Remembering Phoenix (4 page)

“Alright. Now,” Lisa says, “Randi and Hank, it’ll be you two, then the maid-of-honor and best man, Charlie and Slayter. You’re Lizzie’s sister, correct?” she asks me. I nod my head, annoyed by the smug look on this guy’s face. “And Slayter, you’re Stetson’s brother?”

“Older, and better looking, brother, ma’am.” He winks as her, causing her skin to flush instantly. What is it with women falling for such superficial charm? I can’t believe this arrogant guy is my future brother-in-law’s brother. How did this happen? And how did I not know this? Ugh.

“Lizzie will come after the flower girls. And Stetson will be awaiting for her at the altar,” Lisa informs us. I begrudgingly move into position. Slayter slides in beside me, too close for comfort. “Personal space. It’s a thing,” I scowl, stepping away from him.

He leans in close to my ear and whispers, “By the pissed off look on your face, one would think you were holding a grudge.”

I roll my eyes and scoff. “Grudge? You stole my alcohol, gave me a huge spew of self-pity, then earlier you almost made me nearly break my ankle. I’m not holding a grudge. I just don’t like you.”

“You don’t even know me. But you could get to,” Slayter says, eyes narrowing in on me.

My body unwillingly prickles with electricity at the intensity of his gaze. I try to will them away, but they remain with a fierceness I loathe.

“Quit staring at me,” I snap. “Let’s just get this over with so I can go home and ice my ankle.”

“Am I making you uncomfortable, Charlie?” He nudges my shoulder slightly with his elbow.

“No. You’re just pissing me off,” I lie. I twist my body forward, ignoring his continuous stares.

When Lisa motions for us to walk, we start our trek down the aisle, slower than what we should because of my ankle. “I could just carry you, you know.”

Cutting my eyes to him, I snarl, “Could you stop? This is the second time we’ve ever met and you’ve aggravated the living shit out of me both times.”

“Stop cussing in church,” Slayter deadpans.

I roll my eyes. “This weekend is going to be hell.”

“I was thinking more like heaven, but I’ll take what I can get.” He grins.

I want to slap that perfect smile right off his face.

I take a swig of my beer as I slide into the corner booth, eyeing my surroundings.

Bars aren’t my thing. I don’t find them fun, nor do I find picking up women at bars appealing.

Example: Abby McCowsky, who happens to be walking my way at this very second. If I were some shithead guy looking for the easiest and best looking fuck around, I’d most definitely choose her. She’s your stereotypical rich girl. Dripping in Daddy’s money, clearly spending more time in a hair salon than she’s ever spent at a job. She swings her bleach blonde hair over her shoulder, swaying her hips extra hard as she walks my way.

She’s got it down pat, from the way she bites her bottom lip to the way she runs her hand over her collar bone, but I’m not buying it.

“Hey Slayter,” she purrs, her voice dripping with seduction. “Didn’t think you’d be here tonight.”

I take another sip of my beer, looking around the bar until I spot Stetson and Lizzie. “Well, that over there is my brother.” I tip my beer in his direction. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

She slides into the booth next to me. “Lucky for me.”

I nod, aggravation building in my tone. “Yep.”

She runs her finger around the brim of her fruity drink. She pushes her chest out, so I can’t help but notice her very large,
very
expensive, chest. “Sorry I didn’t get a chance to really talk earlier. The rehearsal and the dinner were a little chaotic. I just wanted to say hello.”

I wave my hand. “Well, hello Abby.”

She giggles and sips some of her drink through the straw. “You’re so funny.”

“Not so much.”

Dear God, leave.

She inches her way closer to me, completely disregarding the fact there are other people in the bar. John Legend starts singing throughout the speakers, giving Abby what she thinks is permission to run her fingers up and down my leg. Seductive she’s trying to be. Desperate is what she accomplishes. “I’m sorry about what happened with Jodi. That was a real fucked up thing she did.” She removes her hand from my leg and meticulously inches her short dress further up her thighs. I glance down because, well, I’m a man and that’s what I do.

Nope. Still does nothing for me.

“Shit happens.” I shrug. “I wish her only the best.” And I do. I only wish her the best, though, because of Claire. Otherwise, I really don’t wish a damn thing for her.

“Mmm,” she purrs. “I really love that you’re so sweet. You aren’t even talking bad about her after all she did to you. She deserves it, you know?”

“Well I’m not in the business of payback. I’ll let karma do her thing.” I take a slow drag of my beer, hoping the silence makes her go about her business.

It doesn’t.

She slowly licks her Botox enhanced lips. “You know. We could—“

“Hey bro. Why don’t you come up and sit at the bar with me?” Stetson interjects. I breathe a sigh of relief knowing I don’t have to listen to her less than subtle attempts at getting me to fuck her any longer.

I gladly take his offer, and get out of the booth and go to the bar, thankful for the save from Abby. “Thanks.”

“For what?” he jibes, knowing damn well what I’m referring to.

I laugh. “What’s up? Ready to be a married man?” I slap my brother on the back as we each sit on a barstool.

