“See? All the more reason for you to come along. All you’ll have to pay for is what we do when we’re out. Or any spa services you might want from the hotel. The airfare is covered, the room is covered, and room service is covered.”
“Jessica, I don’t know.”
“Please, Andrea? I’ll owe you big time.”
“Trust me, you won’t be able to cash in that favor.”
“Then let’s make it four smaller favors. One for each day we’re there,” she said.
I sighed and shook my head before a smile slid across my cheeks.
“When are we leaving?” I asked.
“Oh my gosh! Thank you, thank you, thank you. We’re going to have so much fun. The flight leaves tomorrow at seven in the morning. I’ll be there with Lucas around five or so. It’s a red eye flight straight in, first class, no stops.”
“First class. Fancy.”
“The Wilder brothers don’t do it any other way,” she said.
“You look excited.”
“I am excited. And even more excited that you’ll be coming with me. We’re going to have our own rooms. Well, Lucas and I will have our own room. And you’ll have your own room at the Mandarin Oriental.”
“Is that, like, a nice hotel or something?”
“Andrea, you have no idea. It’s one of the best hotels in Vegas. And Lucas has booked out the top floor rooms for all of us. You’ll have your own space, an incredible view, access to room service—which will bring you drinks—and a jet tub you can sprawl out in that overlooks the strip of Vegas.”
“Drinks will be brought to me? I’m in,” I said, grinning.
“Great. Now, we need to go get you packed. Come on.”
Seeing how excited Jessica was about this trip made me excited about it. I didn’t know how I felt about running around Vegas for a long weekend but seeing her happy was nice. I hadn’t seen her light up like this since her parents left for Oregon. I knew she was lonely, and maybe this was the start of her finding her own family in Charleston she could rely on.
But she was right.
I did need a vacation.
I phoned in a favor from one of the volunteer daycare women. I needed her to hold down the fort for the Thursday and Friday that I’d be gone. She was more than happy to do it and I talked her through some of the special activities going on that weekend, and she even offered to open the place up for temporary hours on Sunday in case the kids needed somewhere to go after church services were done. I thanked her profusely and worked it into my own budget to pay her a little something once I got back home. Then, I started packing.
“So, what's the plan for Vegas? A lot of going out and drinking?” I asked.
“Well, I know you don’t really like that scene, so you don’t have to. But, it might help you find someone to spend your time with.”
“Ah, bringing a boy back to my own room. I feel so grown up.”
She laughed. “You should, I mean you never do that. Not since the bad scary ex, right?”
She had a point. “Yeah I guess. I mean most girls get over that kind of thing with time, but I was never really shown how. My mother died when I was sixteen and my father—well, you know that story.”
“Yep. Your father’s a piece of shit that deserves to die in a fire.”
“Anyway,” I said, giggling, “I’ll go out with you one night. One night of guaranteed fun, since I know you’re going to want to go out that first night we’re there.”
“Oh, I really will. It’s been months since I’ve had a genuine night out like this. It’s going to be great. Can I help you pick out your outfits?”
“I figured you’d do that without asking,” I said.
Jessica and I started for my apartment and the second we stepped in, she raided my closet. She tossed clothes onto my bed and started kicking out shoes. My most uncomfortable shoes, actually. Hangers spilled to the floor as I sat in a chair in the corner, watching her practically destroy my room.
“Oh, this one has to go with us. This one brings out your eyes.”
“Those shoes will match this outfit and this one.”
“Oh! This will be comfortable and cute for the plane ride over. Or back. Whichever suits you.”
“Do you have any nice underwear? Maybe a lacy bra? If we get you lucky, you need to be ready.”
“I’m not getting lucky,” I said.
“Just humor me. You're getting lucky.”
“Okay, Jessica. I’m addressing this now.”
She stopped her movements and turned to me as she drowned in the clothes she had poured onto my floor.
“I’m not getting lucky. I’m not sleeping with anyone, I’m not finding myself a man, and I’m not getting married.”
She threw her head back and laughed before she tossed me a dress.
“Definitely pack that one. Red is so your color,” she said.
“I’m serious. Don’t get me all drunk then play one of those pranks where you marry me off to a homeless man with three teeth,” I said.
“While that would be a great spectacle, the point of this trip isn’t to piss you off,” she said, giggling.
“Good.”
“But holy mackerel, the look on your face if you woke up married? I’d pay every single ounce of cash out of my savings account to see that.”
“And how much money would that be?”
“Two thousand dollars.”
“Well, it’s two thousand dollars you can keep to yourself because none of that is happening.”
“But you have this wonderful room all to yourself, Andrea. What if I ordered you a man?”
“Are you even hearing yourself? You just offered to rent me a gigolo for the night.”
“You’re too wound up all the time. And I get it. That’s your thing. But ever since Lucas came into my world, it’s been so much better. I’m freer and looser.”
“Because he bends you at so many angles,” I said.
“And we could find you someone who bends you at angles, too.”
“That sounds like it hurts. I think I’ll pass.”
“Well, pass while you pack. I’m picking out your clothes, however I’m not folding them up for you.”
