Page 33 of Casualties

Cassie’s dress is a floor-length mint green mermaid-cut dress that has thin straps, V-neckline, and a darted bodice.The material isn’t satin, but just as soft.The front is simple and elegant—it’s the back that makes it so bold.By back, I mean there is no back.The material is cut to just the top of her booty, and damn, it looks so good on her.She pairs the dress with gold leather four-inch strappy sandals.The red bottoms, by some guy named Christian, make them almost a thousand dollars.She looks amazing in the dress and heels, so why not?

My dress is obviously black.I decided to go with a floor-length dress as well, with small cap sleeves that drape over my shoulder like Belle’s gold dress from Beauty and the Beast.It’s an A-line, and the first layer is satin, the top layer tulle.The dress is nowhere near simple: the slit starts at the top of my thigh, and there’s a deep V-neck that would make the devil himself clench his cheeks.I pair it with four-inch black glitter open-toed pumps.I wasn’t trying to get the red bottoms, but Cass insisted that if she has to barf while spending almost a thousand dollars on shoes, then she is buying me a pair, too.I'm really excited for Jackson to see me in this dress, but am I wrong for also wanting Ace's reaction?

“What are you zoning out about?Hm?”Cassie gives me a sly wink as she hands over her black card to the salesgirl.I have my own credit card, but when we shop like this, which is rare, she refuses to let me pay.My parents are wealthy, but not the status of the Sinclairs.They are like the Rockefellers of Idaho.

“Oh, nothing.I told you Jackson is going to be at the event, and he's being forced to go with Tetherball Barbie.He told me he's excited to see me and asked me to save him a dance, which is sweet.”I smile at her, thinking about how nice he is.

“That great…so what’s the problem?You look conflicted.”

“Thinking back to what happened the other day at the burger restaurant and how crazy Morgan and Ace were, I’m sure if I dance with him, it won’t go over well.I get he has a bad reputation and I'm not trying to sound naïve, but I feel like he's different with me.I don’t want the boys to run him off…ya know?”She nods in understanding.The boys are insanely overprotective, and Ace’s overprotection is on steroids lately.

“I get it and will run interference as best I can, no matter how much disdain I have toward your brother at the moment.But I meant what I said about Ace, AC.He is not just overprotective, he's jealous.You are something he feels he can't have, because of your idiot brother.I agree, Morgan wouldn't be cool with the idea of you and him, but that’s something he needs to get over.”She looks off to the side, fidgeting as if there is something else she needs to tell me, but stops herself.I know deep in my soul something happened between her and Morgan, but if she isn’t ready to tell me, then I'll accept it.Now if I was Jordan, I would push and push until she finally caved, but that is not mine and Cass’s friendship, so I leave it alone.

It’s dark outside by the time the Uber drops us off in front of our dorm, and we head upstairs with our dresses and bags of shoes and accessories.I hope to get some sleep tonight, but with my constant thoughts of how tomorrow night will go, I don’t see that happening.

THIRTEEN

ACE

Friday afternoon, I head back to the apartment to start getting ready for this lame shit we have to go to.The only reason I didn’t put up more of a fight with my dad is because she'll be there.The whole friend crew will be, and that’s even better.If Ainsley wants to put on her Ice Princess persona, then at least I will have Morgan and Cass to distract me.

Morgan is already home.His elective was canceled for today, so he's almost ready.After getting out of the shower, I opt out of shaving.I like the maturity the light stubble gives, and the women at the club seem to enjoy it.Shit, now I realize since Ains has been in town, I haven’t been to Sanctuary Upstairs.No wonder I've been a pent-up moody asshole.I haven’t gotten laid in over a week.But…the thought of going to the club for pleasure feels dirty while I’m having all these conflicting feelings for her.Shaking my head at my reflection in the mirror, I get the overly priced putty out and work on my hair.

Before Denny, you would never catch me in a suit or tux.I only wore them when my parents forced me to, or when I went to prom.Now that we work for Denny and are active members of his club, we're used to the suit life.I can appreciate it more now that I am a little older and like the way I look—I can command a room wearing them.Women come running when they see the two of us dressed like CEOs.

