Price Of Love (Written In the Stars Book 4)

by Erica Marselas

  "I'd like to see you try." He jumps in, splashing me on impact.

  "How old are you?" I growl, whipping the water from my face.

  He laughs. "I work with kids all day. What do you expect?" He splashes me again and then sinks under the water. Seconds later, there are hands on my legs, and I'm lifted into the air on Leo's shoulders before being thrown back into the water.

  "There will be payback." My hands slam the water once I come back up.

  He waves his hands at me. "Bring it on, baby."

  I swim to him and jump into his arms, swinging my arms around his neck. My fingers trail through his wet hair as his lips trace across my neck.

  "Even covered in chlorine you taste good," he murmurs, nipping at my ear, making me giggle.

  With his hands still firmly gripping my ass, he pulls back, but I’m not done with him yet. “It’s only fair I get to taste you.” When I go to lean in to kiss him, I notice his face has gone deathly pale, much like it did when we were in the lobby earlier and he’s not looking at me.

  What the hell is going on?

  My hand brushes his cheek. “You went white again. What is going on?” He doesn’t say anything, and I nudge his shoulder. I don't like these kinds of games. "Tell me."

  He sighs heavily, and when his eyes meet mine there’s an unease swimming in them. “Izabelle is here.”

  The world comes to a screeching stop, and the excitement of the pool goes mute. His bombshell ex is here?

  “As in your ex-girlfriend? The one who moved to California?”

  “Yeah.” My heart sinks to my feet as he points behind me.

  I spin around to see his red-headed ex-flame, in a tiny red bikini that probably cost more than everything I have in my whole suitcase, standing across the way talking to another guest.

  I glance down at my Walmart bought one-piece that I wear to cover my scar, and feel frumpy. “Is she who you were running from in the lobby earlier.” He nods, and my eyes close feeling like I got punched in the gut. “Why didn't you tell me she was going to be here?”

  He places his hand on my cheek, and my eyes open again. “Claire, I didn’t know. I swear," he pleads, but I'm not feeling it. I remember Izzy calling him not that long ago, even if he didn't answer when I was around. "She shouldn’t be here. I'm as confused as you are. I'll talk to Nate about it.”

  “Well, maybe this is a sign for you.” I bow my head and float backward, away from him, wanting to escape.

  “What? This isn’t a sign. She shouldn’t be here,” he hisses, wading towards me.

  “There’s a reason for everything. Your ex is here, in Florida, three thousand miles from where she should be. You're the one who believes in that right."

  "Still not a sign," he grits out.

  “Do you still love her?”

  His eyebrows twist, and he shakes his head, not looking at me. “No.”

  “That didn’t sound convincing."

  “I don’t," he says again, grabbing my arms and with more conviction in his voice. His eyes glaring into mine.

  I release a shaky breath. “You swear you had no idea she was coming?”

  “I swear. Claire, please don't overthink this."

  How can I not? I don't know which way is up right now.

  "Leo!" Izzy calls from beside us. Both our heads turn to her. Her hands are on her knees, so she's bending to flaunt her perfect breasts. Her stomach is flat and perfectly free of scars.

  Gah, I hate this. This feeling of jealousy.

  "Leo," she says his name again pulling me away from my self-pity, "can we talk?"

  He holds up a finger and looks at me, his forehead wrinkling. “I’m just going to talk to her for a minute to see what she wants.”

  I tilt my head and bite the inside of my cheek. It’s obvious what she wants, Leo. Just as I start giving you my trust and my heart, she shows up putting a wrench in everything.

  “Will you be okay?” He pulls lightly on a wet strand of my hair. “I can see you overthinking.”

  “Yeah. Go.” I sink down into the water, wishing it could just swallow me up and take me away from this. I don’t want to feel.

  “Just because I’m talking to her doesn’t mean anything. I hope you know that. I don't have to. I just know if I don’t, she won't back off."

  "Leo?" Izzy whines.

  Leo’s head snaps to her and he holds up his finger. "One second, Iz."

  Still using nicknames.

