Page 5 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

“Sometimes that’s for the best,” Marcus adds.

Cassidy laughs a little. “I guess I can say that for my last relationship.”

She may smile and laugh, but I can hear the hitch of pain in her voice. Derek did a number on her, and he was just boasting to the others about how much of a bombshell his new girlfriend is.

What a jackass.

Marcus’ face softens. “What happened?”

“I’m curious about that too,” Jackson speaks up before knocking back a sip of whiskey.

Cassidy hesitates, but she bends under the pressure of our awaiting stares. We can help her more if she talks. “We were going to get married soon, but he called everything off. He said…”

Jackson frowns when she stops talking and drinks instead. “Said what?”

Cassidy sighs, staring down into her glass. “He didn’t think he would have the life he wanted if he settled down with me. He thought I wouldn’t be able to continue supporting myself with my freelance work, which would negatively affect him and his plans for the future. He thought I would be a liability.”

“What an ass,” I scoff as Jackson clenches his jaw and shakes his head. If he grips his glass any tighter, it’ll shatter.

“Ryan said you’ve been doing well with your work,” Marcus replies, gravitating closer to her other side.

“I am. A lot of businesses need graphic design work done, but he didn’t like the instability of freelance work. Some months are slower than others, but I always save enough from the really lucrative months to ride through the slow ones. I have a system,” Cassidy explains, the words rushing out of her.

“He’s selfish. You didn’t do anything wrong,” I assure her, not wanting her to feel like she has to scramble to defend herself.

It’s not like any of us love Derek.

“He is selfish,” Jackson grumbles. “I don’t know why Ryan picked him over any of us to be his best man.”

Cassidy glances between us. “I was kind of wondering that too. I know they grew really close during college when he moved away from you guys, but didn’t you all keep in contact?”

Marcus nods. “We did. Somewhat. Life got really busy for all of us. Ryan and Derek live in the same city too.”

“Still,” Jackson says. “All Derek knows how to do as a best man is shove drinks in Ryan’s hand and talk about himself. I’ve heard more about Derek’s new girlfriend than the bride.”

“He moved on fast, didn’t he?” Cassidy mutters with a plastic smile.

Okay, things are getting a little too serious and depressing. We came here to have fun, and I’m going to make sure that happens.

“You and I are moving to the dance floor,” I say as I place our drinks on the bar before taking her hand.

Her eyes widen. “You want to dance? With me?”

I lead her away from Jackson and Marcus, slipping into the crowd of writhing bodies as the bass pounds in my ears. “No one else, sweetheart!”

Cassidy stiffly shuffles in front of me once we find an open spot to dance. “I suck at dancing!”

Her voice just barely rises over the volume of the song.

“This isn’t a dance competition!” I remind her before taking her hands and encouraging her to twist her body. Once she follows my lead, I give her a playful twirl before pulling her close to me by her waist.

Cassidy grabs my shoulders to steady herself, eyes wide and cheeks flushed. Her hands remain on my shoulders as I move to the music, following my motions. Eventually, her body starts to react to the beat.

She sways with me, her hands sliding along my shoulders and up the back of my neck. Her eyes flutter shut as she lets go, tension fading from her muscles.

I smile as I keep my hands on her waist and lower back, helping her stick with the rhythm. It doesn’t take long for her to take over, her head tilting back as a smile forms on her lips.

“There you go,” I say, coaxing her closer to me.