Chapter 23
Holland
The large room is adorned with white and light blue decorations to match the color scheme of the wedding. White tablecloths cover the tables, and extravagant floral arrangements sit as the centerpieces on each.
A lit candle sits beside it, which almost seems like a fire hazard to me. An open flame next to flowers, on a flammable surface? That doesn’t seem like a good idea, but that’s just me.
Name tags sit at each place at the table, as if we’re children and need assigned seats. Large crystal chandeliers hang from the tall ceilings, and there is a massive dance floor at the front of the space.
The ballroom in the hotel is the perfect place for a huge party, and that’s exactly what it will be used for tomorrow after Gwen and Ryker tie the knot.
I haven’t seen either of them all day. In fact, I haven’t seen much of anyone all day other than Mason, who apparently made use of the hotel’s spa this morning.
He’s also made use of the large infinity pool that overlooks the water, and the hotel gym that is somehow bigger than the gym back at Ellington, and that’s saying something because that gym is huge.
Leave it to Mason to be the one to use every single amenity there is to be offered. We’ve been here for less than twenty-four hours, and he’s completely made himself at home.
After we landed in Naples, I immediately went to my room and took a long, hot shower. I needed to wash away the stress from the plane and the thoughts of Lainey’s mouth on mine.
Fuck, was she a good kisser. I always had a feeling she’d be a good kisser. She’s got those full pink lips, and I would love to see the way they look wrapped around my-
Woah, there, Holland. Slow down. It was a kiss, one kiss. Yes, it was an amazing kiss, and if we weren’t interrupted by Mason, the fucking idiot, I’m not sure I would have been able to stop myself from touching her further.
The small space would have made it a bit difficult to do everything I want to do to her, but I would have found a way.
I know she wanted me too. I could tell by the way her kiss deepened when I lightly squeezed her hips and pulled her closer to me. It was the best distraction I could have asked for.
She told me to kiss her, and I was completely taken aback. She’s always been pretty forward. Lainey Barkley is not a shy girl. She isn’t afraid to tell you how she feels or make sure you know what’s up.
But when she demanded that I kiss her, my whole world stopped. I thought I’d heard her wrong, because why would she tell me to kiss her? I don’t even know if she considers us to be friends half of the time.
She completely shocked me, but I wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity I’d been dreaming about for months. Maybe even years.
Lainey was right there in front of me, her petite body, curly brown hair, and blue grey eyes staring back at me, telling me to use her as a distraction, and I had never wanted anything more.
I don’t know if I’ll ever have that chance again, but I do know I need to at least try to make it possible. Now that I’ve had a small taste of her, there’s no way I can go the rest of my life without having more. She’s like a drug, and I’m not incredibly hooked.
“Why are you just standing there? You’re in the way,” a familiar feminine voice says from behind me, breaking me out of my trance like state.
Lainey walks past me, rolling her eyes. Her brown curls fall down her back, and the airy, sky blue, dress that falls to just above her knees makes my throat dry. She looks delectable, and I want to taste every single inch of her until I memorize her every curve.
“Hello? Earth to Ball Boy,” she chides, waving her hand in front of my face. “Did you forget how to read? Can’t find your name?”
Well, just like that, the moments gone. Instead of thinking about how much I want to taste her again, I’m now thinking of different ways I can shut her up.
Rolling my eyes, I stride past her, finding my spot and taking my seat. She and I are the first ones here, and the tension in the room is high.
Looking at the spot next to me, I check the name on the tag, smiling devilishly when I spot the name. Placed right next to me is none other than the little bug herself.
“Looks like you’re right here, Lainey Bug. I grin, winking at her. She groans, rolling her eyes and making her way over to where I’m sitting.
As she sits, the scent of her fruity perfume and sweet shampoo surrounds me, and I wish I could bury my face in her neck and never leave.
