Caught in Us (Caught Series Book 4) - Kacey Shea (e manga reader .txt) 📗

“Jilly?” I ask.

Her shoulders fall, her eyes forlorn. “I’m sad I missed the last three years. With you. With Matthew.”

My heart squeezes. It takes everything not to sob in relief.

“Come here.” Callie opens her arms. She pulls me in first and soon Jill joins us. Their forgiveness floods my soul. Tears pour unapologetically. We stay huddled together, holding tight as if letting go might release this restored connection.

These women have saved me time and time again. “Best bitches,” I say, laughing through my tears.

“God, it feels good to have you back,” Callie says.

Jill pulls back, sniffling before she swipes at the moisture beneath her eyes. “Come on, no more tears.”

I glance in the mirror behind us. “I need to fix my face.”

“I think we all do.” Callie grabs a few tissues and we get to work, wiping away the evidence of our emotional reunion. “We should get back in there. Everyone is probably starving.”

“Oh, shit. Julia.” Jill winces. “Does she know?”

“My guess is no based on how nice she was to me.” I’m embarrassed to admit how jealous I am of her.

“We are not saying anything.” Jill shoots Callie and me a warning glare. “That’s on Chase.”

“I wasn’t going to.” I hold up my hands.

“And I’m not doing his dirty work.” Callie shrugs. “Let’s worry about all that another day. Tonight’s about having fun and partying with my girls.”

Now, that’s something we all agree on.

25

Chase

The crowd at O’Malley’s is rowdy and loud. Our party fits right in from the second we walk into the bar. I chat with guys from other stations as I keep an eye on my brother. His crew feeds him shots and beers with no regard to the fact he has to walk down the aisle in less than twenty-four hours. Almost as if it’s a game to get him as wasted as possible, and these people are his friends. Shit. A few years ago I would have been one of those guys.

I keep a tally in my head, gauging Cam’s limit from all the years we partied together. It seems a lifetime ago. Part of me misses the comradery and silliness that comes from letting loose with the guys. But I’m not tempted to drink.

No, if anything, their obnoxious behavior only confirms my choice to stay sober. The energy in the bar brings back haunting ghosts from the night I decided to drive intoxicated—a choice that resulted in paralyzing Maverick.

I’m happy to sip my water and laugh at these idiots, and when it’s time to leave I’ll make sure each and every one doesn’t get behind the wheel.

“Hey, Chase?” The bar manager I worked with to plan tonight’s party calls me out, and hikes his thumb toward the stairwell that leads up to the private rooftop patio. “We’ve got you all set up.”

“Thanks, man. I’ll round up these animals.”

“You sure I can’t get you something to drink?” he offers.

“Nah, I’m good.”

“Cool. Let me know if you need anything else.”

“Patio time,” I call out, waving toward the stairwell. When the guys don’t move from the bar, I hold up the box of cigars to get their attention. That does the trick. I shake my head, laughing as they follow me up the stairs. They really are like herding animals. Though, in hindsight, the stairs are a bad idea. Getting everyone back down is going to be an experience.

The guys settle onto the comfortable outdoor furniture, kicking back and lighting up the cigars. The outdoor heaters provide warmth and the music from the bar isn’t as loud from here, allowing for comfortable conversation. Our celebration goes from frat house to chill, which is more on pace with my brother’s preferences. Mine, too.

I sink into one of the chairs in the corner and take it all in.

I try not to think about Julia and Alicia together at Jill’s bachelorette party. A sinking feeling twists my gut at all the ways that could go wrong. I shouldn’t have let Julia go without talking to her first. It was cowardly of me to wait. It’s going to hurt enough as it is, but finding out from someone other than me will be worse.

“Hey, this is supposed to be a party. What’s with the frowny face?” Cam clasps me on the shoulder before taking a seat on my left. “You okay?” He drops his voice. “Is it the drinking?” Apology etches into the furrow of his brow. “You can take off whenever. You don’t have to stay.”

“I’m good.” Tomorrow my brother is marrying a woman who loves him and is ready to commit—that’s something to celebrate. It’s not the drinking that has me down. But by Cam’s frown, he doesn’t believe me. “I promise. I’m really good.”

“Then how come you’re so serious? You’ve been weird all week.”

“It’s nothing.” I don’t want to bring him down, not before his big day, but I have a hard time straight up lying to him. “We’ll talk after you get back from your honeymoon.”

“Nope.” He shakes his head. “How ’bout you tell me now so I can leave and not worry about you.”

I hate that he still feels the need to look after me. “You don’t have to worry, Cam. I’m good. I swear.”

“I’m always gonna be your big bro.” He pins me with a serious stare, waiting me out. He raises his brows. “Might as well tell me before I call the rest of the guys over to hassle it out of you.”

Fuck. He’s not gonna let this go. “It’s Alicia.”

“Jill’s friend?” He frowns.

“Yeah, look, you have to promise not to say anything. Not to Jill.” I realize what I am asking is impossible but honestly, does it even matter anymore? She never wanted her friends to know about us—but I consider Jill family and tomorrow she officially will be. I’m not hiding my son’s existence from the people I love and care about. “At least not before the wedding.”

“What’s this about?”

“Her kid.” I swallow hard. “He’s mine.”

A burst of laughter