“I’m going to take off. Just wanted to return your camera. I meant to get it to you earlier, but shit kept getting in the way. Then I kept forgetting. So, yeah. It’s on the table.” He was babbling. It shouldn’t have made me feel better, but it did.
I stayed silently frozen to the spot, too afraid to move. I couldn’t risk dropping my towel again or throwing myself at him. Both were a very real possibility right now. I waited ’til he was nothing more than a speck on the horizon before I relaxed the death grip I had on my towel.
After changing into a clean pair of pyjamas, I grabbed another beer. When I tossed the cap towards the bin, it pinged off the side, landing on the floor. Today was seriously not my day. When I bent down to pick it up, knowing if I didn’t I’d more than likely step on it later, I spied the camera on the table.
There it was. In perfect condition, my favourite camera. I had no idea how Gage had ended up with it or even where he’d found it, really, though I didn’t give a shit. He’d had it. It was safe. Now it was back where it belonged. With me.
Grabbing my phone, I went to text him, only to realise I didn’t have his number. The thought crossed my mind to ask Payton, but I didn’t want her jumping to the wrong conclusion. The absolute last thing I needed was for her to be asking questions. Questions I didn’t have answers to. Questions I definitely didn’t want her to ask. After pacing for a few minutes, I decided I wouldn’t worry about it for now. I’d catch up with him tomorrow. I’d just thank him then.
I’d finished the six pack by the time I stumbled my way into bed. I hadn’t intended to drink that much, it kinda just happened.
Grabbing my phone from the bedside table, I scrolled through my social media accounts, becoming bored very quickly. Was I really supposed to give a shit what some friend of a friend had for dinner in San Francisco? ’Cause if I was, there was something wrong with me. I couldn’t have cared less.
ClickChick7: Ever done something dumb?
Thankfully he didn’t make me wait too long for a reply. My phone chirped almost instantly.
DrDolittle2.0: Too often.
DrDolittle2.0: What’d ya do?
ClickChick7: Someone I shouldn’t have.
DrDolittle2.0: Do I really need to hear this? ☹
ClickChick7: Shit!!!! No!!!! Not like that. ☹ I kissed someone I shouldn’t have.
DrDolittle2.0: Just a kiss?
ClickChick7: No.
DrDolittle2.0: ???
ClickChick7: Well, yeah. But I wanted more.
DrDolittle2.0: Did he?
ClickChick7: Based on the bulge in his pants…yeah.
He didn’t reply. Maybe I’d been too bold. It was the damn beer. It made me burp and fart and say whatever dumb ass thing popped into my beer-soaked brain. I should have kept my mouth shut.
Time dragged. I kicked the blankets away, switched off the lamp, knocked my book on the floor, and dropped the phone. I didn’t want to know. I didn’t want to stay awake all night watching for those three little dots to put me out of my misery. Closing my eyes, I tried to think of anything other than Gage McIntyre. Nothing worked. Every damn thought in my head somehow led back to him. What the hell was wrong with me?
Just when I’d convinced myself that DrDolittle2.0 never wanted to have another thing to do with me, my phone lit up the room.
DrDolittle2.0: He did.
DrDolittle2.0: Get some sleep, Carly. I’ll see you tomorrow. Xoxo
“Thank fuck!” I exhaled, as I read his simple message.
When I woke up the next morning I had the hangover from hell. It pissed me off more than it should’ve because usually I drank way more than I did last night, and when I did, I deserved to feel like ass. Today though, I didn’t deserve this. After bumbling my way through a quick shower, I made myself a huge plate of scrambled eggs and bacon. I was ravenous.
With the whole room smelling like bacon, my mouth was watering. I guess I wasn’t the only one. Just as I pulled out my chair to dig in, a knock sounded on the door. Before I had the chance to answer, in strode Connor, looking way too serious for this time of day. Surely someone couldn’t have pissed him off already.
“Hi Connor.”
“Carly.”
“What time you heading in today?”
“I think Payton’s picking me up around two.”
“Oh.”
“Want to come in with us?
