Bottle It Up: (A Between the Pines Novel) Read online

  The bell above the door chimes, and I hear the sweet voice of my favorite petite redhead behind me. “Emmy, I have a surprise for you!”

  “Melly, I don’t need a surprise, all I need is…” There’s no stopping the scream I release before finishing my statement.

  “Surprise!” Amelia squeals jumping up and down proud as punch.

  “Oh, my God! You should be ashamed of yourself, Audrey Calhoun! You’ve been lying to me for weeks!”

  “I know, but it was worth the surprise,” she says in my ear now that I have my arms around her.

  “What am I, chopped liver?”

  “Parker, you knew the first time you brought her home, we liked her better than you. We were all pretty up front about that,” I tease, but he knows how much he means to me.

  “Shut up and give me a hug.”

  “I know I just saw you in Vegas less than six months ago, but it feels like it was years ago. How’s married life treating you?”

  Parker is an original member of The Crew, and his wife Audrey might as well be. She’s been one of us since Reece met her in college and introduced her to Parker.

  “Life is as great as it was before she put a ring on it. As long as I have that woman right there, all is right in the world.”

  “Since when did all the guys in The Crew get so dang mushy?” Amelia jokes, wrapping her arm around Miles’s waist, so short her head doesn’t come anywhere near his shoulder.

  “Melly, I know you’re still hanging out with Andrew, but you’re gonna have a man swoon over you like this one day, this I know.”

  She just rolls her eyes, thinking he’s crazy. She’s the mom of the group, the one who makes sure we’re all doing okay, and we take care of her right back, but it sure would be nice to see her find her person. Yes, she’s dating Andrew, and he considers her his girlfriend, but he’s not the one. I hear her eye roll loud and clear, though. I feel the same way only where she feels pity that she hasn’t found the one, I have to fake being in love even though I’ve never felt more alone.

  “Too bad Reece and Rachel weren’t home, then we’d have everyone here,” I say to the group tucked into Parker’s side, only my head is able to rest on his shoulder.

  “Um, sweetie...what about Josh?” Amelia says with a knowing pity in her eyes.

  Shit, you forgot about your own fiancé. Nicely done, you moron.

  “Well, he’s gonna FaceTime us so, he’ll kind of be here. We’ll at least get to see him and talk to him. I think I’m just so used to him traveling that having him live on video is practically like date night.”

  Abort! Abort! Stop trying to convince them you didn’t forget about him when you clearly did.

  “Babe, promise me you’ll let me know if our date nights feel the same to you as Face Timing. Because if that’s the case, then I’m clearly doing something wrong.”

  “Miles.” Mason furrows her brow at what she sees as her fiancé’s rudeness, but he’s just Miles being Miles.

  Telling it like it is.

  “Enough about date night, we’re here to help! Put us to work.” Amelia gives me another look as she bulldozes the awkward moment and sees right through me.

  She knows. She freaking knows. Of course she does.

  Amelia is the quiet observer of the group. The most empathetic person I’ve ever known. She can read people and always knows just what everyone needs before we know it ourselves. But still, I can’t believe she’s already figured it out.

  I don’t know why I’m surprised. She and I always wondered about Josh’s sexuality growing up. Not because we cared but because we hated that he thought he couldn’t be himself around us, especially those of us in The Crew. Deep down, she knows this is all a ruse. I wouldn’t be surprised if they all know, but so far, we haven’t gotten anything but support. I hate lying to them, but if it saves them from knowing and having to also lie, then so be it. I don’t want to put them in that position, and Josh isn’t here to share his truth, and I’m certainly not about to do it for him when he’s gone to such lengths to protect it.

  A couple of hours later, we’ve just about finished all that can be done for the night and devoured several pizzas from Chuck’s down the street. Miles and Parker are in the back office, and Max leaves to take the pizza boxes out to the dumpster. The moment he’s out of earshot, the girls act like a bunch of tweens whispering while gushing over how hot my personal protection is.

