Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
SIERRA
“Miami?!”
I hand the tickets over to the girl checking us in, nodding with pride as Lorena squeals with delight.
I'm still nervous about whether Lorena will like the bachelors joining us, and the other girls seem to be on edge until the boys walk into the airport.
My brother strides forward, tugging his sunglasses off as he scans the area, his eyes stopping on Lorena.
Imagine that. Your husband-to-be checks you out first without even knowing you're there.
I nod toward him, and Lorena follows my gaze with a frown, her eyes widening when she spots Kai.
“No fucking way!"
Kai chuckles, punching the air as Lorena runs to him, jumping into his arms.
“Miami!" Lorena kisses Kai all over his face as I relax, pleased that I’ve done the right thing by my best friend.
I plaster a smile on my face as Declan walks in behind Kai, arguing with someone on his phone. My heart sinks when he waves at me, telling me he will see me in two minutes.
Hardly the welcome Lorena got.
I nod to Declan as he turns to continue his conversation, and it's then that I see Crane.
Why the fuck does he always have to make my tummy flip like this?
He's wearing a tan leather jacket with a white shirt, and he's holding a suitcase in each hand as his eyes meet mine.
“Holy fuck,” I whisper.
Kiki jabs me in the ribs, and I frown, turning to see Declan striding over, a grimace on his face.
“Sorry. I swear, that office can't run without me for five seconds."
He kisses me on the head, slipping his hand around my waist.
Crane turns away, but not before I see the scowl on his face.
“So, she took it well?" Declan nods at Lorena and Kai, who are still locked in an embrace.
“Yeah, thank God."
“It's going to be amazing.” Kiki smiles, making eye contact with one of Kai's friends.
What was his name?
Troy?
Trevor?
"Yo, Tony. Been a while, man." Declan claps Tony on the back, and I turn back to the desk to check in my suitcase.
I sense Crane beside me before I can look up to confirm it, and he grins at the blushing girl behind the desk.
"I'm checking in seven of us.”
"Okay, sir, I'm almost finished with the ladies."
Sir.
"You look beautiful."
I stare straight ahead, my heart slamming in my chest as Crane’s fingers rest against mine, hidden by the pile of paperwork he's holding.
"Thank you," I whisper, glancing over at him, taking in the tattoos peeking out from beneath his shirt, his eyes locking onto mine as I sink my teeth into my lip, wishing to God things were different.
His gaze skims our friends behind us, and he leans in close, drenching me in his divine scent.
Peppermint and something else—man.
He's all man.
"Say the word, and I'll lose his passport."
I turn away so he can't see me laughing, but I feel awful.
"Don't," I say, nudging him playfully.
"Who are you sharing a room with?"
"Declan," I confirm, taking the boarding passes from the woman's outstretched hand.
I barely pay attention as she tells me where we need to go, but Declan soon wraps his hand around my waist, eyeballing Crane as he does.
"Let's go, baby."
I turn to go with him when I notice Kai and Lorena watching us sadly.
I frown, waving at them.
"Come on, guys, let's go and get some drinks!" I shout brightly, throwing my hair over my shoulder.
God knows I need a drink.
"Okay," Lorena calls after me, giving Kai a knowing look. "Girls!"
Declan gets another call and excuses himself apologetically.
"Sorry, baby. Get me a beer, yeah?"
"Is it his work that keeps calling him?" Lorena asks from beside me, her eyes rolling. "Because he needs to put his fucking phone down and pay attention to his girl."
We order the drinks, every one of them alcoholic.
Obviously.
My eyes scan the room as I hand out beers and cocktails, and Lorena pushes me toward Crane, who is holding his hand out for his beer.
"Sorry," I mumble, handing him his bottle.
He takes a swig out of it, his eyes drifting down my body as I stir the straw in my cocktail.
"Where's dickhead?"
"Crane!" I scold him playfully.
Crane smiles, sucking the beer from the bottle as he shrugs.
"If you were mine, my phone would be off."
I close my eyes, sucking on my straw as Crane moves closer to my ear.
"I would probably have to take you into those restrooms too, looking like you do."
Our friends are in high spirits, so they don't notice when Crane moves me down the bar, tugging me around the corner as he presses me against the wall.
He buries his face into my neck, inhaling deeply.
I'm so terrified someone will find us, I push him away, glancing around anxiously.
Crane looks amused and drains the rest of his bottle before giving me a look that spells trouble.
"Crane—"
His lips press against mine, and without thinking, I kiss him back, my arms wrapping around his neck as he moans into my mouth. He tastes of beer, and it reminds me of the first time we did this.
