Page 47 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes, your magic soda and crackers trick worked,” I reply as I stretch my arms over my head, grimacing as my body aches.

At least the nausea is gone. For now.

“Told you,” Jackson says before getting off my bed. He walks over to my glass balcony door and peers out at the ocean. “You have a better view than we do.”

“We do? You’re rooming with someone?”

“Tyler, Marcus, and I have this huge suite we’re sharing,” Jackson replies. “We live together, so it’s not a big deal sharing something again.”

I’m well aware that they’re good at sharing things.

“It doesn’t get tiring?” I ask as I slide out of bed and move to his side.

“Being with them all the time? Nah,” Jackson says, tucking his hands into the pockets of his swim trunks. “I’m used to it.”

“I love Sarah, but I’d probably strangle her if we lived together,” I admit with a sheepish laugh before opening the balcony door and stepping outside.

Jackson follows, the ocean breeze washing over us and blowing through our hair. “Really?”

“You’ve never seen my place before, but I’m all about organized chaos. I have things everywhere, but they’re still in their rightful place,” I explain.

“And Sarah is a neat freak or something?”

I laugh and shake my head. “No, she’s kind of the same way as me, but we would want all of our things in different places.”

“Wow, sounds like you’re completely incompatible.”

Amusement warms me as I bump my shoulder against his arm. “Thanks for tending to me. It was nice of you.”

“I don’t like seeing you so worn down like that,” Jackson replies as he angles his body toward me. “You’re shouldering a lot of pressure and responsibilities being their maid of honor.”

“Sarah would do it for me,” I tell him, my hand resting on the railing. “Everyone needs to stop worrying about me so much.”

“We can tell something is up,” Jackson says as he reaches out to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear. His fingertips graze my cheek, my skin immediately warming. “And we care about you.”

“Things have been a little stressful. What happened in Las Vegas kind of added on to all the pressure I was already feeling. And…” I trail off before I can go too far. I’m just not ready to bring up the baby yet.

I don’t know how to.

“And?”

My throat tightens as a surge of guilt and fear hits me. I want to hide in his arms and forget about everything that’s bothering me. I don’t want to face all of my problems head on.

Why can’t this be simpler? Why can’t I be in a normal, happy relationship like Sarah?

“Hey,” Jackson says, his voice softening. He cups my cheek as I rapidly blink my eyes. “Talk to me.”

I can’t. I just can’t.

“I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re not mad at me or anything,” I tell him, spilling partial truths instead of full ones.

Jackson frowns and pulls me against his chest, one hand resting on the back of my head. “I couldn’t ever be mad at you, Cass. I was just trying to keep my distance because I don’t trust myself around you.”

I wrap my arms around his built torso, my cheek resting against his strong chest. “I don’t trust myself around you guys either.”

Jackson sighs, his other hand rubbing my back. “What are we going to do all this week?”