by Linda, R.
“I better go and speak to him.” Linc pressed a kiss to the side of my head and released my hand.
“Not without me.” I reached for his arm, gripping it tight, and walked with him to the doors. Bailey caught my eye on the way out and gave me an excited two thumbs up with a big smile on her face. Jack sat beside her looking like the cat that got the cream. He shot me a wink as Linc and I stepped through the doors.
The hallway was empty. Nate couldn’t have gotten that far unless he ran. I looked at Linc as he ran his hands through his hair nervously.
“Where’d he go?” I asked.
A thumping sound came from around the corner. We approached slowly, peering around the edge of the wall where we saw Nate kicking the baseboard with his shiny, pointed black shoes.
“Dammit.” He muttered a string of curse words that would make a sailor blush.
“Nate.” I stepped forward, only to be held back by Linc, with him positioning himself in front of me. For protection? From Nate? Nate would never hurt me. I was his sister. We looked out for each other.
His eyes flicked between Linc and me. I couldn’t read the expression on his face.
“You.” He pointed at Linc. “You did this.”
He charged for Linc, grabbing his shirt in his fists, and shoved him into the wall behind us.
“This is your fault. You played me for a fool,” he seethed at Linc.
I closed my eyes, terrified he was going to hurt him.
“Nate, stop. Please,” I begged, reaching out to pull his arm off Linc.
“Step back, Ace. He’s right to do this. I expected it.” Linc’s voice was so subdued.
“Do what?”
“Break my nose. Do your worst, brother. I deserve it.”
I couldn’t watch. I could not watch my brother beat up his best friend. There had to be a better way. Couldn’t he see Linc and I were perfect for each other?
“Nate?” I said again but stopped when he began laughing.
He released Linc and smoothed down his shirt, still laughing. “I’m not going to break your nose.” His eyes focused on me. “Yet. But if your hurt her, I can’t be held accountable for my actions. Got it?”
“Loud and clear. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on hurting her.” Linc smiled then came over and wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Well, what was that all about, then?” I gestured to the wall Nate just had Linc pinned against.
“I lost the bet.” Nate groaned and kicked the wall again.
“What bet?” I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms in front of me.
“Jack bet me that you two would get your acts together and finally hook up by the wedding. I, however, bet against him, sure it wouldn’t happen because I’ve been waiting years for you two shits to stop dancing around each other and finally bite the bullet.” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“You knew?” I gasped.
“How?” Linc asked at the same time.
“You guys were so obvious. You.” He pointed at Linc. “Always fixing your hair and straightening your clothes whenever Indie walked into a room, preening like a god damn kitten.” He laughed. “And, Indie, I’ve never known anyone try so hard at sport and fail, continuously, over the years so this idiot would keep teaching you. And don’t get me started on the scary movies. Newsflash, you both hate horror films, yet you both watched them all the time, just so you could end up curled up together on the couch.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Sweet. Touching. Really.”
I couldn’t believe he knew. All this time.
“How much?” Linc asked.
“What?”
“How much did you lose to Jack-ass?”
“Stop calling him Jack-ass. It’s not nice. And it’s not true.” I stomped my foot.
“Sorry, Ace. The name stays, at least for now.”
“Stupid ass,” I mumbled, and Linc grinned. “How much did you bet Jack?”
“Five.”
“Five bucks? That’s it?” I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t more. Nate had a tendency to exaggerate sometimes, but he shook his head.
“Five hundred dollars,” he groaned. My mouth dropped open in shock.
“Sucks to be you, man.” Linc laughed and started leading me back to the ballroom.
“You can split it with me,” Nate said, jogging to catch up.
“Hell, no. That’s your fault for trying to make money off me and your sister.” He paused with one hand on the door handle and looked at Nate. “So, we’re all good?”
“Yeah, we’re all good, unless…”
“I hurt her, but it won’t happen, because I plan on making her my wife.” Linc grinned and pushed the doors open.
My mouth dropped open.
“Close your mouth, Ace. You’re drooling.” He tapped my chin with his finger.
“Stupid ass,” I mumbled, still trying to wrap my head around the whole wife comment.
Linc winked at me and walked off.
“You’re really okay with this?” I asked Nate.
“Yes. I’m just surprised it took you both this long.” He stood beside me with his arms crossed.
“We both thought you’d freak out.”
“Well, if it was anyone else, I might have, but it’s Linc. He’s loved you forever, and he’s always done right by you. He’s a good guy.”
“He really is,” I agreed. “Can I ask you something though?”
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about his accident?” I didn’t know what made me think of it, but I was suddenly curious why they would keep it from me.
Nate ran a hand over his face and sighed. “You’d left pretty mad. I wanted you to have a few days to cool off before I called you, but then he was fine, and I didn’t see the point in worrying you over nothing. Or stressing him out when he needed time to recover. Sorry, sis. I should have told you, but I was looking out for you both.”
