Chapter 31 #2
Evie, similarly, is glued to Jameson. They gaze out of the windows together, pointing out landmarks.
Sometimes they catch one another’s eye and just stare at each other, smiling, not a single word required to be said between them.
Yes, he’s older than her. Yes, she’ll never see him again after tonight.
But my firecracker of a little sister is completely smitten, and that’s something I’ve never seen in her before.
My observations turn to Liam, and he’s at the other side of the cabin with Tyler, chugging beers, while I’m standing on my own. Maybe if I still loved him, that would hurt me, but right now it feels like a gift.
“You’re still drinking Trina’s signature cocktail?” Connor asks, appearing from behind me. He nods at the drink in my hand, my fourth duplicate drink in a row.
“It tastes amazing,” I say as I take another sip, enjoying the sweet punch of pineapple juice. “Why mix it up?”
“Try this,” he says, offering his drink. “I think you’ll like it. It’s basically a mango margarita.”
I love anything fruity, so I take his cup and taste-test his drink for myself. The tequila is strong, but the mango delicious. “Mmm. Yeah, I like it.” Licking my lips, I turn toward the bar cart and wiggle Connor’s cup in the air. “Trina, can I get one of these? The mango margarita thing?”
“Coming right up!” Trina says, plucking a bottle of tequila from the selection of liquor on the cart.
I quickly finish off the drink already in my hand and then switch it out for the new one. Drink number five. I can feel all the liquid swirling in my stomach and my head buzzes as all of my anxieties are slowly stripped away.
“I don’t know if I’m still going to be standing by the time we get back down to the ground,” I say with a small hiccup, “let alone if I’ll make it out tonight for Magic Mike. Do you feel drunk, too? Please tell me you feel drunk, too.”
Connor laughs, his hand clasping my wrist to steady me as I stumble ever so slightly. “Yes, I feel drunk, too. Well, tipsy.”
We reach the crest of the High Roller, suspended hundreds of feet in the air as Vegas shrinks away below us. The observation wheel hums mechanically around us, the AC keeps us cool, the music thumps loudly.
“You are officially at the highest point of your ride today, so bottoms up for the bride and groom!” Trina cheers, moving around the cabin to distribute some mystery shots.
Liam regroups by my side. I flinch as he snakes an arm around my waist and jerks me closer to him. He taps his plastic shot glass against mine, then Connor’s. “You heard the bartender. Bottoms up!”
My gaze is on Connor as the three of us awkwardly take our shots together in sync, because Connor and I know there is nothing to celebrate here. Nothing; yet Liam grins as he wipes his mouth, enjoying himself.
“John was just telling me about his big win at the poker table last night,” he says, rudely snapping his fingers at Trina to summon another drink from her without even offering her the respect of looking her way. “I can’t believe I fucking missed it! I was so dead to the world. Five grand, huh?”
John overhears Liam and immediately pokes his head into the conversation, an arm enthusiastically propped on Liam’s shoulder. He grins smugly, looking across at Connor and me. “It was insane. I had a straight flush! I can’t believe you guys missed it.”
Liam’s smile immediately drops. He pulls his neck back to look at John hanging off his shoulder. “They missed it? Weren’t you all in the casino together?”
Now John is the one furrowing his eyebrows, confused. “No. It was just Tyler and me. Thank fuck someone was there to witness the greatest moment of my life.”
“It was just Tyler and you all night?” Liam asks quietly, and my blood turns cold as I watch the expression in his eyes change, because I know exactly what I told Liam last night when he called me—I told him we were all in the casino together, and that was a lie.
“Yeah. Hey, Tyler, do you still have that video of us hitting the jackpot on that slot machine?” John says, moving away to get Tyler’s attention, oblivious to the predicament he’s just placed me in.
Liam sets his eyes on me. His expression is completely neutral, blank and void of any emotion, but his gaze is cold and calculated. I can almost see his mind processing my lie, but he wants verification. “Hailey, where were you last night?” he calls out to my best friend.
Hailey glances up from her drink, surprised by Liam’s line of questioning. “Um, with Theo . . .” she answers, blushing.
“Liam,” I say, grabbing his arm. I look at him with pleading eyes and I shake my head slowly at him, but he ignores me, yanking his arm free. I don’t dare look at Connor right now, but I still wonder if his heart pounds as painfully as mine does.
“Evie, where were you last night?” Liam asks, turning to my sister now.
“With this guy,” Evie answers, exchanging a glance with Jameson. There’s a flicker of confusion on her face over the purpose of Liam’s demanding question, and she stares back at him, waiting for the follow-up.
“And Addy?” Liam asks through thin lips, intense eyes shifting between her and Hailey. “Where was Addy last night?”
“With you . . .?” Hailey answers slowly, flashing me a concerned look, like she’s worried that’s the wrong answer.
It is.
Liam snaps his head toward me, jaw clenched. “You were not with me when I woke up. You were not in the casino. You were not with Hailey or Evelyn,” he spits out, his tone harsh, and I know exactly what’s coming next. “So, Addy. Where the fuck were you last night?”
I gulp, my breath caught in my throat. This cabin feels like it’s shrinking, getting smaller and smaller, squeezing all of the oxygen out of the air.
Around us, everyone is dead silent. Even Trina watches from behind the bar cart with concern.
She lowers the volume of the music and asks, “Everything okay, guys?”
I’m rooted to the spot, my drink shaking in my hand.
I disappeared on my bachelorette weekend and lied about it—I know exactly what conclusion his mind has jumped to.
And for once, his lack of trust in me is justified.
He has every right to be suspicious, because last night . . . Last night I was kissing Connor.
“Liam, hey,” I say soothingly, feigning courage as I step closer to him. “Tone it down, okay?”
“I asked you a question, Adelaide,” he says. “Where were you last night?”
Connor steps into the spot by my side. Without a moment of hesitation, he clears his throat and simply says, “She was with me.”
No, Connor, shut up.
My eyelids flutter shut for a brief moment as I brace myself. All of the liquor pumps through my veins and I feel unsteady on my feet, the cabin spinning around me.
“With you,” Liam repeats flatly.
“Yes, with me,” Connor confirms, voice unwavering. “I took Addy out for the night. We flew over Vegas in a helicopter, grabbed some food, and then I dropped her back off at the door of our hotel room so she could keep your drunk ass company.”
Liam laughs, harsh and cruel, like he can’t quite believe how brazen Connor is. “And you don’t think that’s weird, Connor?” he spits. “To take my damn fiancée out for the night on what sounds like a fucking date?”
“Well,” Connor says with a shrug, “I guess someone has to treat her right.”
“Connor,” I whisper, clutching his arm and digging my fingers hard into his tattooed skin. A warning. A plea. Please don’t.
Liam’s icy blue eyes bulge wide. He presses right up against Connor, his mouth by his ear as he hisses, “I fucking told you that in confidence.”
Connor presses both hands to Liam’s chest and shoves him back two steps. “There is no confidentiality when it comes to you hitting Adelaide.”