Page 6 of Until the End

I shake my head at her cheekiness while I grab my suitcase from the trunk. Luckily, I’d planned to stay at a hotel near the venue after the wedding. Otherwise, we’d have needed to go on an emergency supply run.

We’ll still need to grab some stuff for Ginny, but she can wear my clothes for the time being. It might help disguise her a bit while we’re in town.

We hurry into the room before Ginny can be spotted. Her body deflates when I slide the deadbolt into the lock. She looks on the verge of collapsing. She’s probably exhausted after the mountain of stress she’s been under.

“How about you get changed into some of my clothes, and I’ll run out for supplies? We can chill out in the hotel tonight and reassess everything in the morning.”

Ginny plonks herself onto the bed. “That sounds perfect.”

I set my suitcase on the stand by the entertainment center and grab out some clothes. The slightly vintage room has blue-and-white beach vibes. The art on the walls is beach-themed, and the crisp white bed linens look inviting. It’s not the cheapest-looking place I’ve ever seen, but it’s also not the Ritz. We figured no one would look for us at a cheap hotel on the coast when they’d expect Ginny to stay at a five-star place in the city.

Ginny takes the clothes from my outstretched arms and turns her back to me. “Can you help me with my zipper?”

My spit gets stuck in my throat. Ginny’s soft skin beckons me closer, and I have to force my thoughts away from the intimacy of this moment. I’m just her friend, helping her out of a goddamn wedding dress. Nothing weird about that. Not at all.

I grip the top of the dress, ignoring how much I want to press a kiss to her bare neck, and slide the zipper down her back. The metal separating is as loud as gunshots in the silent room.

Fuck, she’s not wearing a single thing under there, is she?

Turn away, you pervert.Stop ogling your best friend.

I twist around to stop looking at her half-undressed. She says a quietthank you, to which I can only grunt in response. Every single ounce of my control is going toward keeping my thoughts on mundane things. I refuse to let my brain run away with images of Ginny and me on a honeymoon where I get to find out if she’s truly naked under her dress.

The bathroom door snicks closed, and I let loose a long exhale. What a conundrum I’ve gotten myself into. After running my fingers through my hair and taking a minute to reorient myself, I quickly change out of my suit and into a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt.

I already feel more in control of myself.

Okay, new plan.

Keep all thoughts of sex, love, and relationships out of my head. Focus on what Ginny needs most—her best friend. Someone to support her and get her through this crisis. She doesn’t need me drooling over her or making this any more complicated.

The bathroom door opens, and Ginny comes out, looking stupidly gorgeous in my clothes.

Jesus, I’ve already failed at my new plan.Fuck.

Support. You are supporting your best friend. Get it together.

“What do you need?” I ask, getting my brain back on track.

“To not think for a while. And makeup remover.” Ginny cringes. “And underwear.”

Shit.

Fuck.

Damn it.

This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.

Chapter 4

Ginny

“Think this will work?” I walk out of the hotel bathroom wearing Carson’s T-shirt and basketball shorts. They both swallow me, and I look like a kid wearing her big brother’s clothes. I’ve added a hat and my glasses, which I never wear, to my ensemble. I think it’s the perfect way to hide in plain sight.

Carson put his foot down on buying me clean underwear last night, so we decided to just get the basics. He went out for food and toiletries while I fielded calls from my parents and Gia. I was worried they were going to be mad at me for ditching and leaving them to deal with the wedding guests. Instead, they were worried that I wasn’t okay and wanted to know how they could help. It took everything in me to say no to their offer of coming to the hotel.

It’s not a word I’ve used much in the last couple of years.

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