“I guess that makes sense. Still not happy I only just found out, but it’s in the past,” I said, falling silent as my gaze met Linc’s.
“You happy?” Nate asked.
“Yeah.” I sighed dreamily as I watched Linc talking to my parents. He was intense, his hands waving around, and whatever he was saying appeared to have the desired effect. My mother hugged him, and my dad shook his hand, clapping him on the back and pulling him in for one of those awkward man hugs.
“What was that?” I asked when he came back over and pressed a kiss to my lips.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Nate cleared his throat and looked away, pretending to see something interesting on the other side of the room and leaving us alone.
“That was me speaking to your parents.” Linc wrapped his arms around my waist and started swaying to the music.
“About what?”
“Us.”
“What about us?”
“Just told them that as much as I tried not to, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“And?” I asked hopefully.
“What more do you want?” he teased. “I asked your dad for permission to marry you,” he said casually, like it was no big deal.
“You did what?” I screeched, pulling back.
“He said yes. Seemed like he couldn’t wait to give you away. Do you irritate your folks that much?” He laughed.
“He said yes?” I was shocked. After the look on their faces earlier, I was prepared for a war.
“Seems like they knew as well. Apparently, everyone knew but us.”
“So, we’re getting married. Is that what you’re telling me?” I asked as Linc grabbed my hands and pushed me out, spinning me under his arm and bringing me back in again. When did he learn to dance like that?
“Not so fast, Ace. I haven’t proposed…yet.” He brought his lips down to mine.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Linc
There was a party after the reception that I was really keen on skipping. I had a girlfrien
d I wanted to spend as much time alone with as possible. But things rarely worked out the way I’d hoped. The after party somehow ended up occurring in our room. Well, Indie’s room, because Jack-ass had the key and let everyone in, but the connecting door meant my room was open for all as well.
It had probably been the most stressful night I’d ever had. Nate being okay with me and Indie meant a lot. The fact that he had known for years and hadn’t said anything was surprising, though. If it had been the other way around, I would have been pissed, then I’d have come around and dealt with it and probably ended up teasing him about it constantly. But all he said was, “About time,” and that was it.
The fact that Nate had been so cool about it gave me the confidence to speak to their parents. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I had been earlier when I was convinced I was a dead man. And again, they surprised me. Sure, they were a little disappointed they had to find out by catching us hiding in a corner, but they understood our hesitation at announcing it straight away, and after I reassured them I had her best interests at heart, and I intended to marry her one day, they were thrilled.
All that lying to ourselves and everyone else, all that sneaking around and petty games, and it was all for nothing. We had nothing to worry about at all. Everyone was happy for us. They’d taken bets, for crying out loud, on when we’d get together officially. Jack had taken that bet with more than just Nate, and if my calculations were correct, he was about two grand richer right now, which might explain all the champagne he ordered from room service. He had better be fixing up that bill when we checked out.
Indie’s laughter floated across the room, catching my attention immediately. She was giggling at something Kenzie had said, and I stood mesmerised by her and her smile.
“So, how does it feel?” Brody came and stood beside me.
“What?”
“Being whipped.” He laughed.
“Feels like I got the girl. Finally.” I smiled at Indie, who had noticed I was watching her.
“Took you long enough.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I shrugged, not really caring that it took a long time. I had a lifetime to make up for the time we missed.
“Harper and I have been talking again,” Brody murmured.
“Again? What do you mean?”
“Geez, man, you’ve been living under a rock this week. Or is it because I don’t wear a skirt and go by the name of Indie that you don’t pay any attention to me?” He shook his head.
“Sorry, I have been kind of preoccupied. Tell me what you mean by ‘again.’”
“If you paid attention, you would have known Harper and I dated a few years ago, back when she was just starting at uni, but for whatever reasons, it didn’t work out. After a while, she moved back to Blackhill, and I stayed in the city to finish my degree.”
“You guys dated and broke up. How did we not know about this?” I didn’t remember him having a girlfriend while away at school.
“Nate knew.”
“Of course, he did.” Nate knew everything, didn’t he? “So?”
“So, what?”
“You and Harper?”
“Nah, man, nothing. It was just weird running into her here of all places after so long,” Brody said, walking away.
“Right,” I said with a nod. I was pretty sure there was more to the story, but I really didn’t care. I just wanted to kick everyone out and get Indie all to myself, but instead, I followed Brody out to the balcony where the guys were hanging around drinking beers.
The sun was almost up when everyone decided to call it a night and go back to their rooms. Indie was tidying up the room when I grabbed her hand and dragged her out the door.
“Linc, what are we doing?” she whispered as we rushed down the hallway to the elevators.
“I want to see something,” I said, pushing her in the elevator and kissing her quickly.
Once the elevator reached the bottom floor, I led Indie outside and to the beach, where I collapsed on the sand and pulled her down with me.
“What—” she began to ask, but I cut her off with a kiss.
“Just watch.”
