The Morning After: Starting from Zero Box Set

by Dallen, Maggie

  “But what you’ve got to understand is…Connie is everything to me. Don’t make me choose between my best friend and my wife because I will pick my wife every time. That’s what marriage means, choosing your spouse first, last, and always.”

  Mark’s mouth fell open. Guilt, fear, and anger were waging a nasty battle in his gut.

  But Robbie wasn’t done. “Look, I know your ex twisted you up in knots and broke your heart. No offense, but she was a bitch.”

  Mark met Robbie’s eyes and found himself muttering, “None taken.” He actually enjoyed hearing his ex being badmouthed.

  Robbie leaned over the table. “But just because you had one lousy experience with love doesn’t mean everyone does. If you would stop wallowing in the past and let yourself move on, you might actually find love for yourself one day.”

  Mark let out a little snort of disgust, which Robbie ignored.

  They sat in silence for a while. Mark was at a complete loss for words. His friend was making a mistake, how could he not see that? He couldn’t just stand by and let it happen.

  Robbie finally sighed and broke the awkward silence. “I know you don’t like Connie. I know you don’t approve of our relationship. But quite frankly, I don’t care.”

  Mark’s lips twitched a bit at that. It wasn’t everyday that Robbie stood up to someone and Mark found himself applauding his friend even if he was standing up to the wrong person. “You don’t care, huh?”

  Robbie gave a decisive nod. “I don’t care. We may be close and you know me well but you’re not in this relationship with us. You don’t know what we have. Not to be harsh but….your opinion doesn’t matter.”

  Mark jerked back. His friend’s words were harsh but they were effective. Taking a long swig of his drink, he met Robbie’s serious gaze. “Fine. You’re right. I’ve made my feelings clear and that’s the best I can do.”

  Robbie’s shoulders slumped over a bit, the only giveaway that he’d been uncomfortable with the tension. “I understand if you don’t want to take part in this wedding....”

  Mark let the offer to back out linger. He could walk away. That would really be driving his point home, making it clear he didn’t support them. But then he would be walking away from Robbie, the closest thing to a sibling he’d ever had—the one person who had never walked away from him even when the rest of the world thought he was throwing his life away.

  “I’ll still do it.”

  Robbie broke into a big smile but Mark was quick to add. “I’m doing it for you though….”

  Robbie gave a quick nod and Mark let it drop. No need to rehash that conversation. “I’m also doing this for Elizabeth.”

  Robbie’s brows shot up. Mark was equally surprised by his own admission but it was out there so he played it off with a shrug. “The poor girl has suffered enough embarrassment by losing her first fiancé. She shouldn’t have to lose her second, and she definitely shouldn’t have her breakup advertised on national television.”

  The filming had started which meant that anything that occurred now was fair game for the episode’s narrative.

  Robbie nodded in understanding. “Thanks. I’m glad you’re looking out for her. She’s a sweet girl. And thanks again for…you know….not going after her like she was just another hot, single woman.”

  Mark let out a little laugh. “Of course not.” Because she wasn’t just another, hot single woman. Elizabeth was so much more than that. And he wouldn’t go after her.

  But he sure as hell hoped that she came to him.

  * * *

  Elizabeth sipped on her Bloody Mary as Connie took a quick glance at the menu. This was their go-to brunch spot and Elizabeth already knew what her sister would order but Connie always read through the menu as if this time she might go crazy and order something other than a grilled chicken salad.

  “So the guys are tux shopping, huh? In front of cameras. That’s got to be a nightmare.” Elizabeth toyed with the celery stick as she did her best to make idle chit chat…and avoid the elephant that was firmly entrenched in the room.

  Connie set down the menu and ignored her comments about shopping. “Spill it.”

  Elizabeth sighed. She should have known she couldn’t distract her bulldog of a sister. From the moment they’d walked away from the restaurant the night before, she’d known it was only a matter of time before her sister called her out on her kiss with Mark. Knowing this conversation was coming had her dreading brunch all morning.

