Page 2 of Hooking
I walk over to the fridge to grab a bottle of water. Twisting the top, a bit sloshes onto my hand. “You could have come with us, you know. My parents love you and would have enjoyed bonding with their future son-in-law a little more,” I say, bringing the water to my lips, taking a long drink to stop the words wanting to come out.
“Well, I wanted to give you guys some alone time. You know, since you’re going to be living here permanently after the wedding,” he says, leaning against the kitchen counter.
Right.
I stare at him for a few moments, trying to find the deceit I’ve been missing the entire time we’ve been together. The slight smirk pulling at the end of his lips. The smolder of his blue eyes. All of it alluring. But the deception I so desperately seek is nowhere.
Plastering on my best fake smile, I round the counter, dragging my hands along his trimmed waist, placing a tiny kiss on his shoulder blade. “I’m gonna get ready for the rehearsal dinner tonight, then pack a small bag for my last night alone as a Reynolds.”
“You know, you can stay here with me tonight. We both know there’s nothing traditional about us, Cass,” he says, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.
He’s right. Nothing about our relationship has been traditional. There was no courting when we reconnected almost a year ago. Just lots of hot sex. We were supposed to be a casual thing, but he never stopped calling or texting. Soon, I found myself flying to Arizona every chance I could get.
I thought he had changed.
Well, at least I hoped he had.
But you know what the say about hoping… It lies in dreams and imagination but rarely exists in reality.
“You’re right,” I say, walking toward the master bedroom. “I could stay here, but isn’t it bad luck regardless of whether you see the bride before the wedding day? Plus, my mama would kill me if I didn’t give her at least this one piece of tradition.”
“Fine,” he says, putting on his best pout, following me closely. “But as soon as we’re married, you’re all mine.”
He places a kiss to my lips before turning and strutting back toward the private patio, grabbing his phone and typing away. No doubt texting the homewrecker from earlier.
I pack a small overnight bag before hopping in the shower. The hot water cascades down my back as I rinse my hair, relaxing the tense muscles from the negative thoughts pulsing through my mind. Yeah, like that will ever work. Nothing will ever stop the manic thoughts currently pulsing through me.
Turning off the water, I wrap a towel around me, glancing at myself in the partially fogged-up mirror. “You can do this,” I quietly murmur to myself before heading into the bedroom to quickly blow dry my hair and style it into a high pony.
Just as I put the finishing touches on my makeup, Vince strolls into the room, his swim shorts a thing of the past. He leans against the doorframe of the bathroom as he stares me down in the mirror. His eyes drink me in as if I were his prey, while I line my lips with my favorite red lipstick.
“You look so fucking hot,” he says, pushing off the door frame, leaning over me to press a kiss to my shoulder blade. “Give me fifteen, and I’ll be ready to go.”
I watch him walk into the bathroom, closing the door gently behind him. Once I hear the water run, I move into action. Grabbing my digital camera, I set it up on the vanity mirror, engaging it to record. Ensuring that it can see the wide pan of the room, I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding before moving to get dressed.
I snap my open-toed heels just as Vince comes out of the bathroom, a cloud of steam bellowing behind him. I watch as he drops the towel to the floor, his muscular back flexing as beads of water run down his toned muscles. It’s no wonder I’ve been attracted to Vince all these years. He’s a fine specimen. But looks can’t overpower betrayal.
When I stand at the altar with my future husband, I want it to be with someone who I know respects our relationship. Who’s been faithful no matter the distance. Someone who will take their vows seriously.
“Did you hear me, Cass?” Vince’s voice brings me out of my thoughts.
“Huh? What? Sorry, what were you saying?”
He relaxes a little as he comes to me, rubbing his large, calloused palms on my bare shoulders. “I asked if you were ready to spend your last night as a Reynolds.”
I plaster on the fakest smile I can and smile up at him. “I never been more ready.”
“…Vince, we’re so happy that you and Cassidy have reconnected.” I listen to my father say as he holds my mother’s hand tightly. Vince’s hand rubs my thigh back and forth in tender, gentle strokes as I try to focus on my father’s speech. “There were years we worried that our girl would forever be alone. You know she was so caught up with you since she first met you in elementary school.” The crowd laughs at my father’s declarations. “But in the end, we always knew she’d pick you. And I’m so proud that I’m now gaining the son I never had. Treat her well, son. You have some precious cargo with you now.”
Cheers and applause erupt from our guests as my father and mother approach us at the head of the table. Handshakes and hugs are exchanged between Vince, my parents, and me. With the rehearsal now complete, and our dinner underway, the nervous feeling I’ve tried so hard to ignore has officially arrived. My stomach twists and turns at the thought of Vince cheating on me and what my father had said in his speech.
My father and mother adore Vince no matter how our relationship in the past had ended; they always loved him and looked at him as a son of their own. God, it will crush them when they find out Vince is really cheating on me.
My eyes move about the room, looking for Hayley. I spot her by the bar, chatting with Brooks, my cousin Kyle, and his date Jess. Excusing myself for some air, I push away from the table, gesturing to Hayley with my head to follow me.
“You okay?” she says, as she joins me near the pool.
I take a few moments to catch my breath before turning to face her. “I set my digital camera up in the room.”
