221

I glanced over at the stage and scowled, my frustration growing. It was midnight, the night before Braxton’s wedding, and here I was, sitting with Lucas and Ryder at a club in Vegas. The usual pattern was that drunk and disillusioned Heather  men sought solace in the company of women, but no amount of alcohol could make me interested in the women around us. The mere thought of them made my stomach turn. It was clear from the way Lucas and Ryder were acting that they were just as miserable as I was.

“Honey, want to tell Ms. Kitty what’s going on?”

I didn’t even look up, just waved a hundred-dollar bill to get the woman to leave. Downing another shot, I growled, “Fuck.”

Ryder wasn’t handling his liquor well. He swayed and suddenly pointed at me, his finger shaking. “Should’ve told her. Maybe she could’ve helped.”

Lucas’s scowl was even deeper than mine. “We’re not talking about it.”

“How’s that working out? Anyone feeling better?” Ryder knocked a few empty glasses off the table, and a waitress quickly came to clean up. “Sorry.”

“I don’t feel better,” I barked, too angry to soften my tone. “I feel like a herd of bulls ran over me. Talking about it won’t change anything. Will it make me forget the last two weeks? Will it make me forget Margot so I can breathe normally again?”

“Enough,” Lucas slammed his hands down, making more drinks spill. “I’m going home.”

“Same. Jaxon’s mean when he’s drunk,” Ryder stood, only to fall back into his seat. “Sonofabitch, who moved the ground?”

Gregappeared, helping Ryder up. “Greghelp Mr. Ryder.”

Lucas dropped a generous amount of money, and I watched as the three of them stumbled out of the club. For a moment, I considered staying, but after seeing the chaos around us, I stood up and rushed to catch up. The only thing worse than being heartbroken over Margot was being heartbroken alone. At least Lucas and Ryder knew exactly what I was going through.

Outside, the street was crowded, but Gregmade room for us as he cleared a path. He got us into Lucas’s SUV and we pulled away. Before we even hit the traffic, Lucas was fiddling with his phone, squinting at the screen. I watched as he pulled out his glasses.

“Shit.”

Ryder and I both leaned in. When Lucas didn’t speak, I slapped his shoe. “What?”

He jabbed at his phone and then held it to his ear. “The wedding’s off. Constance’s tried calling a dozen times.”

Was Braxton making a move on Margot? Would she end up marrying him instead? My brain throbbed, heart sinking as the questions swirled.

Lucas switched the phone to speaker and we waited, holding our breath as it rang. It went to Constance’s voicemail, and for a moment, defeat hung in the air. We missed whatever she wanted to say. Then the phone lit up again, and Lucas answered quickly.

“Constance?”

“Lucas!” She sounded as drunk as Ryder. “I’ve been trying to call you for hours! Where are you?”

“Vegas. What’s going on?”

“Vegas?! No! You need to get back here right now!” She whispered, voice low. “Margot doesn’t know I’ve been calling you. She told me not to, but I’m a decade older than her. I do what I want. I needed to tell you that I was wrong.”

“What do you mean, wrong?” I cut in, ignoring the sharp look Lucas gave me.

“Jaxon? Hi! Nice work on Braxton’s face! I almost want to keep the wedding photos just for proof of those black eyes. Too bad Ryder left with you. Is he there? Hi, Ryder!”

“Constance, what do you mean? What’s going on?” Lucas gripped the phone harder, his voice tight.

“Braxton tricked me. Margot wasn’t kissing him. He wouldn’t let her go. He’s a cheating jerk. Margot would never do that to me, or you. You left her though. You made her cry. I shouldn’t tell you this, but I feel responsible. Maybe you should come back for my bullet-dodging party tomorrow.”

Her giggle made my stomach turn.

“Margot! Where are your clothes?”

My blood ran cold, then boiling hot. “Margot didn’t sleep with Braxton.”

“I gotta go. If she finds out I called you, she’ll kick my ass. Plus, she’s naked, and I think it’s starting to snow. Is it supposed to snow this early? I could’ve had a white wedding… Oh wow, I’m going to cry again. Bye.”

The line cut, leaving the car in heavy silence. We’d messed up.

“Gregtold you so.” Greghuffed from the front. “Gregtold Mr. Lucas. Did Mr. Lucas listen? No.”

“I got it, Gregor.” Lucas growled. “We need to get back.”

Ryder bent over, throwing up in his seat. “Maybe we can stop for a toothbrush.”

“Jesus.” I gagged and quickly rolled down the window. “Can he fly like that?”

“He’s going to have to.”