One More Second Chance, page 3
Four
Carter paced back and forth in his overwater bungalow. He couldn’t believe his fate. Carter knew he’d have to be around his ex-fiancée, Phoenix, and he’d prepared for that. The two hadn’t spoken much at all since that fateful night before their wedding. It wasn’t for lack of trying on his part. Once he told her that he couldn’t marry her she didn’t want to hear anything else he had to say. In fact, he never got the chance to explain why he needed to call off the wedding. That was five years ago.
Despite living in close proximity and occasionally seeing each other at functions, it was years before Phoenix would even acknowledge his presence. Eventually, she’d utter a contrite greeting here or there but it was nothing he could count on. He’d wanted to explain the whole story to her on several occasions but it was too late for that now. The pain had been buried. He’d been hurt, too. Calling the wedding off was the hardest decision of his life but he was left with no choice.
He stopped pacing long enough to look at his cousin Jaxon, who was sitting on the sofa in the living room of the bungalow. Carter shook his head at Jaxon. “Does Phoenix know?”
Jaxon inhaled, held his breath a moment and then exhaled with a grunt. “Savannah is telling her now.”
“I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable.” Carter shook his head adamantly.
Jaxon stood up from his chair and shrugged. “Neither do I, but without Ethan there’s no one else I’d pick for my best man besides you.”
“Yeah.” Carter parked his hands on his hips and groaned.
“Who wouldn’t expect that?” Jax said.
“Ugh!” Carter laid his hand across his forehead. “You know she hates me, right?” he asked, referring to Phoenix.
Jaxon waved him off. “She doesn’t hate you, man.”
Carter stopped pacing and looked at Jaxon sideways.
“Okay, maybe she does hate you just a little but that was a long time ago.”
“Not long enough,” Carter said.
“Five years, dude! You both moved on since then—dated other people. You just have to walk down the aisle with her after the ceremony. What is that? For two quick minutes you’ll have to be close to one another. You can survive that, right?”
“And what about all of this other stuff you and Savannah planned for this week? This...this team building...stuff. Clearly, we have to spend a lot more time around each other than a walk down the aisle after the ceremony.”
Jaxon sank into his shoulders. “Savannah just wanted everyone to bond before the wedding. We wanted you all to have a good time.”
Carter just stared at him.
Jaxon walked closer to him. “Come on, man. Tell me this isn’t going to be fun. Four-wheeling? Zip-lining? Kayaking? Yacht parties?”
Carter lived for these activities. “Of course they’ll be fun,” he admitted.
“All kidding aside, Carter, you have to be my best man. Without Ethan, it has to be you. I need you, man,” Jax repeated.
Carter threw his hand up. “You know I’ll do anything for you. It’s just that this...this is...ugh! This won’t be fun. You and Savannah will have to somehow be the buffer. I don’t know how Phoenix is going to respond to this.”
“Look. Phoenix is a smart, reasonable woman. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Carter wasn’t so sure. Yes, Phoenix was intelligent. Brilliant, even. But she was also scorned by Carter. She’d proven time and time again that she wanted nothing to do with him.
“Think about this.” Jaxon interrupted Carter’s thoughts. “Maybe, if you two dare to become cordial enough, you could finally have the chance to tell her why you called off the wedding in the first place.”
Carter stopped pacing abruptly and huffed. “That would probably ruin this entire trip.”
“Think about the fact that you could finally be able to close that chapter.”
Carter glanced at Jaxon and looked away, waving him off. “That chapter has been closed.”
“Yes. You’re over it. I get that, but you know what I mean. After all this time she still doesn’t know. You, Uncle Bill, Aunt Lydia, Ethan, Lincoln and I are the only ones who know the whole story. I never uttered a word to Savannah. She just thought you were a jerk with cold feet that wasn’t ready to give up your bachelor ways. Maybe if you told Phoenix, she wouldn’t hate you so much.”
