Page 4 of Never Going to Care

It’s her special day. It’s a day she should remember for the rest of her life. It doesn’t hurt that I’m already annoyed because we don’t have enough time to really do any of this properly and now this guy wants to lumber in and be pissy? I just don’t think so. I don’t think so so fucking hard.

I stand up to my full height, which, at 5’4”, isn’t much. Fine! 5’3”; damn. I plant my hands on the table and lean toward him. The moment I do, his scent, some cedarwood deliciousness which makes me want to lean into him and take a deep breath, much to my embarrassment, surrounds me. A man like him, one who clearly has a permanent scowl on his face and a bad fucking attitude, shouldn’t smell so damn good.

I breathe through my mouth, but then it’s like I can taste him. Not helping at all.

As I narrow my eyes at him and try to force out the laser beams, which are begging to shoot out of my eyes, I seethe, “We’re planning her wedding.” My voice lowers to a challenging tone, “You got a problem with it?”

He blinks at me once, twice, three times. I think, for a split second, his lips, the way too kissable lips, are going to break into a grin and he’s going to tell me he’s just fucking with me. It doesn’t happen and, instead, his scowl deepens. Which shouldn’t be sexy.

“Yeah,” he scoffs, “I do have a problem with the office being taken over by lace and satin and shit.”

His lip curls up in a sneer as he looks down at the magazine spread out before us. My heart sinks because I know whatever Piper was going to say about the dress she was just looking at, especially if it was positive, is going to be lost now. His eyes take in everything, including the binder I put together for my best friend as if it’s nothing. Why does it feel like he’s sayingI’mnothing? I don’t even know him.

“We do serious work here,” his voice is cold, and I fight my body to not shudder at the sound of it.

I will not show weakness to some fucking asshole. Not now, not ever. I’ve never backed down from a challenge and I sure as fuck have never let a bully walk all over me. I learned a long time ago how to defend myself.

In part it was because I’ve always been smaller, and people wanted to make fun of it or think that I’m weak because of it. It doesn’t help that my brother is Ezra Payne, the goalie for the New York Storm. He’s the opposite of me in so many ways.

He’s a giant and muscled to hell and back. I’m pretty sure like five of me could fit in one of him. But who is counting that kind of thing?

We’re the same in a lot of ways as well. People have judged us for our size. People might think I’m weak, but they’ve always assumed Ezra is some stupid jock. They couldn’t be farther from the truth. They also think he’s hard as hell and has no feelings. Also, a fucking stereotypical lie.

He’s the biggest, softest teddy bear. I love him dearly. Considering he’s only a year older than me, we were always close growing up. We still are now that I’m 24 and he’s 25.

He taught me how to take care of myself because I was always more than willing to jump into a fight and not give a single fuck if it became physical. He warned me once, around middle school, that because he was bigger people would want to pick a fight with him. He also warned me that if he defended himself, or me, and hurt someone then he would be in a lot of trouble.

That was when I turned from a girl who thought her brother would always have her back into a hellcat. Ezra will always have my back; I know this without a doubt. However, he would rather solve the problem with words while I don’t give a fuck about diplomacy.

I can be the sweetest person in the world to those who I love and who have earned it, but when someone crosses me or messes with the people I care about? All bets are off.

Which is why I have no problem standing up to this guy, no matter who he thinks he is. I stand up to my full height and look at him as if he’s a bug and I’m not a bit sorry about it.

“Then you should talk to your boss about him giving her almost no time at all to plan the wedding,” I sneer the words at him, and his eyes widen a fraction. I don’t give a fuck if he’s offended. “Are you done here? The faster we get through this stuff, the sooner we can be out of your hair with all this lace and satin.”

Piper looks up at me with wide eyes but doesn’t stop me or slow me down. More than likely it’s because she knows I wouldn’t listen at this point. I can be single minded, especially when someone rubs me the wrong way.

He glances between us before he turns and stalks out of the room. I’m almost too lost in watching how the muscles of his back bunch and move to hear him mumble, “Your day will be great no matter if you have all the bells and whistles or not because you two love each other.”

Well, fuck.

I slump back down in my chair and press a hand to my chest. My heart is racing, and I don’t think it has anything to do with standing up for Piper or myself. I’m afraid it has everything to do with that man and the way he lights my body on fucking fire.

Not good.

He’s a grump who needs a serious attitude adjustment. Even if he did say the nicest fucking thing. It was only on his way out and after he had insinuated that what we’re doing is frivolous. Piper is already going to have to give up on a lot of things just because of how fast we’re going to pull this wedding together. I'm sure as hell going to give it my all on what we do have time for.

I turn to Piper to find her looking between the empty doorway and me. I can see the wheels in her head spinning to try and figure out what just happened here. I don’t think I want her to see the ways he’s affected me outside of annoyance and anger.

Deflect! Mayday, deflect!

“What a jerk,” I huff out. “Who is that guy, anyway? Like he is security for the security firm?” I roll my eyes and screw up my face. “The police of all things sparkly, fun and romantic?”

Piper laughs and it only takes me a moment to join her. It’s good to laugh with my friend. It’s hard to maintain life-long friendships the older you get. I already miss my brother so much of the year, between his training, practice and traveling schedule.

For a long time, it felt like I was missing Piper in my life as well, not even our monthly dinners were enough. We spent so much time together when we were younger and then…life seemed to get in the way.

I bite back a sigh because I know I’m overcompensating with all the wedding planning. I just can’t help it. Honestly.

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