Page 113 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

And no matter what happens with Cassidy, the guys and I should be there for each other too. I don’t know if anyone else has been through what we’ve been going through together.

“We should get off this stage and get ready for the reception,” Jackson says.

And the most important conversation of our lives.

Tyler and I nod in agreement before following him off the stage. We pause to say hello to a few people that we know, but we don’t chat for long. Our minds are elsewhere.

“What if we can’t find a good time during the reception?” Tyler asks, nervousness bleeding into his voice.

“We stop her before she can get into a cab,” Jackson replies. “We just can’t take our eyes off her for a minute.”

That certainly won’t be hard.

“We need to do the other thing first,” I remind them, prompting them to nod.

One risky conversation at a time.

Before we pass through the double doors to leave the room, I pause for a second and look over my shoulder, admiring Cassidy one more time as she musters a light laugh.

This trip has been hard for her. Life itself has kicked her while she has been down.

But if she gives us a chance to prove ourselves, we’ll make her the happiest person in the world.

We’ll show her what it feels like to truly be loved.

Chapter thirty-nine

Chapter 39: Cassidy

Pop and party hits blare through the DJ’s speakers as he plays songs from the playlist I made for the reception.

A group of people dance in front of the stage the resort set up in their event courtyard, string lights and palm trees surrounding everyone as the party kicks off. Sarah and Ryan changed into more comfortable clothes so that they can dance without ruining clothes worth thousands of dollars.

Other guests enjoy the open bar or delicious entrees from the resort’s kitchen as they sit at round tables scattered around the front of the courtyard. The rest of the space is filled by people standing with drinks in their hands as they watch the craziness happening on the dance floor or chat with each other.

The toasts ran a little long, but they were sweet, and I managed to hold myself together through both of them.

Night has already fallen, and I plan to leave in about an hour to head to the airport.

I’m pretty sure most people will be buzzed by then, so I doubt they’ll notice my disappearance.

As I roam around to check on everything, I catch sight of the guys again as they stand by the bar. Our eyes just can’t stop meeting, and Sarah’s words keep echoing in my head. She would want me to march over there right now and bare my heart and soul.

Every time we look at each other, the urge to do so pulls on me harder and harder.

But my fear is still stronger and keeps me at a distance.

Watching that beautiful wedding ceremony was almost torture because I want what Ryan and Sarah have so badly. I can see that happiness in the fantasies that play out in my head about the guys.

I just don’t think reality will be as generous.

Pain throbs deep in my chest as I slightly gravitate closer to move out of people’s way.

Marcus tilts his head a little as he peers at me, and his expression is nothing but encouraging. He wants me to come over.

Part of me does too.

I can’t trust myself.