Page 38 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

And, of course, there’s Cassidy.

I’ve thought about her every single day since the last time I saw her, and I’ve been restlessly waiting for the day that I get to see her again. Finally, it’s today, and my nerves are through the damn roof.

It seems like Jackson is set on acting like Las Vegas didn’t happen, and I can never tell what’s actually going on inside Tyler’s head under all his jokes. But I’m hooked on Cassidy in a different way than they are.

I’ve been in love with her for years. Now, we’ll be stuck in the same place together for a whole week.

Maybe something will happen. Maybe something won’t.

I’m just going to be open-minded with no expectations.

Or I’ll try to.

“Finally. I’m starving,” Tyler mutters once I join him and Jackson in the lobby after taking a shower and getting dressed for the welcome dinner.

“Ready?” I ask them.

I don’t even have to specify what we’re ready for.

“Behave,” Jackson warns us. “We’re here for Ryan. Not for Cassidy.”

Tyler rolls his eyes but nods.

I know Jackson won’t budge until I nod, so I do it just to satisfy him. I’m not surprised that he’s going to be a hard ass about this, but he should watch how gruff he acts around Cassidy. That could draw Ryan’s attention too.

“I know we had a good time,” Jackson says, keeping his voice low as strangers walk past us. “But we have to be responsible now. Can we all be responsible?”

“Such a buzzkill,” Tyler mutters.

Jackson narrows his eyes. “I’m not fucking around, Ty. Vegas was a mistake. The sooner you get that into your head, the better.”

“We got it,” I assure Jackson. I’m probably listening as much as Tyler, but I don’t want Jackson to lose his damn mind before we even get to dinner.

Jackson huffs and shakes his head at us. “Ryan has been our friend forever. Remember that.”

I share a brief look with Tyler, the amusement fading from his face. I don’t want to lose Ryan as a friend.

Him, Jackson, and Tyler are the only family I truly know. Without them, I have no one.

I shouldn’t play around so much, but that’s one of the many things that’s easier said than done.

Together, the three of us walk into one of the resort’s fine dining restaurants, the smell of spices lingering in the air.

Ryan waves us over from a long table where the rest of the wedding party is also seated.

It takes me a second to see Cassidy on the left side of the table. Her eyes lock with mine for a second before she busies herself with drinking her glass of water.

I figured things would be kind of awkward at first.

Ryan gets to his feet once we approach and embraces us, patting our backs. “Glad you guys made it.”

“This place is awesome,” Tyler tells him.

“Just wait until you see the pool,” Ryan replies before motioning for us to sit down.

There are empty seats scattered around the table. Two are on either side of Cassidy, and one is directly in front of her.

Jackson sits across from her, and Tyler and I flank her.