Chapter 17
Jordan
An arm slips around my waist, a body warming my side while I pour orange juice into the champagne flute already bubbling with sparkling wine.
It isn’t the arm of the person I’ve grown used to in the last few days, but I know the arm just the same.
Tilting my head to lean on Savanna’s shoulder, I top up the second champagne flute.
There’s a row of five lined up; one for each of us getting ready in the bridal suite before the big day commences.
Hailey, Quinn, and Maddie are all on the other side of the room, currently getting their hair and makeup done.
I’m not entirely sure how I beat Hailey here this morning, since she’s always early, but since I was the first to arrive besides Savanna, I was the first in and out of the chair.
My guess is I have Luke to thank for that.
Which has put me on drink duty.
“Hi sister-in-law,” Savanna croons at me, the smile apparent in her song.
My heart fills with love for the woman at my side. “Hi back, sis. How you feeling?”
The sigh is full of dreamy swoon for my brother, and I lift my head to glance at her.
Yep, just as I suspected, her eyes match the breath.
Savanna is on cloud nine and looks every bit the blushing bride.
Her makeup is perfect, accentuating her natural beauty without being overdone, and her hair is in soft curls, half pinned back to stay out of her face.
Nate isn’t going to know what hit him. I’d bet my whole world that he’ll break down and cry when he sees her.
“Today feels surreal. I can’t believe it’s finally here. Today your brother becomes my husband. I think I might explode with joy,” she says, just as sing-songy as before.
“If you’re already feeling that way, just wait until you see him,” I laugh, bumping my hip into hers. Nate won’t be the only one crying.
A soft squeal comes from her as she turns towards me. “I know. I can’t wait. He’s going to look so good in his tux.”
The image of Liam in a tux pops into my mind, and my stomach goes haywire with butterflies. If I feel like that towards a man I’m only sleeping with, I can only imagine how Savanna is feeling about Nate. The love of her life. The one she’s going to spend forever with.
I push back the tinge of jealousy that rears up, offering her a smile while I distract myself by pouring orange juice into another flute.
“To think, it was only a year ago that he was saving me from a burning building,” she chuckles, releasing her hold on me to lean a hip against the counter where I’m pouring drinks, grabbing one.
“In your underwear, nonetheless,” I remind her with a laugh, topping up the last flute.
“You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”
Shaking my head, I set the nearly empty container down. “Absolutely not. Because then I got to come in and save your nearly naked ass with a pair of scrubs.”
“And look at us now,” she says, and we grin at each other. “Who would have thought we’d end up here? Me, completely and hopelessly in love with your brother. And you, totally and irrevocably stuck with me as a sister.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
The words ring true between us. The past year having Savanna around has been nothing short of incredible.
Not just because she’s opened Nate up in ways that I’ve hoped my brother would open up for years, but because of the friendship she’s brought me along the way.
Getting to live with the two of them, while annoying at times—like when I walk in on them fucking somewhere that isn’t their room—has been special and offered Savanna and me a bond we wouldn’t have otherwise. She really has become a sister to me.
“I’ve never had a sister, you know,” she starts.
“Yeah, just two crazy brothers.”
Savanna laughs, nodding. “Who I love like crazy. And I mean, I’ve got Maddie, who’s been a sister to me nearly my whole life. But this feels different. Maybe because it’s legal or something.”
“I always wanted a sister, and now that I’m finally getting one, I’m really glad it’s you,” I say, and lean in to hug her.
She embraces me back, squeezing me tight, and for a second our upper bodies sway back and forth.
“I love you, Sav. I’m so happy you’re joining this big ole family of mine, and that I’ll never become one of the crazy aunts without you by my side. ”
She laughs, leaning back from me, and I realize the fatal error immediately. “Speaking of the aunts, last night was pretty intense.”
Rolling my eyes, I let her go and pick up a mimosa, finding the will power not to knock the whole thing back. Intense describes it perfectly. But not the aunts—Liam. Liam, and that damn answer to that stupid question.