“Nah, all good. I’ll drive. Just checking to see if you needed a lift. You know, since we’re going the same way.”
“Thanks.”
He was eyeing off my breakfast like a man who hadn’t seen food in a week. Even though I’d been looking forward to stuffing my face and acting like a pig, I offered Connor some. At first he pretended like he was going to say no, but before I knew it, he was shovelling in forkfuls of eggs. After I whipped up another batch, we sat down and enjoyed our breakfast, making small talk. Connor let slip some embarrassing childhood stories about his brothers, conveniently leaving out anything that could incriminate him. In return, I fed him some of the juicy details about Payton. Nothing that would get me banned from her bakery, I wasn’t a complete moron after all, but I gave him enough fodder to make a few years of family dinners interesting.
After he helped wash the dishes, Connor headed for the door. “I better leave you to make yourself beautiful.”
“Are you saying I’m not already beautiful?”
He looked stunned. Since I’d come to know the McIntyre boys, Connor had been the wild card. He was hard to read. Always so serious. Where Beau laid everything out in the open, Gage was just adorable, and Ryan reserved, Connor was intimidating. So to have him squirming and blushing was making me feel ten feet tall.
“Ummm…”
Chuckling at his obvious discomfort, I waited a few seconds before letting him off the hook. “It’s all good, Connor. I know what you mean. See you at the wedding.”
“Ah, yep. See you then.” He bolted out the door like someone lit his ass on fire.
Once he was gone, I took my time. I had ages to make myself look half decent. Why waste the day worrying about it? Needing some fresh air, I grabbed my camera, slung it over my shoulder, and headed out across the paddock.
“Shit!” I screamed, my voice echoing through the openness of the paddocks. I’d gotten so caught up snapping pictures, I’d lost track of time. It was already twelve thirty and I had to be ready soon. More than that, I was at least a twenty minute walk from home. On the upside, I’d taken some photos I knew were going to be amazing. The fight between two huge grey kangaroos that stood taller than I did was bound to give me some unique images. I couldn’t wait to get them on the computer and see how they turned out.
Grabbing my stuff, I dusted the grass off my butt and half jogged home. By the time I got there I was covered in sweat. I stank. And my hair was plastered to my face. Thankfully I lived by myself because no one deserved to see the completely dishevelled mess I was right now.
At one o’clock there was a knock on the door. I had just stepped out of the shower and wrapped myself in a towel. My hair was still dripping and I didn’t have a scrap on.
“Carly! You ready?”
I should have fucking known.
Payton didn’t trust me. Not when it came to dressing up. She never had. And I had no idea why. Okay, I might have some idea. After the ridiculous importance my family had always put on appearances, making out as though it was the most important thing in the world, the moment I’d moved my shit and broke free, I vowed I’d never live like that again. To me, you could look just as sexy in a pair of well-fitting jeans and a top as you could in a some fancy ass dress.
“No, I’m not bloody ready! You’re an hour early.”
“Yeah, I am. And I know you. Get your sexy ass out here and let me fix your hair!”
For some reason, Payton had insisted on treating me like her childhood Barbie doll. She’d convinced me to squeeze my fat ass into a black dress that was too short and way too tight. I
was petrified that before the night was out, the girls would pop out and say hello.
“Holy shit, Carly!” Beau exclaimed as he breezed through the front door as I was cramming my feet into a pair of sparkly silver stilettos.
“What’s wrong?” Suddenly I was panicking. I knew this dress was a bad idea. Payton wouldn’t listen, but the look on Beau’s face only confirmed that I was right. Tugging at the hem, I tried to cover my exposed thighs.
“You look fucking hot!”
I was not expecting that. Maybe a ‘you look nice’ or some other boring, polite response. The way Beau’s eyes roved unashamedly up and down my body sent goose bumps all over me. This was awkward. Thankfully, just when I was about to freak out and pluck my thong out of my ass and slip my jeans back on, Payton stepped into the room. She’d just ducked into my bedroom to change into her own figure hugging dress.
