Unwrapping the Best Man

‘Nothing, love. Absolutely nothing.’ Ash pulls his wife into his side and kisses her cheek, his love for her shining in his gaze, and envy is what I feel. Envy that he can love her so easily, without fear, without restraint.

I look to Cait and she’s looking back at me, a strange glint in her eye and so much bubbles up inside, so much that I need to say.

‘Can I get you a drink?’ I hear myself ask.

‘How about your finest champagne...since you’re paying.’

Her eyes spark, her sudden smile one of mischief and challenge, and my insides love it; they dance with the flash of character, of her.

The old Cait’s back, she’s really back, and I don’t want her to leave again.

Yes, I’m fucked up. Yes, we cannot be.

But I can’t live without her in my life.

CHAPTER NINE

I’M STILL MAD at Jackson and determined to get us alone together so I can have it out with him. Of course, I am. But right now I’m enjoying this.

The four of us, relaxing in one other’s company, laughing, drinking, having fun, just like old times. Ash has already given up on driving home and we are going for it. Champagne and giggles.

A ripple of laughter rises up inside me and the three of them turn to look at me as I suppress it and end on a hiccup instead.

‘Oopsie!’ I smother my mouth as another giggle-hiccup erupts and my hat slips to the side before righting itself as if by magic... No, not magic. It’s Jackson and he’s looking at me like I’m the cutest thing he’s ever seen.

No, he’s not. That’s the drink talking.

But what if he is looking at me like I’m the cutest thing he’s ever seen?

That’s a good thing, right? A really good thing?

‘Cait!’ I swing my head from Jackson’s sweet expression to focus on Coco, who’s pulling at my hand. ‘We should get going; it’s late and—’

‘No, this is too much fun. It’s been way too long since we’ve done this.’

Ash pulls Coco up against him, his smouldering look as he eyes his wife telling me exactly why they want to get going and why I should let them, but shit, this was just getting interesting. Jackson definitely looked at me like I was cute, and I want to bask in it a little.

‘Don’t be party poopers now. Jackson’s treating us. I say we drink his bar dry and then we go home.’ I giggle and lean into him as I say it, but as soon as the heat of his body reaches me I swing away again. I may be merry, but it doesn’t mean I’ve lost all sight of the danger that lies that way.

‘I’d say two bottles of his most expensive bubbly is enough.’ Ash grins. ‘Not that it’s my drink of choice, but you ladies seem to enjoy it enough.’

‘Hey, I can drink whisky with the best of them.’ As I say it, my words slur and I realise I’m in over my head. Oh, hell. I haven’t been this hammered since...since...who knows.

‘Our car’s ready and waiting, Princess,’ Ash says to Coco, who kisses him back like she could strip him bare any second. They’re so cute and I’m smiling like a soppy loon when she looks back to me.

‘You coming with us, Cait? We can drop you off on the way.’

I raise my brows. ‘You expect me to get in a car with you two like this?’ I wave a finger between them. ‘Na-ah.’

‘What?’ Coco says, but Ash just grins wider.

‘Your husband gets my message.’

‘Well, we’re not leaving without you.’

‘I have a chat I need to have.’ I give an exaggerated wink over the crucial word, reminding her of the little pep talk she gave me in the ladies’ and my intent to continue with that plan.

She frowns, probably thinking I’ve had too many bubbles to do it justice.