  “Amelia, you could climb him like a tree. He’s huge; he wouldn’t even notice teeny tiny you. Go ahead, give it a try so we can all live vicariously through you.”

  “Audrey, you’re terrible!” Amelia gasps. “But you’re right. He’s pretty cute if you’re into the strong, silent, I could kill you with my pinky finger type.”

  Our little gaggle of girls falls silent when the main topic of conversation enters the room with Miles and Parker behind him.

  “Ladies, we’re gonna leave you to catch up while the two of us head down to The Verdict. Text when you’re done for the night or meet us down there.” Miles says the last part to Mason, kissing her on the cheek sweetly. “Take good care of them, Hopper. You may want to join us at the end of the night for a beer; I have a feeling you’re gonna need one after getting stuck here with all this girl talk. Sorry, buddy.”

  “Thanks, but I think I can handle it.”

  Uncharacteristically, Max flashes a sugary sweet grin in our direction, and I swear the air whooshes right out of the store.

  Once the guys are gone, our third bottle of champagne is popped, and glasses are filled. The four of us breaking in the new leather chairs back in the reading corner.

  “So, Emmy, have you guys set a date yet?” Audrey asks innocently, but her question has my stomach twisting in knots.

  “No date yet. The next year or two are pretty well planned out for Josh already. I have a feeling it will be a couple of years before we have time to do it right.”

  There’s a sadness in Amelia’s eyes. She knows it’s all a big sham, but she’s a good friend and doesn’t say a word.

  “Well, as much as I can’t wait to attend your wedding, I can’t really give you too much crap about a long engagement. I mean, we were engaged over eight years before we finally did the deed. It will happen when the time is right.”

  “No doubt, Audrey. I didn’t think you and Parker were ever gonna walk down the aisle.” Amelia once again moves the conversation off me.

  “Things were good the way they were. We didn’t need a piece of paper, you know?” We all nod our understanding. “But I have to admit I love calling him my husband. Mason and Emmett, you’ll both see. Nothing has ever felt so right.”

  I catch Max’s sympathetic eye. Yet again, glad he’s a man of few words. His eyes say it all. He knows I hate lying to my friends. But, he also knows this is what I signed up for. Like literally, signed a contract and a nondisclosure agreement. This is the consequence of my decision.

  Would I have done it if I had known it would feel like this? I haven’t even seen my family, and I already feel sick about it all now that it’s public.

  “Speaking of, how about the other engaged couple? Have you and Miles picked a date, Mason? I need another reason to come back to Eastlyn; please tell me you two aren’t waiting two years?”

  Max’s phone lights up, and he steps farther away to take it. Curious about everything about him, I am dying to know who it is. Is it Smith, Cleveland, or God forbid, his girlfriend?

  “Have you met Miles? There’s no way he could wait that long. Actually, we both wanted to just do it, but he said there was no way he was doing anything this big while Reece and Rachel were in Africa. We’ve talked about the anniversary of the day we met, so if that works out, you’ll be back here in July!”

  We toast to impending nuptials, passing the champagne bottle around and refilling our glasses. Before long, we’re laughing until we cry, and the decibels are getting higher and higher.

  Later in the evening, Amelia catches Max shaking h
is head and then sticking his finger in his ear. He’s not sitting right near us but near enough. He’s out in one of the aisle ways. I know it’s not only to give us privacy but also because from where he’s placed himself, he can see the front and back exits. I bet he’s bored without his laptop to keep him busy.

  “We get pretty loud, don’t we?” Amelia screams over the rest of us when she catches him with his finger in his ear.

  “I barely noticed, ma’am.”

  “Ma’am? Did he just call me, ma’am?” she asks, swaying on the edge of her chair.

  “It’s annoying, isn’t it?” I say, sticking my tongue out at him and earning myself one of his rare smiles.

