Page 53 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

“Where did you go?” I sigh as I place my hands on my waist, checking everywhere in my range of vision.

She’s nowhere to be found.

I do another slow lap around the party. Ryan, Derek, Sarah, and some other people in the wedding party are toasting marshmallows. Marcus and Jackson are heading back to the resort.

It’s just me.

I could head after Marcus and Jackson, but I don’t feel like going to bed just yet. Instead, I walk away from the party and head down the beach, roaming close to where the water rolls onto the sand.

The sound of the waves crashing is relaxing. I’m used to party noise, but sometimes it’s nice to find some peace and quiet.

Even if it doesn’t last very long.

I pause when I hear a faint sound ahead of me. Someone is crying.

I continue walking forward, finally able to make out a small shadow sitting on the sand with its head bowed. A familiar one at that.

“Cass?”

Chapter nineteen

Chapter 19: Cassidy

My head jerks up at the sound of Tyler’s voice.

An embarrassed flush crosses my cheeks as he peers down at me with a concerned frown. I didn’t expect anyone to walk this far down the beach.

“I…I was just…” I trail off as my throat grows tight.

I have no excuse for this. It’s exactly what it looks like.

Tyler sits down next to me, stretching his legs out in front of him. “Did Derek say something? Or Jackson?”

I sigh and shake my head, my thumbs brushing under my eyes to wipe away my tears. “Jackson was just reminding Derek that he has a new girlfriend.”

“I doubt he was doing it politely.”

A tingle of amusement stirs in my chest, but it’s no match for the heaviness that has already settled there.

“Derek deserved it,” I tell him. “Marcus reined Jackson in before he could say anything else.”

I like how protective Jackson is, but he’s starting to draw a little too much attention.

“Why are you out here crying, Cass?”

It would take me a whole hour to list every single reason. Some reasons I can’t even tell him. They’re all weighing down on me more and more with each passing day.

By the time the wedding is over, I’ll probably be crushed into dust.

“I’m just overwhelmed.”

“You’re going to have to give me more than that.”

I tuck my hair behind my ears as the ocean breeze washes over me, not sure what to say first. I do want to talk to him, but I have to watch every word that I say.

“I’ve said it before. I just have a lot of things to do as maid of honor.”

Tyler leans closer until his shoulder rests against mine. “There’s something else. You’re just not saying it.”