His hand caresses my back, and it's intimately beautiful.
We're kissing like we're running out of time, which I guess we are.
"Crane, listen—"
"Do you feel bad?" Crane stops, lacing our fingers together as he rests his forehead against mine. "Because I fucking don't."
I grin, rolling my eyes as he grips my chin, forcing me to look at him.
"I'm serious; I'm not sure I can take him touching you. I want to break his fingers."
I inhale sharply, resting my hands on his shoulders, his broad fucking shoulders massaging the leather beneath my fingers.
"Listen. This isn't right."
"So end it with him."
Of course, that's what I meant.
Being with Declan isn’t right; because how could kissing Crane be wrong?
"He can watch if he likes."
I gawp at him, moving past him as I head to the restroom.
"I'll see you back out there." I look at him pointedly, wishing more than anything I could drag him in here with me.
Crane sighs, rubbing the back of his neck as he scowls again.
"You're no fun, Sierra," he calls after me, and I walk into the restroom, coming face to face with my reflection.
My cheeks are flushed, my eyes are alight with desire, but more than anything, my smile is wider than I've seen it in a long time.
Fuck my life.
Can I end everything with Declan?
I should.
Not because I don't love him; I do.
But not like I love Crane.
Wait. What?!
I love Crane?
My heart throbs with pain, the plaster that I'd used to hold it together fluttering away in the wind that was Crane being back in my life.
Of course, I still loved Crane.
Why else can't I say no to him?
Nausea sweeps over me.
How am I supposed to spend the next four days with another man, unable to be with the one I want?
The only reason Declan is here is because of me, I remind myself grimly.
I rearrange my cami, heading back to the bar.
I find Crane instantly, like the other half of my soul is with his.
I should feel overwhelmed by my emotions and feelings for Crane, but I don't.
I need to make it through the next four days without stealing kisses with Crane.
I can't disrespect Declan like that again.
"Girl, where have you been?" Kiki laces her hand with mine, lifting it to her lips as she frowns. "Oh shit, you look happy."
"Is that a bad thing?" I chew on my lip as Crane smirks behind his beer bottle, turning his attention to Lacey, Lorena's cousin, who is hanging on his every word.
"Well." Kiki frowns, nodding over at Crane. "Don't cheat, Si. It's fucking heartbreaking."
A wave of mortification washes over me as I cringe, squeezing her hand.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry that happened to you; I swear I will do something about this. But, I need to think."
Kiki nods, reaching over for a new cocktail, pressing it into my hands.
"Well, you've got four days in Miami, with both of them. I don't envy you." Kiki snorts, eyeballing Declan as he leans against a pillar, chatting to Marnie, a friend of Lorena's. "Did he even notice you were gone?"
I shake my head, exhaling gratefully.
"No. He seems more interested in Marnie than me."
Marnie meets my eyes, waving me over as though to say, 'I don't want your man, Sierra,’ but I clock the guilty look on her face.
"I hope I meet some Adonis on the beach. I need cheering up," Kiki mumbles, following me as I head over to Declan.
He reaches for me, but I step back, not wanting him to touch me.
He frowns, and guilt eats at me as I give him a reassuring smile.
"All sorted at the office?" I ask brightly, my eyes moving to Crane, who is sitting back, twisting the neck of his beer bottle between his forefinger and thumb.
"Yeah. I've turned my phone off now—vacay mode and all that. Where're your diamonds, baby?" Declan reaches out to cup my neck, his eyes boring into mine.
"I didn't want to lose them," I lie, maintaining eye contact with him as his grip tightens.
Just slightly.
"That's a shame," Declan murmurs, releasing me.
It's over in seconds, and I'm left wondering if I imagined him squeezing my neck.
"Sierra!"
I excuse myself to head to Lorena, who glares at Declan.
"Why was he holding your throat like that?"
"Oh, it wasn't like that!"
Except it was.
"You sure? It looked like he was being a dick, Sierra."
I can’t—this isn’t the time or place.
"Do you think he'd ever do that to me?" I laugh, rolling my eyes. "As if."
Lorena nods, narrowing her eyes as she pulls me down beside her.
"Stay with the girls and me anyway."
"It's your party, girl."
I turn to see Declan has disappeared again, and I sigh with irritation.
I can only hope Kai and Crane didn't pick up on it.
There would be hell to pay, and this is about Lorena and Kai.
Wait—what if Declan saw me with Crane?
My stomach twists with anxiety as I close my eyes, forcing the feeling away.
I need to stop overthinking.