  I do my best to ignore what his smile does to me and the way my stomach drops when Amelia continues talking to him because all of the girls zip their lips and turn in their seats to pay attention to the barrel-chested man who’s endured plenty already after listening to us for the last hour and then some.

  “So, Max, can I call you Max? How annoying is Emmy?” she asks without letting him answer how he feels about her using his first name.

  “Miss Ford isn’t annoying at all, ma’am. One of the easiest clients I’ve ever worked with.”

  I was about to tell her to leave him alone not expecting to find his answer as interesting as it was. It turns out, I rather liked his answer, and if the way she’s now sitting with her feet under her like we’re at a slumber party is any indication, she has much more to ask.

  Nah, I don’t think I’ll stop her. He’s a tough guy. He can handle little ole Melly.

  “Wow, they must be paying you well, because I know that can’t be true. I’ll give you my number, and if you ever need to call and vent, I’ll lend you an understanding ear.”

  “Melly, be nice!” I chastise her.

  “Thank you for your concern, but I’m sure I’ll be fine.” He chuckles at the same time.

  “Shh...Max and I are talking, Emmett. A, B conversation. C your way out of it.”

  “How many refills have you had, Amelia? And what grade are we in again? I haven’t heard that one since middle school.”

  “Audrey, did I stutter? Max and I are talking.”

  Audrey and Mason look at me, and the three of us burst into a fit of laughter. I have no idea what’s gotten into our sweet little Melly, but it sure is entertaining.

  “Ignore them,” she continues over our howls. “How long have you been in this line of work?”

  “Going on nine years now.”

  “Are you good at your job?”

  “I sure as hell hope so, or else I shouldn’t be here.”

  “What did you do before this?”

  “I spent six and a half years in the Marine Corps, went to school, and got my business degree, and here I am.”

  “How do you stay in shape if you’re always with Miss Ford?”

  Oh my goodness, she is so embarrassing.

  “He’s not with me every minute of every day. There are other guys who take turns babysitting me. Max is only with me during the day or when Josh and I have an event to attend.”

  It hadn’t hit me before I heard myself say it out loud.

  Why is that? Why is he always with me at events even when it’s a night off?

  “Are you single?”

  He nods.

  So, not his girlfriend on the phone. Whew.

  “Looking?”

  No nod. No answer.

  “How tall are you?”

  “Six four.”

  “What do you do on your days off?”

  “Well, I spend time with my dog and my…”

  “You have a dog?” I hear myself asking, well yelling, shocked I didn’t know this.

  He nods.

  “What’s your dog’s name?” I hear myself asking.

  “Molly.” He’s smiling from ear to ear and shaking his head at my excitement. “Her name is Molly. She’s a French Bulldog.”

  “No way! You better start bringing her to work with you! How could you keep her away from me?”

  “It didn’t seem professional to bring my pet to work, ma’am. Besides, I’m not sure Mr. West would appreciate it.”

  “Well, Mr. West is never home, so I don’t really think he gets a say. I would love to have her at the house. Oh, please tell me you’ll bring her over when we get back? Please, that big old house could use some life in it.”

  I know I’m begging, but I feel so alone back in Los Angeles. A furry friend may be just what I need.

  “Sure, Miss Ford. I’ll bring her by.”

  He stands from his chair, and his attention leaves the four of us. A moment later, he takes a step back, blending into the wall behind him.

  I hear Miles before I see him. “All right, all right. You can stop talking about us now.” He enters the room with Parker on his heels. “Ladies, you know I love you, but I’m tired, and I need this beautiful woman to take me home and put me to bed.”

  Mason doesn’t argue with him. Once he entered the room, all she wanted was him. Their need for one another is equally matched, and I, for one, wouldn’t want to get in the way of it.

  The store empties out with Amelia leaving with Parker and Audrey. Then it’s just my personal protection associate and me. I’m left to close up the store with the weight of my deceit heavy on my heart.

  Max and I don’t exchange words on the short drive back to my place. When we get home, I make a beeline for my room, collapsing on my bed.

