Chapter 23 Tyler
The volleyball game doesn’t last that much longer after Jackson and Derek get into it.
That damn hothead. He’s going to make Ryan suspicious of us if he keeps acting so protective of Cassidy.
Granted, it was funny watching Derek get all pissy when Jackson called him out.
Most of the girls, including Cassidy, have already left by the time the last point is scored. Everyone splits apart to do their own thing, and I’m soon left by myself on the beach.
I sling my towel over my shoulder and head toward the resort, checking my phone as I walk. I answer some work emails and message a few club associates by the time I reach a walkway along the side of the building.
My eyes move away from my phone and land on a few shrubs full of eye-catching pink flowers. I gravitate closer, leaning down to smell their perfume-like scent.
I wish Cassidy was around to see them. They’re pretty nice looking flowers, and they smell great.
She’s probably chilling in her room, though, and I’m not about to ask her to come all the way down to see some flowers.
Maybe I could bring them to her.
I glance around, making sure no one from the wedding party is around before plucking a few flowers from the bush. Once I have a small bundle of them, I head into the building and take the elevator up to her floor, feeling an unusual stir deep in my chest.
My palms feel warmer too.
I draw in a slow inhale, waiting for my heartbeat to slow down. But it doesn’t. It only ramps up even more as I step out of the elevator and get closer and closer to her room.
Why do I feel so much pressure right now?
Flirting is easy for me. It’s fun and keeps me on my toes in an enjoyable way.
But this is different. This isn’t flirting.
This is…romantic.
I’m not used to making gestures like these, but Cassidy deserves it. She deserves more than I could ever give her, but this is a good start.
It’s just also risky. Not only because I could get caught, but also because I could get attached.
Attachment is one of the easiest ways to get hurt because people always leave, especially in my life. If there’s an open door, they’re running out of it and leaving me behind.
Cassidy is amazing, but there’s no guarantee that she wouldn’t do the same thing.
But despite my nerves and concerns, I still knock on her door as I stand out in the hallway with flowers in my hand.
Cassidy unlocks the door and pulls it open, her eyebrows immediately darting up. “Tyler?”
I part my lips to let something charming or witty come out, but nothing does. I just stand there silently for a few moments before I force an awkward laugh.
“Hey,” I tell her, my skin getting hotter. “I saw these and I…”
Cassidy’s eyes widen in realization. “You got me flowers?”
“I mean, I picked them off a bush, but…yeah,” I say as I hand the makeshift bouquet over to her.
What the hell happened to my game?
Cassidy smiles widely and brings the flowers up to her nose to smell them. “They smell amazing. And they’re so beautiful.”
“I thought so too,” I tell her as I place my hand on the doorframe, falling into a casual pose.
Cassidy places the flowers down on a small table in the entryway before appearing back in the doorway. “Got any chocolates for me too?”
A less tense laugh breaks from me, my body relaxing. “I dropped the ball on that. Next time.”
“I’ll forgive you this time,” Cassidy replies, leaning her shoulder against the doorframe as she crosses her arms. “Thank you for the flowers. It was really sweet.”
I don’t miss the surprise lingering in her voice. Marcus would do something like this before I did, but what can I say?
She throws me off my game at times.
“Sorry about what happened earlier between Jackson and Derek.”
Cassidy sighs and shakes her head. “You don’t have to be sorry. You’re not the one who did anything.”
“I’m apologizing on Jackson’s behalf.”
“You don’t have to do that either,” she assures me. “As long as things don’t get even more out of control.”
I can’t promise that. Especially if Derek really tries to act up.
“What are you doing tonight?” I ask her.
“We’re having a girls’ night in one of the big suites on the top floor,” Cassidy tells me. “I’d invite you, but you have to be willing to strip and dance for us.”
I chuckle. “Probably not the craziest thing that I’ve done at a party.”
“I’m too scared to ask,” she says, amusement radiating from her smile. “What are you doing tonight?”
I was going to see if she wanted to take a walk on the beach later tonight, but it sounds like she’ll be busy. Another time. Maybe.
The wedding is getting closer and closer, and we only have a limited amount of time left here. I don’t know if I should try my hardest to hold out and behave or say fuck it and make the most of the days we have left together.
