by Sabrina York
How would she feel, how destroyed would she be when he finally decided he was finished with her and started dating someone else? Because, of course, he would.
But he hadn’t. From what she heard—and of course she never came out and asked—he wasn’t seeing anyone.
That hadn’t made it any easier.
It had made it harder, when she lay in her bed at night wanting him. Made it harder for her to acknowledge the pitiful truth.
She hadn’t been mad at him about those twins in his bed.
Hurt, yes. Annoyed, certainly. But not mad. She’d responded with a knee-jerk reaction—as she had so often in the past. She’d railed at him. She’d refused to listen to his explanation. She’d stormed out.
But in truth, what she’d really done was snatch the chance to end it before he could.
That was how convinced she’d been that he would, at some point, dump her.
But dumping him first had given her no great satisfaction. In fact, it had sent her into a deep abyss. She wallowed there in the shadows, well aware of the unmitigated truth that she was, in a word, a coward.
And as a result of her cowardice, she was miserable.
The trouble was, when a person was an admitted coward, the obvious solution was not an easy one. And when someone was as naturally stubborn and intractable as she was, it was even harder.
So going to Cody and admitting she was wrong, pleading for another chance, became an impossibility.
Ergo, she deserved her misery.
Porsche shot a brilliant smile around the circle, but when her gaze landed on Sidney, it faded.
Crap. She’d forgotten to pretend. She quickly rearranged her features into something resembling delight, but Porsche wasn’t fooled.
“So,” she said, standing and smoothing out the wrinkles in her gown. “We agree this is the one?”
“Yes,” Claire said. “Although you will need a tiara.”
Porsche primped. “Naturally.” She turned to Sidney and held out a hand. “Help me change.” It was not an invitation. It was a command.
Sidney set down her champagne glass and stood, following Porsche to the dressing room. But once they stepped behind the curtain, Porsche whirled on her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you. In private.”
Egads. Porsche’s expression was beyond fervid.
“All right.” Sidney tried to step behind Porsche and begin undoing the line of tiny pearl buttons down her back, but Porsche kept turning with her until Sidney gave up with a sigh. “What is it?”
“You do know Cody didn’t sleep with those girls.”
Oh good lord. She winced because she was pretty sure all the others had crowded around and were listening. “Porsche—”
“No. Listen to me. I’m the bride. You have to listen to me. It’s the rules.”
“You’re not the bride today.”
Porsche waved manically at her dress.
“So you’re standing in a dress shop wearing a wedding gown. That doesn’t give you unrelenting power over all creation.”
Porsche sniffed. “Nonsense. Now listen.”
Sidney rolled her eyes.
“I know you’re still mooning over him.”
“I’m not—”
“You’re not allowed to lie to the bride. It’s bad luck.”
“That’s not—”
“And I know you’re too stubborn to admit you are wrong.”
“What?”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I know you. And I know him. He’s hurting. You’re hurting. All either of you wants is to be together again. I see that. But you’re both too stubborn to make the first move.”
It wasn’t stubbornness. It was something much darker.
“We all know you’re both difficult people.” Porsche threw out her arms to embrace the world, the galaxy, the universe, perhaps.
“I am not difficult!”
A snort sounded from behind the curtain. Sidney glared at it.
“But all is not lost. All you need is . . .”
“What?”
“A little nudge.”
“A nudge?”
“Mmm hmm. What if I were able to thrust you and Cody together at the wedding. Would you take the opportunity to talk to him? Maybe listen to him? Give him another chance?”
“Porsche—” This was mortifying beyond words.
“Oh please, Sidney.” She raised prayerful hands. “Please tell me you will at least try?”
As Sidney stared at her, Porsche batted her lashes. “It could be your wedding present to me.”
“I already bought you a chafing dish.”
“Oooh. That’s nice.”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe a gift for little Cody then?” She patted her belly.
Sidney’s throat locked. She gaped at her friend. “Are you pregnant?” Maybe that was why she’d refused the champagne. “Are you?”
Porsche put out a lip. “Well, not yet. But I will be soon. I’m sure.”
Damn her. Porsche wasn’t playing fair. Then again, she never did.
Sidney sucked on her tongue. “So you’re planning to name your baby Cody?”
Porsche stilled. Her lips worked. “Maybe?”
“I seriously doubt Brandon will want to name his son after the man you drooled over your entire life.”
“He is very open-minded.”
“Not that open-minded.”
“Sidney, what I do or do not name my future son is hardly the point here.”
“Is there a point here?”
“Yes. The point is this. Do you want a chance at happiness with Cody, or do you want to spend the rest of your life like this?” She skated a derisive appraisal up and down Sidney’s person.
“What’s wrong with this?”
“Do you need to ask? You’re positively desolate.”
“I’m not—”
Porsche flung out her arm with a melodramatic flair, which was only encouraged by the flowing tippets on her sleeves. “As desolate and wretched as the wild barren wastes of the vast Karakum.”
Good. God. “I have no idea what that is, and I assure you, I am perfectly, deliriously happy.”