  I hate this.

  This isn’t me.

  I don’t lie to the people who mean the most to me in the world, and I don’t break down in a puddle of tears and shame. But since that’s what’s happening right now, I guess I do. Or maybe it’s the champagne?

  Hell, I don’t even know the person looking back at me in the mirror these days.

  A light knock scares me half to death. That knock can only be from one person. He’s the only other person in the house and the last person I want to see me like this.

  When I don’t answer, he speaks through the door. “Miss Ford? I just wanted to check in before calling it a night. Did you need anything before I turn in?”

  I sit up on the edge of the bed and try to speak, but between the sobs I’m trying my best to keep silent, no response comes through.

  “Miss Ford?” He knocks again, only louder this time. “Miss Ford, you okay?”

  Hoping he’ll just walk away, I focus on settling my breathing instead of answering.

  “Miss Ford, I’m coming in.”

  With an urgent swoosh, the door opens, but shame prevents me from looking at him.

  Without a word, the bed dips next to me, and a strong arm is around me, pulling me into his side. My instinct is to wrap my arms around his waist, but I resist, knowing he isn’t holding me for the right reasons.

  He’s taking pity on me.

  Because I’m pathetic.

  Time doesn’t exist. I have no idea how long we sit with only the sound of my whimpering and sniffling filling the room. Once my breathing has leveled out, and my blubbering turns into me, staring vacantly at the floor, the warmth from his arm around me leaves my shoulders, and he rubs two slow circles on my back. When he moves his arm away from me, it leaves me no choice but to pull away from the security of his side.

  When I finally look at him, his eyes search mine with an intensity that once again relieves my lungs of the air that had been there mere seconds ago, only this time for a completely different reason.

  Is he going to kiss me?

  Oh, Max. Please kiss me, even if only out of pity.

  As if hearing my internal pleading and realizing we’re crossing a line we both know shouldn’t be crossed, he says, “Good night, Miss Ford.”

  Standing without another word or look in my direction, he leaves me on my bed, closing the door behind him.

  Chapter 7

  “Poodle, there you are! Come give your Grammy some love.”

  My beloved grandmother holds her arms open from he
r favorite recliner, and I can’t get to her fast enough.

  I hate having to come to a senior living facility to see her, but luckily, everyone loves her here as much as I do, and they take great care of her. It’s not ideal, but it’s what she wanted. Always clear she didn’t want to live with family after Gramps passed. She didn’t want to be a burden or slow down anyone’s life.

  “Oh, Grammy, it’s so good to see you. I’ve missed you!”

  She feels frail in my arms, yet her hold, as always, gives me strength.

  “Let me look at you, Poodle.”

  Grabbing the chair in the corner and pulling it next to hers, letting her take her inspection of me and wait for her to ask me if I’ve been eating and when I’m going back to my natural hair color.

  “Oh, Poodle. Don’t they feed you in Los Angeles?”

  She never lets me down.

  “They do feed me, but they also have yoga classes.”

  “Yoga? Sounds sexy.”

  Again, an expected comment that makes Grammy well…Grammy. If only Max wasn’t standing outside the open door keeping watch, because you know, senior living homes in Pendleton, Oregon, are a hub for abductions.

  “Well, if you consider sweating your face off with your hair stuck to the side of your head sexy, then yep, yoga is sexy. Speaking of sexy, I have something for you.”

  “It better not be too sexy; I’m an old lady.”

  “I think it’s just the right sexy for you. Here you go. The last two books in Mason’s series.”

  Grammy and I have been reading Mason’s books together. My grandmother is what I like to call spicy with her witty, slightly off-color comments and her shelves of Harlequins lining an entire wall of her room. She refuses to give any of them up and has it in her will that they’ll all go to me when the dreaded day comes that she leaves us. And I’m sure I won’t be able to give a single one of them up either.

  “Thank you, Emmy. I can’t wait to see what happens. Your friend sure has a way with the heart, doesn’t she?”