What Happens in Berlin Page 7

  She tasted like oranges and alcohol, sweet and sour and bitter all at once, and I melted into her kiss. I felt her teeth on my lower lip, gentle and teasing, and I parted my lips, wanting more. The party and my earlier hesitation melted away, and for a moment, all I could focus on was kissing Vi.

  When she finally pulled away, my pulse was pounding, and I was breathing hard. Vi smiled at me as she sat back down and gave the bottle a quick spin, but I didn’t pay attention to the rest of the game. My thoughts raced in too many directions, but the one thing I kept coming back to was the thing that surprised me the most.

  When Vi had kissed me, I’d liked it. A lot. And it seemed like she’d been into it, too. Glancing across the circle, I felt myself grinning as I watched her face. Maybe I’d finally met someone worth going after.

  Chapter Thirteen

  I barely slept that night, and my dreams were filled with techno music and warm lips all over my body. When I woke up, I felt sick, and I lay in bed for a few minutes, trying to get a grip on my emotions and my stomach.

  “Rise and shine, Sleeping Beauty! It’s my wedding day!” Charlie banged on my bedroom door and pushed into the room, landing heavily on the foot of my bed. I groaned as the bed rocked, and he patted my foot through the blanket. “Aw, poor Cuppa. I didn’t do a very good job of looking out for you last night, did I?”

  Wearily, I shook my head. “I feel awful.”

  He laughed. “Welcome to your first hangover.”

  I didn’t tell him I’d had plenty of hangovers since I started traveling. “Is there anything that will help?”

  “I always like pancakes the morning after. And lots of water.”

  My stomach rumbled, and I clutched it, worried I was about to be sick. After a moment, the churning nausea shifted into hunger, and I smiled at Charlie. “That actually sounds really good.”

  He laughed. “Good, ’cause I’ve already ordered room service.”

  I blinked, confused. “Wait, what are you doing here?”

  Charlie chuckled. “Wrong question, kiddo. What are you doing here?”

  I looked around, and suddenly I realized that I didn’t recognize the room I was in. It still had that distinct hotel feel, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t the suite I shared with Mom and Pops. “Where am I?”

  “My hotel. You were too trashed to let Mom and Pops see you, so I brought you here last night. A few of the other kids crashed with Petra at her place, but I thought I should look out for you, since I didn’t really do that last night.”

  I patted his hand. “Thanks. Now, about that food?”

  He laughed. “Coming right up.” He stood up and tossed me a sweater. “In case you want to change.”

  I didn’t care, but I pulled the warm cotton over my head anyway. It smelled like Charlie; I’d missed him a lot more than I realized since he moved out. I trailed him out of the bedroom and into a small sitting area before diving at the covered tray of food.

  “Easy, Cuppa. Eat it slowly and make sure your stomach can handle it.”

  I ignored him, practically inhaling the first pancake. As I chewed, I glanced around at the room. “Why are you in a hotel, anyway? I thought you and Petra would be together.”

  Charlie grabbed a pancake off the plate just as my fork was going for it. “We usually are, but with the wedding today, we wanted to do the traditional night apart thing.”

  I snorted. “A little late for that, don’t you think?”

  “I didn’t plan on her getting pregnant, Joey.” His eyes were tired and serious, and I stopped shoveling food in my mouth.

  “Do you regret it?”

  He hesitated, but then he shook his head. “I love her. I mean, this isn’t exactly the timeline I’d planned, but do I regret marrying her? Not a chance.”

  “You aren’t married yet.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  I shrugged, uncomfortable under his sharp glare. “Just that if you did want to change your mind, you’d still have time.”

  “Joey, I’m not going to change my mind. Don’t you like her?”

  I nodded slowly. “Yes. I didn’t want to, though.”

  Charlie coughed and took a sip of his coffee. “Why not?”

  “Because she was taking you away from us.”

  Uncomfortable silence descended, and I dropped my eyes, studying the silver trim on the empty china plate on my lap.

  Finally, Charlie sighed. “Is that what you really think?”

