I bite my lip, fear zipping through my veins.
Closing my eyes, I take the plunge.
25
Teddy
I glide my Porsche behind Mascen’s SUV and Jude’s truck. Cole and Zoey are riding with Mascen and Rory while Cree and Murray are with Jude. They promise me it’s going to be ‘quite the weekend,’ and I hope to fuck they’re wrong.
Beside me, Vanessa is quiet, looking out the car window at the scenery as the car climbs the incline up the mountain to the ‘cabin’ Mascen booked. I’m sure Vanessa is expecting an actual small cabin, but I know Mascen, and this will be anything but tiny.
“My ears keep popping,” she says after minutes of silence.
“Mine too. Want some gum?” I point to where there’s a pack in front of the cup holders. She grabs the pack and takes a piece, popping it into her mouth. She takes another piece and extends it to me. “Thanks.”
“You seem like you don’t want to do this.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but things feel different now. I’m different now.”
“They’re in front of us. You could always turn around, and we can do something else for your birthday. I won’t tell.”
“They’d never let me live it down.”
“You know,” she continues, “since your birthday isn’t actually until Wednesday, we should do something else on the day of.”
I’m surprised by her suggestion but try not to show it.
“Like what?”
“I’m not sure. Whatever you want.”
I open my mouth but close it before I blurt out that all I’d like is to do her. I don’t think that will score me any points. “I’ll think about it,” I say instead.
“Oh.” She sounds saddened by my response.
Keeping my eyes on the road, I curse. “Shit, I didn’t mean it that way. I meant, yes, I want to do something with you, but I’ll have to think about what that is.”
“We don’t have to do anything. I know this isn’t real.”
If I wasn’t driving, I’d squeeze my eyes shut from the pain that simple sentence causes me. “Right,” I utter, and neither of us says a single word for the rest of the drive.
The ‘cabin’ turns out to be a two-story luxury home, high in the mountains a few hours from Nashville. Vanessa practically presses her nose to the side of the glass to get a closer look.
“Wow, this place is gorgeous.”
I park behind the others in the circular drive. Above the front door is a massive balloon arch thing with blue, green, and gray balloons and off to the side are large cut out letters that spell out Happy Birthday, Teddy. I have to admit, it does make me feel good that my friends wanted to celebrate my birthday. Most of my birthdays growing up were ignored and only celebrated if it was convenient to my parents to put together something that didn’t remotely resemble a birthday party and was more of an excuse to have a gathering with their friends.
An uncontrollable smile touches my lips, and Vanessa turns slowly toward me, smiling herself. “Your friends really love you.”
“Yeah, they do.” I hope my voice sounds choked up only to me, but the way her eyes shimmer, I think she notices.
Climbing out of the car, I’m immediately mauled by Rory and Zoey and a chorus of, ‘Happy birthday’ and ‘we love you’ and ‘this weekend is going to be the best ever.’
Vanessa hangs back, her fingers wringing together nervously like she doesn’t want to interrupt. “Get over here,” I tell her. Sure, things got a little awkward on the drive, but I don’t like her feeling out of place with my friends. They’re her friends now, too. She walks over to my side, and I wrap an arm around her, tugging her against me. “There’s my girl.” I press my lips to the top of her head.
“You’re way better at this than I am,” she says softly enough that no one else will overhear.
I don’t bother responding. Pressing another kiss to the side of her head, because I can, I let go and say, “I’m going to get our bags.”
She gives me a tiny, forced smile and moves over to stand with Zoey and Rory.
“This is great, man.” Murray steps up beside me with his duffle bag slung over his shoulder as I bend into the trunk to grab my bag and Vanessa’s. “Thanks for having me.”
I chuckle. “This shin-dig wasn’t my idea, but I’m glad you’re here too. All of you.”
He gives me a lopsided smile and smacks his hand on my shoulder before loping toward the door. “Someone give me a beer and let me in that hot tub.”
Mascen walks over to me, shaking his head. “I’m going to regret inviting that dickhead aren’t I?” he jokes, an actual smile on his lips. He looks, dare I say, relaxed. “You and Vanessa have the master, birthday boy.” He looks over his shoulder at the girls, then lowers his voice to me, “How’s it going with her?”
I look back at her, glossy dark hair hanging down to her breasts, blue eyes wide with excitement now, and her lips upturned into a smile. “She’s insisting on keeping things … professional.”
Mascen tosses his head back, laughing in a way I rarely see him do. “Oh, man, it’s awesome seeing you this fucked up over a girl.”
Cole joins us, having overhead Mascen and laughs too. “I always knew when this one fell it’d be a big deal. Who would’ve thought he’d fall for the one girl impervious to his charms?”
“Leave me alone,” I grumble, grabbing the bags and practically sprinting into the house to get away from their cajoling.
Straight up the stairs I go, running into Jude and Cree in the hallway coming out of whatever bedrooms they chose. The master is at the end of the hall. I put our bags on the bench in front of the bed and take a moment to catch my breath—not because I’m out of shape or anything, I can handle two bags and some stairs, but because I need to brace myself for an entire weekend with Vanessa and my friends. They all know that we’re not a real couple, but Vanessa doesn’t know that they do, and since they know I actually like her for real I have a feeling they’ll be busting my balls the whole time we’re here.
It’s safe to say I’m going to need a drink and stat.
I hope someone got my Zombie Dust. I am the birthday boy after all.
Turning to head out of the room, I find Vanessa standing in the doorway taking in the big room.
“This place is fancy. I mean, it’s not as ostentatious as your parents’ house, but this is way bigger than any place I’ve ever stayed at. This must cost a pretty penny, not that I’m judging, I’m just—” I chuckle, pressing a finger to her lips to quiet her. When my finger drops, her cheeks are flushed. “Sorry, I ramble when I’m nervous.”
“I’ve noticed.” I can’t help myself when I brush my nose against hers. A shiver skates down her spine. “Do I make you nervous?”
Her eyes close, a shuddery breath wracking her body. “No,” she lies.
I grin. “Sure, I don’t.” Taking her hand, I blow out a breath because as much as I want to stay right here with her, I know we need to join the others. “We better see what everyone is up to.”