Off-Limits Valentine, page 7
“Yep, same one. Let’s just say it was less romantic and more a place for company retreats,” Harley replied, using Isaac’s exact description.
“That’s an odd comparison.” Lily grimaced.
“Yeah, I really don’t want to talk about it—how was the concert?” After she’d changed her plans, Lily had texted to tell her that she and Zane were going to the concert as a gift from Spencer. Her own words hit her in the pit of her stomach. She should’ve been at that show, but she uncharacteristically backed out of her plans with Spencer to instead go away with Isaac. And because of that, she missed the concert she’d been hoping to see for months.
“It was so good!” Lily eyed Harley, and without missing a beat, asked, “I thought this was a romantic weekend? You said the place was less than romantic.”
“Yep.”
“I’m confused.” Lily’s face twisted.
“Maybe with Isaac and myself not communicating so well lately, it is possible that I missed the details about this weekend.”
“That’s a pretty big detail. Did he like the new blouse you bought?” Lily asked, hopeful.
Ugh. Another hit to her gut.
“I thought I said that I didn’t want to talk about this?” Harley pleaded.
“You did. But I kind of do,” Lily pressed.
“Lil, we can revisit this another time. Right now, I just want to be alone with my music and my thoughts.”
“You sure? I can order a pizza for dinner?”
“Nah, I had pizza for lunch. But thanks.”
Harley put in her earbuds and laid back on her bed with Evanescence blasting. Lily showed herself out, closing the door behind her.
She closed her eyes and focused on the words of the song. Her heart rate slowed, and her body relaxed. Her thoughts wandered to the snowball fight she’d had with Spencer. It was so easy to be herself with him, and she always had so much fun when they were together.
She wondered what he was doing right now. He was probably out on a date, and the thought made her stomach flop. She had no right to care what Spencer was doing, they were just friends.
Her thoughts were interrupted when Lily poked her head in the doorway.
“Good news!” Lily exclaimed with a wide smile. “I just talked to my mom. She has an associate that owns a cabin that’s only about an hour away. They only use it in the summer for fishing...long story short, she offered it to my parents to use, and my mom thought we could use a fun getaway before graduation. What do you think? This weekend, are you in?”
“I guess. Sounds like a nice distraction. Just tell me what I need to bring and when I need to be ready,” Harley said.
“Invite Isaac and we’ll make it a couple’s weekend,” Lily pressed.
“Um, yeah. I’ll see if he can make it.” There was rarely a weekend that he wasn’t working these days. But maybe a quiet non-working weekend away is what they needed. A cabin in the middle of the woods could be a romantic couple’s getaway.
If he couldn’t go, which was more likely, then maybe Lily wouldn’t invite Zane either and they could have a girl’s weekend.
And a girl’s weekend might be just what she needed.
THE WEEK DRAGGED ON, and so did her classes. It was only Thursday and Isaac had been busy all week. No lunch dates, no dinners. Oddly enough, she wasn’t as annoyed as she thought she’d be by his distance. Or maybe he was avoiding her after she changed her mind about dinner the other night. She still couldn’t believe that she dismissed him the way she had. But, good on her. If Isaac really cared about her it wouldn’t matter what she was wearing.
The cold air felt good against her face as she stood outside, trying to wake up from her boring morning classes. She had a meeting with her counselor in an hour, then she was done for the weekend.
Her body relaxed at the thought of the weekend. A nice long weekend in the woods with her boyfriend and best friend. She wasn’t sure she had ever seen Isaac let his hair down, and the thought made her shake her head in amusement. It was going to be great.
Her phone buzzed with a text message. It was from Isaac.
Isaac: Sorry, can’t make it this weekend. I have to work.
Of course he does. So much for their romantic weekend.
She grabbed a coffee and hurried to her meeting.
She didn’t want to doubt their relationship, but were they really going in the right direction? She barely saw him. And when she did it was for his work events. She wasn’t meant to be a trophy wife. Yes, she wanted a husband, a family, a stable and wonderful home life, but she wanted a life too. She liked to dress up and go out and have fun, and she wanted all that for her future-children too.
