Page 53 of Win You Over
Me:Don’t worry about it. I’ll tell Remi to call him and check in.
I end the chat with Theo right as Remington walks over to me and we stroll down the marina to the parking.
“Finn stopped by to see Theo again,” I say.
“Odd,” Remi replies, his voice distant and his gaze in the distance.
“Maybe you should call him,” I suggest as we climb into the car. Remington nods and starts the engine, but neither of us says anything more on the matter of Finn and the rest of the drive is quiet. I can’t shake the niggling feeling that even though Remington says nothing has changed, everything has changed. Or it will when he finds out I’m not as strong or brave as he thinks.
The villa is buzzing with people when we walk in. I recognise two of Nadine’s bridesmaids and their husbands and kids, but I don’t know anyone else. Music is barely audible thanks to the raucous laughter and chatter of the bodies filling the patio and garden.
“Rem!” Nadine slurs as she walks across the decking, wobbling on her sky high heels. “You’ve made it.”
Remington wraps an arm around his sister’s waist, holding her up. “What have I made it to?” He looks past Nadine to a group of girls splashing in the pool. It’s still early in the evening, not even dark yet, but by the glossy look in Nadine’s eyes, it’s clear she’s been drinking for a few hours already.
“Some of my friends got here earlier than planned. We’re having a champagne lunch. Come say hi.”
“Sister dearest, you’re drunk,” Remington remarks, leading his sister to a chair and pushing her down. “Lunch time was over hours ago.”
Nadine scrunches up her nose. “Oh, shit. What’d we eat for lunch?”
Remington snorts a laugh. “I don’t know. I wasn’t here, remember?”
Making myself useful, I head into the kitchen, pour a glass of water and then carry it outside to Nadine. She takes it with a smile that looks so much like her brother’s.
“Your boyfriend is sexy,” she says loudly. Heat blasts up my cheeks, and I tip my chin to my chest, looking down at my feet.
“I am very aware,” Remington retorts. “I had plans with my sexy boyfriend this evening and now I seem to be babysitting you.” He looks down at the garden again. “Where are Mom and Dad? Better yet, where is your fiancé?”
It’s clear Remington has fired one too many questions at Nadine for her to contemplate an answer, so she simply ignores him, turning her attention back on me.
“Don’t fuck this up, brother. He’s too nice for you to fuck and forget.”
It’s not that I’m not aware of Remington’s playboy reputation, but the reminder sits uneasily in my chest. The summer sun, and the gentle kisses, and passionate touches appear to have wiped out the reality of who we really are. The rich, fun loving, Mr Popular and the quiet, struggling guy with less than a handful of friends. Opposites in so many ways.
“Shut it, Nadine,” Remington growls, with not even a hint of playfulness.
She makes a show of zipping her mouth shut while also trying not to laugh.
A guy I don’t recognise comes up to us then. He’s tall and broad, his torso chiselled with a sprinkling of dark chest hair, and he’s wearing a backward baseball cap. His eyes run a trail over Remington’s body before coming to land on me. He gives me a dismissive nod, then claps Remington on the shoulder.
“Rem, it’s been a while,” he says, his voice warm and suggestive. My gut twists at the familiar way the guy touches Remington’s arm. The guy positions himself, so he’s standingbetween Remington and me. “Coming down to the pool? It would be great to catch up. Like old times.”
My heart beats like an out-of-control drum, hammering against my ribcage. My throat tightens, air clawing at the sensitive flesh as my hand reaches for my empty pocket and I take a step back. I don’t know what it is that has panic flashing to the surface – the noise, the people, the stone cold truth that Remington can do so much better than me, evidenced by the bronzed six foot something Greek god standing in front of me – but for the first time since we arrived, I have this urge to hide.
I take another step back, my back hitting a smaller, softer body. Spinning around, I come face to face with Charlene. She’s wearing a yellow sundress and a wide-brimmed hat. Behind her, Curtis is carrying a stack of white pizza boxes. The smell of oregano and tangy cheese fills the warm evening air. If my stomach wasn’t churning, I’d probably salivate at the offer of fresh Italian pizza.
“Holden,” she says. “Come help me prepare the salads.” I nod and follow behind her, thankful for the reprieve that comes in the empty kitchen.
Rupert passes through, giving us a wave before dashing outside.
“He had to fetch his grandparents from the airport. He can take care of his lightweight of a fiancée now,” she remarks. “She’ll regret all the champagne in the morning. But, hopefully, this is her one and only wedding, so I’m glad she’s enjoying herself.” Charlene picks up a blue cloth and wipes down the kitchen counter before leaning forward and pressing both hands to the surface, training her eyes on me.
“You don’t have to worry about Chad,” she remarks, looking at me like I’m wearing my jealousy and insecurities like a neon sign. Does she look at me and know that I know I am no good for her son? Not good enough. Not strong enough. Justnot enough.
“That boy out there,” she starts, and I lift my head and see her point at the window, to where Remington is piling pizza onto a plate. “He lights up when he looks at you. You mean something to him. I wasn’t sure about your relationship at first, but I was wrong.”
I look at Charlene and then outside again. Remington is heading away from the table now, beers tucked under one arm and enough pizza to feed seven on his plate, making his way towards us.