  Izzy smiles and nods before moving to the loungers. She sits down, crossing her long legs together, and whips her red hair over her shoulder. Staring at us in wait. I gulp. "You promise you didn't lie to me about knowing she was coming?"

  "I swear. I had no idea."

  "Well, like you said, can't avoid her forever."

  "I could try for you." He grins and grips my wet hair in his hand making a makeshift ponytail.

  "Just go talk. You never know, maybe this is your paths crossing again."

  "Don't." He grinds out between his teeth.

  "What?"

  "You know what." He places a small kiss to the corner of my lips. “Do you want to come with me?”

  Come with him? No! Can I? Everything inside me is saying I should trust him. I have to. I can’t live thinking everything is doomed…can I?

  “Claire?” He asks again and I shake my head.

  What are you doing Claire, go!?

  "I'll be back in a few. Don't go far." He runs his thumb down my lip and I pucker against it. The gentle touch helps bring some ease to my frayed nerves.

  "Alright."

  He wades to the edge of the pool and pulls himself out. Instead of watching him go to Izzy, I dunk my head under the water and scream, the bubbles rising to the surface.

  There goes my perfect day.

  I grab a hotel towel and dry my face off when I hear a familiar voice squeal beside me. Tossing the towel down, I turn to see my best friend, Jolene, decked out in a white bikini, all tan, looking like a beach bunny future bride. "There you are."

  “Jo! There you are. You were supposed to be down here over an hour ago!” I pull my best friend into a tight hug. I've missed her so much.

  "Sorry. Nate got me sidetracked." Her cheeks heat, with the biggest grin on her face. Is that how I looked when I came down?

  "Gotcha."

  Christiana comes charging over and wraps Jo in her arms. They squeal their hellos and then Chris nudges her shoulder forcing her back. "We need to have words."

  "What could I have possibly done?" Jo chuckles, placing her hand to her chest. She looks to me for answers, and I shrug.

  “What is Izzy Roberts doing here?” Christiana asks for me, throwing her thumb over her shoulder to where Leo and Izzy are talking by a cluster of palm trees.

  Jo flinches. “She’s coming to the wedding.”

  “What?” I screech.

  "She had asked Nate's mom if there was still room on the guest list and if Leo had used his plus one yet. If not, she wanted to surprise him. I only just found out. I'm sorry."

  “Nate’s mom has no freakin’ chill,” Christiana grumbles.

  “Oh, I know. It didn’t help that Izzy also bribed her with a couples massage for us and a scuba trip on our honeymoon which helped butter up my soon to be insane mother-in-law. I'm sorry." She puts her hand on my shoulder and squeezes it.

  Izzy really wanted to come to this wedding for Leo. You only do that stuff when you want someone back after realizing what you lost. How can I blame her? Leo has been nothing but my shining star for only the last few weeks. I can’t imagine how much of an impact he has made on her life.

  “I wouldn’t turn that down either," I mumble. I can't be mad at Jo. She's been planning most of this wedding by herself and everyone keeps trying to change her guestlist. I'm surprised she’s not bridezilla yet.

  “I’m sorry, Claire, but if it’s any consolation, Leo hasn’t stopped looking at you since he started talking to her.”

  I turn to glance over to where
Izzy and Leo are talking and, sure enough, Leo is looking at me with a sweet smile on his face over Izzy’s shoulder. For a second, it brings me a small comfort that he’s watching me till Izzy notices that his attention is not on her. She whips around to look at us, her eyes run up and down my body, before veering back to Leo. She says something to him and grabs his chin turning his head back to her.

  “See, he’s smitten. She has to grab his attention back.”

  “I keep trying to tell her,” Chris says matter-of-factly.

  “It’s all just so new.”

  “Sometimes it’s all it takes. Me and Nate were only together a few weeks before we knew.” Jo claps her hands and squeals. “You and Leo, I love it. You two are so much a better match than you and Tim were. Leo has always liked you.”

  “No, he hasn’t.” I laugh uncomfortably, shifting on my feet.

  “Yes, he has. He told…” Christiana nudges Jo in the side, making her wince. “Ow.” Jo rubs her side.