  She took another sip of her Bloody Mary and Connie rolled her eyes. “Stop procrastinating and tell me what the hell is going on between you and Mark.”

  Connie’s voice was brisk and commanding, just like their father’s. Elizabeth hated that tone. It made her feel like a kid again, back in their father’s study trying to come up with an apology or excuse that would ebb his anger. The infractions were usually minor—Elizabeth had been a goody two-shoes her whole life—but even a slip of table manners was enough to get a summons to their father’s study for an inquisition.

  Independent and feisty even as a baby, Connie had bristled beneath their father’s strict rules. Which made it rather ironic that over the years, she’d grown more and more like him—demanding, unforgiving, and critical.

  Connie’s eyes were fixed on her. She didn’t even touch her mimosa as she waited for Elizabeth to answer. Oh, what was the point in delaying the matter? Domineering or no, her sister was still her best friend, she had a right to ask nosy questions. But that didn’t mean she had to tell her everything.

  Feigning a nonchalance she didn’t feel, Elizabeth set down her drink and met her sister’s gaze. “It was just a kiss.”

  Connie let out an unladylike snort. “Oh, please. I’ve seen ‘just a kiss.’ I’ve experienced ‘just a kiss.’ That was so not ‘just a kiss.’”

  Elizabeth blinked in surprise at Connie’s apparent excitement. She looked like a kid at Christmas as she leaned over the table, eagerly awaiting juicy gossip.

  So, wait…you’re happy about this?” Elizabeth asked. “Me kissing Mark, I mean?”

  Connie’s eyes widened comically. “Are you kidding me? I think it’s great! You need to move on after that loser. Besides, it will help to sell the fact that you guys are an engaged couple.”

  Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Of course, she should have known that there was something in this for her sister. She’d expected to be lectured on the dangers of rebounds or the evils of players like Mark. To say Connie was overprotective would be an understatement so she’d just assumed her sister would find fault.

  The waiter took their order and then Connie turned her full attention back to Elizabeth. “Did you see the producer’s face when he caught you guys sucking face? Priceless.”

  Elizabeth forced a smile. She could only imagine the producer’s expression if he’d witnessed the kiss on her couch. She didn’t think that could even be classified as a kiss. It had been foreplay, pure and simple.

  Connie’s eyes narrowed. “What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?”

  Connie raised one brow. “You’re blushing. Why?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “Nothing. It’s nothing.” Connie was still waiting for an explanation, so she added, “Just embarrassed that we were caught. We must have looked like a couple of teenagers.”

  Her sister smirked. “You wish you were getting that kind of action as a teenager.”

  Elizabeth laughed at the age old joke. Connie had been popular, pretty, and a favorite with the boys, while Elizabeth….well, she’d made good grades. She pointed her nose in the air and sniffed. “You’re just jealous because I got into a better college.”

  Connie let out a cackle that caused the neighboring table to look their way, and for the first time all morning, Elizabeth was glad she’d agreed to brunch. Spending time with someone who knew her so well was exactly what she needed. She needed to be grounded—reminded of who she really was. Because lately? She didn’t even recognize herself.
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  Connie reached out and squeezed her hand. “Hey, promise me you’re not beating yourself up over some kiss with the bartender.”

  “His name is Mark,” Elizabeth said.

  Connie ignored her.

  “You’re going through a rough time. No one is going to judge you for a harmless kiss.” Connie leaned in and lowered her voice. “And let’s face it, that guy is yummy.”

  Elizabeth couldn’t bring herself to return the conspiratorial smile. A wave of possessiveness had her reaching for her drink. Mine. He’s mine.

  That reaction right there…that was why she couldn’t kiss Mark again, let alone take him up on his proposition. She simply didn’t have the capacity to keep things casual. A couple of intense kisses and she was already clingy.

  “I really don’t want to talk about Mark or what happened last night,” she said, pausing as the waiter came to drop off their food.

  Connie threw her hands up in mock surrender. “Fine. We don’t have to talk about the fact that you guys were pawing at each other in public.”