“But you are cleaning up this mess you made once I’m done packing, because I sure as hell am not doing it.”
“Fine, fine. But get over here and start picking out some things. The Jessica-approved outfits are over here in this general vicinity.”
She panned her hand around the left side of my room and I threw my head back to laugh. Oh, seeing her this excited all weekend would really be a treat. I’d have to take pictures and videos for Bianca. I started picking out a few things off the bed and the floor to fold up and pack. I settled them into my suitcase, then picked out some matching boots to go with everything. I didn’t want to prance around all weekend in heels. Jessica enjoyed them, but I only wore them when necessary. They were uncomfortable and hurt like hell. Not something I thought was a whole lot of fun.
“Oh, pack these,” she said.
I turned around just in time for a pair of black lacy panties to attach themselves to my face.
“Really? My lacy panties?” I asked.
“For someone who doesn’t get laid, you’ve got a very nice selection. Here, pack these as well.”
She tossed a matching bra my way and I groaned.
“Jessica, what did I just say?”
“What!? I’m trying to find some normal underwear in here, but all you’ve got is lacy and g-string and push-up stuff in here. You’re one tick away from admitting to me that you moonlight as a lady of the night,” she said.
She tossed a bright yellow pair of panties my way and I caught them in the air.
“Jessica, cut it out.”
“Andrea, what the hell are you doing with all this if you aren’t having sex?”
“A woman’s gotta feel beautiful at some point in time. I pick out pretty underwear and nice nightgowns.”
“Which yo
u’re packing, by the way. Those silky numbers with the matching robes? Perfect for a night in. Which I’ll do with you if you go out once with me.”
“Thanks. That’ll be fun,” I said.
“But this is Vegas, and what happens there, stays there. So, for the night I do have you out, we’re going all out, missy.”
“Great,” I said flatly.
“Trust me, you feel like this now, but you won’t once we get there. The Vegas lights and the sounds of laughter and the silky sheets of the room will switch your tune in a heartbeat.”
I had no idea if that was true or not. I’d practically never been anywhere. Vegas always sounded exciting on TV, mysterious and intoxicating. I hadn’t had a night where I couldn’t remember my name since college. My entire focus had been on the center. Not on myself, or having a good time. Jessica was kind of in the middle, she could go either way, but Bianca was the wild child of the three of us and it seemed without her Jess was going to take that title. This was going to be a hot mess.
“How do you know? Have you ever been to Vegas?”
“No, but that’s what Lucas told me. And I trust his judgment.”
“I’m sure you do,” I murmured.
“Now, come on. Get a move on it. I want to do dinner soon and you aren’t done packing. Want me to get your toiletries?”
“No. Because for all I know you’re going to slip some sex toy in there for me to find at the most inopportune time.”
“Like when the man you choose for the weekend gets up to pee?” she asked.
“No like when Helga, my German masseuse tells me to grab my robe or some shit.”
“Oh Helga,” she swooned.
“You are insane and downright disgusting. Now cut that shit out,” I said, giggling.
“And yet, you’re laughing! Good. Because for your first vacation, we’re going to make it a memorable one.”
I finished packing up my things and stuffed my toiletries into the side of my suitcase. I zipped it up and rolled it to the front door of my apartment while Jessica ordered us some Chinese takeout. I turned on the television and flipped to the Discovery Channel, where some Planet Earth documentary or something was playing. It would be nice background noise for our dinner.
“You and your documentaries,” Jessica said.
“Oh, I’ve already seen this one. Though I do like the narrator’s voice. Very soothing,” I said.
“You are so secretly a nerd.”
“And why’s that a bad thing?”
“It’s not! But it makes finding you a man easier. Most nerds are softies. Romantic.”
“Jessica,” I warned.
“Look, I’m not going to get you drunk and force you onto someone. But why block out the notion of finding someone to spend your time with? It’s been over ten years since you graduated high school. What’s holding you back?”
“Don’t make me talk about this Jessica.”
“Why not? Maybe that’s the issue. Maybe the fact that you won’t talk about it is why you’re letting it hold you back so badly.”
“Because he didn’t just break my heart once, Jessica. He broke my heart twice.”
“What do you mean?”
“I…”
Sighing, I closed my eyes and mentally prepared myself for the story ahead. I hadn’t really talked to anyone about it since it happened. I had no passion to. But Jessica was right. Maybe part of my problem was that I hadn’t talked through it. Maybe it still affected me so badly to this day because I refused to deal with it even when I thought I had.
“What did he do to you, Andrea?”
“I met him when I was a freshman. And he was gorgeous. Tall. Stacked. I mean, really, really big for a high schooler. He didn’t play any sports or anything. Just generally kept up with himself. Pumped weights with the football team. Ran cross country to keep himself lean and limber. I mean, he was mouth-watering.”
“Got it. Okay. He was hot. So… what happened?”
“At first, it was a prank. I didn’t know it was a prank at the time, but him and his buddies had a bet.”
“What kind of bet?”
“A bet that surrounded me. Apparently, it was weird to still be a virgin as a ninth grader, so there was a running bet as to who could take mine.”
“What?” she asked flatly.
