AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“We’re going to Vegas! Get up or you’re missing B and me getting married!” she shouts, excitement radiating throughout the small space.
Suddenly, I’m wide awake. “You and B are getting married today?” Sitting up, I kick my legs over the side of my bed. Bordeaux yanks Flynn and Miller out of their respective beds and pours us all champagne. “When was this decided?” I ask Isla before pulling her in for a hug.
She shrugs, laughing. “We were going to do something big, but we were lying in bed last night, and B said he didn’t want to wait any longer to marry me.” Isla looks over to the guys, who are downing champagne. It can’t be later than nine or ten in the morning. My friends have no chill. “We thought it would be a fun distraction. You guys have worked so hard, and we have a week off, so why not go for a couple of days and celebrate not only us getting married with Elvis officiating but also the fact that you guys sold-out your tour.” She smiles and we stand, hugging again. Isla’s never been much of a hugger, but when she became my friend, she became a hugger by default.
It’s the early afternoon, and we’ve landed in Vegas and unpacked at the hotel B and Isla booked us at the very last minute. The guys, me and Isla, Spence, Kade, and the rest of our security team have all traveled by jet. Veronica is meeting us out here, along with Grandma Frankie and Isla and Veronica’s parents. I’m excited to see everyone together, but I’m most excited to see two of my best friends get married. They were made for each other, and it’s about damn time.
There’s a soft knock on my hotel room door—they booked us all individual rooms on the same floor—and when I look through the peephole, I realize it’s Spence. The two of us didn’t get to talk much on the jet, considering we were all still dying over the soon-to-be bride and groom—playing silly wedding reception games while being thirty thousand feet in the air. I had a feeling he would come to my room after we were both settled.
“Hi,” I say, opening the door wide for him and stepping back so he can cross into the room.
Spence is wearing black jeans and a white T-shirt, paired with black-and-white high-top Converse. He looks good no matter what he wears. And I’m still trying to process all my feelings since that insanely hot kiss we shared last night. My brain was swirling with so many emotions—most of them fucking pure bliss—but for those few moments our lips were locked together, I felt like things had finally fallen into place.
“Hey, you.” Spence shuts the door and pulls me into his arms. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to talk much after last night.” He smiles, his green eyes light. “And I’m also sorry for sort of, kind of ambushing you in front of everyone. I admit, I was fucking pissed seeing Kade’s hands on you, the two of you walking out of your dressing room together… But I should have done that a long time ago.”
Spence was waiting for me out by my bus after the meet and greet, but it was close to midnight. He kissed me goodnight, and we agreed we would talk about what our kiss means going forward, but we would do it after we got some sleep. After a show, I’m on cloud nine, hyped and ready for anything. After a meet and greet, though, I feel like my brain is going to explode. There’s so much talking and taking photos and smiling… It’s a lot.
I take his hand and lead him to my bed, and we both sit down. “I’ve been waiting for you to do that for as long as I can remember,” I tell him honestly, because I have. Despite my roller-coaster feelings toward Kade, Spence is the man I want. He’s always been my first option, and as fucked up as that may be, I can’t help what my heart knows it wants.
“I know there’s something between us, Dec. I’ve known that forever. But I’ve tried to run away from it, quite fucking literally. I left the city to travel and get as far away from you as I could because I knew I’d never have you. After you and Kade got together, I knew I didn’t have a chance, that I had missed the opportunity to call you mine.” He runs his hand over his face, where blond hair is growing back in. The bottom of his shirt rises up just enough for me to see those delicious V-lines, and my stomach swoons.
“What are the rules for dating your brother’s ex?” I ask him, a small smile playing on my lips. He runs his hand over to my leg and rests it there, and my skin immediately heats under his touch. “For the record, I’ve wanted this since we were fourteen too, you know.”
Spence’s eyes narrow at me, and he shakes his head. “Why’d you agree to date my brother, then?” He smiles, and I realize this is the first time the two of us are actually acknowledging the fact that Kade and I were once a thing. Sure, we’ve spoken briefly about it. We skirted around it when I dated Kade, making our friendship work although the dynamics were different. But right now, in this moment, it’s the first time we’re talking about why I dated his brother. And suddenly, I feel lightheaded.
Because I know the answer. But do I really want to admit that to Spence?
***
21
***
SPENCE
I palm her thigh as she bites down on her bottom lip, diverting her gaze from mine. She does that when she’s nervous. She looks up at me from under her lashes and sucks in a deep breath of air.
“It’s not that serious, Dec. I was just kidding. You and Kade had something special.” I almost throw up when I say the words, but I don’t want to seem like some prick who can’t leave the past alone.
She collapses backward on the bed and puffs out the breath she’s been holding.“I’m going to sound like the world’s biggest asshole if I’m honest with you.”
I get lost in her eyes as I lie down and prop myself up on my arm. She’s got the prettiest, darkest eyes with honey-colored hues circling her irises. I’ve always loved those eyes of hers. Mysterious but light. Exactly like her.
When I don’t reply, because I’m too busy staring at her, she elaborates.
“I couldn’t have you, Spence. And you were out all the time with different girls. Having fun. Living life. And I wanted you, and you were my best friend. When Kade showed he was interested in me and I knew you weren’t, I figured he was the next best thing.” She groans without even giving me a chance to think, let alone respond. “See? Asshole. Such an asshole.”
When I finally process Declan’s words, it’s my turn to feel like an ass. “Before you dated Kade, I knew there was something between us, but I was too much of a fucking coward to make a move. You were the only girl I had a deep relationship with. There was just always something different about you, and I was fucking terrified to lose that or fuck things up with you.”
We can both take the blame. Share it.
“I loved Kade,” she clarifies, and even though I knew she did back then, it still stings to hear it now. “I want to make that clear. I loved him. After he and I started dating and got closer, I did fall in love with him too.” She rolls onto her side to face me. Sadness blooms in her eyes, and I wipe a tear as it falls down her cheek. “I might be strong now, but when he left… and you left… it damn near killed me.”
My chest aches and tightens. I hate myself for what I did, but I can’t take it back now. And she can’t find out.
Before I can say anything, she’s on me, straddling me, and her mouth finds mine effortlessly. Fuck me, this woman is perfect. I reach around her and grip her ass, pulling her harder into me. I’m hard instantly, and I try to adjust myself in my pants, but Declan is pulling my zipper down and unbuttoning my jeans.
“Dec, we don’t have to do this right now.” I pull away from her for only a second before her lips are latched on to mine again. She bites my bottom lip softly before pulling away.