As she entered the school administrative office, the heavy doubt that rumbled through her gut was unlike anything she had ever felt.
Her counselor greeted Harley with a smile. “Miss Brady, I’m happy to see you’re early. I’m ready if you are.” The woman showed Harley into her office. “I’ve submitted all your paperwork for next semester. You’re in if that’s what you decide to do. And as a side note, let me add that I think you are making a very smart decision. Furthering your education isn’t something everyone can do. You, Harley, have the means to do it. Just say the word.”
Harley took a deep breath. She knew what kind of future she wanted.
“I’m in.”
Chapter Eight
Spencer
It was Friday night and they were settled in for a fun weekend at the cabin Lily’s mom secured for the weekend. Yes, it was a last-minute invite for him, but he was happy to be here regardless. It wasn’t like he had a big weekend planned while Zane was away with Lily for their couple’s weekend.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m ready for a beer!” Spencer grabbed a can of beer from the case that he brought and popped it open. “Harley, there’s some cans of your pop in the cooler, if you’re interested.”
Spencer nodded to the cooler that was sitting by the couch. “And, just in case anyone is interested, I also brought some Fireball. I thought shots could help liven things up. Hey Lil, do you think they have some shot glasses around here?” He set the bottle on the table.
“Let me check.” Lily hurried to the kitchen and rummaged through the cupboards until finally grabbing four little glasses. In a sing-song voice, she replied, “Here we go!”
Once Lily set the shot glasses on the table, Spencer filled each of them with his go-to liquor.
Holding up his glass, he asked, “So, what are we toasting to?”
“To me,” Lily said with a wide smile.
“You?” Harley questioned.
“My girl has some news.” Zane pulled her close as he beamed proudly.
“Lil?” Harley asked and her eyes narrowed.
It was obvious to him that Harley was not happy that whatever this news was had been kept a secret even from her.
“To me getting a job offer for after graduation,” Lily said, holding her glass up.
“Wow—to Lily!” Spencer toasted.
“To Lily. Congratulations, love.” Zane kissed her cheek, then raised his glass.
“We’ll talk about why you kept this a secret later—but for now, congratulations to Lily!” Harley’s words all ran together as she raised her glass.
“Cheers!” Spencer added as they clinked glasses.
Harley grimaced as she downed the drink and Spencer couldn’t help but snicker.
“Oh, come on, it’s pretty good,” Spencer countered.
“I can vouch that your second shot will taste much better,” Zane stated.
Spencer took Zane’s suggestion literally and refilled all of their glasses. “And the third is even better.”
Harley shrugged. “So, where is this job?”
Lily bounced in her seat, the way Lily always does when she gets excited. “It is with the company I am interning with. They liked me so much that they offered me a full-time position once I graduate. They were on my short list of companies that I had hoped to get an interview with, so needless to say, I am pretty excited! I really love it there.”
“That is so great, Lily!” Harley hugged Lily.
“You’re next! I can’t wait for graduation; we’ll be two working girls starting our new lives together! I think we should drink next to Harley getting the job that she wants! To Harley!” Lily held up her second shot. Everyone toasted and downed their drinks.
Harley winced, then her facial expression softened. “Okay, you might be right, Z. But I’m not sure that I need a third glass, Spence.”
“Probably not a bad idea to slow down. I’m just so excited. Things are finally falling into place. Aren’t you excited, Harley? We’re heading out into the real world, finally!” Lily gushed.
Spencer noticed Harley didn’t look overjoyed at Lily’s comments as he and Zane worked on the beer. Lily was still smiling as she sipped at the wine coolers she brought.
They watched movies, drank, and snacked.
After a while, Lily and Zane slipped off and went to bed. Spencer grabbed the bag of chips and they snacked more and watched movies. The beer and bottle of Fireball were sitting by the bowl of chips, but Spencer wasn’t paying much attention to them. He was just happy that he was on this trip and not Isaac.
