"Both mine." I put my wallet back into my pocket and moved back before wrapping an arm around each of them. "Need to double check my credentials?"
"Nope. I know who you are now. Your food critic is already in the back. Enjoy your time here, Mr. Parks." He nodded and moved back.
"Wow. That was cool." Casey turned to face me as I released them just inside the club.
"Naw, just the norm. Part of the gig, I guess." I turned to find Viv gone already. "Where'd she go?"
"Bathroom, I bet. Let's get some drinks and then we can find her." Casey took my hand and pulled me toward the bar.
Now was my time to talk to Casey. I wasn't sure how receptive she would be to discussing Viv with me, but it didn't matter. I needed to right the wrong I'd done. Vivian was back to being as withdrawn with me as she was on Sunday night on the plane. Actually worse.
I ordered three beers and turned to Viv's petite, pixie-like friend. "Did I upset her? Is that why she's barely talking to me?"
"Something like that, but I'm not so sure she's necessarily mad at you. She's just closed back off. I told you that she's just gotten out of a really bad relationship." Casey watched me as she took a long drink of her beer. "She's not ready to move on just yet."
"Bad relationship as in the guy was bad to her? Hit her or what?" Anger burned through me at the very thought of anyone laying his hands on Vivian.
"They were together for ten years." She sighed softly as if a memory rushed across her vision. "He finally asked her out in fifth grade, but I had to almost twist his arm to do it. She was a tomboy back then, and really into sports. There aren't many sports that she doesn't play, or didn't use to, really."
"Ten years and then what?" I turned to see Vivian walk out of the ladies room, her eyes moving across the hordes of people as she searched for us. I lifted up, using one of the barstools beside me and waved until I caught her attention.
"Then she found him fucking another girl in his dorm room. He'd been sleeping around for years. She's just trying to get over it now. She's been pretty numb for the last month or so."
I cringed as I moved back down to the ground. How anyone would cheat on a woman like Viv was a mystery to me. She seemed to be the full-package deal.
"When did she find out about him cheating?" I wanted to talk to Casey for hours, but knew my time was running short.
"Early February. This was supposed to be their Valentine’s slash graduation trip, but she canceled it after dumping him. We got the airlines to move it to spring break and put it down for the two of us, but I basically had to tell them the situation. We got someone who actually had a heart on the phone when we called them." She turned and lifted her beer. "I didn't tell you any of that."
"Nope. I know nothing." I extended the beer to Vivian. "We got this for you. Hope it's good."
"Yeah. Thanks. Why do you two look like you're plotting my doom?" She gave Casey a cocky smile, but it slid off her pretty face as she glanced back toward me.
It took every ounce of willpower I had not to reach out, grab her and pull her against me, reminding her how good we were going to be together when we both got over all our shit. I didn't move a muscle. She wasn't ready for anything from me, and I could quickly see why our kiss earlier that week hadn't been the best move on my part, nor the subsequent pushing her back.
I was an ass, and needed to figure out how to make things up to her.
"What a dick," Casey mumbled, bringing me from my thoughts.
Vivian stood next to me, her pretty face far more pale than I'd seen anyone before. She looked like someone had just informed her that her par
ents were killed in an accident. I reached for her, unable to help myself.
"Viv, what's wrong?" I slid my hands around her waist and turned her to face me. "Talk to me."
"Her ex is here...and he's not alone." Casey pressed her shoulder against mine. "That ex..."
Chapter 15
Vivian
As if it weren't bad enough to have to be around Easton and act like everything he said and did didn't turn me into a puddle, but now Jackson too?
"You gotta fucking be kidding me." I let my eyes run along Easton's beautiful face as concern filled his eyes. I turned my attention down to Casey. "I've gotta get out of here. I can't do this."
"Yes you can. You and I are together. Got it?" Easton slid his hand up my side, over my shoulder and cupped the side of my neck. "Pretend that we're lovers, and I'm totally smitten by you. It wouldn't be far from the truth. He can suffer just watching us."
"I'm not going to use you like that. I'm not that kind of girl, Easton." I started to pull away from him, my heart already beating rapidly just due to our closeness.