  Her sister was teasing, she knew she was teasing, but her voice came out a little too sharp. “It was just a kiss.”

  Connie leaned back in her seat and laughed. “Of course it was. Don’t get all bent out of shape. No one in their right mind would think that you and Mark, of all people, are having some illicit, hot and heavy affair.”

  She watched her sister dig into her salad, apparently unaware of the affect her dismissive words were having. It wasn’t so much the words as it was Connie’s tone. She’d been laughing, like the entire idea was absurd. Which it was, of course, but Elizabeth’s spine straightened at the mockery underlying the statement.

  “Why not?” she asked.

  Connie looked up in surprise, her fork poised halfway to her mouth. “Excuse me?”

  Elizabeth had yet to touch her food. Everything seemed to hinge on her sister’s explanation. She cleared her throat and tried to sound neutral. “I’m just curious why no one in their right mind would think that Mark and I are….” She waved her hands, at a loss for words.

  Connie’s laugh raked over her nerves. Her sister pointed at her with her fork. “Having sex,” she finished, a little too loudly, drawing curious stares. “The word you’re looking for is sex. The fact that you can’t even say the word out loud is exactly why no one would believe it.”

  “I can say it,” Elizabeth muttered under her breath. People were staring and Elizabeth kept her mouth shut until the onlookers’ attention reverted back to their own tables. “I can say it,” she said again. “And I could be having it, if I wanted.”

  Connie reached out and patted her hand. “I’m sure you could,” she said, with just a hint of condescension. Enough to make Elizabeth’s brain go blank with fury. She hated when her sister made her feel like this—like a child.

  Connie finally seemed to catch on to the fact that she was getting pissed because she put her fork down and the mocking laughter in her eyes was replaced with genuine concern. “Elizabeth, you are a young, sexy, gorgeous woman. Any guy would be lucky to sleep with you.”

  Elizabeth stabbed at her side salad. Just what every woman wanted, a pep talk on sex appeal….by her twin sister.

  “There’s no doubt in my mind you could have Mark eating out of your hand if you wanted,” Connie continued.

  She didn’t want him eating out of her hand—she wanted him on top of her, underneath her…inside her. Heat crept through her at the thought.

  Elizabeth shook her head and cut her sister off before she could embarrass her any more with her motivational speech. “It’s fine. Don’t mind me. I guess I’m just a little overly emotional these days.”

  Connie’s lips pouted in sympathy. “I understand, sweetie. And I didn’t mean any offense when I made that comment about you and Mark. It’s just that I know you.”

  Elizabeth shifted in her seat, silently willing her sister to let it drop. No such luck.

  “I know you too well,” Connie said as she sprinkled some pepper on her salad. “You are so not the type to have a one night stand.”

  “How do you know it would be a one night stand?” The words came out before she could stop them. Because it would, of course it would. He’d said himself that he didn’t do relationships. And she wasn’t ready for a relationship either so it didn’t matter.

  Connie tilted her head and gave her a knowing look. “Please. I’ve known Mark for a little while now and even if I’d never him, I’ve heard the stories from Robbie. The guy is a player. So not your type.”

  Her sister was right. Players were not her type. But still….

  “I’m not the goody two-shoes little sister anymore,” she found herself saying.

  Connie stopped chewing, her eyes wide with surprise. “I never said you were.”

  Elizabeth twisted the napkin in her lap. No, Connie hadn’t outright said it, but she’d implied it. “I’m just saying, a casual fling might be just what I need.”

  Connie’s lips were twitching as she swallowed and took a deep breath. Elizabeth had the distinct and horrible impression that her sister was trying not to laugh at her. “No offense, Lizzie, but I just don’t think you have it in you. You’re not the type.”

  The meal continued and the topic changed. Elizabeth let it drop. Because her sister was right, she’d never once done a casual relationship. In her entire life she’d had two relationships and both had been long-term: Luke, the boy she’d dated from junior high through most of high school, and then Jason from college on. She’d only slept with one man and only kissed two.

