Chapter Ten
That fucking saying about what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—it’s bullshit. I arrived there as a single man with enough problems on my plate—and left there a married man with potentially more problems. And what Piper and I did wasn’t a random hook-up on a drunk night—we got fucking married.
It’s a real legal marriage. It’s crazy what desire will make foolish people like us do.
I hope having Piper around will make my situation with the community go smoother. But who the fuck knows? It could all just blow up in my face.
After Piper and I went our separate ways this morning, I took an afternoon flight to San Diego for our annual guys’ trip. Since some of my fraternity brothers from college now live in different places around the country, we plan a yearly guys’ weekend to reminisce about college and update each other on careers, marriages, and growing families.
While waiting to board my flight, I remembered that Piper and I hadn’t spoken about the logistics of her coming out here or when that might happen. There was zero planning, and it made me anxious.
I cycled through three email drafts, each from informal to formal, with one in the middle.
I did marry her, and yes, there is something about Piper that feels familiar, but I still don’t know her. I decided formal would be best at this point.
After another ten minutes of drafting and deleting, I finally sent one off. Expecting to hear a response by the time the plane landed in San Diego, I was worried when I hadn’t seen an email from her come through yet. Who doesn’t get email notifications? I’m sure she has it linked to her phone. Right?
My heart pounded in my chest as I scrolled through my phone, preparing to text the woman who had come barreling into my life at full speed. Why was I so nervous?
Our conversation was brief, but she eventually checked her email, and now I finally have a date for when we’ll officially start fake dating.
What the actual fuck did I get myself into?I walk up to the small dive bar in downtown San Diego near the hotel where we’ll all be staying. As I head up the stairs and approach the rooftop bar, I see Harry and Mason talking with our fraternity brothers. Mason is now dating Harry’s sister Bailey-who also happens to be one of Piper’s best friends.
Piper.
My mind floods with images of her long strawberry blonde hair and the way her nose scrunches when she says something sarcastic.
“Jack!” Mason calls out from one of the two couches that my friends are occupying.
I’m not the type of guy you’d imagine seeing in a fraternity since I’m more reserved, but this group has become like brothers to me over the years. Each year, we choose a different location. Last year, I was golfing in Cabo San Lucas. It was a more tropical romantic destination, so most brought wives and girlfriends. I was dating the daughter of a previous client of mine at the time, and she wanted to go, but I didn’t want to spend three days with her in my space.
I wave and head over. It looks like the three of us are the first out of the five to arrive.
“I thought you weren’t coming in until tomorrow?” Mason asks as I approach the table.
“Change of plans. I ended up staying in Vegas an extra day, so I decided to come straight here instead of flying back to Dupara first,” I say.
“Good to see you, man. I think the others should be getting here soon too,” Harry replies, taking a sip from his drink.
“Chris won’t be coming because his wife is in labor,” I tell them, referring to the sixth guy in our group who will miss this year’s trip.
“I saw that on our email chain. Good for him,” Harry says.
Mason leans back, resting an arm on the back of the couch. “I plan to knock Bailey up as soon as she lets me.”
Harry stiffens. “Dude, that’s my fucking sister.”
“I know.” Mason flashes Harry a sly smile. “I keep forgetting.”
I laugh, glancing at the menu.
Mason turns to me. “What about you, Jack? How are you doing since your dad passed away?”
I let out a sigh. I hate talking about this. “I’m doing alright. It sucks, but I’m getting through.”
“I know I’ve told you this before, but I’m so sorry,” Harry says sympathetically.
“Yeah, man, I’m sorry.” Mason pats my shoulder. “You’re officially back in Northern California now, right?”
I nod.
“Oh, and Bailey told me that you and Piper hit it off in Vegas? How’d that happen?” Mason asks. He found that out fast. I wonder if Piper said something to Bailey. Something tells me that she didn’t tell her friend everything.
So, what am I supposed to say to mine? I married your girlfriend’s best friend in Vegas, and now I’m paying her to help me look good in the small town where I grew up, so it will be easier when I take over my family’s winery. Oh, and on top of that, I’d love to handcuff her to my bed and fuck her the entire night.
They wouldn’t even bat an eye at the last part. These guys are more vocal about their hookups and women than I am.
“That’s, uh, true. Yes.” My throat briefly runs dry. Should I tell them? No, I can’t.
The mention of her name weaves through my mind, and she’s threaded back once again. Piper is like a gust of lavender wind that’s whipped its way into my life. I thought this guys’ weekend would make me feel better, keeping my mind off the winery. But I’ve only arrived, and I’m consumed with those thoughts—and of her.
Harry swirls the ice around in his glass. “You guys are like into each other then?”
“I’m not sure,” I say vaguely. “We’re just hanging out.”
“Bailey and I were just hanging out at first too.” Mason grins.
Harry slaps his knees. “Again, my fucking sister. It’s hard enough watching you guys together. I don’t need to hear about it all the time too.”
Mason laughs off Harry’s comment.
The dynamic between the two is a helpful distraction as I dodge their line of questioning about Piper. They know I’ve never been one to talk about the women I’ve been with. I’m more private than that.
“I’ve known Piper for a while, and she is, without a doubt, the more livelier one out of my sister’s friends,” Harry adds.
I rub my chin, thinking about her little attitude. “I can see that.”
I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t acknowledge being instantly infatuated with her. When I first saw Piper at Harry and Jess’s wedding last March, it took me a month for her to get out of my mind. When I ran into her and Bailey at the airport, I was even more intrigued when she followed me into the restaurant.
“Are you nervous about taking over your parents’ winery?” Mason asks.
Rubbing the back of my neck with my hand, I let my other rest on the back of the outdoor couch. “I am apprehensive. It’s always been my dad’s dream. I hope I can bring something of benefit.”
Harry bends his elbows on his knees. “Dude, you are a marketing genius. That skill alone will elevate you.”
Mason nods and sets his Jack and Coke on the table. “You have a business head. You’ll be extremely successful. But the question is, do you want it?”
“I don’t know, man.” I shrug.
“It sucks that as soon as I move back to Phoenix, you’re going back to Northern California,” Mason adds.
“I know. I’m going to miss it out here,” I say, popping an appetizer into my mouth. “I was in the process of buying a place too.”
Over the next few hours, the rest of the guys arrive, and by later on in the night, we’re all back into our rooms.