by A. J. Wynter
Charlotte turned up the sound on her phone, tapped the video, and all three of them leaned in to watch as Serena’s face came into focus. “Hi, guys.” Her valley girl voice rang out through the phone’s tiny speaker. Charlotte looked at Lauren and they both rolled their eyes. She continued, “Just wanted to let you know, ‘cuz I know that y’all were worried about me, that some of my friends got together and decided to punk me. Can you believe it?” Charlotte raised her eyebrows and kept watching. “So, like that incident, the other day was all planned, and that was like an actor. Wasn’t she great?” Fake giggle. “I’m fine. There’s no crazy woman like trying to like get me.” She continued rambling about some new dress, blah, blah, blah Dolce & Gabbana, but Charlotte wasn’t listening. She clicked off the video. “What the fuck?” she whispered. “Shit, I mean. What the frick?”
Tabitha giggled.
“She needs earmuffs around you.” Lauren pulled Tabitha in close to her and kissed her on her head. “But she knows that those are bad words.” Over the top of Tabitha’s head, Lauren mouthed, “What the fuck?”
“An actor? Why is she letting me off the hook?”
“Who knows? There has to be a reason though,” Lauren replied. Charlotte knew that she was right. What had happened?
The three of them finished off every slice of pizza and flopped onto Charlotte’s expensive down filled sofa.
“I hope you have a movie night planned because I think I’m going to have to undo my top button,” Lauren groaned and rubbed her stomach.
“Well,” Charlotte tried to get a hint of intrigue in her voice. “Remember how much Tabitha liked going to the hockey game?”
“Yes, I was surprised at how much she liked it,” Lauren replied.
“Liked it? I loved it,” Tabitha said emphasizing ‘love’. “Especially when Logan skated me around the ice at super speed.”
“That’s why I got you VIP box seat tickets to the final playoff game!” She clapped her hands together, trying her best to look enthusiastic about heading to the gardens.
“Can I talk to you in the kitchen?” Lauren turned on the TV and handed the remote to Tabitha. “You wait here,” she ordered as she escorted Charlotte into the kitchen by her elbow.
“Ow,” Charlotte hissed and yanked her arm away from her sister’s grasp as soon as they were out of earshot of the ten-year-old.
“What are you thinking?” Lauren whispered.
Charlotte rubbed her arm, “I have to go. Remember how I sponsored the league? They’re recognizing all the sponsors at the game tonight.”
“Ohh,” Lauren said, her eyes wide. “Can’t you get out of it?”
“I tried,” Charlotte replied. “I was going to get my assistant to go in my place, but decided against it,” Charlotte thought back to the baby shower invitation. “And, I mean, just because Logan is there doesn’t mean I have to talk to him.”
“Right,” Lauren said and twisted her lips as if she wasn’t quite convinced.
“Furthermore,” Charlotte raised her pointer finger in an over the top triumphant gesture, “I’m not running away or hiding from any man – especially Logan Brush.”
“Furthermore?” Lauren smirked.
“I thought you’d like that,” Lauren smiled. “It sounds lawyerly, doesn’t it?”
“I would’ve gone with moreover, but I like it.”
“Speaking of lawyerly, how goes the battle in Chance Rapids?”
“Ugh,” Lauren groaned and sat down at the marble kitchen island. “This was supposed to be a quick consultation, but it looks like it’s going to get dragged on for months.”
Charlotte felt a pang of guilt since she hadn’t even taken Lauren and Tabitha into account when she decided to sell her cabin. She filled up the kettle and set it on the stove. As she clicked on the gas, she wondered if her decision to sell was rash. Should she wait until Lauren was done with her contract?
“Do you have any idea how long it will take?”
“Nope, but they’ve offered me a salaried position. Char, living with you was supposed to be a short-term arrangement, and I know how much you value your alone time.”
“I love having you guys there. You can stay as long as you need.” Charlotte would just have to delay the sale of the house.