“You know the aunts, they live to torture us all. I’m not sure what would have been worse, to be honest. Showing up alone, or what happened last night.”
Savanna swirls her mimosa around, giving a slight shrug. I know what that means. She’s playing it nonchalant, but she’s up to something. “We’ll never know. But, I don’t know, maybe one day soon I’ll gain another brother.”
My stomach bottoms out at the implication, and I scoff to cover up the butterflies swarming my stomach. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“Jor, the way he was looking at—”
“Stop it,” I hiss at her, glancing over my shoulder to where the other three ladies are chatting while getting worked on.
“I just think that—”
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop. Sav, you need to stop.
Please,” I plead, bringing my focus back to her.
Quieting my voice, I grab hold of her free hand, imploring her to listen.
“Even if Liam wasn’t who he is, and didn’t hate the idea of dating anyone, I couldn’t do that to Nate. I made him a promise a long time ago.”
Even if I’ve royally screwed that promise up. It’s only while we’re in Vegas. It ends tomorrow.
A thought I don’t want to think about right now.
“Nate would understand,” she whispers back, cognizant of the audience on the other side of the room. Even if they aren’t paying attention, neither of us wants to draw it. “If he saw the two of you together for real, if he had heard Liam last night, if you just explain and give him a chance, he’ll—”
“Sav, I am begging you,” I say, my words rushed, emotion starting to clog my throat.
There are already too many dreams and fantasies in my head, I don’t need her urging them on and giving me hope that my brother would somehow approve.
She wasn’t there all those years ago. She didn’t see how devastated he was.
Besides, Liam is Liam. He doesn’t want it.
And that is the real place my hope can’t live. Because Savanna is probably right. Nate probably would get used to the idea. He might not like it to begin with, but maybe he could learn to live with it.
I squeeze her hand, then let it go. “Please. Because as much as I want to believe every single word I heard last night, it was pretend. It was fake. And I need it to stay that way. For my own sanity and for my…”
The words trail off, but her eyes flit to my chest where I’m clutching my satin robe tightly together.
Over my heart. Realization dawns in her gray eyes which dart back to mine, and she bites down on her lip.
For a second, I think she’s going to let it go, but then she takes both of our mimosas and sets them down, taking both my hands in hers.
“I think, if you gave him a chance, he’d surprise you even more than Nate would. The other night when you left after the show and we all went to the club, the man was distraught.”
I blink at her, my eyebrows furrowing. “What?”
Savanna nods. “Wouldn’t look at another girl. Let everyone give him shit about it. And he couldn’t stop checking his phone. I’m guessing he was talking to you.”
Shaking my head, I chew on my lower lip. Probably screwing up my lipstick, but I don’t care. “No. I… I wasn’t answering him.”
Her eyes widen. “So, he just kept checking his phone. Probably because you weren’t answering him. Oh, Liam.”
Before I have a chance to answer her, a knock sounds at the suite door, drawing our attention.
Probably room service with snacks we ordered, or maybe housekeeping to see if there’s anything we need.
Leaving Savanna with the mimosas, my mind reeling at the thought of Liam being distraught the other night, I go answer the door.
And come face to face with the man himself.
“Fuck me, Fireball.”
A low whistle sounds, his eyes sliding down the length of my body to take all of me in.
Savanna got us all silver satin robes to wear today, and I know Liam is appreciating every inch of my body beneath the thin fabric, along with my legs on display.
But I’m not watching him look at me, I’m busy getting my fill of him.
The man is so sexy he has to be a sin. One arm raised above his head, propped against the doorframe, leaning in now that the door is open.
He’s dressed for the brunch all the boys were going to, in a pair of jeans that hug his hips perfectly, and a black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows.
I stifle a whimper at those forearms.
“Later,” I answer, my need reflected in the breathiness of the word.
He catches it, his eyes darting up to meet mine, and it takes the air out of my lungs to be faced with this man looking like he does, when he looks at me like he is.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he was a man starved for a woman’s affection, but I do know better.
I know all the things he did to me last night.
