Page 3

Chapter Two

Alex

I’ve been looking forward to this trip for the last couple weeks, ever since I came up with the idea. The boys didn’t take much convincing. An entire weekend of kinky fuckery and endless alcohol and strippers—what man could say no?

Cameron Scott, Austen’s best man and best friend, could.

Which is why I had left his invite up to Austen.

Honestly, I’m surprised Cameron agreed to go.

I thought for sure his non-answer after three days meant we were in the clear.

Without Cam around, Austen would be more likely to engage in some of those right of passage shenanigans with the rest of us.

My brother’s one of the most tightly wound people I know, and Cameron is his emotional support teddy bear.

They’ve been attached at the hip since they were in middle school .

Cameron’s never been quiet about his sexuality, which is something I admire about the guy.

He doesn’t pretend to be straight for anyone or anything.

My parents can’t stand him, but they don’t like anyone.

Cameron isn’t all that bad, no matter how much shit I give him.

He’s always been a good friend to Austen, and it’s rare for Austen to do anything without the guy.

Though I know some of that is because Cam has his own… predicament with my brother.

I’m bi. Knowing when a dude is into me is like a sixth sense, and my gaydar in most social situations is spot on. I’d bet my signed Mario Lemiuex hockey stick that something is going on between them, even if it is one-sided. Austen can be kind of oblivious, especially when it comes to Cameron.

Which is why spending a weekend with the straight guy you’re pining over and a bunch of straight, pussy-obsessed dude-bros probably isn’t the best idea for Cam. But I digress, because he is a good friend. He agreed to come on this trip, after all, despite not wanting to.

I should probably worry more about myself, because spending a weekend sleeping next to my brother’s friend who I’ve fantasized about for over three years is not a good idea. But here I am.

Give me royally fucked for five hundred, please .

I wish I could ignore my attraction to Jordan Mackenzie like he ignores me. It would make things so much easier, but I can’t. I haven’t been able to get Mack and his heated gaze out of my mind since Austen’s high school grad party.

It was an accident. I was drunk and horny, and Brittany and I had just broken up, but it wasn’t the fact he’d caught me masturbating that threw me off—it was the look in his eyes as he watched. It was the fact he made eye contact with me, and he didn’t look away. Not even when I finished.

It was late into the night, I’d had a lot of drinks and the room was dark, but I know what I saw.

Mack has made it abundantly clear that I am fucking delusional, though, and he hates me. Which only makes my stupid crush on the guy that much worse, because I like that.

God, I am so fucked up. What kind of asshole likes to be degraded until they’re crying and coming at the same time? Me, that’s who.

I shove the anxiety down as Britt’s voice pulls my attention.

“You have everything?” she asks.

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “Probably not.”

She offers me a soft smile, twirling her keys in her hand .

“I’ll j figure it out,” I say as I roll my suitcase after me and follow her to the car.

The drive to the airport isn’t long, but it seems like an eternity because I can’t stop thinking about Mack and t how hard it’s going to be to keep my distance with him so fucking close. I’m so lost in thought over it that I don’t realize we’re at the airport until Britt speaks.

“Have fun,” she says with a genuine smile. “Send me photos!”

I blink a few times, the drop off area coming into view, then get out and go around the car to lean into the driver’s side window, capturing her bright green gaze.

“Thanks, babe,” I say with a wink.

I lean in to kiss her, just a simple peck on her lips.

She gives me a sad smile. “Alex, we talked about this.”

“Sorry,” I say with a shrug. “Bad habit.”

Sometimes I forget we aren’t dating anymore because the comfort level has never changed between us.

I straighten my shoulders and say, “Won’t happen again.”

I grab my suitcase from her trunk as she gets out of the car.

“Promise me you’ll relax and have a good time.”

Relax in Vegas? That’s laughable.

I nod. “Promise.” I give her a smile, but it’s not genuine. I’m pretty good at faking it when I need to. “Thanks for the ride. ”

“You know I’m always here if you need me.” She gets back into her car and leaves me standing alone on the sidewalk.

The whole way through checking in and TSA, I can’t help but feel like shit. I debate hitting up a bar to push this weird melancholy bullshit out of my system.

I hate being single, but I guess it’s a good thing to be single in Vegas, right? I hope so. I hope by tomorrow I’m so drunk I won’t be able to even think about Jordan Mackenzie and his hateful stare or his perfect fucking ass, even if he is in the same room.

I almost think I’ve got the wrong gate because I don’t see any of the guys, until I lay my sight on one large body. I’d recognize those broad shoulders anywhere, but even if I couldn’t, I’d know from his varsity hoodie.

Fuck me sideways. He looks so damn good.

“Mack,” I grunt his name as I take a seat.

The row is open, but I opt for the seat three apart from him.

I don’t trust myself to be too close. On this trip, I have to be on my best behavior.

I don’t want to make things awkward for Austen.

I want this wedding to go off without a hitch.

My brother deserves a wedding without any drama.

Especially drama between me and his friend.

Jordan glares at me. His honey-brown eyes burn with a hatred that makes my entire body freeze and my cock twitch with anticipation.

Give me your worst. I beg you .

I relax back in my seat, doing my best to look unaffected. It isn’t an easy feat, but I manage.

“Heard we’re going to be roomies this weekend,” I say, not sure what else to talk about. Mack and I don’t talk . We do a lot of staring and bitching and arguing, but chatting is a no go.

“Let’s get one thing straight, here, Alex,” he begins. His gaze is heavy as he crosses his arms over his large chest. I pout because his hoodie covers up those delicious muscles he works so hard for.

I’ve seen him shirtless in my parents’ house plenty of times. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t put myself in the position to watch him in the first place.

“Oh, is this the part of the trip when you tell me to be a good boy?” I bite out, a smirk tugging at my lips.

“This is the part when I tell you if you don’t keep to your fucking self, I will make sure you don’t come home in one piece.” He grins this evil grin that has my stomach all fluttery.

Close enough, I guess. Before I can respond to Mack’s bitter and threatening comment, Trey, Hudson, Andre, and Paul show up with Austen in tow.

“Saved by the bell,” Mack mutters to himself, his demeanor shifting as Austen takes the seat beside him.

The guys fill in the rest of the seats, but I can’t take my eyes off Mack. His words reverberate in my brain, making me short circuit .

The desire to obey him is strong, but I don’t listen well.

I don’t like to be told what to do. The desire to argue with him, fight back, and tell him to go fuck himself just so I can get a rise out of him?

That’s a lot stronger. But I don’t argue or fight.

I only glare at Mack with the anger of a boiling volcano because this weekend is about Austen; not me and my need to piss off the man I’m obsessed with.

Game on, Mackenzie. Game fucking on.