“This could take years and they’re giving me a huge retainer. I like staying with you too, but I think that Tabitha and I could use our own space. I was wondering if you’d be able to help me buy a house in town.”
Charlotte popped two teabags into the pot. She did value her alone time but now wondered if she was just trying to convince herself that she wasn’t lonely. “You know, you’re not the first person to ask me to help them buy a property in Chance Rapids. Technically, the board extends up into the mountains, so I could do it.”
“Have you ever thought about moving back?” Lauren asked. “It sure would be nice to have you around, to see you more often. I know that Tabitha would love that.”
Charlotte crossed her arms and stared at her sister. “You can’t be serious. I have built a business here in the city. People go back to small towns because they can’t hack it anywhere else.”
“Like me?” Lauren asked.
“No. Not like you, you’re different.”
“So are you. There’s one real estate agent in town and he’s ten million years old. With all that development, the town could use someone like you.”
Charlotte laughed. Franklin Bootsfield had been a realtor when they were little girls, and his mustache was white even back then.
“The pace might be different up there,” Lauren said. “You’re running yourself ragged here in the rat race.”
Charlotte wondered if she was right. She envisioned showing the cute little downtown houses and skiing with clients. “No. It can’t happen. I make too much money here.”
Lauren smiled and reached into her bag. “Chance Rapids is growing. You yourself said that the rich are coming because of the altitude and great snow.” She pulled out a copy of Glamzone magazine and set it down on the island. “Check this out. It’s an advanced copy.”
The kettle began to whistle, and Charlotte poured the hot water into the teapot. She picked up the glossy magazine but paused. “Lauren, I have to ask you something and I need you to tell me the truth.”
“Sure,” Lauren said. “You know I’m a terrible liar anyway.”
“Not that it matters anymore, but Logan said he wrote me a letter after I moved to the city. He said he left it in the mailbox, but I never got it.”
“A letter? What did it say?”
“He explained what happened that night, about how his mom was sick.”
Lauren rested her chin on her hand. “And you believed him, that there was a letter?”
“I did,” Charlotte said.
“Charlotte. I never saw a letter. I can’t imagine Mom hiding something like that from you, so it either got lost or never existed,” Lauren said.
“Well, it doesn’t matter now anyway,” Charlotte sighed. She turned to the page Lauren had marked with a sticky note and gasped. Staring up at her from the pages of Glamzone magazine was the welcome sign to Chance Rapids, along with a one-page article about it is the next ‘IT’ ski town, and a shot of the Sugar Peaks Café. The article highlighted the changes in the town and included the café as an example of the transformation from sleepy mining town to a trendy ski destination. Charlotte’s business brain went into overdrive. She’d be crazy to sell now. She could dominate the real estate market in Chance Rapids. It would be like shooting fish in a barrel. The town needed someone like her. Her mind raced: Could she be a small-town girl again? Could she live in the town where she was once labeled the town whore? Moreover, could she live in the same town as Logan motherfucking Brush?
Chapter 26
THE GARDENS WERE BUZZING with activity as Logan’s players took to the ice. The team had never played at such a big arena and Logan hoped that it wouldn't throw off their game. The air was electric. He look
ed high up in the stands to the VIP box and could see Freddie’s bright yellow hat. Freddie was pissed when he found out Logan’s VIP tickets were for the junior game, but Logan figured he would eventually forgive him since their trip to the city had landed him a date to a film premiere with a gorgeous model.
The arena staff was preparing for the opening ceremony, and they were starting with the rolling out of the red carpet.
“Hey, Tim,” he yelled to a man with a headset. “What's with all the Pomp and Circumstance?” Logan asked.
“The league is recognizing some of its major sponsors tonight.”
Logan hated the politics involved with the league but realized that they were necessary in order to keep things running. His stomach wrenched as he realized that with her massive donation, Charlotte was likely one of the major sponsors. His suspicions were confirmed almost immediately.
“You should see one of the sponsors... so smoking hot,” Tim said.
It had to be her.
“I don't think that's how we're supposed to talk about the sponsors buddy,” he snapped.
