Page 35 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

“You don’t have an ounce of fear in your body, huh?” Britney says.

I smirk and shake my head. “I do. I just don’t let it control me.”

Just like what my dad taught me.

“Badass,” Ashton replies before bumping his fist against mine. “That kid is going to remember you for the rest of his life.”

Nerves hit me whenever I have to save anyone, but I really get a dose of adrenaline when it comes to saving kids. They’re often too scared to move. Some of them don’t trust us and try to pull away.

The situation becomes that much more intense, and I’m just glad this one worked out fine.

I’ve dealt with awful moments while in this line of work. Things I still see in nightmares. But a lot of good things have happened too.

Tonight was a good night. A house was lost, but a family was saved.

I take a much needed shower when we get back to the station, finally calming down from the high. Nothing feels as good as saving people. Being the difference between life and death is the most exhilarating feeling ever.

It’s hard to explain, but I understand why my dad was in the Army for so long. Until he couldn’t be any longer.

I towel off and get dressed, heading back to the dorm to rest before the next call. My phone buzzes on the bed where I left it, Ryan’s name popping up on the screen.

I pause for a moment, guilt hitting me like a punch to the stomach. Every time I think about Ryan, I think about how I betrayed our agreement. He trusted me not to mess with his sister, and I still did it.

Multiple times.

I rub the back of my neck as I grab my phone to check the message.

Looking forward to seeing you guys next week. Welcome dinner is at 6pm!

Not only will I be seeing him again in just a week, I’ll also be seeing Cassidy too.

I’ve had to stop myself from reaching out to her more than once. It’s ridiculous. I should be able to control my desires more than that, but I’m acting like a teenager with a school crush stuck on summer break.

I don’t need to get involved with Cassidy like I did in Las Vegas, and I hope that Tyler and Marcus are smart enough to control themselves too. Only trouble will come from messing around with her, and we should be focusing more on our best friend getting married than trying to sleep with his sister.

It’s just…wrong.

Will be there. Looking forward to it.

I fire off the message before tossing my phone onto the end table and collapsing on the bed. My arms fold behind my head as I stare up at the ceiling, wishing my dreams were safe from her.

I’m just not that lucky, though.

Chapter thirteen

Chapter 13: Cassidy

Sunshine and sparkling blue water greet me as soon as I arrive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

My body aches from sitting on the plane for so long or maybe it’s one of the many annoying pregnancy symptoms that I’ve been suffering through lately. My purse is full of ginger chews to keep myself from vomiting in every public place I’m in, and I feel like I’m borderline narcoleptic at this point because I’m so exhausted all the time.

But this week isn’t about me and my secrets.

It’s about my brother and my best friend getting married, and I’m determined to be a maid of honor first and a terrified pregnant woman second.

I’m in Mexico a few days earlier than the rest of the wedding guests, aside from Ryan and Sarah, so that I can get a jumpstart on all the things that I need to do. Not only do I have to make sure everything is ready and prepared for the ceremony and the reception, but I also have to make sure that this entire week of festivities and events goes well too.

“This is so beautiful!” Sarah squeals as she rushes across the large lobby of the luxury resort I picked out. She nearly slams into me, her arms wrapping around my neck tightly. “It’s perfect. How did you find the most perfect place?”