Chapter 5 Cassidy
I’ve been way too distracted for someone on a mini vacation.
At least Derek isn’t the main thing on my mind now.
I went from brunch by the pool to karaoke at a packed bar in a daze, only halfway present for all the fun chaos that I planned for Sarah and the other girls. I just can’t stop thinking about last night.
I’ve always loved hanging out with Ryan’s friends, but last night was different. They didn’t pat me on the back or act nonchalant around me like they used to.
They touched me. Teased me. Made me feel desire so intensely and deeply that I couldn’t breathe.
If Jackson hadn’t interrupted that tense moment after Tyler essentially said he would spank me, I probably would’ve let him do it.
I get that our relationships with Ryan make each other off limits, but I was really starting to not care about that. I loved how cherished and sexy they made me feel. I loved how they listened to me and made me smile when I just wanted to drink away my feelings.
And now I’m supposed to act like none of that even happened.
I drag my feet a little as I follow Sarah and the other girls down the sidewalk toward the hotel.
Sarah has her arm wrapped around my shoulders as she sings off key, a few of the other girls joining in behind us.
“You guys should form a choir,” I tell them as I hold her waist, keeping her upright.
Everyone in this wedding party will need a liver detox when we all get back home. Las Vegas has served its purpose and been the best place to party, but it’s almost time to return to reality.
Which means going back to barely ever seeing the guys again.
Sarah laughs. “Would you come to a performance?”
“Every single one.”
Laughter ripples through the group as we shuffle along, some carrying their heels and others gritting through the pain. We did everything we planned to do today. Mission accomplished.
I’ve been a killer maid of honor.
“Well, look at what we’ve got here.”
Our party slows to a stop, and my eyes nearly bulge out of my head as Jackson, Tyler, and Marcus walk out of a sports bar up ahead.
“How are you here?” I blurt out the words.
“Magic,” Tyler teases me.
“Can you make yourself disappear?” Sarah giggles into her hand, the rest of the group laughing so hard that Tessa loses her balance and nearly falls over.
“They’re drunk again,” I explain, amusement bubbling up in my chest. I’m fine with being the responsible mother hen of the group.
That means I’ll actually remember this interaction with the guys when I wake up in the morning.
“Did you walk far?” Marcus asks.
I shake my head and gesture in the direction we came from. “There’s a karaoke bar just down there. Be glad you weren’t there and had your ears spared.”
Jackson smirks. “There has to be one good singer in the group.”
“Not after a bunch of shots.”
The guys chuckle, and my face heats up as I remember where we left off last night. Were they just as affected as I was?
Or am I making up this crazy fantasy in my mind about the three of them feeling a sliver of desire for me too?
“I’m tired,” Sarah says as she pulls her arm off my shoulders. “You can stay and chit chat. I need my bed.”
“My feet are killing me,” Kara groans as she shuffles past me with some of the others.
“Are you coming?” Tessa asks me, seeming less tipsy than the rest.
I hesitate to answer, my eyes snapping to the guys. I should go straight to my room, but I haven’t seen the guys all day. I can’t help but want to at least talk to them for a little bit.
“We’ll make sure she gets back to her room okay,” Jackson tells her. “I need to talk to her about wedding stuff.”
Tessa nods, either being too tired to really care or just easily convinced. “See you tomorrow, Cass.”
“Bye,” I call out, hearing Sarah and a few others shout goodbyes and goodnights to me.
My heart rate elevates as I feel the guys’ gazes on me. Alone with them once again.
“It’s late,” I say as I finally turn to them, a mixture of nervousness and excitement stirring low in my stomach.
“We’ll walk you back to the hotel,” Jackson replies.
I raise my eyebrow at him. “No wedding business to discuss?”
He smiles and shakes his head. “Just an excuse to get you alone.”
Heat rolls through me. This is dangerous territory, but they’re so tempting. I can stop at any time.
What’s the harm in just getting a tiny bit closer?
“Now what?”
Tyler steps closer to me, his fingertips brushing my side through the short, red mini dress I picked for tonight. The sweetheart neckline leaves a little bit exposed as a tease, and Tyler’s eyes linger on my cleavage for a few seconds.
“This looks good on you, Cass.”
My heart nearly bursts out of my chest. His words sound like they’re straight out of a fantasy I thought up as a restless teenager.
“I always thought red suited you,” Marcus adds as he slowly walks behind me, his hand grazing my lower back.
Goosebumps flutter up the back of my arms. Every cell in my body yearns for their touch, but I don’t voice that. Not yet.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Jackson motions for me to walk forward. “Let’s get off the sidewalk and get inside.”
Like I’m in a trance, I follow him toward the hotel, Marcus and Tyler flanking me.
“Were you able to get any sleep last night?” Tyler asks me, his eyes roaming up my figure.
My skin feels like it’s on fire at this point, but I drink in the attention. I can’t help myself when there’s three hot guys walking me back to the hotel right now.
“Should I have had issues?”
He smiles in a wry manner. “Thought you might be too restless after what I said last night.”
He’d be correct. It took forever for me to fall asleep because I couldn’t get them out of my head.
“I slept like a baby.”
Marcus clicks his tongue. “Still a bad liar.”
Pure adrenaline shoots through my veins as we walk through the automatic doors into the quiet hotel lobby. “So you think.”
“You missed us. I know that,” Tyler replies as he walks closer to me, his voice dropping down to a teasing whisper.
I swallow hard as heat builds low within me. I need to figure out how to be a better liar around them.
Jackson stops in front of the elevator and turns to me after hitting the up button. “I’m going to give you a choice, Cass.”
His firm, steady voice makes me weak in the knees.
“A choice?” My voice is far less stable.
“We can either drop you off at your room, or we can take you back to ours.”
All of the air leaves my lungs. What did he just say?
“You don’t have to sleep in your bed all alone again,” Tyler murmurs, his fingers gliding up my figure to brush against the side of my breast.
Marcus sweeps my hair behind my shoulders, exposing my neck and every inch of my flushed face. “It’s up to you, beautiful. The choice is yours.”
The elevator doors slide open behind Jackson, but no one moves. All eyes are on me as they wait for my answer.
I know what I’m risking if I go with them, but I can’t help but wonder what I’ll miss out on if I go back to my own room.
I’ve been miserable for months. Don’t I deserve just one more night that makes me feel alive?”
I place my hands on Jackson’s chest, backing him up into the elevator and hearing Tyler and Marcus quickly follow before the doors slide shut.
“I choose yours.”