  I shrugged, unable to meet his eyes. “Isn’t it true?”

  “Joey, look at me.”

  I did. Charlie’s eyes were serious and sad.

  “Kiddo, Petra isn’t taking me away from you guys. I left a long time ago.”

  I shook my head stubbornly. “Not like this.”

  “Yes, like this. I actually think getting married may make me come home more often; can’t keep Mom and Pops away from their first grandbaby.”

  “What do you mean?”

  He sighed. “I was ready to get out of that house. Don’t you remember the way I headed to college like a bat out of hell? And then right into the army? No way was I going to live at home again.”

  “Didn’t you like it there?”

  “Of course I did! Mom and Pops are pretty cool, when they aren’t trying too hard, and I love you, too, kiddo. But I was ready to get out and show the world what I could do.” He eyed me critically. “I guess you don’t understand.”

  I thought about it. If we’d had this conversation back in the spring, he might have been right. But since I’d been in Europe, I’d started to realize that I was ready for more than I could find at home, too, and after a moment, I shook my head. “I think I do.”

  Charlie eyed me with interest. “You’re getting ready to leave home, too?”

  I shrugged. “I’m not sure. But I think I know what you mean about wanting things to change.”

  He grinned at me. “Just don’t join the army; Mom would freak.”

  I laughed. “No danger of that.”

  Charlie leaned over and hugged me. “I love you, Cuppa.”

  I squeezed him back. “Love you, too.”

  He sat back and downed the rest of his coffee. “We’ve probably already been a little too “TV family” this morning, but I have to ask; what’s going on with you and Vi?”

  I flushed, remembering the kiss. “What do you mean?”

  “She seemed pretty into you last night.”

  Oh God. Had he seen the spin the bottle game? I shrugged, trying to figure out what to say.

  Charlie rushed on. “It’s totally cool if you like her, Joey. There’s nothing wrong with being gay.”

  “Look, I’m not gay, okay?” I paused, taking a deep breath. “I’m bi.” I’d never said it out loud before, and I held my breath, wondering how Charlie would react.

  He just nodded. “Have you told Mom and Pops?”

  I shook my head frantically. “Not yet. Not until . . . well, I don’t know. Not yet,” I repeated lamely.

  “Whatever happens, kid, I want you to know that I support you.”

  Tears welled up in my eyes. “Thank you.” I swallowed. “And I support you, too. Petra, the baby, all of it—I just want you to be happy.”

  He grinned at me. “You know what, Cuppa? I really am.”

  ~

  Charlie’s hotel wasn’t too far from my parents’, so while he showered, I walked back to start getting ready for the wedding. The ceremony wasn’t until the afternoon, but the wedding party was supposed to meet at the church around noon to run over things and get everything ready. Mom and Pops were already dressed when I let myself into the room.

  “Sorry about last night,” I began, but Mom cut me off.

  “I’m just glad you were with your brother.” She narrowed her eyes. “You were with Charlie last night, right?”

  What, did she think I’d had some kind of skanky hookup after the party? I thought about Vi’s warm kiss, but I tried to push the memory away bef
ore I blushed. “Yes, I was with Charlie. He let me crash at his hotel; said he didn’t want to be alone on his last night of freedom.”

  Pops chuckled. “I’m glad you two got to spend a bit more time together.”

  Mom looked skeptical, but she just checked her watch and shook her head. “You better shower and start on your hair. We need to leave for the church in half an hour.”

  I nodded. Petra had my dress, so all I had to do now was figure out how to wear my hair. “On it.”

  I locked myself in the bathroom and took the shortest shower on record, and then I stood there in front of the steamy mirror, looking at my long, thick hair in distaste. Why hadn’t I let the girl at the salon cut it for real when I’d had the chance? I messed with it a few different ways, trying an updo, a braid, and a twist, but I looked awful. Cautiously, I gathered my hair in my hand and lifted it away from my face. It would look good short; that was for sure.

  Mom knocked on the door, but I kept it closed.