“Pardon me, sir. Just joking.” Tim playfully tapped Logan on the arm and walked away.
Logan shook his head; he couldn’t worry about who was going to be there. He wondered if Charlotte regretted writing that big check.
Logan jumped up and down a couple of times before heading into the dressing room. He didn't believe in yelling at his team. He built up his players with positivity and visualizations. He wrapped up his speech and stood by the door as the players headed out the door to the most important game of the season, fist bumping them all as they walked by. As the last team member left the room, Tim the coordinator, showed up. “Hey Logan, the CEO wants you out on the ice.”
“What? Why?”
“He wants each of the coaches to present the sponsors with a plaque.”
“Nope, not going to do it.”
“Boss’s orders,” Tim said and strode away.
Logan couldn't believe it. What were the chances that the hot sponsor was some woman other than Charlotte?
“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. He let the dressing room door slam heavily behind him, straightened his tie, and headed out to the red carpet.
The players lined either side of the red carpet as the coaches strode out to their places at the end. Logan was handed a plaque, he glanced at it, but he already knew whose name was going to be on it. A thirteen-year-old singing sensation belted out the national anthem, bringing the Gardens to a roar. He sighed. Even though he was ready for it, his heart started to thump a little harder. His plaque read Charlotte O'Hare.
Put on your game face, he said to himself. This woman hates your guts.
He could feel his palms getting sweaty. His breath hitched as he watched Charlotte and an old white-haired man walk the red carpet together. The audience clapped politely.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please give a warm round of applause to Charlotte O'Hare and Ken Reed. Bob Kaufman, coach of the Otters, will be presenting the plaque to Ken Reed and Logan Brush of the Bobcats will be presenting to Charlotte O'Hare.” The announcer drew out her last name theatrically.
Logan’s gaze was trained on the carpet and he saw her boots before he saw her face. He knew that his cheeks were beet red and he reluctantly raised his head to meet her beautiful eyes.
“Thank you for your contributions, Miss O'Hare,” he said. He handed her the plaque with his left hand and extended his right to shake hers. She reached for Logan’s hand but surprised him by leaning forward into a business kiss/handshake combo. He couldn’t help but inhale her scent and his stomach clenched into a knot as she whispered in his ear, “Go to hell.”
Logan’s jaw dropped. She pulled her hand away from his and turned to give the audience a huge smile and wave. Without looking back, she marched down the red carpet and off the ice.
Logan had never seen her eyes look so cold. That’s when he knew for sure that he’d lost her forever.
Chapter 27
TABITHA AND LAUREN trudged up the stadium stairs holding giant bags of popcorn and a soda each.
“How high are these seats, Mom? Auntie Charlotte said that they were good ones,” Tabitha puffed as they reached the top of the Gardens.
“I don’t think she’d let us down Tabitha,” Lauren said, jostling her popcorn into the crook of her elbow so she could show the usher their tickets.
“Right this way, ma’am.” Lauren and Tabitha followed the usher to a door with a sign that read: Owner’s Box.
“See, told you,” Lauren smiled at her daughter as they entered the private box. Tabitha’s eyes were as wide as saucers as she took in their bird’s eye view of the game, along with the private buffet spread, and personal wait staff.
“Looks like we didn’t need these,” Tabitha held up her snack and gestured toward the self-service popcorn cart in the corner.
“Lauren!” A voice rang out. She turned to see Freddie’s movie star grin. “Come, have a seat.” He patted the seat beside him.
“Mom, do you know that guy?” Tabitha whispered.
Lauren sighed, “I do. Come on, Tabitha.” She led Tabitha down to the two empty leather chairs beside Freddie. She didn’t believe in the concept of guilty by association. She rationalized that she could still hate Logan but like Freddie.
They stood for the national anthem and then Tabitha watched as Logan Brush gave the audience a half-hearted wave.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me,” Freddie said. He put his feet up on the ledge in front of him and helped himself to a handful of Lauren’s popcorn.
