“Goodnight, Eli.” She laughs, waving as she opens the door to walk inside.
Fuck. This woman. What the hell am I supposed to do with her? She wants this just as badly as I do. Is she right that it’s a bad idea to cross this line knowing she’ll be gone soon? Hell no. Any amount of time with her is worth a thousand years without. And if I’m lucky, I’ll break her walls down eventually.
6
A YOU PROBLEM
Cici
“I’m so excited we’re doing this. I can’t wait to see Jackson,” I say with a huge smile as Lily, Lucy, and I sip our champagne and chat in the Dubrees’ private jet on our way to Las Vegas. One of the benefits of marrying a billionaire, I suppose. But now that I’ve spent so much time with the brothers, it’s not something that sticks out when you’re with them. Until moments like these, of course. The men are also on board, caught up in their own conversation.
“I know. I still can’t believe how long he’s been gone. Hopefully he’s made some progress. Any word?” Lily asks.
I sigh, hating the answer as much for myself as for Jackson. “No. He feels like he’s in the right place, but still no sign of the guy. I’m worried for him. I’m not sure if he’ll ever give up. I mean, seriously, he’s been searching for almost four months at this point.”
Lily gives me a sympathetic look. “That’s hard, but it has to bejust as challenging for you. What a mess. Have you talked to him about when you want to go home?”
The subtle look from Eli doesn’t escape my attention. I’m sure he’d like an answer to that question as well. Not that it matters. Iwillgo home at some point. No sense in starting something we can’t finish. After that night at the restaurant, I finally confessed to Lily, who told me that Sebastian had known for a while but respected Eli’s wishes not to say anything. She wasn’t very happy with me or Sebastian for keeping it from her but took all of two seconds to forgive us. I’m not so forgiving, though, and still pissed that we were outed to everyone that night. It could’ve been avoided if he’d just kept his hands to himself—although it had its upside. I hadn’t climaxed like that since… well, since the last time we were together, dammit.
“I can’t give him an ultimatum. He’s miserable without Mia, and I don’t think he’ll rest until he fixes the situation. He feels responsible, and I can’t be the one to shut him down. Who knows, he said he’s getting closer. Fingers crossed.” I make the sign and gulp my champagne to swallow down the doubt.
“The guy is well hidden if Justin couldn’t find him. I hope for your sake he pops up soon,” Lucy adds. Eli referred Justin to Jackson, who hired him to do some research and security detail while he was seeing Mia, knowing she was in trouble. Unfortunately, Mia’s situation was dire, and it didn’t end well… for any of us.
“Cheers to that.” Holding my glass up, Lucy meets me in the middle. I turn my head slightly to Eli’s watchful eyes, knowing he doesn’t share the sentiment.
Jackson met us in the lobby, and after checking in and dropping our stuff in the rooms, the guys went one way, and we went another. I was worried about being here with Eli and if it would be hard to resist himin this environment. There’s something about Vegas and losing your inhibitions, that’s for sure. But so far, we haven’t had a moment alone or an opportunity for funny business. Hopefully it stays that way.
Seeing my brother again was bittersweet. I’ve missed him, but the shell of himself he’s become is disheartening. It’s healthy for Jackson to spend time with his friends and get out of his head for a while. I couldn’t imagine being stuck in a continual state of dread like he’s been. I’m glad they’re doing something exhilarating today and racing cars around a track—anything to free him from the constant pressure he’s facing.
In the meantime, the girls and I are shopping. And when I say shopping, I mean hanging out like old times, gossiping, griping, and drinking. I didn’t know how much this was needed until now. With Lily and Sebastian joined at the hip, it’s a little more difficult these days. Not that I’m complaining—okay, maybe a little—but if Lily’s happy, and anyone with half a brain can see that she is, then I’m happy.
“Cici, you and I have something else in common. Did Lily tell you that my parents suck too? Seriously, if my mom were here right now, all she’d be doing is harping on me about my order, so much that I probably would have ordered the salad just to make her stop. What’s the deal with yours?” Lucy says in between bites of her fettuccini Alfredo.