Carter plopped on the couch and let his arms fall heavily to his sides. “Do you have any idea how many times I tried to talk to her? She never wanted to hear it. She can’t see any reason for me to call off the wedding on such short notice. She wouldn’t even give me the chance to explain that night.”
“I get it. She was hurt. She...” Jaxon searched for the right words.
“Felt rejected.” Carter filled in the blank for him.
“And embarrassed,” Jaxon added.
“I know.” Carter felt bad all over again.
“Look. All I’m saying is that if things don’t go crazy, maybe you guys can be cordial enough to perhaps have a normal conversation. This may be your opportunity to let her know the truth even if it happens after the wedding is over. She deserves to know.”
“Maybe.” Carter wouldn’t cosign Jaxon’s idea just yet. He knew it would take work to get Phoenix to hear him out, and ten days in Fiji might not cut it. Why bother at this point anyway? Weren’t both of them over it?
“It’s hard enough to deal with the fact Ethan is going to miss my wedding and I pray that Zoe is okay. We never imagined moments like this without each other. The most important thing is making sure their baby comes out healthy and strong. You with me?” Jaxon held out his hand.
Carter stood, took Jaxon’s hand and pulled him in for a hug. “I’m with you, Jax. Let’s hope this goes over well with Phoenix.”
“Let’s hope. Either way, we will get through this together,” Jaxon said. He threw his hands out to the sides. “Dude! We’re in Fiji! I’m about to get married!”
A huge smile spread across Carter’s face. “Sounds like it’s time to celebrate!” Carter walked over to the bar inside his villa. “Let the celebration begin.” He poured two glasses of scotch and handed one to Jaxon.
They held their glasses up and clinked them together. Carter began to say something.
“Uh uh uh! Save it for the toast. Until then, let’s just have fun.”
The two men lifted their glasses again and threw the amber liquid down their throats.
“Ah! Nice,” Carter said.
“Yeah,” Jaxon said, putting down his glass. “We need to get ready for the welcome reception. Let me get back to my villa before my wife-to-be sends out a search party.”
Jaxon headed for the door and paused. He turned back toward Carter and chuckled. “Maybe this is fate.”
“What are you talking about, Jax?”
“Sinai decided not to come. Ethan can’t come. And now you and Phoenix will walk down the aisle together. There might be something to this.”
“Man!” Carter picked up one of the pillows on the sofa and tossed it at Jaxon.
He ducked, avoiding the hit, and hurried toward the door. “Just a thought.” Jaxon chuckled. “See you at the reception.” He let himself out and Carter could hear him laughing beyond the closed door.
Carter couldn’t get mad. If the shoe was on the other foot, he would have teased Jaxon just the same. That was how they were with each other. Carter poured himself another drink and sat on his balcony overlooking the pristine water surrounding his villa. This time he sipped the whiskey slowly, wondering what these next few days could bring.
Carter hadn’t had a serious relationship since Phoenix. Although he thought he was doing the right thing back then, he’d hurt Phoenix badly. But what could he do about that now? That was the past. He had his whole life ahead of him and several other large fish to fry. He just needed to get through the rest of the festivities and this vacation. He needed to enjoy himself. He deserved this break.
Big decisions awaited his return to the States. Carter looked forward to his time in Fiji being somewhat of a reprieve before starting new chapters in his life. Chapters that he was excited about, despite making other people unhappy, namely his father. While he was away, perhaps he could find the right words to let his father know that his days at Blackwell Wealth Management were numbered. Bill’s dream for his sons taking over the company was dissipating. Carter had other plans and he’d sacrificed enough of his time to appease his dad. It was time for him to strike out on his own. Losing that promotion to Ethan was a turning point for Carter. Bill had given each of them the chance to prove themselves when they opened their branches. Ethan’s branches out-performed Carter’s and Dillon’s giving Ethan the upper hand. Now his brother was his boss. It was time to make his dreams come true, not his father’s.