“Oh, Charlotte’s not going to like this,” Lauren said as she watched her sister walk confidently out on the carpet to accept her plaque from Logan. The camera zoomed in and Lauren and Freddie were transfixed as they watched Charlotte and Logan’s very business-like interaction on the red carpet.
Lauren muttered, “Asshole,” under her breath and shook her head.
Freddie turned to her, his mouth slightly agape, then pursed his lips, shook his head and turned away.
“What?” Lauren asked.
“Nothing,” Freddie replied, his eyes glued on the action as the puck was dropped.
Five minutes after the game started, Charlotte made it to the owner’s box and sank into the chair beside Tabitha. She grabbed a handful of her popcorn, “Did anybody score yet?”
“Not yet,” Freddie answered.
Lauren looked past her niece and sister to see the brother of her arch nemesis. “Freddie,” she said and nodded her head at him curtly.
“You looked great out there,” he said without looking away from the game. “Whoa,” he shouted as one of the players shoved the other. The rest of the team skated to the action and in the first five minutes of the game, there was a power play for the Otters. Things weren’t looking good for the Bobcats.
The camera zoomed in on Logan speaking into the ear of one of his players. His eyes darted back and forth following the puck, while he coached his player. He looked confident, strong, and extremely handsome. Charlotte looked around the arena; it seemed like every woman had their eyes glued to the hot coach on the jumbotron. If Charlotte didn’t know Logan, she would’ve been transfixed as well.
“Was that hard for you?” Lauren whispered to Charlotte.
“No, not really. Wow, I didn’t realize they had such good cameras here,” she mused.
“You wondering if we saw you swear in Logan’s ear?” Freddie asked, stuffing more popcorn into his mouth.
“You really don’t have a filter, do you?” Lauren asked, shaking her bag of popcorn.
“Unless there are lip readers in the audience, I think you’re off the hook. I only know because I saw the look on his face.”
“Like he didn’t deserve it,” Lauren hissed at Freddie.
“He doesn’t deserve any of...” Freddie’s voiced faded off.
“Doesn’t deserve what?” Lauren prodded.
The whistle was blown, and play st
opped again. Freddie turned to face the sisters. “I shouldn’t say anything, but Logan spent yesterday saving your ass.”
“Excuse me?” Charlotte said.
“Yeah, I know what you think about my brother and it’s not true. I hate gossip, but man, you two really keep messing up.”
“Quit beating around the bush, Freddie. Tell us what you mean,” Lauren interjected.
Freddie let out a giant dramatic sigh and took a swig of his draft beer. “We went to Serena Cruise’s apartment yesterday.”
“Oh, that’s rich,” Charlotte threw her hands up in the air.
“It’s not what you think. Will you let me finish?” Freddie shook his head. “We went there to see if Logan could call off his agreement with her.”
“Agreement? What agreement?” Lauren said.
“If you’d let me talk you would know by now,” Freddie smiled, but Charlotte could see his exasperation at the constant cross-examination by her sister. “He agreed to be seen in public with Serena in return for a donation to his charity. When you came back into the picture, he tried to call the whole thing off but before that could happen, someone decided to pour a three-hundred-dollar bottle of wine on top of a five-thousand-dollar dress.”
“Wait, so you’re telling us that Logan isn’t dating this model.” Lauren’s hands gripped her bag of popcorn tightly.
“That’s exactly what I’m trying to tell you. He’d never even met her before yesterday.”
Charlotte slid down in her seat. She couldn’t believe it.
“We went there to meet her in person. She agreed to annul the agreement, with a few very expensive terms of course, and that’s how that whole scandal went away. Logan made it go away, along with paying almost fifty grand to buy off some local kids who saw you two at the hot springs.”
He had done two nice things, over the top things, for her and she had just told him to go to hell. If she had kept her cool and just talked to him instead of freaking out, this whole thing wouldn’t have happened. “Oh, my god.” She buried her face in her hands.
“Yeah,” Freddie said. “You two are idiots, and I think that you owe him an apology. A pretty big one.”