  “She’s blind, save your breath,” Christiana says through gritted teeth

  My eyes narrow at my two conspiring friends. “What are you two hiding?”

  “We aren’t hiding anything. But we could tell you up and down that he told anybody and everyone that he has liked you, and you wouldn’t have listened.” Christiana goes on, and I sigh. It's true. “What matters is he’s head over fucking heels for you now.”

  “I’m scared. Even more so now, seeing him with her.” I glance back to the couple, but they’re gone. My eyes drift around the pool area and they’re nowhere in sight. The jealousy demon rises in my belly, wondering where they could’ve gone off to—alone. “They ran off.”

  “I’m sure it’s not a big deal.” Jo runs her hand down my arm, trying to soothe me.

  “Right. Not a big deal that his ex-shows up. This could be his chance to get back what he lost. He wanted to marry her until she left.”

  “Claire, he wants you!” Christiana says forcefully and tucks me to her side. “More than you’re letting yourself believe.”

  “How do you know?"

  "I just do," she argues, grabbing my shoulders forcefully. I swear she’s about to shake me or throw me back into the pool.

  "Come, let’s go grab some Mai Tais. After two of those, you’ll forget your worries." Jo takes my hand and leads us to the little tiki bar that sits on the edge of the pool.

  With our drinks in hand, we sit on the edge of the pool, letting our feet splash in the water and the midday sun beat down on us. I'm trying not to let my thoughts run away to where Leo could have gone with Izzy, but I'm finding it hard. My past dooming me before my present can start.

  "So, I have the next couple days planned out for us. Nothing too crazy. My mom has everything planned to the last second at this rate." Jo huffs and splashes the warm water with her foot. "The biggest thing is the spa day slash my bachelorette day in two days. We'll be pampered and with all the champagne we can drink."

  "Cheers to that." Christiana holds up her drink and then throws it back.

  "Then the next day you're getting married," I gush. "I can't believe it." I rest my head on her shoulder. "I'm so happy for you."

  "If it wasn't for you…"

  “Oh fuck, seriously,” Christiana growls, cutting Jo off.

  “What?” I ask, my head popping off Jo’s shoulder to look at my now growly friend.

  “Don’t look now, but Monica and Tim have arrived,” Chris mutters, and I turn to glance where she is spying. There stands Tim in a pair of black board shorts, with his imitation, trying too hard, plastic bitch curled around his arm.

  “I told you not to look," Chris mumbles. Is she for real to tell me not to look after that reaction she gave me?

  “Could this get any worse?” I groan and toss back my Mai Tai. I need the liquor to hit my veins and fast.

  Jolene claps her hands in front of us. “Hey, no sad faces on my wedding week. You two need to get ready because I have just now decided we are going out!”

  “Now?”

  “Yep! No time like the present to get drunk! Let's get changed and head for the club." Jo kicks her feet and the water sprinkles down on us

  "You just got here, though.” I don’t know why I’m putting up a fight: Get me out of here.

  "And I need a drink at a bar with my favorite girls. I live here now, so I can hang out at the pool any time."

  I'm applying my lipstick when the hotel door closes with a loud click. I turn to watch as Leo steps in wearing the shirt he wore down at the pool, his shorts now dry, holding a half-empty glass of what appears to be some sort of brown liquor.

  “Hey.” I give him a small smile before turning my attention back to the mirror over the dresser.

  “Hey. You look hot.” He stands behind me, his eyes raking over my reflection.

  “Thanks." I bite my lip and look down at the black dress I've worn a million times. I’m sure Leo's seen me wear it. It's nothing special besides the fact I love the way my boobs look in it. "Jo wants to go out with us girls tonight. Drink away her stress.”

  He chuckles. “Yeah, I ran into Nate, and he is making me go out too for the same reason. Unfortunately, my brother is here now, and he'll be joining us.”

  So, he wasn't alone with Izzy this whole time.

  “I saw," my voice drips with distaste. I drop the tube of lipstick to the dresser and turn around.

  "That's how I feel too. His girlfriend is a piece of work," he grumbles and puts his drink to his lips.

