Page 44 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

Sarah hums in interest. “You don’t want to?”

I shake my head. “I’d much rather dance to old 2000s pop hits.”

Sarah squeals in excitement as I grab her hand and pull her into the impromptu dance party, the music thumping in my ears.

I need this distraction.

As long as I stay busy, maybe I won’t make any more trouble for myself.

Chapter sixteen

Chapter 16: Jackson

Sunlight glimmers off the rippling pool water as I float on my back, attempting to make myself relax.

You can only float if you’re relaxed.

I exhale slowly, closing my eyes behind my sunglasses. The rest of the wedding party laughs and drinks in and out of the pool, their voices surrounding me as I drift toward the middle. I’m not used to being in this sort of environment.

Hell, I’m not used to relaxing so much.

I work all the time, and I’m used to the grind of long shifts. Not snorkeling and swimming to my heart’s content.

I let my legs sink into the water as I turn myself upright, my arms fanning out around me to keep myself from sinking. My skin is hot to the touch from the blaring sun, but the pool water is nice and cool.

I wish I could swim around and enjoy it without my mind trailing where it shouldn’t.

My eyes sweep around the large pool area, moving over people lounging in chairs, sitting on the edge of the pool, and ordering drinks at the outdoor bar. Cassidy is nowhere in sight. I don’t think that I’ve seen her out here at all over the past two hours.

She has been acting so stiff lately. I guess I can’t blame her. I’ve been adjusting my behavior around her so that Ryan doesn’t suspect anything has happened between us.

But there’s just something off that I can’t put my finger on.

And why isn’t she here with everyone else?

I swim over to the nearest ladder where Becca and Kara are standing with drinks in their hands. “Where’s Cassidy?”

Becca shrugs. “I haven’t seen her.”

Kara glances around. “She might be in her room or something.”

From what I remember, Cassidy isn’t the type to nap. She’s usually go-go-go until she finally crashes at night, so why has she been MIA for multiple hours?

I grab my towel off one of the lounge chairs and dry myself off, water dripping off my red swim trunks. “Leave her alone. Don’t do anything stupid.”

I keep muttering orders to myself, but I still head straight to her room once I’m dried off. I only know her room number because I overheard her telling it to one of the other bridesmaids.

I shouldn’t even be here.

But I knock on her door regardless.

A few moments later, the door unlocks and slowly opens. Cassidy appears in the doorway, her skin looking paler than usual. A loose t-shirt hangs on her figure, almost covering the lounge shorts she has on underneath. She blinks at me slowly, her hand resting on her upper stomach.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, her voice sounding strained.

“Are you sick?”

Cassidy swallows and looks away from me, an unsteady exhale leaving her nose. “I might have food poisoning or something. I just don’t feel well.”