Sweet Possession

“Just a water.” I turn to Juls once Reese leaves the group. “Is that what you’re having?”

She holds up her glass. “Nothing but water for me for the next eight months. I need it tonight anyway after bawling my eyes out at the rehearsal. I can’t imagine how emotional this is going to be tomorrow.”

“Am I the only one who didn’t cry?” Billy asks, reaching up and fixing Joey’s collar.

“I didn’t,” Ian says, glancing over at Juls who shoots him a disbelieving look. “What? I wasn’t crying. My allergies were acting up.”

“Sure they were,” Brooke teases. “Because you didn’t shed a few tears during your own wedding, or when you heard your baby’s heartbeat. You’re practically a chick, Ian. Whereas Reese exudes manliness.”

“Easy, hornball,” I direct at her. She wiggles her brows at me as a response.

Reese returns to the table carrying a beer and a glass of water for me. Ian points at him. “You think he won’t be emotional tomorrow? Are you fucking kidding? I’ll bet a hundred bucks he cries before any of us. Including you.” He motions toward me and smiles. “Shall we make it interesting?”

“Fuck you. I haven’t cried since I was a kid. I’ll take that bet,” Reese says. He looks down at me as he slides his arm around my waist. “Honeymoon money.”

I laugh as Joey slides off his stool. “I’m in.”

“Me, too,” Billy adds.

“Yup. I say you’re going to weep like a baby the minute you see her,” Juls says behind her glass, smiling at Reese. “I’ve seen the dress. Good luck getting any money from us.”

“I want in. I don’t have a hundred bucks yet cause I’m waiting to get paid,” Brooke pauses, shooting me a look which I give right back to her. “But, I’m betting Reese holds his ground. I think Dylan will cry before he does.”

Reese presses his lips to my hair. “You want in on this, love?”

Demi Lovato’s “Really Don’t Care” begins blaring overheard, and I put my glass down and shimmy out of his grasp. “Nope!” I yell over the music, moving toward the dance floor. I connect with him from the other side of the table. “But if I were, I’d be betting against you, handsome.” I grab Joey by the shirt and pull Juls off Ian’s lap. I wave over Brooke and the four of us move into the crowd of people on the dance floor.

The guys stay at the table, watching, amused as we all twirl around each other and sing at the top of our lungs. I keep meeting Reese’s eyes, motioning for him to join me, but he stays put and occasionally shakes his head in disapproval when I begin dancing way more flirtatiously than I did today in the shop. Billy joins us after a few songs and takes turns dancing with all four of us, giving Joey extra attention. The dance floor is mobbed and we get moved farther and farther away from the table when more people try to pack in. Juls motions she needs a drink after a while, and I do, too. I’m sweaty and definitely parched, but I need to use the restroom first.

“I’ll be right there!” I yell over the music, seeing all four of them indicate they’ve heard me as they walk back toward the guys.

I push my way through the crowd toward the back hallway which leads to the bathrooms. There are entirely too many people in the bar tonight. There must be some sort of crowd cap that is definitely being ignored. But as long as there isn’t a line for the ladies room, I’m fine with the mob.

I follow a group of girls into the women’s room, who luckily only want to check out their makeup situation, leaving me an empty stall. Once I’m finished, I wash my hands and clean up my face a bit, forgetting all about the tears I shed earlier and what it ended up doing to my eye makeup. But luckily, it’s so dark in the bar I doubt anyone noticed. Once I’m satisfied with my appearance and so thirsty I contemplate drinking straight from the tap, I exit the bathroom.

I’m stopped by a hand on my upper arm, big enough to wrap around my bicep. It tightens and pulls me out of the bathroom doorway while another hand grabs my hip, pinning me against the wall. Everything happens so quickly, I don’t have time to register any of it. The hard body is pressing against me, preventing me from moving and keeping me boxed in. I look up at a man invading my space and meet those eerie yellow eyes I never thought I’d see again.

“Get the hell…”

My words are cut off when his hand covers my mouth, He moves closer, flattening his body against mine. I clench every muscle as I try to squirm from his hold. I know the hallway is packed with people, but the way Bryce is pressing against me and given his size compared to mine and his ability to shield me completely, it probably looks like two people making out. I try to shake my head to remove his hand but he stays with me. He pins my arms together in front of me when I try to push him away. Panic sets in. Blood fills my ears and I want to scream, but I can’t.

And then he leans in and I squeeze my eyes shut. I don’t know what he’s about to do. I don’t know if he’s just going to run his mouth like usual. Given the fact he probably knows he’s going to prison, I’m thinking he isn’t going to hold anything back.

“Hey, baby. Miss me?”

I gag at the alcohol and cigarette cocktail filling my nasal cavity with each word he spews. It’s nauseating, as is everything about this guy. I feel his nose rub against my forehead and hear him inhale.

“Your bastard boyfriend messed with the wrong guy. And he was really fucking stupid to let you out of his sight.”