I head downstairs to meet Morgan.Our tuxedos are almost identical, but seriously, how creative can you get with a black tux?Morgan is in the kitchen with a bottle of bourbon—and not just any bottle of bourbon.He has the expensive bottle we both went in on when we got paid from our first job.

“Damn dude, that kind of week?”I shake my head, grinning at him.This week has been stressful for both of us.

“You have no idea, bro.Classes, the job for Denny, and the shit I have going on with—” He stops abruptly..I have a funny feeling he was about to say Cassie.He thinks he can hide shit from me, but I see it.Hopefully between the two of us, I am better at hiding my shit.

“I get it.My week has been shit, too.Are you pouring a glass for me, too, or planning for me to watch you drink?”I nod to the bottle and bar cart we have our whiskey glasses on.We both drink our bourbon the same: three fingers on the rocks.

“Yeah, sorry, not sure where my head is lately.Let’s drink this then head out.The car should be here in ten minutes—I confirmed with your dad.”He moves his eyes away from his watch and pours me a drink.

“Will the girls be in the car, or are we picking them up?”I’m not sure where the car's first stop will be.

“Actually, your dad said Ainsley talked to our moms and asked if they could send another car for them and they’ll meet us there.Not sure what that is about, but it looks like it's just me and you.”Morgan shrugs his shoulders.I’m not sure why we would need two cars.Can she not handle a car ride with me?Whatever, at least I'll get to see her at the event.I get the alert that the car is here, so we down our drinks and head out to meet the driver.

The ride over is quiet as Morgan and I are both lost in thought.As we pull up to the event, I can already see the red carpet—as if we are all a bunch of celebrities at a movie premiere.These uppity assholes go all out for this; I'm pretty sure it's their biggest event of the year.It’s in a large coliseum-looking building with tall white pillars and a long set of stairs.I've been to this event before, and always compare the stairs to the set that Rocky jogged up in victory.

“I texted Ains.They're inside getting a drink.I forgot that these events don’t ID anyone.”His eyes roll so hard they look like they are rolling in the back of his head.I get his frustration.Cassie has been known to drink from time to time, but Ainsley never drank.Not that we would let her, but she never showed even a slight curiosity toward alcohol.I guess her attitude wasn’t the only thing to change over the summer.

We both walk up the red carpet and head inside once we give our names to the doorman.Morgan and I look around for the girls, but have no luck.There are so many different bars in this place, but I guess it makes sense with how long the guest list is.The guests at this event are too prissy to wait in line for a drink at the bar.

I finally spot two women whose profiles fit the girls.I tap Morgan, and lead him to the bar they're at.I clear my throat to get their attention.They both turn around and I stand in place, shocked.

What.The.Fuck.

It's not just me—Morgan's expression mirrors mine.At least now I know why they wanted their own car.Morgan and I would have lost our minds if we saw them before arriving.I start to say something, but Morgan beats me to it.

“What in the ever-loving fuck do you think you're wearing?”he asks in an angry, hushed tone.I nod in agreement, staring at the low-cut V-neckline of Ainsley’s dress.She takes a step forward to calm Morgan down and oh my God, the slit that shows her right leg goes up to the top of her thigh.It’s then that I realize Morgan isn’t looking at her—Cassie is his only focus.Ainsley notices too, and she huffs out a breath of relief when she realizes she may be off the hook with him.Newsflash, princess: he may not have noticed your dress, but I did.

“Morgan, what the hell?I can wear whatever I want to wear.”Cassie sways the length of her dress around, showing she doesn’t have a slit like Ainsley does.Morgan grabs her wrist and spins her around to see her back, and I can see why he would be freaking out—her entire backside is on display.The dress drapes to right above the crack in her ass.

The bartender clears his throat to break up the tension, then places the girls’ drinks down.They grab them as Morgan slides up behind Cass and whispers in her ear, so low only she can hear him.Ainsley concentrates on the glass of champagne to avoid the awkward standoff between Morgan and Cass.The moan that escapes her lips as she sips the Dom Pérignon makes my cock twitch with need.Fuck, how I wish those moans were for me.

I hold off on scolding her for the dress, because then I'd end up going off on her in front of her brother.The more those encounters happen in front of him, the more his suspicion will rise.No, for now, I order Morgan and I a bourbon and stare at the mysterious, gorgeous woman standing next to me.

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