She doesn’t make eye contact with me, instead she looks down at her phone and stays silent until Haley and Ellie enter the room. I wanted to make a comment about what happened between us, but it’ll have to wait until we’re alone again, if she ever lets that happen.
Theres a weird tension between us for the rest of the night, like we both know how we feel and what we want but we’re refusing to admit it. It’s almost funny how Lainey tries to act as if I don’t exist.
That is, until we’re forced to practice our duties as the wedding party. Apparently, Gwen and Ryker thought it would be a great idea to have Lainey and I walk down the aisle together. Remind me to kick Ryker’s ass later.
An hour later, the entire wedding party is in the ballroom, chatter and clanking of glasses filling the space. Gwen and Ryker sit at the front of the room at their own table. They smile and laugh, and I’m finding myself feeling a bit jealous that I don’t have that.
I’ve never really thought about marriage or kids or having a family. I’ve never really been a playboy either. Yes, I’ve had one-night stands, what college student hasn’t. But I’ve never been considered a player like Ryker was. He was Ellington’s most eligible bachelor.
Hard to pin down, never staying with a woman for more than a month, and having the bad boy reputation, Ryker was every girl’s wet dream. That is, until Gwen came along. Ryker made sure every girl, and guy, on campus knew she was his.
I’d never seen him so head over heels for a chick, and it was honestly a shock when we found out how serious he was about Gwen.
She’s good for him. She’s strong, and she doesn’t take any of his shit. She’ll set him straight if he needs it, and she won’t hesitate to tell him when he’s being an ass. They’ve got a good connection.
I’ve never had that. I haven’t found someone that I connect with that deeply that I can imagine a life with them.
Especially one that can handle the chaos of my life currently.
With the takeover of my dad’s company and the drama that comes along with the criminal world, no girl could handle being with me.
No one really knows about all that, but eventually it would come out. There’s no way to hide that once you’re with someone.
Lainey’s laugh interrupts my thoughts, and the sound gives me butterflies. Hearing an honest, genuine laugh from this girl feels so good. She’s always pretending, and I don’t even know if she notices anymore.
She’s been acting as if her life is perfect and that the fact that she hasn’t spoken to her mother in weeks isn’t bothering her. She’s always been strong, one of the strongest women I know, but I wish she knew she didn’t have to be that strong all of the time.
Lainey isn’t one to talk about her feelings. In fact, she’s pretty against feelings in general. She’s always hidden how she feels, and she’s never been good at comforting people when they’re upset.
A thought occurs just then as I sit next to her, listening to her talk to my sister about who will get the drunkest tonight. I would take away Lainey’s pain if I could, so that she would never feel unwanted or unloved.
Lainey Barkley is a lot of things, but she shouldn’t have to be strong all of the time. It’s going to consume her, and one day she will break. Of course, I’d be there for her when that day came, but I don’t want it to. She doesn’t deserve to feel that way.
“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Ryker asks as he stands, lightly tapping his knife on his champagne glass. He doesn’t look nervous or frazzled. In fact, he looks completely put together, like he has absolutely no doubts or worries at all.
I wonder what it’s like to be that sure of how you feel about someone. Will I ever find out?
The room quiets and everyone turns to face the man of the hour.
“I just wanted to thank you all for coming to celebrate us. I know it was a long a trip, and some of us had to face some fears to get here,” he chuckles softly, looking directly at me when he says that last part. I shrug, grinning.
“Listen, I got here, didn’t I?” I respond, and everyone chuckles around me. A small sound even comes out of Lainey, who is watching Ryker intently.
Ryker nods, laughing. “That you did, my friend. Anyway, thank you all for being here with us, and we can’t wait to see you all tomorrow when we finally say ‘I do’.”
Everyone claps and Mason whistles loudly, clapping his hands and giving Ryker a standing ovation.
I shake my head, chuckling under my breath. Catching sight of Lainey out of the corner of my eye, I find that, although she’s clapping, instead of looking up at Ryker, she’s looking at me.