Carter walked back inside and put his glass in the small sink on the wet bar. He didn’t have time to ponder the past. He had an entire future ahead of him despite the challenges it held. Right now he was in Fiji on a well-deserved vacation, ready to have fun and celebrate his cousin and his beautiful fiancée. Carter wasn’t about to sit around mulling over what could have been. He did what he had to do. As for what was next, when he got back home he would do what was necessary. Right now it was time to party!
Five
Phoenix dressed for the welcome reception that was taking place under a cabana on the beach. Her strapless, flowing maxi dress was perfect for the seaside festivities. Phoenix closed the tube of nude lip gloss and stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She took a deep breath, sighed and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “It’s for Savannah,” she said to herself.
Savannah’s wedding was the important thing here, not her own feelings about Carter. How bad could it be? A walk that wouldn’t last more than a few minutes couldn’t be so terrible.
Phoenix groaned. She wished it could have been anyone else. She and Carter were supposed to walk down the aisle together as husband and wife five years ago. That never happened because he called it off the night before the wedding. She never anticipated fate would bring her to a moment like this. She was over the situation and wasn’t interested in ever getting close and personal with Carter ever again. This trip would be the first time in years that they would have to spend time around each other in close proximity for more than a few minutes.
“This is for Savannah,” she repeated as she stuffed her gloss, mascara and eyeliner back into her makeup bag. “I’m going to have a good time.”
Phoenix put the bag inside her suitcase, straightened her back and headed out her villa door. As she made her way through the tropical surroundings and smiling natives, she decided not to let the circumstances bother her. She moved on from Carter a long time ago. One stroll down the aisle for her sister’s wedding wouldn’t change a thing.
Other than tight cordial greetings at events by mutual friends, she and Carter never talked. All she had to do was to continue being cordial. Carter was just another ex.
By the time Phoenix reached the area on the beach where the reception was being held, she was smiling. It could have been the ocean breeze caressing her skin, the beautiful scenery or the fact that she was finally starting to settle into her vacation. Regardless of what it was, Phoenix was happy to feel free of all worries. The next ten days were going to be amazing, fun and peaceful. That was just what she needed.
A handsome Fijian gentleman handed her a colorful drink as she approached the cabana designated for the reception. She smiled and waved at Lincoln and Ivy, Carter’s siblings, and continued through the space. The bridal party was small and made up of mostly family. It was originally eight members but now that Zoe and Ethan had to stay behind, there were six of them left that included Carter, Lincoln and Jaxon’s buddy Angel. Carter’s sister, Ivy, was among the women along with her and Maya, Savannah’s good friend. Angel and Maya were the only members of the bridal party that weren’t family.
Because a few changes were made, and Carter was now the best man, he was partnered with Phoenix in the wedding since she was the maid of honor. Lincoln was walking with Maya, and Angel was paired with Ivy.
Phoenix hugged and kissed Maya when she stepped under the cabana. Maya and Savannah were college roommates and had become inseparable in the past few years. You would have thought they were friends since childhood. She greeted the others, chatting briefly as she sipped her drink and enjoyed the ocean breeze. Carter and Lincoln hadn’t arrived. She continued mingling.
Phoenix would be around everyone for most of the trip and didn’t mind, but she also longed for a few quiet moments. She spotted a cozy-looking chair near a corner of the cabana and excused herself from the small crowd. That would give her some quiet time until her sister and Jaxon arrived. They weren’t the quiet types.
Phoenix thought about their engagement as she sat. It certainly wasn’t a long one. They’d known each other since grade school and weren’t interested in a long engagement. The day after Jaxon proposed they scheduled a date a few months out and began planning for their destination wedding. Savannah dreamed about marrying in exotic locations since she was a teenager.
Phoenix ran her hand across the white leather covering the comfortable chair and wondered how they managed to keep them so clean. Phoenix looked around and took in the all-white decor, curtains, seating and flowers, and smiled. The space looked pure, fresh and blissful.
