Beauty From Pain (Beauty 1)

I hear Laurelyn’s ringtone, “Crash Into Me”, as I stand in the shower scrubbing my skin, but she’ll have to wait until I erase the last evidence of Audrey’s touch from my body.

I listen to Laurelyn’s voicemail as soon as I’m out, not even waiting until I’m dressed. “Hey, caveman. I just wanted to tell you something before I went to bed. Call me back when you get a chance.”

I walk toward the bedroom wearing only a towel and call her immediately. I don’t want to wait another minute to hear her voice. “Hello.”

“Hey, baby.”

The tone in her voice elevates. “Hey, you. I’m glad you called. Normally, I’m not all that excited about this and needing to share it with anyone, but you wanted to know, so I’m calling to tell you I got my period.”

Hmm. I’d forgotten about it, so I guess I wasn’t as worried as I thought. “That’s good to know.”

“I thought you’d like that. Have you been very busy today?”

What’s kept me busy while I’ve been here disgusts me. “I’ve been busier than I wanted to be, but I’ve still thought of you.”

“That’s a sweet thing to say. Everything okay at the vineyard?”

I fully expect it to be now that I’ve told Audrey I’m onto her little game. “There are some definite issues at Marguerite, but I think I’ll have them under control soon.”

“So, they just needed the big man to come along and take care of things. Show them how it’s done, right?”

Yes, the big man is on campus. She has no idea how big the big man really is. “You’ve got it, babe.”

“Will you still be staying until New Year’s Day?”

I don’t want to, but it’s necessary. I wish I could be back to celebrate with Laurelyn. “I’m afraid I have to. Will you be making plans with Addison for New Year’s Eve?”

“She’s going to The Blues Club with Zac and they’ve invited me to go. It’s open mic night again.”

I’m certain that means Ben Donavon is going too and will probably consider Laurelyn his date, but I don’t ask because I don’t want the confirmation.

“You’ll have a great time. I wish I could be there to hear you sing.”

“I’ll dedicate one to you.”

“Well, that’s hardly fair. I won’t be there to hear it.”

“Yes, that’s very unfortunate.”

I miss her. “What are you wearing?”

“Do you want the truth, or shall I describe some terribly sexy lingerie so you can fantasize?”

I can’t help it. I want to know what she’s wearing while Ben Donavon is sleeping only a few feet from her. I need to know what he’ll see if they run into each other on the way to the bathroom. “The truth.”

“I’m wearing an incredibly unsexy T-shirt and boxer shorts.”

I’ve seen her definition of unsexy and I couldn’t agree less. One of her sexiest moments was when she was wearing jogging pants and had her hair piled in a messy bun on top of her head. “Baby, you couldn’t be unsexy if you tried.”

“Lachlan. You’re wrong, but I thank you anyway.”

“You’ve felt all right today? No more headaches or vomiting?”

“I’ve felt really good today.”

She scared the shit out of me. “I was worried yesterday.”

“I’m sorry I worried you, but really … I’m fine.”

Is she really okay? “You’d tell me if you weren’t?”

“Yes.”

“It’s late and I should probably let you get to sleep. It’s not a bad idea for me to catch up on my slumber since someone has been keeping me up late at night.”

“Well, you might find it easier to get a little sleep if you weren’t instigating late-night activities.”

“You don’t like my instigating?”

“I didn’t say that.”

“So, you like it?”

“Very much, Mr. Henry. I like your late-night instigations. And your morning ones. And your midday ones. Hell, I like all of your instigating.”

“I’ll remember that next time I see you.”

“Yes, be sure you do. Now, get some sleep, Mr. Henry. You have a lot of instigating to do when you return.”

“Yes, ma’am, I do.”

25

Laurelyn Prescott

I’m applying my makeup to go out for New Year’s Eve and I’m totally bummed. I thought bringing in the new year in Australia would be some kind of spectacular experience, but it won’t be because Lachlan isn’t here to celebrate with me. And he won’t be here to kiss me at midnight.

I’m smoking up my eyes with black liner while Addison is in the shower talking nonstop about Zac. I really want to tell her to shut up. I know I’m being completely selfish, but if I can’t be with Lachlan, I don’t want to hear about all the things she’s going to do to rock Zac’s world tonight.

Enough is enough. “I’m going to the bedroom to get dressed.”

“Okay. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Take your time.” I’m wrapped in a towel as I peek out the door to be sure Ben isn’t around before I streak to the bedroom. After I see that the coast is clear, I make a break for it. I’m not four steps down the hall when I run right smack into him. Literally.

I look up as I grasp my towel tightly. Being so close to him while wearing so little feels wrong. Really wrong. “Excuse me.”

He doesn’t make a move or say a word as his eyes roam my body. I dart around him and run for the bedroom door, slamming it behind me. Shit. That was more than just a little unpleasant.

I stand in front of the closet searching through what has now become community property. There’s no mine or yours. I pull out a black strapless with a wide red waist sash and hold it up to myself as I look in the mirror. It’s Addison’s so of course it’s going to be short on me, but I like it. It’s sexy as hell. I don’t know why I care. I have no one to impress.

I’m standing in front of the mirror with the dress when Addison comes into the bedroom. “Nice choice.”

“You weren’t going to wear it, were you?”

“No, I’m wearing the electric blue one.”

I put on the dress and Addison zips it for me. It’s tight but it squeezes me in all the right places. It’s a sexy dress and I’m hot in it, but instead of being proud of the way I look, I’m disappointed Lachlan isn’t here to see me. Maybe I’ll text pictures of myself to show him what he’s missing.