Damn him. I am thinking of last night, and it’s going to make me wet, just like he wanted. So much for sitting down in my robe after this.
Stepping forward, his knuckles skim across my cheek as he leans in and dips his head near my ear. “Mmm, that’s my girl. Thinkin’ ’bout last night.”
“Liam,” Savanna says, startling me from behind.
I take a step backwards as he rises to his full height, and like it didn’t happen, the seduction and lust radiating from him disappears. It’s like a switch flipped, and while the charmer remains, some part of him turns softer while he gazes at Savanna like a big brother glowing with pride.
“Sav,” he nods, giving her his signature smirk. “He’s going to hit his knees the second he sees you later. Don’t worry, I’ll be prepared.”
Savanna steps up beside me, a blush staining her cheeks as she grins at him. “I hope so. You’re not here to tell me he’s gotten cold feet then?”
Liam snorts. “Are you kidding me? He’s chomping at the bit. You two should have gotten married at six this morning. He can’t wait.”
“Why are you here then?” I inquire, lifting an eyebrow.
Liam’s attention darts to me before he looks back at Savanna.
“I come bearing a gift. A letter, actually. For you, Sav.” I didn’t notice it before now, but he’s holding an envelope in one hand, and offers it to Savanna beside me.
“From your groom. While I haven’t read it, I’m cautioning you not to read it without tissues because I have a feeling it’s going to make you cry.
Mind the makeup. We hoped you weren’t done yet. ”
We. The word sticks out, because he says it like him and Nate both thought about it.
Talked about it. It reminds me of the first night in Vegas when I told Liam that Paul was getting married.
He had said, “I thought we were over him.” We.
Because Liam is always in it with his friends. Me included. No matter what.
Before I have a chance to examine that, and how it makes me feel, Savanna squeaks, and a quick glance in her direction tells me the makeup will need to be redone, even before she’s read the letter.
“He wrote me something? Oh god, I love him. I can’t wait to marry him. Tell him I can’t wait, okay? Please.” She snatches the envelope from his hand, holding it to her chest as the first tear slides down her cheek. “I don’t have anything to give him back.”
Liam slides a tissue out of his pants pocket, holding it out for her. “I promise to give him a big smooch right on the mouth for you. I’ll tell him it’s from you.”
“Pics or it didn’t happen,” I tell him with a grin, and Savanna nods.
“I don’t hate to leave you two alone because I love whatever this is between you, but I need to go read this now so I’ve got time to redo my makeup.” Stepping up on her tiptoes, Savanna places a kiss on Liam’s cheek. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, Sav. You’re one of us. We take care of each other, whatever that looks like. Including delivering love notes.”
My heart melts for this man, and Savanna must know it because she casts her gaze at me, giving me a very pointed look as if to say, “Seriously? You’re not going to try and make this work? You crazy fool.” And I feel that.
“The tissue was a nice touch,” I tell him when she disappears down the short hallway to the main suite again. A chorus of ‘ooo’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ rings out from the room.
“It was all Nate. He had a feeling.” But Liam’s smile tells me differently. It says that he expected the tears too. That he knew they might happen, and he took the precaution to be prepared. “You look beautiful, Jor.”
Butterflies galore erupt in my stomach, making my heart flutter something quick. “Wait until you see the dress.”
Liam glances over my shoulder, then steps closer to me once more, lowering his head. His lips don’t find my ear, though, they graze the skin just below it, along my neck with a soft breath tickling my skin. The touch isn’t charged or sexualized, it’s soft, tender, sweet.
“Dare I say I can’t wait. Everyone is waiting to see Sav in her dress, but the only thing I want to see is you in yours,” he murmurs.
I want nothing more than to melt into him as his fingertips slide down the length of my arm.
“When everyone is busy looking at her, the only thing I’ll see is you. All damn day, Jor.”
Turning my head a fraction towards him, Liam does the same, his lips finding mine to give me a whisper of a kiss before he steps away. His smile—the one I know is only for me—graces his features as he retreats further into the main hall.
“Only you, Fireball. Only you.”