He grins widely. “Man,” he shakes his head, looking back at his fiancée, “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life. She’s it, man. She’s that fire.”

“Fire?” I laugh.

“Yeah. She’s my fire. The fire that slow burns, doesn’t ignite full blast right away, but stays lit forever. It’s the fire that doesn’t burn out. Lizzie, man. She’s that.”

I drink the last of my beer and tip to the bartender for another. “Interesting thought process.”

“Never would have thought I’d be here before you. Hell, I never would have thought I’d be here, period.”

“No shit,” I joke. “But that’s how life works, isn’t it?” I wipe the sweat off my beer the bartender dropped off. “I’m just glad you found a good girl.”

As soon as the words roll off my tongue, everything in the place becomes obsolete. I see no one but
her.

Her blonde hair is thrown up in a messy bun on top of her head. Dark skinny jeans hug the curves of her body. Dirty white Chucks cover her feet and a black sweater falls off her shoulder, showing her bare collar bone. My cock hardens in my jeans by the sight of her alone. To anyone else, she could be easily passed over, just some average face in a crowd of people. She’s not wearing anything that begs for attention, but that’s exactly what draws me in. She’s the furthest thing from average to me, though.
She’s this mystery of beautiful proportions. A mystery I need to figure out.

Fuck.

“What’s that?” Stetson asks.

“Huh?”

He laughs. “You said ‘Fuck.’”

Way to go, dumbass. “Oh, it’s nothing.” I shake it off, hoping he doesn’t catch on.

He downs his shot and follows my line of sight. “Uh huh. Nothing, is that right?” He smirks.

Well, that worked out well. I lift my head towards the ceiling, taking a deep breath. This girl has got me so twisted. Ever since she ran into me earlier today, I have not gotten those green eyes out of my head. The smooth creaminess of her skin against the darkness surrounding her.

Some people believe in auras surrounding a person. I have never been one of those people, but if Charlie’s aura was a color, it would be black. And, for some damn reason, it intrigues me like nothing has before.

I scrub my hands over my face before answering him. “Yeah, nothing...”
Lie.

He laughs, slapping me on the shoulder. “Whatever you say, man.” He gets up to join everyone else back at the booth.

I watch the people on the dance floor moving to some rap song as the disco lights bounce around from wall to wall. A couple laughs in one corner while another argues in the other. Men grope their girl’s asses as they grind on each other, and a group of friends chatter at the end of the bar. I turn back to grab my beer, but a hand swoops out and snatches it before I get a chance to. I careen my head to my left to cuss out whoever it is, but I’m caught off guard. And, quite honestly, turned the fuck on. I watch in utter astonishment as Charlie guzzles the last half of my beer before sliding it down the bar. A side grin pulls at the corner of my mouth. “I do recall you shoving me when I stole your alcohol once.”

She shrugs and sits down at the bar. “Payback is a bitch.”

“Yeah, well I don’t mind the payback I’m getting right now.”

She rolls her eyes before motioning to the bartender for two shots. “You think you’re so smooth, don’t you, Slayter Beck?”

“I didn’t even have to hit on you to come sit by me, now did I?”

She laughs. “I was just returning the favor of being an egotistical asshole who steals a stranger’s drink.”

“Feel free to be an egotistical asshole anytime,” I tease.

Changing the subject, I say, “Your sister said you weren’t coming out. Said you wanted to nurse your foot.”

“Why the hell were you and my sister talking about me?” she quips.

I shrug. “No particular reason.”

She rolls her eyes. “She was probably worried about me. Everyone is always worried about little ol’ Charlie.”

No. I just wanted to know if I’d see you or not.
“Nah,” I say, “we were just discussing who all would be here. And I asked about your foot.”

“Well, my foot is fine. No thanks to you.” Her voice is clipped as she looks up to me. Those green orbs shine in the neon lights hanging above the bar.

“I’m really sorry,” I admit. “I never meant to be the reason you got hurt.”

“Yeah, well… I was hurting long before I fell earlier, so you’re good there.”

I go to speak, but I’m cut off when the bartender brings her two shots. She slides one in front of me and nods for me to take it. She holds her glass in front of her face for a moment, just staring at the amber colored liquid. Charlie closes her eyes and takes a deep breath before holding the glass up to mine. “Here’s to clumsy girls who literally run into egotistical assholes. Here’s to our siblings marrying. Here’s to being forever alone because life royally sucks. And here’s to the future because we sure as hell don’t have the past.” She laughs bitterly and clinks our glasses together before throwing back her drink.

I’ll cheers to that… I guess.

“That could possibly be the strangest and most depressing toast I have ever heard in all of my twenty-seven years.”

She stares at me blankly, then shrugs. “Well… life is strange and depressing. Didn’t you know?”

I shrug. “Doesn’t mean you have to let it control you.”

She mumbles something under her breath. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she gives me one more glance, full of pain and emptiness, and walks towards her sister. I can’t help but stare at her as she walks away. She’s so guarded and has this hard shell surrounding her, like she’s scared to break out of it. I want to crack it. See what’s underneath the façade she puts on.

Who the hell are you, Charlie McGee?