"Yes you are. This is going to be great." Casey squeezed my shoulder tightly. "Play the part. Jackson's going to flip his shit."
Tears filled my eyes and I tilted my head toward the ceiling, trying to blink them back. "It's not that easy, guys. He has my heart."
"I don't like it," Easton mumbled and forced me to look back down at him as he reached up and brushed away a few of the tears that escaped my eyes. "Let me help you tonight. Please."
"It's too dangerous, and I'm not looking for another heartbreak, but thank you." I pulled from him and turned, letting my eyes scan the floor until I spotted him. Jackson was nothing compared to Easton in terms of looks, just a silly, country quarterback against a sexy well-to-do suit, but he still had ten years of my life wrapped around him.
I lifted my beer to my lips and ignored Casey and Easton's hushed conversation. I wasn't interested in playing any part, or I didn't think I was. The minute Jackson glanced up and his eyes widened, everything changed.
Taking a step back, I bumped into Easton and reached back, pulling his strong arm around my waist and pressing against him. Chill bumps broke out across my skin as he complied, taking my demands a step farther and pressing his soft lips to the side of my neck before dragging them slowly up to rest beside my ear.
"I know you're upset with me, but use me tonight. I want to make it up to you. I want us to be friends for a long time." He kissed my ear, and I nodded.
"Okay, but nothing more than this." I turned to brush my nose by his. "Just this night at the club."
"If you end up in my bed, it's because you wanted to." He slid his hand along my jaw and pulled me down for a long kiss.
I forgot all about Jackson and everyone else in the room for a minute. I'd just started to turn to press myself against the front of Easton, when I heard my name spoken reverently from the same voice that lorded over my life for so long.
"Vivian. What're you doing here?" Jackson had his hand wrapped around a pretty blonde's hand, her breasts spilling over the top of her tiny dress and leaving nothing to the imagination.
I turned and took a quick breath as Easton moved to my side a little, but kept one arm wrapped tightly around me.
"Just decided to have a vacation. This is Easton, and of course you know Casey." I moved a little as Easton extended his hand.
"From the small town to the big city, hm?" Easton smiled and shook Jackson's hand.
My ex had a look on his face that I'd seen far too many times. It was a mixture of discomfort and anger.
"Yeah, sure. Not sure what that means, but whatever." He glanced down and shook his head. "You meet this guy here or take him with you?"
"We've been dating for a few weeks now." Easton moved to my side and draped his arm over my shoulders.
"He's big shit in New York." Casey poked Jackson in the chest, and something inside of me cringed. I should have hated him completely, and a large part of me did, but I didn't want anyone hurting him or berating him on my behalf.
"Dance with me?" He turned his attention back to me. "Just one more time."
I realized that he hadn't introduced his girl, but he probably wouldn't. He was a cheating ass, but some part of me believed that the boy I'd fallen in love with and planned my future with still lived inside of him. My mother could turn men into villains all day long, but there was more to it than just black or white. There had to be.
"Go ahead if you want." Easton glanced down at me and smiled. "I'll be right here when you get back."
"Okay." I lifted to my toes and brushed my lips across his, not having to feign attraction at all. Jackson was my past, and though Easton probably had no hold on my future, it didn't mean that I couldn't easily see him having all of it, if he only wanted it.
He pulled me in closely and kissed me sensually, like I was the only woman in the room. Funny how the feeling dissipated the minute he released me. Reality set in, and the thought of not being good enough for neither Jackson nor him threatened to consume me.
I took Jackson's hand and ignored his date's glare as best I could. Glancing back at Casey, I nodded toward the girl. "Be nice."
Casey huffed. "Fuck that. I'm not the nice friend. You are, remember?"
"This isn't good." I glanced up at Jackson as he moved us to the center of the dance floor and turned, pulling me against him and gripping my hips tightly. "Casey isn't going to be nice to that poor girl."
"That girl is a vicious bitch, she'll be fine." His eyes moved across me slowly as he licked at his lips. "You look fucking hot. I haven't stopped thinking about you, you know. Not a damn day goes by that I don't regret what happened between us."
"You moved on, Jack. Plain and simple." I slid my hands up his chest and forced the memories of us making love from my mind. It wouldn't take more than a few kind words from him and I'd limp away from the dance floor, crippled emotionally by the need to get my life back. "And you dumped me, remember? You cheated on me for years and then dumped me when I found out."
"Only because you couldn't forgive me, Viv. You and I are supposed to be forever. I've said that a million times." He pressed his strong body to the front of mine, his erection thick and hard. "If you don't see that, then you're ignorant."
I pushed a little against his chest and shook my head. "No. Those days are over. I thought we would be forever, too, but you changed all of that. Besides, I'm with someone else now."