  “Are you almost ready?”

  “Give me five.”

  There was a pause. “I think we’re going to head over to the church. You know the way?”

  It was a short ride on the S-Bahn; Petra and I had gone over there a few days ago to scope everything out. “Yeah, you guys go ahead. I’ll be right behind you.” I paused, waiting for her to argue, but she didn’t.

  When I heard the door of the hotel room click shut, I unlocked the bathroom and rushed into the suite. I hardly knew what I was doing as I riffled through the desk under the window, but when my fingers closed on a pair of thick scissors, I hesitated. What the hell are you doing? Are you seriously going to cut your own hair the morning of your brother’s wedding?

  “Yes,” I said firmly to the empty room. Back in the bathroom, I held my hair into a tight ponytail and brought the scissors alongside my face. The cold blades felt like a warning against my skin, but before I could question myself, I opened the scissors and snipped.

  A chunk of black hair fell into the sink, and I took a deep breath. Watching myself carefully in the mirror, I snipped my hair in sections. The trimmed ends brushed my jaw line, and I watched my face transform as I shed my hair. When I was done, I shook my head carefully, letting the hair settle around my face. It was wavier than it had been when it was long, and I thought I sort of looked like a flapper. Reaching into my mom’s toiletry bag, I pulled out her jar of pomade and scrunched some through my hair and faced the mirror again.

  A stranger with bold eyes and a diamond chip in her nose stared back at me, and I grinned.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I managed to slip into the back of the church without running into my parents, but I fingered my short hair nervously, wondering what they would say when they saw me. It was too late to do anything about it, but Mom had always fussed at me to keep my hair long; she’d probably hate the change. She doesn’t do well with change, I reminded myself as I headed down the hall.

  Opening the door to the choir room where Petra had said the bridal party would meet, I glanced around at the bustle of girls getting ready. No one had noticed me yet, and I sighed with relief. My relief was short lived when Petra looked up at me, her mouth hanging open. She stopped pulling up her stocking and froze, just staring at me.

  Nervously, I ran my hand along my neck, underneath my hair. “Well?”

  After a pause, she broke into a smile. “I love it! What a change, Joey. You look much older.”

  I did? I shrugged. “Thanks. I didn’t really think, but I wanted a change . . . you aren’t mad?”

  She crossed to me and squeezed my hands. “Why would I be mad? You are beautiful!”

  I relaxed and let her pull me the rest of the way into the room. Three other girls were already there, and I vaguely remembered them from the stag party. I smiled as Petra introduced us, holding my breath and waiting for someone to mention what had happened between me and Vi.

  Nobody did. The girls were all friendly, but busy, and once they’d greeted me, they got back to primping. Everyone was dressed except for Petra and me, and I grabbed the garment bag with my name on it and scurried behind a rack of choir robes to change. The purple halter clung a bit as I put it on, but I shook out the skirt and a static charge zapped me as I adjusted the dress. I came out from behind the robes in time to see two of the girls lifting Petra’s dress off the hanger, and I gasped.

  “Oh, wow!” I hadn’t seen her dress, and whenever we’d talked about it, she had been sort of vague. “Petra, it’s gorgeous!”

  The full ball gown was ivory satin, and the strapless corset top had ruching along the sides. Seed pearls trimmed the neckline and traced a delicate V at the waist of the skirt, and even on the hanger, the skirt billowed out. Petra smiled as she stepped into the dress.

  “Isn’t it a fairy tale? I hope Charlie likes it.”

  I crossed to help the other girls lace up the back. “I’m sure he’ll love it. You look amazing.”

  She really did. The cut of the dress made her torso look long and lean, hiding the telltale bulge of her belly. Even though she was such a tiny thing, she carried herself with a regal air once the dress was on. Her hair was pulled back into a loose knot, and a string of pearls was draped artfully through her hair. She looked like something straight out of a bridal magazine, and I hugged her impulsively.

  “I hope you and Charlie are really, really happy.”

  She embraced me warmly. “We will be. I am just so happy to have a sister like you.”