We sat quietly on the warm sand and watched the sun gradually rise on the horizon. “I wanted to see the sunrise at least once while being here.” I pressed a kiss to the top of her shoulder. “But every morning, I’ve been too preoccupied with watching you sleep that I’ve always missed it.”
“Sorry about that,” she teased.
“I’m not. I enjoyed myself.”
“This is nice. I wish this week didn’t have to end,” she said quietly, leaning her head back on my shoulder.
“Me too. But we’ve got more than this week together.” I tightened my arms around her waist.
“No, we don’t. I leave for uni in a couple of days and don’t graduate for months.”
“We’ve waited fifteen years for this, Indie. A few months won’t kill us.” I hoped I was right but feared I couldn’t be more wrong. Sure, we’d waited fifteen years, but now I had her in my arms and in my bed, I didn’t think I could let go.
“I’ll come home every holiday and weekend,” she insisted.
“And I’ll come to you every other weekend and holiday. We can do this, Ace.” I was determined to do this. I wouldn’t let distance ruin us. I gazed at the horizon as the first sliver of light appeared over the water. “Look.” I pointed at the sunrise. The sky was a blend of pink, purple, and orange.
Indie was quiet as we watched the sun, and I knew it was because she was thinking about what leaving here meant for us. I let her think, knowing she’d speak when she was ready.
“It’s beautiful. Thank you for bringing me out here,” she said after a while.
“Anytime, Ace. Come on. Let’s go to bed.”
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
Indie
I was going to throw up, I was so nervous. What if things didn’t go the way I hoped? What if I made a fool of myself and he realised this was all a mistake?
What if?
What if?
What if?
“Will you relax?” Bailey said as she ran the brush through my hair one more time.
“I can’t. I’m so nervous. I don’t know how to do this.” Butterflies erupted in my stomach, making the queasy feeling all the worse.
“You don’t have to do anything. It will all fall into place, okay? Trust me?”
“She’s right, baby cakes. All you gotta do is wear this, and everything will work itself out,” Jack said, entering the bathroom with something scrunched in his hands.
“What is that?” I cringed because I was almost certain I didn’t want to know the answer.
“Lingerie, of course.” Jack waved the flimsy black fabric in my face.
“I am not wearing that,” I insisted, snatching it out of his hands and throwing it on the counter.
“Yes, you are. Tell her, B.” He folded his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. I was beginning to regret calling in reinforcements for this, but the truth was I need all the help I could get. We only had one night left in paradise, then it was on a plane and back to reality. And reality really seemed to suck, all of a sudden. Reality meant Linc and I would be hours apart until I graduated. It meant a long-distance relationship and lots of phone calls. It meant rushed visits on the weekends when we had a spare minute to see each other. It meant being alone, again, for the majority of the time. It also meant this was our last night together for who knew how long.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure you could wear a potato sack and Linc would still throw you down and boink your brains out, but—”
“Boink?” I laughed.
“He’s right, Indie. You need to wear that. It’ll blow his mind.” Bailey agreed with Jack. Traitorous bitch.
“Okay. Fine. Get out.” I ushered them out of the room and changed into the black lingerie. It was cute and sexy. Black lace underwear with a matching black lace baby doll-style top. I discarded the fishnets
and the stiletto heels Jack had tried to persuade me to wear earlier and opted for a bathrobe to hide myself until the time was right.
Jack and Bailey were waiting for me when I returned to the room.
“You ready?” Bailey asked.
“I think so.” I bit my nails. I shouldn’t be nervous. This was what I wanted.
“Can’t say I’m not a little disappointed that I won’t be the one cashing in.” Jack sighed dramatically. “But you know where I am if you need me.” He kissed me on the cheek and walked out with Bailey, leaving me alone.
I paced the entire room thirty-three times before Linc came back from his surf. But the moment I saw him, all the nerves disappeared. This was it. The moment. Everything had led to this point in time. There was no going back after this, and I was more than ready.
“Hey, Ace.” He smiled and kissed me quickly.
“Stupid ass,” I greeted him in return.
“I’m just going to have a quick shower, okay?”
“Okay.” The moment the bathroom door closed, I slipped off the robe so I was only wearing the lingerie Jack had picked.
The door opened three seconds later, and Linc came rushing into the room. The sound of water from the shower filling the room. “What’s with these?” He was holding the stilettos and fishnets in his hand when his eyes landed on me. “Ace?”
“Yes?” I stood still, unsure of what to do next as his gaze swept over my entire body, his grey eyes darkening. He looked like he was warring with himself.
“Indie.” His voice was low, a growl, and sent chills down my spine. “You have three seconds to change your mind and get dressed before I do something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.” He spoke slowly and deliberately, giving me a chance to back out, but I wasn’t going to. I wanted this.
“One.”
He closed the distance between us in three long strides. I wasn’t backing down.
“Two.”
His hands found their way into my hair as he tilted my head and kissed the column of my throat. I wanted this.