On me, dresses that showed off every flaw looked terrible. On Payton, that girl didn’t have any flaws. She was all soft curves and boobs. And from the way Beau’s eyes were bugging out of his head, those boobs had definitely captured his attention.
“Well. Fuck. Me. Sideways.”
“You like?” Payton put her hands above her head and twirled, a beautiful, beaming smile on her face.
Where she’d forced me into a skin-tight number, Payton’s navy-blue dress clung to her boobs before flowing out and skimming her knees. She was more than a little unstable on her sky high black heels as she fidgeted with her chunky orange necklace. I barely recognised my best friend. She was filled with a self-confidence I wished I possessed. It was a confidence I’d never seen on her before yet it suited her. I guess I had Beau to thank for that. He’d given her that. He’d brought it out of her and made her shine. I couldn’t help but love him just a little harder for that.
“Do we have to go?” he growled as he moved towards her, a hungry look reflected in his eyes.
As soon as Payton had appeared, I’d been forgotten. Even though it was the way it should be, it stung.
“All right, love birds. Let’s get going. I don’t want to be late.” I needed to get these two in public before things weren’t so PG.
The wedding was perfect. Exactly as it should be. Derek teared up. Mia looked stunning. Derek’s best man, Zoe, filled the role perfectly, even wearing the same suit as the groom himself. The only way you could even distinguish Zoe wasn’t a dude standing beside her best friend was her long, brown hair that curled over her shoulders. The one that stole the show though, and had me unable to stop sneaking photos on my phone, was the most beautiful little flower girl I’d ever seen. And I’d gone to more than my fair share of weddings. Mia’s niece, Matilda, wore a puffy white dress with a fat purple bow around her waist, in the same colour as her mother, Mia’s maid of honour, Josie. As Matilda had skipped down the aisle tossing rose petals in the air, you could hear the ooohs and aahs from the captivated guests.
When Derek picked Mia up off the floor, her feet dangling in the air, I couldn’t stop myself from bursting out into a huge, noisy fit of laughter. While first appearances had Mia as the perfect bride, her hair perfect, makeup flawless, her white gown immaculate, it wasn’t until Derek literally swept her off her feet that I caught a glimpse of the hot pink runners on her feet. It was as it should be. So very Mia.
I felt an elbow dig into my ribs and saw the scowl Payton was shooting in my direction. Without a word, I pointed at Mia and watched Payton’s face fall as she saw what I already had. The shoes.
“Oh my god. She didn’t.”
“Oh yes she did. It’s brilliant.” Digging my phone out of my purse, I snapped a few more pictures. I couldn’t help myself. If the professional photographer didn’t capture these types of memories, I certainly would.
These were the shots people wanted. Yeah, they still needed the traditional, posed shots. But it was the unscripted ones that always made for the best pictures. The most real. They showed the people behind the makeup and the fancy suits. It showed who they truly were and how much they really loved each other. These were the ones I loved to take. If I was being honest, it was probably why I did my job.
As Mia and Derek started down the aisle, I watched as they were swallowed up by the well-wishers. I didn’t want to be a part of that crush, so I slipped out the side door and into the afternoon sun.
Outside I settled my sunglasses over my eyes. I leaned back against the cool stone and stared down at my feet. I’d only been standing a couple of minutes and already they were killing me. It was pretty much guaranteed by the time dinner was served, I’d be running around barefoot. I was so jealous of Mia right now. If she had to walk at all, if Derek let her feet touch the ground, she’d be comfortable in her cushioned runners. Bitch. I blamed Payton.
“Running away already?” a deep, timbered voice asked, stepping in front of me, blocking the sun’s warmth.
Glancing up at Gage, my mouth was suddenly dry. He looked hot as hell in jeans, but in a suit, my mouth might have been dry, but my panties were anything but.
“N-not at all.” I hated that I stuttered. I wished I could act all cool, calm, and collected. That wasn’t me, though. I was the girl who was more likely to snort wine out her nose than say the right thing at the right time. “I just needed some air.”
“And to avoid the mayhem?”
“See! I’m not the only one, am I?”
He looked sheepish, like he’d been caught. “No. You’re not the only one.”