  There was a knock at the door, and one of the girls hurried to open it. She only cracked the door to start, probably to hide Petra from view, but it was Mr. Hertzle, so she opened the door wide.

  Petra’s dad stepped into the room, and Petra let go of me to embrace him. They put their heads together and whispered something in German, and one of the other girls sniffed. I couldn’t tell what they were saying to each other, but both Petra and her father had tears in their eyes when they broke apart.

  The bride smiled at all of us, and one of the girls picked up a bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath and handed it to Petra. Wordlessly, she motioned us toward the door, and I grabbed my own small bunch of lavender roses tied with green thread and followed the other maids into the sanctuary. The groomsmen were waiting in the hall to escort us, and I had to admit that Johan looked really good in his taupe-colored suit.

  He held out his arm to me, but he didn’t look at me or smile. I glanced behind us at Petra and gave her a quick thumbs-up. She grinned at me and returned the gesture, but before I had a chance to say anything to Johan, the organ music swelled and we stepped forward in the procession, following the rest of the bridal party into the church.

  My eyes darted to the front of the room, and I caught my mom’s startled expression when she noticed my hair, but I forced myself to look straight ahead. Concentrating on not falling on my face, I marched up the aisle with Johan toward my brother. He looked absolutely floored when Petra came into view, and I grinned, watching him struggle to master his emotions. Whatever I’d first thought about this marriage, I was really, really glad that Charlie had found somebody to be happy with. I smiled at him as Johan and I parted ways at the altar, but Charlie only had eyes for his bride.

  The ceremony was in German, and Charlie surprised me by answering in the same language. I guessed it made sense that he would have learned to speak German; he’d been stationed there for three years, after all, but I hadn’t heard him use anything but English since my parents and I showed up. I risked a peek at the audience, but Mom was crying softly into her handkerchief and Pops was patting her shoulder and watching Charlie and Petra exchange vows.

  A shock of purple and pink hair caught my eye, and I glanced at Vi, sitting a few rows behind my parents. She was watching the ceremony, too, but her eyes flickered to me for a moment, and she grinned. I smiled in response, but then I remembered that I was on display in front of all the wedding guests. Nervous, I looked back toward the priest, and I didn’t look a
t the wedding guests again, even though I imagined I could feel Vi’s intense stare on me for the rest of the service.

  When Charlie and Petra knelt down at the altar, I caught Johan looking at me from his place on the groom’s side. I tried to smile at him, but his expression wasn’t friendly. In fact, he seemed pissed. What had I done? I knew he’d been interested in me, but it wasn’t like I’d done anything to lead him on, had I?

  Distracted by my thoughts, I missed Charlie and Petra’s first kiss as husband and wife, but when the audience started applauding, I stuck my bouquet under my arm and clapped, too. Then the music struck up again, and my brother and his new wife went down the aisle, laughing and grinning as they walked. Johan offered me his arm again, and I held onto him as we followed them.

  When we left the sanctuary, I pulled him to one side, hoping I could talk to him before the guests streamed out into the receiving line, but he just glared at me.

  “Are you okay?”

  He scoffed. “As if that concerned you.”

  Before I could say anything else, he slipped away. Confused, I stood there for a moment, staring at the big topiary in the corner, until someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around, startled to see Vi standing close to me. She grinned, and I smiled uncertainly.

  “I like your new hair.”

  I’d been so lost in my thoughts during the ceremony that I’d almost managed to forget about it, and my hand reached self-consciously for my hair. “Oh, thanks.” I forced a laugh. “Sort of an impulse decision.”

  She eyed me critically. “It looks like you were sober when you cut it.”

  I shushed her. “Not so loud! My folks don’t need to know how much I drank last night.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “You look good like that. I mean, you looked good before, but—” she paused, and her eyes searched mine.

  I held my breath. I wasn’t drunk now, but I still felt as tingly standing close to Vi as I had last night at the party. What would happen if I kissed her again? Finally, I blurted out, “I should go talk to my parents.”