  "I'm aware." I grab my heels and sit on the edge of the bed and put them on. I'm dying to ask about the elephant in the room, so I do to put me out of my misery. “Did you have a good talk with Izzy?”

  “I guess.” He shrugs, the ice rattles in his glass as he finishes off his drink.

  “You guess?”

  “Yeah. It seems she did come to see me, and she’s coming to the wedding.” He sounds bored at the thought, but he’s been gone for over an hour.

  “Isn’t that good?”

  “Why would it be good?” He slides his glass onto the dresser and pushes back his shoulders, a sudden tension rolling off them.

  “She traveled all this way to see you. Bribed my friend’s mom to come to the wedding all for you. That’s a lot to try to win someone over.”

  “We broke up for a reason, Claire. She’s not who I want anymore.” He plops down next to me. The scent of chlorine is still heavy on his skin. His hand moves around my neck, and he brings me close to him so we rub noses. The room crackles like it always does when we get together now.

  “Who do you want?" I say breathlessly.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you. Kissing every inch of you." He presses his lips behind my ear, down my cheek, while his fingers trace over my breast. "Wanting to make love to you again.”

  “Me either.”

  "I want to take you out of this dress and lay you down on the bed, worship you."

  His hand tangles in my hair and his mouth is so close to mine when there’s a loud bang on the door and the voice of my best friend belts through. “Open up, Claire. The party is here.”

  Could her timing be any worse?

  My head falls to his chest with a loud groan. “I have to go.”

  “Yeah. I don't think she'll go for any more excuses. She's a pushy one." His lips press to the top of my head and his hand runs down my spine.

  "That she is," I mumble, and he lifts my chin and kisses the line of my jaw.

  "I’ll see you later tonight.” His fingers play with the zipper on the back of my dress as his eyes beam into mine with all seriousness. “And I will be taking you out of this dress later.” Yes, sir. “Now, have fun.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Club Hideaway is a large club just a few blocks from the hotel. The music is blaring through the speakers and I can feel the vibrations through my whole body.

  Jo is decked out in a soon-to-be-bride sash and her blonde hair is pushed back by a glitzy crown. She’s dubbing the night
a pre-bachelorette, and she told us the sash is to get free drinks. So far, it’s a go.

  I’m squeezing my way back from the bathroom when the last person I want to face tonight steps in front of me. Monica Clark. Even in the crowded bar with all the sweaty bodies, I can smell her cheap perfume. Seriously, out of all the places in Miami, her bitchy self has found herself here in front of me. It would have to be my luck.

  The last time I saw her, she was naked in my bed with my boyfriend. Then the following day, she was texting me as I came to collect my things, recounting her affair with Tim in graphic detail. To know it went on for months behind my back, while I pretended everything was okay was like someone taking a sledgehammer to my heart. The final blow was to learn she moved in with him only a week after our breakup. I thought she was my friend, but in reality, she was only using me to get in bed with my man.

  I shake off the vile memories and know I'm going to need more liquor to help me deal with this snarky bitch.

  "Claire Malone. I didn't think you would have enough nerves to show up to this wedding." Her irritating voice bleeds into my ears. “Still wearing the same cheap dress as always.”

  I plaster a smile on my face. The one people always say I'm known for. The one I'm great at faking. "Monica, how lovely to see you. And why, of course, I’m here. Jolene is my best friend."

  "But Nate is Tim's family. Which comes first," she snarls, her lip curling so I can see the lipstick stain on her teeth.

  "Then what are you doing here? You’re neither," I spit back. Just go, bitch.

  "Aren't I?" She holds out her hand to show off a massive shimmering ring on her finger. "Tim and I got engaged last week."

  "Engaged?" I stumble back as if her hand with the diamond ring slapped me in the face.

  "Yep. He rented a yacht and the big guy got down on one knee,” she gloats, and I’m in disbelief that Tim, after only a few months, actually got down on one knee and is going to marry her.

  "What the fuck are you doing here, Monica?" Christiana sneers from behind me, and my eyes dart away from the huge diamond on Monica’s finger. Hers. After everything. Not that I want a cheater, but he wasted two years of my life and none of hers to put that on her finger.