“So, Isaac had to work, I hear?” Spencer said, hoping not to make Harley mad, but interested in the story.
“Yes.” She sighed. “It seems like it’s all he ever does anymore.”
“And that bothers you?”
“Duh.”
Ignoring her deadpanned comment, he continued on. “While we’re talking, you didn’t seem very happy when Lily made the toast about you.”
“Nope.” She shook her head. “I mean, yeah, she is excited and wants me to be just as happy as she is. I get that, and it’s sweet. Starting our new lives, joining the real world, blah, blah, blah.”
Harley grabbed the bottle of Fireball and filled her cup with a little.
“Har? You like that stuff now?” Spencer looked at her funny.
“Like Zane said, the more you drink, the better it tastes.”
“Be careful with that.” Spencer sat up and investigated the bottle. It was almost empty, and he knew they only did a few shots each. “Wait, how much have you drunk?”
Harley waved his concern off. “I mostly had pop.”
“Yeah, mostly pop and Fireball,” Spencer teased. “And you’re not feeling it yet?”
“No, I’m fine.”
He tilted his head and watched her. She didn’t look fine, and he didn’t mean tipsy, he meant sad. “You okay? And I don’t mean the alcohol.”
Harley sighed. “I don’t know. When Lily talked about graduation, all I could think about was how I had other plans. Or, how I want to have other plans. Plans that I haven’t told her about.”
“These other plans...have you applied yet? In case you decide to go for your Master’s?” Spencer inquired.
“Actually, yes. I figure I can always change my mind. But I met with my counselor yesterday. She filed all the paperwork and asked me if I had made a decision yet.”
“And?” he couldn’t help but ask. He only wanted her to be happy.
“I told her to sign me up.” She shrugged with a lazy smile. “I start my new semester in the fall.”
“Wow, Harley, that’s such big news! Really great news!” He was so happy for her. “But why didn’t we toast to that?”
She shrugged. Her expression changed to sullen.
“Have you told Isaac?” He knew the answer but asked anyway.
“Ha.” Harley chuckled. “I know you weren’t serious about that. I haven’t even told Lily yet.” She downed her drink.
He still wasn’t sure if that was straight Fireball or added to pop.
“You’re going to have to tell Isaac, I mean, he is your boyfriend.” The words tasted awful as he spoke.
“What are you talking about? I applied, that’s all.”
Spencer stared at her, confused for a moment, knowing what he heard. But the more he looked at her, he noticed the shiny eyes, and the red nose. She was tipsy.
“Right, sure,” Spencer agreed to keep her smiling. They’d have to continue this in the morning, when she was thinking clearly.
“I am so happy for Lily.” Harley grabbed the Fireball, drinking the rest directly from the bottle. “And I’m sure Zane will find something in the city, and they will be happy happy happy. Just like the perfect little couple that they are.”
The lights were dim and the comedy movie they were watching was wrapping up. All the storylines were falling into place, and the main characters were ending up with their happily ever afters. Remarkably similar to how things were falling into place in their lives. Lily was preparing for graduation with a job lined up, Zane was doing the same. Harley was preparing to accept her bachelor’s degree and continue her education to earn her Master’s. And he had a job lined up, here in town, for after graduation.
He was really enjoying his time with Harley and getting to know her. The idea of that coming to a screaming halt once she moved in with Mr. Lame is what had him shaken.
Harley was staring in the direction of the television, with her head on his shoulder, he could feel her breathing. She was humming. No doubt she was drunk. The girl had drunk more Fireball than he had ever seen her drink—actually he rarely saw her drink any alcohol. The occasional hard lemonade, but her go-to was pop.
“Spencer,” she said, her words drawn out. “I really like you.”
“Yeah, you’re pretty cool too, Har,” he responded without looking over at her.
“No, Spence, I really like you. You get me, the real me. And you don’t try to make me something that I’m not,” she said again, ending her sentence with a hum.