Porsche set her teeth with a click and stared at her. “Fine. Awesome. Whatever.”
“Look, Porsche—”
“It’s your life, Sid. Your choice. I want you to be happy and I will do everything in my power to help you, but if you won’t even try, there is no point.”
She was right.
Sidney swallowed hard and leaned in. She had to whisper, because she was pretty sure everyone else was listening. “I’m scared,” she said.
For some reason, Porsche broke out in a brilliant grin. “I know, Sidney,” she whispered back. “Isn’t love glorious?”
Chapter Twenty-four
Porsche and Brandon’s wedding was a circus. The whole damn thing. To begin with, someone had had the brilliant idea to chuck the formal arrangements, kidnap the bride—and her friends—and hie off to Vegas.
Cody didn’t mind the Vegas part. He’d always enjoyed Sin City in small doses.
It was all the other crap that was annoying. Porsche and Brandon had booked a stately older hotel downtown but had scheduled a crap-ton of activities. There were rehearsals and fittings and receptions galore. All of which required monkey suits.
To make matters even worse, Porsche had insisted that Cody be part of the wedding party.
He had no idea why.
But because it was Porsche, he agreed.
She’d promised to help him make peace with Sidney. He had to believe that this ploy was part of her plan. At least, he hoped it was.
Sidney was in the wedding party as well.
And while it was wonderful to see her again, his heart ached at the sadness in her ey
es. And his heart ached at the fact that she refused to meet his gaze.
He had no idea what Porsche had planned, but it had better be pretty freaking phenomenal. It would take nothing less than a miracle to break the icy wall between them.
Once they had all checked into the hotel, they headed down to an elegantly appointed small ballroom for a reception. It was an intimate affair—just Porsche and Brandon’s closest friends—with an open bar and canapés. Everyone else who’d come to witness the wedding would join the festivities at the bachelor and bachelorette parties planned for later tonight.
Cody wasn’t a fan of tiny food-like things, but he was hungry so he was hardly about to complain. He scarfed down about a dozen bacon-wrapped scallops before everyone in the party even arrived. And then he grabbed a drink and made the rounds.
One thing became painfully clear as he quartered the room.
He was the only single man.
Cade had Lisa on his arm, and Charlie and Claire were draped all over each other. Logan had his arm around Hanna, and Ford had his around Crystal. Mark, Brandon’s brother was there with his wife, Penny. And of course, there was Brandon and Porsche.
And Cody was alone.
At first, it was a painful, irritating thought, although it had been his choice to not bring a date. And then, he realized, it was a boon.
Because Sidney was alone as well.
She walked through the doors wearing a gorgeous, slinky cocktail dress and his attention zeroed in on her. His mood lifted.
He shot a thankful glance at Porsche, because obviously she had orchestrated this.
To his surprise, Porsche didn’t respond with a smile or a nod. In fact her expression was chagrined.
And he discovered why a second later when Ben Wilder followed Sidney into the room, cupped his arm around her and pulled her close to whisper in her ear.
Cody’s heart froze at the sight.
All of a sudden, his hopes dwindled.
All of a sudden, he realized how much stock he’d put in Porsche’s plan.
All of a sudden, he wished he’d stayed home.
The fact that all the Wilder brothers followed Ben into the room didn’t help.
With so many single men vying for a female partner, he wouldn’t have a chance to cut Sidney from the herd tonight. Wouldn’t even have a chance to speak to her. Not privately, at least.
Thoughts of escape roiled through him. This was Vegas. He could go to a bar and get drunk, gamble, even go watch overpriced movies in his room. Anything but this.
Porsche must have spotted him eyeing the door because she sidled up to him and whispered, “You’re staying.”
He frowned at her, then nodded at Ben, who was still dominating Sidney’s attention. “What’s the point?”
She sighed. “Brandon invited them. I didn’t know.”
“It’s your wedding.”
“Brandon upended everything when he decided we should elope to Vegas.”
Cody tipped his head to the side and surveyed the soiree. “This is hardly an elopement.”
“You know what I mean. But don’t worry. I have a plan.”
“Yeah.” He sighed. “That’s what I’m worried about.”
There was no call for her to gouge him with her elbow. “Just be alert.”
“Because the world needs more lerts?”
An old joke. She made a face. “Seriously Cody. You have to trust me.”
Trust her.
God help him.
He really didn’t have a choice.
***
Sidney hadn’t expected Ben to be at the wedding, but it had been a relief to see him. Not only because they were good friends and she enjoyed his company, but because he served as a shield, after a fashion. With him at her side, it was much easier for her to cope with the fact that Cody was here.
Seeing him again had been a shock to the system and she’d realized, with a lurch to her solar plexus, that she hadn’t been ready. Not by a long shot. He was so handsome in his suit, with his dress Stetson and fancy boots. She’d never seen him all gussied up like that before and it made her mouth water. But it was absolute torture watching him mingle with the others, laughing and joking and looking so lighthearted, as though he hadn’t a care in the world.
