“She’s not my girlfriend,” I admit, shaking my head as I grab my phone from him. “We broke up two months ago.”
“Shit. That sucks,” Mack says, looking concerned.
Yeah, he really must be drunk.
“It’s fine. I mean, it’s not like we were going to get married and have a fuck-ton of kids or anything.”
Even though that’s what I want more than anything. Not with Britt, but with someone. Some day.
You need to find a person who can tolerate you first.
My gaze goes to the floor, trying not to go down that road.
Thinking about the things I’ll never have isn’t good. Especially when I drink. That’s how I end up a crying fucking mess. I donotwant these guys to see that. Ever.
Mack shakes his head, grabbing my phone again.
“Hey,” I say, reaching for it.
He leans into my space, holding the phone away from me.
“Fuck her,” he says, turning his face to mine. I smell the alcohol on his breath and it isn’t unpleasant. It stirs something deep inside me, and my gaze flashes to his parted lips.
His face is so close I could kiss him.
Those perfect, pouty lips beckon to be bitten, sucked, and kissed, but I know I can’t.
For starters, Mack is straight. He is straighter than a fucking ruler, and he is my brother’s best friend. He’s two years younger than me. He thinks I’mannoying.He’s only talking to me because of Austen and this wedding, and—
“Smile for the camera, Alex,” he says, his voice dark and thick.
He touches my chin with one finger while still holding his glass as he turns me to face the camera he’s holding up and away from us.
“I said say cheese, motherfucker,” he drawls, and then the flash blinds me. I blink away the spots, noticing he is texting.
The chime of the text goes through as he tosses the phone in my lap, just as someone shouts, “We’re here!”
I shove my phone in my pocket, not worried about what he said. He’s nicer when he’s drunk. We follow the guys off the bus, and I smile wide when I see the Vegas sign.
There’s a ton of people and several photographers taking photos. I make my way over to one while Austen and the guys all hang out in the unofficial line for the Vegas sign with their drinks.
“Alright, boys, line up!” I say once it’s our turn, my mask perfectly back in place.
I had a moment of weakness. That’s all. It won’t happen again.
Austen throws his arm around Mack, glancing down at Cameron who’s at the other end. I wonder if he even realizes how much he’s into him. Probably not. My brother might have graduated at the top of his class and is pursuing a job in tech, but when it comes to relationships, flirting, and sex, he’s hopeless. I am still not entirely sure how he hooked Savannah in the first place,but he must have some game; otherwise, he wouldn’t be getting married, right?
Still, my gaydar never lies, but my brother’s sex life is not my business. Just like mine isn’t his.
I don’t talk about my sexuality with the guys, but I haven’t hidden it either. My brother’s pretty oblivious to shit unless it’s right in front of his face, hitting him between the eyes, so it’s possible he has no idea I’m into guys.
Andre grabs Paul, who stumbles into his grasp, with Hudson and Trey on the other end.
Mack motions for me to take my spot in the middle between him and Andre.
I settle next to them, and Mack throws his arm around my shoulders. He flashes me a heated gaze, muttering, “Don’t get any fucking ideas, Ally Cat.”
I’m shocked at him calling me by my high school hockey nickname. I’d gotten it because Coach bitched at me for “being everywhere but where I was supposed to be.”