“Oh.” He knew she wouldn’t remember any of this in the morning. It would be an ideal moment to move in for a kiss. A kiss that he desired every time he was close to her. And now, with her head on his shoulder, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her sweet lips. And there was nothing wrong with that. He was not attached, and let’s face it, Isaac was a dud. It was just one kiss.
But he was not the kind of guy to make a move on another man’s woman. Then again, we were talking about Isaac. What was Mr. Lame going to do about it? Take her to another corporate retreat? Maybe he’d take his chances. He liked the odds.
Moving his focus from the television to Harley, still leaning on his shoulder, he discovered she was sound asleep.
The decision was made for him, and it was probably for the best. He hated to ruin the friendship that they had. Plus, making a move on a tipsy chick was a dick move, and he was better than that.
Spencer gently moved Harley off of him and made her comfortable on the couch, sliding a throw pillow under her head, before he grabbed a nearby blanket to keep her warm. He curled up on the recliner and stared at how beautiful she was, even sound asleep, her hair mused, drool forming at the corner of her lips, and snoring ever so softly. Yep, Harley was gorgeous.
He watched her sleep until he finally drifted off.
HE DROPPED LIGHT KISSES on her bare shoulder as he tossed her shirt to the floor. She tasted like cotton candy. Her hair tickled his nose as she kissed his neck, hitting that spot that he really liked.
Her body was warm against his. It was like they were made for one another–
“Good morning, you two!” Lily’s loud voice rang through his ears, waking him from the best dream ever. Dammit! It was just a dream.
It was too early for this noise—at least he assumed it was too early. Spencer hadn’t dared to open his eyes yet to see the clock on his phone. Instead, he just hissed, “Shh.”
Pissed that Lily ruined that dream for him, he pulled his shirt loosely over the front of his jeans.
“Huh? Wha?” Harley said, her words muffled as she stirred on the couch.
Obviously, they were sound asleep when Lily and her cheery-ass self graced them with her presence. Finally prying his eyes open, sunshine streamed in the living room, and the delightful scent of pancakes and coffee filled his nose. Small consolation to missing out on the climax of that dream, and yet, still delightful. He rubbed his eyes and shook off the sleepiness enough to focus on Lily and Zane in the kitchen making breakfast.
“What time is it?” he croaked.
“Ten-thirty. You guys have been snoring all morning,” Lily said.
“I don’t snore,” Spencer countered sleepily.
“Yes, you do. Trust us. We’re on our second pot of coffee,” Zane added.
“For real? What were you doing?” Spencer asked as he sat up, shaking off the sleepiness.
“Just sitting outside, relaxing with nature.” Lily swooned.
“Isn’t it a little cold for that?” Harley asked.
“Yeah, a bit,” Lily answered. “That’s why Zane collected some more firewood and started the fireplace. But this afternoon is supposed to be sunny, so me and Z might go for a hike. You guys in?”
“A hike?” Spencer snorted.
“Pretty sure we can count Spencer out of that,” Zane said with a chuckle.
“Got that right, Cuz,” Spencer agreed. “I’ll stay here and finish off the coffee.”
“How are you feeling, this morning, Harley?” Lily asked.
“Well,” Harley sat up and glared at Lily. “Besides you being extra loud this morning, I feel fine.”
“Really? I’m surprised by that, seeing as how you drank almost all the Fireball last night. And about that, is everything okay? I mean, I know we were celebrating, but when you and I bring out the shots we only drink one or two. You just kept pouring, and drinking...” Lily picked up the empty bottle. “And unless Spencer drank the rest of the bottle after we went to bed, then you drank almost half a bottle by yourself.”
“I had a few,” Spencer admitted, knowing full well that Harley drank most of it.
“Breakfast is served!” Lily gleefully stated. She set plates filled with pancakes on the dining room table.
“Good. I’m star–” Harley stood up, appearing to move toward the dining room. She stopped suddenly, quickly spun on her heel, and made a beeline for the bathroom.