“Yeah. And all of his buddies tried to hit on me. But him? Jamie? He really laid it on thick. I wasn't interested in any of his friends, but I was interested in him. Then, after one of the football games, we made our way back into the school and I gave myself over to him. At the time, I really felt like I loved him. You know, as much as a freshman in high school could. It wasn’t until the next day, in the afterglow of it all, that the rumors started.”
“Rumors?”
“Yeah. That’s how I found out about the bet. How Jamie won fifty bucks for taking my virginity.”
“Did you kill him? I hope you killed him. And fifty bucks, like seriously, what the fuck.”
“I was heartbroken, Jessica. But I couldn’t go to my mom or my dad about any of this. So, I just… kept my head above water. And eventually, Jamie approached me.”
“Did you punch him in his dick?”
“No. He actually apologized. Said he felt like shit for what happened and that he wanted to make it up to me.”
“What could he have possibly done to make it up to you?”
“For starters, he took the money he won and took me out on another date. We went to this restaurant and we talked, and he apologized over and over again. Said that what he did was wrong and he felt terrible for it. And I believed him. I mean, I didn’t have a choice.”
“You fell for him again.”
“I did. Hard, too. We kept going on coffee dates and hanging out, and soon the rumors changed. It went from how he took my virginity for money to how the two of us were an item. And it was back to where it was. He kissed me in the hallways and held my hand, and I was back on cloud nine.”
“Why do I feel like something terrible is coming again?” she asked.
“Because it is. He invited me to a party my sophomore year. My first ever senior party. He was graduating that year and it was all about celebrating his success, and I was all for it. He picked me up, drove me to the party. I had my first drink. All the good stuff, right? Then I lose him at the party, go looking for him, and find him balls deep and drunk out of his mind with another girl.” I could feel the embarrassment creeping back in. I was that high school kid all over again. It hurt then like I couldn’t believe, and even now? I was still devastated.
“Holy. Hell. Are you serious, Andrea?”
“As a heart attack. I didn’t even recognize the girl. I don’t think she went to our school. She stared me in my eyes while she fucked Jamie, and I felt humiliated. I just knew that getting back together with Jamie was a mistake, and I left the party crying and didn’t look back.”
“How did you get home?” she asked.
“I walked. Stuck to the lit roads.”
“How far of a walk was it?”
I shrugged before I drew in a deep breath.
“Eight, nine miles?”
“You could’ve been killed, Andrea.”
“Yeah. I know. So, that’s why I haven't dated since. I don’t trust guys. Especially guys who like parties.”
“Well, I get that now.”
“I’m happy for you, Jessica. I really am. I just don’t want to see you get hurt anywhere near the way I did. We’re going to go to Vegas and have a great time, but I don’t want you to worry about hooking me up with someone. I’m not interested. I don’t want to be with anyone. I had my run, and it was a terrible run, and now I’m over it.”
“But Andrea—”
“No buts. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but sex and drunken marriages don’t stay in Vegas. They haunt you. I’m game for anything this weekend except those two things,” I said.
“But I was really looking forward to marrying you off to the homel
ess man,” she said.
I giggled and shook my head before I wrapped my arms around her neck.
“Thanks for inviting me,” I said.
“We’re going to have the best time.”
“Now, where the hell’s our Chinese food?”
And right on cue, there came a knock at the door.
SEVEN
Andrea
“A cosmopolitan for you,” the busboy said.
“Thank you so much,” I said, smiling.
“And a mango margarita with an extra shot for you.”
“Thanks!” Jessica said.
“The two of you enjoy, and if you need anything simply raise your hand.”
“We will! I really appreciate it,” I said as I pulled my hat back down to cover my eyes. Sitting under a cabana still wasn’t enough to keep my pale skin from being burned by the hot Vegas sun. Damn my bad genes.
“Just put another one of these in your calendar and bring it over in the next thirty minutes,” Jessica said.
“Will do,” the man chuckled.
“Really? Thirty minutes? Did you have to say it like a pretentious bitch?” I asked.
“Hey. We’re in Vegas at one of the most exclusive resorts around and everything is paid for. Sorry if I want to get my future drink orders in,” she said.
“I will admit, new boyfriend did good. This pool is amazing.”
“And that bikini looks hot on you.”
“Jessica! It’s like you’ve turned into someone I don’t recognize.”
“This is Jessica when she’s untamed and in love,” she added in an annoyingly dreamy tone.
“Really? In love? After a month?”
“Well, not in love. But smitten? Definitely. I mean, look at him.”
I glanced over to where Lucas was and he waved at us. I had to admit, I saw why Jessica was so attracted to him. Shaggy hair she could run her fingers through. Gray eyes that pierced right through anyone’s gaze. And he was a mountain of a man. He dwarfed Jessica and myself by inches and several dozen pounds of muscle. He kept jumping into the pool and splashing us, causing us to curl back and yell out at him.
“Lucas! Not cool,” I said.
“Luke! You’re getting me all wet,” Jessica said.
“Trust me, beautiful. That’s the plan,” he said, winking.
Accidentally Wild: An Accidental Marriage Romance (The Wilder Brothers Book 2) Page 5