“Hey,” Ben asked, nudging her with his elbow. “Are you okay?”
She plastered a smile on her face. “Of course. Couldn’t be happier.”
He shot her a dubious glance. “We could leave. Go out on the town.”
“I can’t. This is Porsche’s party. I have to be here for her.”
“Okay. Just let me know if you need anything.”
She smiled at him. Couldn’t help it. He was such a wonderful friend. “Thanks, Ben,” she said, and she kissed him on the cheek.
Just then, her gaze locked with Cody’s. His glower stunned her. There was no doubt, he was furious, or jealous, or something.
And just that quickly, her mood rose.
Maybe this weekend wouldn’t be complete torture after all.
***
After the reception, the ladies went up to Porsche and Brandon’s suite for the bachelorette party. Lisa, Claire and Penny had been in charge of planning it, so Sidney had no idea what to expect.
The absolute last thing she expected was to find the graceful accommodations—featuring exquisite antique furniture, wood paneling, and gold fixtures—festooned with balloons made from condoms and toilet paper streamers. There were all kinds of raunchy decorations and party favors. Oh, and a cake shaped like a penis.
It was pretty clear, upon first sight, what the tenor of the party would be.
And that was before the tequila came out.
Despite herself, Sidney had a blast. Penny officiated the games, which ranged from everything from Cowboys Against Humanity to Tequila Pong. Most of the attendees were Sidney’s dear friends, and even those friends of Porsche’s she’d just met became fast friends . . . after a few shots.
But the real highlight of the party was the strippers.
Sidney should have expected it, given the fact that Lisa and Claire had been instrumental in setting all this up. But she could never have expected the real surprise they had planned.
It all began when, in the middle of a raucous game of Pin the Boner on the Cowboy—with a life-size cutout of Brandon as the target—a pounding came on the door.
“Oooh,” Claire squealed. “Whoever could that be?” Judging by the way she pranced over to the door, she knew damn well.
She opened the door and a loud, deep ominous voice rumbled, “Ladies, there have been noise complaints about this party. We’re going to have to take you in.”
“Oh, officer,” Claire gushed. “Please don’t arrest us.”
Sidney had to roll her eyes, because really?
A hunky police officer pushed his way into the room and glowered at all of them. The women who recognized him laughed.
Because it was Charlie.
As he turned on Claire, a loud thumping music began and a parade of sexy men filled the room, bumping and grinding to the beat. Dressed like various characters from the Stud Ranch, Logan, Cade, Mark, Rafe, and Ben pranced around the room. They each did a bit of a dance—which was hysterical—and then they eased back as the star performer, the groom himself, stepped forward, shaking his grove thang for Porsche alone.
Apparently, she hadn’t expected this at all. She stared at Brandon with eyes wide and a smile on her face as he slowly stripped off his shirt—to hoots and hollers and a couple of catcalls . . . from the guys.
He ended up half naked on his knees in front of Porsche in the classic proposal pose, holding out a long-stemmed rose. “Will you be mine?’ he asked, and Porsche laughed.
“Of course,” she said, and they kissed.
Yeah. It was al
l super-romantic and shit, but Sidney was busy scanning the crowd for the one man she hadn’t seen.
She caught a glimpse of him in the doorway next to Ford. Cody leaned against the jamb with his arms crossed and a look of barely reined-in impatience on his handsome face. Obviously, the guys had tried to rope him in to their impromptu show and he’d resisted.
Their gazes clashed. Chagrin flickered through his expression, and she had to laugh. He seemed so appalled by it all, she couldn’t help it.
To her delight, his taut expression broke, and he grinned as well.
And ahhh. It was the first exchange they’d had in months. It was only a shared amusement over the heads of their friends across a crowded room, but it was something.
“We decided it was stupid to have two parties,” Brandon said, pulling Porsche into his arms.
“Yeah,” Logan said. “Never mind the fact that the bachelor party was boring.”
“Hey!” Mark bellowed. He’d obviously been drinking. “I was the one who planned that.”
“But all the really interesting people were in this room,” Ford said with a wink.
“Speaking of this room . . .” Brandon skated a glance around his defiled boudoir. “What have you done to it?”
“It wasn’t my idea,” Porsche said, and everyone laughed.
Once the men were there, the tone of the party changed. Naturally, it would. Everyone paired up, even the Wilder brothers, who were appropriated by some of Porsche’s Dallas friends.
It only made sense for Sidney to gravitate to Cody. Or, perhaps, he gravitated to her. Whatever. Somehow, they found themselves side by side in the crowded room.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hey,” she responded. And then they both avoided each other’s gaze for a while.
It was awkward and strange to sit there side by side, watching the others chat and joke. But it was nice too.
Especially when he turned to her and said, oh-so-softly, “I’ve missed you.”
Her heart swelled. “I’ve missed you too.”
Hardly a declaration of unending love, but it was a start.
A pity Porsche shattered this fragile sortie by leaping to her feet and announcing the next game.
“Okay people.” She hollered over the din. “We’re going to play Extreme Truth or Dare.”