  No, three now, thanks to Mark. Somehow his kisses didn’t belong in the same category as the other two. Nothing about him or their history could be compared to her stable, tame, loving relationships.

  Luke and Jason had been kind. Well, Jason had been kind right up until he cheated on her. And even then he’d been apologetic and civil. But Mark? She supposed he was kind in his own way—it wasn’t every guy who would offer a shoulder to cry on.

  Although look how that ended? Maybe that had been his goal all along. Come into the house, play sympathetic friend, and then have sex with her. As quickly as the thought occurred, she dismissed it. Mark was hot and he worked in a bar. He could have his pick of women, there was no way he was desperate enough to hatch a devious plan just to screw the weepy, pathetic sister of the bride.

  She toyed with the food on her plate, barely listening as her sister filled her in on the event space where they were going to meet with the wedding planner after brunch. Luckily her sister was well adept at handling a conversation on her own, so Elizabeth was able to wallow in peace. God, her life was depressing. Inexperienced, heartbroken, and such a prude that no one, not even her own sister, believed she could be up for a one night stand. Even Mark had backed away, certain that she would regret it in the morning.

  Which had been pretty sweet, actually. Surprisingly thoughtful. Yet all last night she’d tossed and turn, mainly because she was horny as hell but also because she’d been pissed that he’d left.

  If he’d stayed she would have gone through with it. For the first time in her entire life, her brain had stopped working. She hadn’t been overanalyzing or judging the situation, she’d been experiencing it. Her senses were alive and she’d been swallowed up by wicked sensations. She would have done it, dammit. She would have slept with a relative stranger—a man she’d just met and who she was not dating. Even better, a man whom she would never date if her life depended on it. He was the opposite of her type and everything she was looking for. As for him…between comments Connie had made, along with the way he acted, she was fairly certain he would run in the opposite direction if anyone started talking commitment.

  Connie was paying the check and for a fleeting, insane moment, Elizabeth had the urge to tell her sister about what had happened the night before. She’d love to see the look on her sister’s face if she admitted that she had slept with the sexy bad boy player. Almost.

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sp; Elizabeth followed her sister out of the restaurant, mumbling her thanks at being treated to brunch but keeping her mouth shut about the night before. Almost was not exactly something to brag about.

  The day went from bad to worse, as far as Elizabeth was concerned. Brunch proved to be an unpleasant reminder of her excessive lameness. What could make life more depressing than harping on the fact that she was a dried up prude with no sex appeal? Tagging along to the venue where her wedding was supposed to have been held.

  Elizabeth’s throat closed up as they entered the lavish hall. Content to let her sister do the planning, she’d managed to make it through her entire engagement without seeing the venue in person.

  “Isn’t it gorgeous?” Connie whispered next to her in a hushed tone.

  Elizabeth pushed words past the lump in her throat. “It’s perfect.”

  And it was. The hall had a gothic cathedral vibe on the inside, with a high arched ceiling and balconies lining the upper stories. The wedding coordinator, a young woman with bright red hair and an even brighter smile, hurried over to them. “These decorations will come down, of course,” she said by way of greeting. “These are from the last wedding.”

  Elizabeth assumed the decorations the coordinator referred to were the flowers and ivy that hung from the balconies, giving the room the feel of an indoor garden. She would keep the flowers, if it were up to her. But it wasn’t. She had no input anymore, now that she was no longer one of the brides. Or, at least, not really.

  The wedding coordinator had linked arms with Connie and the two were strolling through the space, making notes and brainstorming about the upcoming event. She caught a few snippets every now and again as she trailed behind them, trying not think too hard about how different this visit would have been if she and Jason hadn’t broken up.

  The wedding coordinator was chipper and apparently quite the romantic because Elizabeth kept hearing phrases like “the best day of your life” and “true love.” It was enough to make Elizabeth gag. But she kept it together. This was still Connie’s big day, after all, and she’d agreed to do her part. Which, for the moment, meant acting as if being in the wedding venue wasn’t a special form of torture. Connie could handle the event coordinating fine on her own, Elizabeth was just there for appearances.