Chapter One

Katie

“Come on, Katie. Please?”

“I’d love to, but I have to work.”

I try my best to look disappointed, but it’s hard when not a single part of me wants to go with her. As much as I love my cousin, I can’t handle a weekend away with her. Hell, I can barely handle an hour of Lily. And let’s face it; if she’s asking me, it means I’m her last resort.

“That’s a bullshit excuse and you know it.” She glares at me accusingly. “You’ve worked every fucking weekend for the last six months, and news flash, Katie, you work for my father. One call and he’d give you the month off, if I asked him nicely.”

I wince. She has a point.

“Okay, fine. I just don’t want to go,” I say bluntly.

She gapes at me. “Are you kidding me? You should be honored I’m even asking you.”

“Can’t you go and honor someone else, then?” I laugh. “What about Stella? Or Ruby?”

“Don’t you think I’ve asked them already?” She huffs.

Her eyes blaze, then like switching on a light, she turns her glare into the most pitiful, sorrow filled look I’ve ever seen. She sighs loudly and then turns around to gaze longingly out the window. I groan and close my eyes, because I can’t stand that look on her face.

“It’s okay. You go to work. I guess I’ll just mope around the house, thinking about how the only guy I’ve ever loved is getting married this weekend.” She pauses. “To someone else.”

Shit.

I’d forgotten the wedding is this weekend.

How can I say no now? If she’s alone, there’s nobody to stop her from doing something she might regret, like forgetting Vegas and going to the wedding instead—which is totally something she’d do.

“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll see if your dad can find someone to cover my—”

“Thank you,” Lily cries. She throws her arms around me, nearly knocking me off my seat. “I knew I could count on you.”

“So, when do we leave?”

“It’s all organized. Flights, accommodation at The Cosmopolitan Hotel.” She pauses, probably just to make sure I caught that we’re staying in five-star luxury. “All you have to do is be ready when I pick you up.” She gives me a bright smile that instantly makes me suspicious.

“You booked everything before I agreed?” I frown at her. “What if I’d said no?”

“I knew once I turned on the tears, you couldn’t say no.”

She shrugs innocently and gives me a high-pitched giggle. I resist the urge to slap her as she kisses me on the cheek. She grins and scoops up her bag.

“I’ll be back at four to pick you up.”

“Four today?” I stare at her in shock. “Two hours from now? Lily,” I growl when she doesn’t answer. “It’s only Wednesday. How long are we staying for?”

I thought I was signing up for a night or two, not a whole fucking week.

“We leave today and come back Sunday.” She frowns at me, her pale cheeks turning pink. “Look, I’m sorry. I know it’s short notice, but Sierra canceled on me at the last minute. If we don’t leave tonight, I’ll forfeit the flights,” she babbles.

I groan. “Fine.”

She throws her arms around me, but then she jumps back screaming.

“Get it off me, get it off me,” she yells.

Laughing, I crouch down to scoop up the cause of her terror. Alfred, my nine-pound chihuahua glares at Lily, then he tries to lick my face. He’s the friendliest dog in the world, except when it comes to Lily. It’s like he can sense danger.

“Relax, Lily. He’s not going to eat you.” I giggle.

“You sure about that?” she snarls. “I heard he ate chunks of flesh when his last owner died.” Her eyes remain glued to Alfred as she backs up a few steps. “Evil little thing.”

“Oh, bullshit.” I chuckle. “First, he was locked out of the house and second; you’re forgetting that I found her body, remember?”

She doesn’t look convinced.

“Whatever, Katie. Just be ready at four.” She smiles at me. “We’re going to have a blast.”

With one last look of disgust at Alfred, she walks out, leaving the door wide open behind her. I stare after her, trying to not let the dog wriggle out of my grasp, while I process what just happened. Oh, that’s right. My emotionally unstable and lovesick cousin just blindsided me into going on the girl’s trip from hell.

After nearly two hours of frantically running around, packing my suitcase—thank God laundry day was yesterday—I flop down onto my bed. I’m exhausted, but at least I’m ready to go. There’s only a couple more things to do. I call Darcy first, to cancel our plans to see a movie Friday night.

“It’s not that funny,” I grumble into the phone. She’s been laughing for ten minutes straight.

“Vegas?” she gasps. “You’re going to Las Vegas. With Lily?”

Tags: Missy Johnson Awkward Love Erotic
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