Page 57 of Caught in Us
The DJ lets us cut the line thanks to Jill’s bride-to-be status draped over her shoulder with a very non-Jill-like sash. I don’t know how Callie convinced her to wear it—not with all those rhinestones. I flip through the songbook searching for a fan favorite. My eyes land on “Wannabe” by the Spice Girls. What the hell. I point out our selection to the DJ.
Callie screams with delight and Jill laughs. At the very least I’ve made my friends happy.
Before I get a chance to rethink my decision, microphones are thrust into our hands and we’re shuffled onto the small stage. The shimmery foil streamer backdrop glitters from the disco ball overhead. Cheers and shouts of encouragement come from the crowd as the familiar beat drops.
Jill starts us off, shouting into the mic. Callie takes the next line, shaking her hips. The lyrics are so engrained in my memory that I don’t even have to glance at the screen. I smile and laugh with my girls, the ball of nerves in my gut loosening with each repeat of the chorus.
Who would have known?
I’m having fun.
Until I glance out into the crowd.
My stomach practically bottoms out. My breath catches. A rush of awareness courses through my body as I’m struck still. Because standing near the bar’s entrance is none other than Chase Matthews, and he’s staring back. Fuck, he’s delicious. His jeans hug his muscular legs and I have the sudden impulse to help him remove every button on his gray collared shirt. But mostly it’s his eyes. Deep, soulful, and intense. Entrancing me with their power.
Jill bumps my hip, pointing at the screen with the lyrics. Crap. I’ve stopped singing. I was too busy checking Chase out. Shit.
Finding my place in the song, I croon lyrics about the requirements to be my lover. They hit with meaning, considering the past Chase and I share with my friends. I wonder if he catches the irony, not that I planned it. I didn’t even know he would be here.
By some miracle, I keep from looking out into the crowd for the remainder of the song. As it is, I feel the weight of his stare. After the final line, my gaze darts to our tables—to Julia. Her smile is gone. A frown twists her lips downward as she stares at where Chase and the rest of the guys are.
Because he's still staring at me. Our eyes lock from across the room as I shuffle off the stage with Callie and Jill. A soft smile spreads his lips and I can’t help but offer him one back. Only, the joy that one look provides is temporary, because when my stare moves back to Julia, I find her glaring. Shit. Tonight just got really complicated.
Cam walks over, the rest of the guys following. Their feet drag with the swagger all firefighters seem to possess. Jesus. It’s almost like a slow motion sequence in a movie. Remove their shirts and they belong on a stage in Vegas.
My eyes are drawn to Chase and I try not to eat him up with my stare. By the heat in his stare, I fail miserably.
Jill spots Cam before he reaches her. She screams with excitement and rushes to meet him through the crowd.
He lifts her into his arms, catching her as she flings herself at him. His hands squeeze her ass but before she can complain he cups the back of her head and tugs her mouth to his. Their lips lock, and the tenderness between them is so intense, I look away. I don’t remember the last time I was kissed like that.
No, that’s a lie. It was three years ago.
It was with Chase.
Butterflies take up residence in my belly. If I close my eyes I can recall how it felt to be wrapped in his arms. How his mouth pressed to mine. Demanding. Sensual. Sweet. If I’m honest, I wish I could have that now.
But I didn’t come here to play homewrecker.
I refuse to be the other woman and I won’t break up a happy couple. But if I see him kiss her like he used to kiss me, I don’t think I’ll survive. Jealousy flares in my chest just thinking about it.
For self-preservation I avoid them completely, inserting myself into random conversations and moving around the tables whenever Chase or Julia get too close. I’d be embarrassed—it’s an immature game of cat and mouse—but it’s the only thing keeping me from marching out the door.
The bachelor party combines with our group and we drag over a few more tables. People take turns singing while more drinks are passed around and I evade any more interactions with Julia or Chase. My stomach knots with anxiety and my smiles are as fake as my small talk. I’d leave, but I don’t want to disappoint Jill. Not when we’ve taken such a big step tonight in mending past hurts.
Thankfully, she’s too preoccupied with dragging all of her guests on stage to notice my odd behavior. When she ushers Julia toward the stage for a duet, I take the opportunity to use the restroom.
I’m not in a rush to head back to the tables, so after washing my hands and checking my makeup, I post up against the hallway wall to check my phone. There are no new messages. The last from Simon was hours ago informing me that Matthew was fast asleep.
“Hiding out?” Chase’s voice startles me. I didn’t hear him approach.
“Um, just giving my ears a rest,” I lie.
“Smart.” He grins, coming to stand at my side. He leans back against the wall and turns his chin to meet my stare. “If someone had told me five years ago I’d be in a bar, with you, completely sober, I would have laughed in their face.” He chuckles, the sound washing over me and sending tingles down my spine. “Then I’d probably take a shot.”
I recognize the conflict in his last words. “Do you miss it?”
“Drinking?” His shoulders shrug. “I miss the comradery. It’s not the same when you’re the odd man out. You?”