Phoenix took a sip of her drink, closed her eyes and lifted her chin. She could smell the sea and taste the salt on her lips. She felt like all of her worries could roll away with the waves. She listened to the melodic Fijian music playing in the background. With her eyes still closed, she swayed to the rhythm.
“I see that you’re enjoying the vibe.”
At the sound of that voice, Phoenix felt a bit of her peace slip away. She opened her eyes to find Carter standing over her. Her heart quickened. Not because she was annoyed by him disturbing her moment, but because Carter looked unreasonably handsome. More handsome than the last time she saw him. She figured it was the beauty of Fiji filtering everything around her.
“Hello, Carter,” Phoenix said and nodded before sitting up straighter. Taking a sip, she looked at him over the rim of her drink. “It’s nice to see you.” That was all she had to say. Phoenix hadn’t thought about actually having a conversation with him.
“May I?” Carter gestured toward the chair adjacent to her.
“Sure.” Phoenix sat back, getting comfortable again.
For several moments they sat in silence. Phoenix wondered how long Carter would stay seated next to her. She closed her eyes again and tried to get back into the music. Her heart rate had returned to normal and the initial tension she felt from Carter’s presence was waning. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as grueling as she’d anticipated.
After a while Carter finally spoke. “It’s beautiful here.”
“Yes. It is.” Phoenix hadn’t opened her eyes.
After another long pause Carter began again. Phoenix gave him her attention. “I just wanted to say hello and...” Carter paused. That made Phoenix open her eyes. Carter blinked in that thoughtful way that Phoenix remembered him doing whenever he was choosing his words carefully. “Having to walk down the aisle with me is probably the last thing you want to do. I just wanted to let you know that I understand if it makes you uncomfortable. I’m doing my cousin a favor and other than that, I’ll stay out of your way.”
“Same.” Phoenix flashed a quick, cordial smile. “You don’t need to do this, Carter. I’m sure you had the same conversation with Jaxon that I had with my sister. It’s about them, not us.”
“I’m glad we’re on the same page,” Carter said.
“Me, too,” Phoenix agreed.
Silence expanded between them again and so did a sense of awkwardness. She thought about asking for another drink. Hers was getting low. Maybe Carter would say something else. They were no longer used to sharing companionable silence. Instead, Phoenix felt the strain of his presence. She thought about coming up with small talk but she sat in the thickness of the silence instead.
“By the way, you look amazing,” Carter said.
Phoenix didn’t know why his compliment made her smile. But what ex didn’t want to hear that they still had it?
“Thanks.”
“Hey, everybody!” Savannah burst onto the scene, holding Jaxon’s hand. Relieved by her arrival, Phoenix took note of how happy her sister looked and how lovingly Jaxon looked at her. “Are you all ready to get this party started?” Savannah’s cheerful voice carried throughout the cabana. She and Jaxon took the drinks the Fijian gentleman handed to them.
“Yeah!” Several members of the wedding party raised their glasses and shouted.
Savannah and Jaxon’s arrival succeeded in breaking through the tension surrounding Carter and her.
“Let’s start with a toast to beautiful Fiji.” Savannah raised her glass. “And I want to toast to each of you for accepting our invitation to come a few days early.”
“Yes,” Jaxon interjected. “We’re a long way from home and Savannah and I wanted to take this time with you to show you our appreciation. So the next few days will be filled with a bit of fun and adventure on us.”
“So we can thank you.” Savannah picked up where Jaxon left off. “Thank you for agreeing to be a part of our special day, for being here and for being amazing family and friends.”
“Cheers!” Jaxon said.
Everyone who had glasses raised them and repeated, “Cheers.”
After a sip, Savannah continued. “As you know, Ethan and Zoe won’t be able to join us this week. We spoke to them and Zoe is stable but won’t be able to leave the hospital for several days. We wish them well.”