“It’s okay. I won’t tell.”
For some reason, I liked the idea of sharing a secret with Gage. I didn’t understand it, but I couldn’t be bothered questioning it either. It is what it is. And I was okay with that.
Before I could say another thing, the main doors burst open and Derek stepped out with Mia in his arms. I knew that girl’s toes wouldn’t touch the ground today. In Derek’s eyes, that girl walked on water, and today was no different. Behind them the sea of familiar faces spilled out into the shade of the old gum trees, gossiping furiously.
A group of old ladies, probably in their mid-sixties, gathered just to the side of where Gage and I stood, completely oblivious to our presence.
“Did you see that, that girl standing up there beside Derek?”
“Isn’t that the one from the debacle with the McLaren boys a few years back?”
“Jenna’s boys?”
“Yeah. She was the one that caused all the trouble. And there she was. Standing up there like she was one of the boys. In a suit, no less!”
They were completely beside themselves. A female best man. It was scandalous, really. And their reaction, well, it was completely hysterical.
The few times I’d met Zoe she seemed fun enough. Sure, she been through some heavy shit, and I wasn’t even aware of the details, but she was always up for some fun. And she loved fiercely. Zoe was one of those women who would come across in one of two ways. She could be your best and most loyal friend, or she could be a complete bitch and cut you from her life with a knife so sharp it’d barely leave a scar. Thankfully, I seemed to have fallen into the friend category. At least for now.
Feeling the need to defend her, I piped up. “Did you see Mia’s shoes, Gage? Highly inappropriate.”
He must have known what I was doing without an explanation. “What was she thinking? Walking down the aisle, in a church no less, in pink runners.”
“She could have at least worn white joggers!” I added scandalously.
Gage leant down and whispered in my ear. The first time I didn’t catch what he said. I was too consumed by his intoxicating scent. It made me dizzy. I had no idea what it was, but it was uniquely Gage. Gage and sin combined.
“Carly?”
“Huh?”
“I asked if you wanted to get out of here and grab a drink before the reception?”
Damn! I was hoping he was going to ask if I wanted to rip all his clothes off and fuck his brains out. I still hadn’t been able to forget how weak his kiss made my knees.
Or how hot his body felt pressed against mine. Or how he tasted.
Not trusting myself to speak, I nodded and stretched out my hand. When his huge paw wrapped around mine, I felt my pulse take flight. I could feel my whole body humming. Refusing to acknowledge the burning in my cheeks, I followed Gage to his car and we headed to the pub.
By the time we made it to the reception, over half an hour late, my sides ached from laughing so much. I was wobbling in my shoes so badly that I was half wrapped around Gage just to stay vertical and my eyes were more than a little glassy. In other words, I was half pissed.
“Payton!” I yelled as Gage shuffled me towards our table.
His heavy fingers dug into my hips but I didn’t care. A few times I’d caught him staring down my top, not even attempting to hide his blatant ogling.
After kissing Payton’s cheek, Beau handed me a glass of champagne. Instead of taking it, I reached for the beer in his other hand and stole the brown bottle. There was no way I was switching to champagne. I mightn’t be making the best decisions right now, but I wasn’t so drunk that I’d start on that just yet. One glass of bubbles and I’d spend the next two days feeling sorry for myself. This wasn’t my first rodeo.
“Hey!” Beau objected, looking down at the girly glass in his hand with disgust. Payton just giggled, stole the glass from his fingers, and in one long gulp, emptied it.
Looked like I wasn’t going to be the only one suffering tomorrow.
“Where’d you two disappear to?” Beau enquired smugly.
Gage moved behind me and I could feel the warmth from his chest pressed against my naked skin. It was nice. I felt it everywhere. Even through my buzz, I knew I didn’t want to let it go.
“Oh, was Dr. Dolittle off saving some poor precious animal?” Payton gushed, as she wriggled her way into Beau’s arms. Although he made it look like he was putting up some resistance, we both knew it was all fake. There was nowhere he’d rather his wife be than safe in his arms.
Meet The McIntyres - The Complete Series Page 43