Vacation (14 page)

"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 parents 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.

"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."

He laughed and nodded toward the bar.
"That guy? He's not even your type, Viv. I'm your type."

"You were my type. You're nothing to
me now. How could you be? You traded everything we had for a few nights of
passion with others." I glanced to my left, catching Easton's strong gaze.
He didn't look happy at all, and the very thought of him being upset over me
and Jackson thrilled a part of my heart that was turning icy far too fast.

"I messed up, okay? We both know
that." He slid his hands back to cup my rear, and I pushed at his chest,
not willing to play his game.
  

"Yeah, you did, and I'm not sure what
the fuck you're doing in Miami when you had to have known that I would be here
too." I narrowed my eyes at him. "You knew I was here, didn't
you?"

"I actually didn't. I assumed you'd
go to Jamaica. Remember we used to always talk about having our honeymoon
there." He reached up and brushed his thumb over my cheek. "I love
you. I always have. You're the only woman I could even think about spending my life
with, Viv."

"I'm not doing this here. I
can't." I pushed at his chest once more and broke the contact. "I
wasn't enough, remember?"

Tears burned my gaze as he reached for me.
"I was being a dumbass. I broke it off because I thought I could find
better, but I can't. I want you. I'll always want you."

"She's taken." Easton's voice
was low and ominous as he tugged at my arm and moved in between me and Jackson.
"And she's dancing with me now, so fuck off."

I turned and moved into Easton’s arms as
he wrapped them tightly around me, molding his body to mine and dancing with
the music. I pressed my face to his chest and tightened my hold on him as a
soft sob racked my body. The very last thing I wanted to do was let Easton know
anything about me, especially all my relationship dysfunction. It was something
I was hoping to hide for just a few more days from him.

Just
a few more days and I would have been on a plane, headed back to my life, and
you could get back to yours.

"
Shhh
. It's
okay." He kissed the side of my hair and spoke to Jackson a few more
seconds, but I ignored them, needing so badly to forget everything and
everyone, even for just a night.

Easton’s strong hands massaged the back of
my neck as I lifted my face to his and tried to speak. Nothing came out and he
gave me a smile that wasn't filled with pity, but adoration.

"You don't need to say anything. I
forced Casey to tell me a little bit about it. You can hate me later." He
moved down and brushed his nose past mine. "No wonder you're so
guarded."

"I just want to understand why. If I
knew what I did then maybe I could–”

"No. People who are cheated on don't
do anything to deserve that shit. It's all on him, Vivian. It has little to
nothing to do with you." His eyes moved around my face as his body
hardened against mine. "You're so far beyond beautiful, so innocent and
kind. He's a fucking idiot."

I pressed against the sexy man holding me
and slid my hands over his hips as I closed my eyes and tried to imagine myself
as he said I was. It wasn't possible, but it didn't matter. I wanted to feel
the intense sensation of being wanted, even if it was a lie that would slip
through my fingers the next morning.

"He's all I know." I turned my
head to look back at the bar.

Jackson and Casey were in each other's
faces, but they had been our whole lives. It was nothing new, and he wouldn't
hurt Casey no matter what. They were like siblings, which was half the fun of
sharing life with both of them.

"Then you need to get out more. Not
everything has to be a heart-breaking love story." Easton slid his hands
along my face as I turned my attention back toward him. His piercing green eyes
studied me, his lips so soft and wet.

"What if I want a love story? What if
I'm not the girl that can have a one-night stand? It's just not in my blood to
be anything other than what I am." I spun and pressed my back to his
chest, rolling my hips as the song shifted to something sensual and naughty.
"How do I become her and live in that life for a while? How do I get that
break in reality?"

His hand spayed out across my stomach as
he leaned down and licked just below my ear. "I'm not sure, but I want to
help you find out. Getting over this dick-wad by the bar might just be the
opening yourself up to casual dating for fun. Live a little?"

He was right, and yet another part of me
lamented over the fact that all he was willing to give was a few nights of fun.
I kept returning to the same conversation with myself over and over about not
needing a man in my life. It would seem it was the only sane way to get through
any of the shit I had currently facing me.

I lifted my arm in the air and arched my
back, pressing my ass against Easton's arousal and moaning softly as he rocked
it against me over and over until my body cried out for penetration.

Turning, I glanced up at him and took a
sharp breath. "I want to be someone else tonight."

"I like you just the way you
are." He leaned down and brushed his lips by mine. "Just stop being
mad at me. I'm struggling too, if you haven't noticed."

"One night. One night to see what
this is between us." I ran my fingers by his lips and cried out quietly as
he sucked two of my fingers deep into his mouth. "I need you."

He pulled back and slid his hands over the
curve of my rear as he rocked against me again. "Then let's get out of
here and go back to the hotel. I'll give you anything you want. Anything you
need."

Lust pumped through me in violent waves,
far harder than anything else I'd felt before. I wasn't the type of woman to
spend the night with a stranger, but maybe it was time for that to change. My
life hadn't panned out so well thus far. Maybe a subtle shift to elevate
pleasure above all else would help. Everyone else seemed to do it.

"Get the fuck off my girl."
Jackson's tone was loud and immediately set me on edge. He was the kind of guy
who loved a good fight more than anything else.

I wanted passion in my life, but I didn't
want anything to do with drama.