Why her mom would be harping is beyond me. I’ve gotten to know Lucy while I’ve been back and adore her. She’s perfectly suited to be Lily’sbackupBFF, and I’ve internally given my approval, adding her to our circle. There’s only one other friend of Lily’s I’m waiting to meet because she’s so busy with her kids.
They’re not for everyone. Children, I mean. The thing is… okay, I’ll admit it: They’re not for me. But now that I’ve thought about it, I’m excited for Lily. I’ll be the cool aunt who spoils them and happily sends them home. Only when they’re old enough to appreciate me as someone who gives it to ’em straight. Someone who doesn’t coddle them or sugarcoat everything. They will love their Aunt Cici, and I will love them right back. A picture forms in my head of us singing at the top of our lungs and dancing on beds like Julia Roberts in whatever movie that was. Then I’ll bring them back to their mom and be childless and carefree once more.
“First, your mom is crazy. Youdo notneed to watch what you eat. Your figure is phenomenal. But fuck our moms, right? As far as my parents go, they’re tough in a disapproving sort of way. They weren’t terrible growing up. In fact, they were great, but they became a nightmare when I was old enough to think for myself and they disagreed with those thoughts. They didn’t support me so much. Long story short, we haven’t spoken in over a year, and it sucks.”
“What happened to make you stop talking?” Lucy asks, genuinely interested, while Lily listens to her two besties learn more about each other.
“Well, I didn’t enjoy working for my parents during high school, and then in college I realized it wasn’t just my parents—it was the business itself. I flat-out don’t like property management. When I told them I wanted to do something else, they were mad and felt like I didn’t appreciate what they’d worked their whole lives to pass on to us. I tried to convince them I was appreciative, but they didn’t view it that way and took my decision to go into real estate as a slight to them. They said that since I didn’t want to work in the family business, I didn’t deserve any of its benefits and cut me off from their support. Well, joke’s on them, because not only am I taking care of myself, but I’m doing something I love.”
Lucy holds her glass up, followed by Lily and me, raising ours to meet it. “Cheers,” we all say simultaneously before taking another drink of champagne, ending in giggles. This has been the best day ever. The only thing that would make it better is if Poppy were here. Then we could bring all our girlies together. I can’t wait to introduce her to everyone; hopefully she visits before I leave.
“Amen, sister. That’s exactly how I feel. My parents wanted me to marry someone they‘deemed worthy,’ but everyone they deemed worthy was a certifiable asshole who’d either beat their wife or cheat on them. So fuck them. We know what’s best for us. We get to choose. We’re the only ones who make our life choices. Who’s with me?” Lucy’s funny and sooo my type of girl. All right, we might be a bit tipsy… or drunk—whatever you want to call it.
“Hear, hear! I’m the only one who gets to tell me what to do!” I clink my glass with Lucy’s while Lily cowers next to us. “Come on, Lily. Toast to being a badass bitch,” I encourage.
“What if I don’t want to be a badass b? I mean, yeah, we’re talking about parents here, but I can’t relate to that. I’ve had my taste of independence. Is it bad that Ienjoydepending on Sebastian now? It’s sort of… nice.”
Lucy and I look at each other for a second and burst out laughing. Only the two of us would ever understand Lily. We know how Sebastian and Lily work, and it happens to be fricking adorable. I’m not sure how those two found each other, but fate must have stepped in.
“Lily, you’re precious, and I fully support your übersubmissive, kinky lifestyle if that’s what floats your boat. But if a man tried to control my life, I’d kick him in the nuts right before I kicked him to the curb. That doesn’t mean I won’t continue indulging in your stories and enjoy living vicariously through you,” I tease.
“You wouldn’t have to live vicariously through me if you gave in to a certain someone…,” she says suggestively.
“Ohhh, that’s right,” Lucy interjects, having heard some of the details from Lily already. “Why aren’t you and Eli a thing yet? Wait. Before you answer that, did Lily tell you I had the hots for him way back when? Like, I couldn’t even make eye contact with him, I was so infatuated with the man. Then Justin showed up one day, and I waslike, Eli who?” She cracks up. “Okay, now you can answer. What’s the deal between you two?”
