jason & Katie) Page 19