Page 86 of One More Shot
If you two were just gonna buddy up you should’ve let us know. Saved us a bit of money on the hotel room.
Tell Eliott I said hi.
And ask her if I could please have my best man backnow because we’re running on a schedule and I didn’t account for Dane being halfway across town on the MORNING OF MY WEDDING.
‘Sounds like your groom needs you,’ I laugh as I roll back out of bed and start padding towards the bathroom. ‘You should probably go and meet up with him before he has an aneurysm.’
‘Yeah, yeah,’ Dane chuckles, thumbs already moving at lightning speed to type out a reply.
‘Think he’s getting cold feet?’ I call from the bathroom.
‘No way,’ Dane scoffs. I can hear the sound of him rustling around for his clothes. ‘Those two were made for each other. He’s just excited. Probably wants to go over his speech a couple times too.’
The bathroom door creaks open and Dane’s still-sleepy face appears in the crack. ‘Do you need any help carrying anything back to the villa?’
‘I’m good.’ It had been a flimsy excuse last night, and it’s even flimsier in the warm light of day. ‘You go. I’ll see you in a couple hours.’
I take a step towards the shower, but Dane is quicker. His hand wraps around my wrist and tugs me towards him, and then his lips are on mine before I even have the chance to think about protesting.
Not that I want to.
I could easily get used to this.
Waking up with Dane curled around me, his dick pressing into the curve of my lower back. Soft kisses stolen beneath the blankets. Warm, wandering hands reverently exploring every inch of my body.
I coulddefinitelyget used to this.
And that’s dangerous.
Because it’s only a matter of time before this all comes crashing down on me and Dane does what Dane always does and moves on to the next woman.
It’s stupid of me, but I ignore the warning bells ringing in my mind and let myself cling onto this version of Dane. The one who apparently doesn’t care about my morning breath as he swipes his tongue along my bottom lip to deepen our kiss.
The one holding my face so gently, you’d swear I was the most precious thing in the world to him.
Like he loves me the way I’m pretty sure I love him.
Chapter Twenty-SevenDANE
There’s something about seeing your best friend put on the tuxedo he’s about to marry your sister in that makes time stand still.
My unused bedroom has been turned into the unofficial groom’s suite for the day and myself and the other three groomsmen all crowd around Cash as he puts the finishing touches on his outfit. As I watch him adjust his tie in front of the mirror, my mind starts to flood with memories of the last two and a half decades of our lives.
Cash is in every single one of my core memories, grinning by my side; a shoulder to cry on when I’ve needed him, an endlessly supportive hand ready to pull me up. He’s been a brother in everything but name for the last twenty years and, after today, he’ll officially become family.
Cash straightens his bow tie and the weight of the moment settles around the room.
‘Looking good, man,’ Finn says with a wide grin.
‘Groom of the year,’ James says, lifting his champagne glass in toast.
Everyone murmurs in agreement, and I clear my throat. I hadn’t been expecting the wave of emotion I’m currently feeling, but I lean into it and clap Cash on the shoulder, pulling him in for a one-armed hug.
‘I’m so proud of you, man,’ I say, my vision blurring ever so slightly as I stare at our reflections in the mirror. ‘There’s no one I’d trust more with my sister’s heart than you. You’re an inspiration to everyone in this room.’
I pause and swallow a sudden lump in my throat as I think about the ways Cash makes it his sole mission on Earth to love on my sister. She’s never shed so much as a single tear when it comes to Cash and I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that he’ll dedicate the rest of his life to making her even happier than he already does. And what more could you want for your little sister?
‘You give me hope,’ I continue with a slightly watery smile. ‘One day, maybe I’ll finally find love like this. But until then…’ I reach for my glass of champagne and hold it high in the air. ‘To Cash and Bailey.’