“I have no idea,” I admit. “I could do some stuff for work while I have some quiet time. There are always things to do on that front.”
Cassidy clicks her tongue. “Don’t work. You’re on vacation.”
“You’re working. Maid of honor is like a second job.”
“It’s temporary,” Cassidy reminds me. “Besides, all your business stuff will still be waiting for you when you get back. You should just be having fun here. That’s what I planned for everyone.”
This has been one of the best weeks of my life, so she’s definitely killing it as maid of honor.
“How much time do you have before the party tonight?” I ask her as I check the time on my watch. It’s nearing four o’clock.
“Two hours,” Cassidy replies before raising an eyebrow at me. “Why?”
I shrug in a sly manner as I shift an inch closer to her. “I could help you get ready.”
She tilts her head at me. “And how would you do that?”
“By taking these clothes off you,” I tell her as I nod to the tank top and shorts hugging her figure.
Has she gotten slightly curvier? She looks amazing.
Her teeth graze her bottom lip, making heat flicker within me. “Wow, you’re so generous.”
“I do enjoy being a giving lover.”
She laughs. “Lover? Really?”
I can’t exactly call myself her boyfriend or anything. That would really be going way too far.
“You know what I mean.”
Her eyes sweep over me, her lips forming a sly smile. “I know exactly what you mean.”
I could kiss her right here and now.
I start to lift the heel of my foot off the ground to close the distance between us, but the sound of footsteps gets closer and closer to me. I turn my head to see Ryan heading our way with a curious look on his face.
My blood freezes over. Shit. We’re caught.
We’re not even doing anything, and we’re caught.
“Hey,” Ryan greets us, looking between the two of us as he stops right next to me. “Everything okay?”
My voice locks up in my throat, my unexpected nerves trying to screw me over again.
“Everything is fine,” Cassidy speaks up for me, plastering a casual look on her face. “We were just chatting.”
“About?” Ryan asks, his brow furrowing in confusion.
That’s why we can’t be seen alone together. Not only does Ryan get overly suspicious, but he’s also nosy as hell.
That’s a dangerous combination for a group of liars and backstabbers to face.
“Just about…”
I try to help out, but my voice fades away as I run out of words to say. What the hell am I supposed to tell her that’s actually believable?
“He was asking for Becca’s number,” Cassidy tells him, continuing to think on her feet.
She has gotten a lot better at lying since Las Vegas.
Ryan grins and nudges me. “Hell yeah, man. I didn’t think anything would happen between you two after you blew her off the other night.”
Curiosity glints in Cassidy’s eyes, but she remains quiet.
I have to hold back an irritated sigh. “I didn’t blow her off. I just wasn’t in the mood to talk much that night.”
He gives me a pointed look. “You blew her off, but it’s fine. You now have the chance to correct your mistake. Maybe she’s your Sarah.”
I almost laugh because there’s no way that’s accurate, but I withhold it. He’s just trying to look out for me, even if I certainly don’t deserve that after all I’ve done behind his back.
If he knew the truth, he wouldn’t help me with a single damn thing, and I wouldn’t blame him.
“Maybe,” I say, uncertainty filling my voice.
Shit. I can’t even act excited about this.
Ryan pats me on the back. “I know you’re not ready to date yet, but it’s good to keep an open mind, right? You never know what you’ll find. Or who.”
I glance over at Cassidy, whose mouth slightly twitches like she’s holding back a smile. “Yeah, you’re right.”
Ryan glances between us. “So, you just came to get Becca’s number?”
“Yep. That’s all,” I tell him, even taking out my phone to flash it toward him.
Like that’s going to convince him even more.
There’s no way in hell that I’m telling him that I came by to give his sister flowers. He’d definitely think I was giving them to her to try to sleep with her.
Ryan nods. “You busy right now, Cassidy?”
Cassidy shakes her head.
“I should go. Thanks, Cass,” I say before walking away, trying not to move so stiffly despite how tense I feel.
Too many close calls. Too many ways to mess everything up.
Yet I keep running right back to her.
I’m just asking to be hurt.