Page 7 of Vegas with my Brother’s Best Friends

It took me years to get as good as I am now, and I had moments of struggle. Times when I didn’t feel good enough. Mistakes that I made. Uncertainties that plagued my mind.

“He’s really talented,” Jackson adds from beside me before holding up his left arm, showing off the flames that surround a fire axe. “He did this piece for me.”

Cassidy reaches out to take Jackson’s hand, extending his arm across the table so that she can admire my work. “This is amazing. The level of detail is incredible.”

A flicker of pride fills my chest as she traces the flames with her fingertips. “Thank you. Do you have any tattoos?”

Cassidy releases Jackson and shakes her head with a sheepish smile. “I want one, but I’ve been too nervous to even step foot in a tattoo shop.”

“Need someone to hold your hand?” Tyler asks her with a playful twinkle in his eyes.

Cassidy rolls her eyes at him. “No…”

“Says the one who almost fainted when he got a flu shot,” Jackson scoffs.

Tyler’s face reddens a bit. “I already wasn’t feeling well that day. I told you that.”

“That was the same excuse he used when he almost threw up on Katie Palmer’s shoes while trying to ask her out in the seventh grade,” I add, my voice shaking in amusement.

Tyler waves his hands, trying to get us to shut up. “Okay, okay! We were talking about tattoos. Not my top ten embarrassing moments.”

Cassidy rubs his arm. “It’s okay. No judgment here.”

When she cracks a smile, Jackson and I laugh, making Tyler huff in annoyance. If there’s a chance to mess with each other, we’re going to take it.

“Anyway, if you find the courage, I’ll do your first tattoo for free,” I offer Cassidy before showing off my sleeves. “I promise I’ll do a good job.”

Cassidy takes my right hand and turns my arm a little. “You’re seriously good, Marcus. Is that a swan?”

I glance at the swan that’s on the side of my upper arm. “I like swans. They symbolize love.”

Her face softens. “Really?”

I nod, my skin warming from her gentle touch. “They mate for life. I think that’s beautiful.”

“That is beautiful,” Cassidy agrees, lightly tracing the wings with her fingertips. Her expression turns bittersweet, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking about Derek right now.

Does part of her still love him even after he hurt her?

Unease twists in my stomach as I gaze at her, wondering if she has ever thought about me as anything more than her brother’s friend. It’s a luxury that I don’t deserve and shouldn’t selfishly want, but it’s Cassidy. No other woman has made me feel this way.

I’ve loved her since I was sixteen. I’m twenty-eight now.

That’s more than a decade of loving someone who I can’t have.

Who I won’t let myself have.

She doesn’t deserve damaged goods.

“Ryan seems really happy with Sarah,” Jackson comments once she releases me and we all go back to eating.

“They’re perfect together,” Cassidy says. “They deserve the best wedding ever.”

“It must be stressful handling all the maid of honor duties,” I reply, passing her a sympathetic look.

Cassidy lets out a slow exhale as she leans back against the seat. She adjusts one of her thin straps, drawing my eyes down to the smooth skin her dress exposes. “It is, but I love them both. I’m more than happy to do this for them.”

“You did throw the best parties back in the day,” Tyler says with a cheeky grin. “I will never forget the graduation party you threw for us and Ryan.”