Promises Forgotten
Chapter 28

I looked down at the coffee in front of me. One cream, one sugar poured into it. It was getting cold, but I couldn’t take my mind away from her. Jason was droning on about his escapades with three of the bridesmaids in his suite on the other side of the table. Reaching out, I grabbed the mug of coffee and took a sip.

“Dude, what is up with you today? It’s like you’re not even here.”

Smiling, I looked up at Jason who was glaring at me. “Chill, dude. I think I got like two hours of sleep.”

“Not at this hotel you didn’t. I checked. Where the hell have you been? You f*****g dipped out of the club, and I didn’t see you until this morning. Doing a f*****g walk-o-shame into your suite.”

“If I’m doing a f*****g walk of shame, then you know exactly where I have been. Don’t pretend like you want to know the details about my night.” I shook my head and took another sip.

Jason harrumphed and crossed his arms over his chest. “Was it that one girl? What was her name?”

“Evie. Her name was Evie.”

His eyebrows shot up. “You? Remembering a girl’s name? She must have been f*****g good.”

Setting my mug down on the table, I stared into the liquid. “There was something about her…”

He laughed and grabbed his fork. “Damn, girl got the famous Zachary Anderson speechless. That’s a hell of a thing.” Taking a couple bites of food, he nodded to me. “So, what’s the plan for today? Play some poker? Maybe some blackjack and hit the new night club opening tonight?”

A smile made its way to my face, I could feel the note she left on the bed when I woke up in the morning.

.

Morning, Pretty Boy.

Bridesmaid duty calls. Figured I’d let you sleep more, as a reward for all your good deeds last night. You passed four out of the five prerequisites. Wedding venue address is on the back, ceremony starts at 2 p.m. If you do actually want to be my plus one. It will be lonely without you. Take a chance, see a girl for a second time. Who knows, you might fall in love yet.

Your Goddess Divine.

.

“I think…I’m gonna head to a wedding, actually.”

Jason spat out the coffee he was drinking. “Excuse me?”

I looked up at him, smirking. “You got some…coffee…” I gestured to the whole front of him.

“No no. Did you say you were going to a wedding? Are you f*****g kidding? I knew she said she needed a plus one, but you don’t see a girl a second time after you f**k her. You know the rule.”

“Well, I’m f*****g breaking it.” I took one last sip of my coffee and tossed my napkin on the table. He started to stand up and I shook my head. “I’ll catch you later, man. Try not to lose too much money at the tables.”

Walking off, I headed back up to the suite. I was glad we didn’t share. Jason tried to talk me into it but after being his college roommate for four years I was done with his shit. Never again would I have to sleep in the same room as him. It was a f*****g mistake and one I would never repeat if I could help it.

Getting up to the suite, I jumped in the shower and scrubbed down. Wrapping a towel around my waist, I headed to the minibar and grabbed a water bottle. She was right. It was a risk, a chance to see the same girl twice. Never in all my years, unless I didn’t remember the poor woman because I was too drunk, did I go back for seconds. She was different, though. Something about Evie was different. More than just her body. After waking up alone, waking up in a hotel room that I honestly only saw in movies. It was tiny, but for some reason didn’t feel claustrophobic. The memories of our night together lingered in the air and I needed more.

My whole being craved her still. How could I still need her? Feel like I needed her? Not just under me, not just in my bed but standing next to me. Hearing her voice, seeing her smile. That f*****g smirk when she was being sassy or mischievous. I wanted it, needed it more than I needed the f*****g breakfast this morning. Picking up the note I took out of my pocket, I pressed the address into my phone. It was a good forty-five minutes away. Looking at the time, it was 12:30 p.m. Taking a breath, I called up a car rental service. They said they could have a car delivered to my hotel in thirty minutes.

I agreed and pulled out my suitcase. I didn’t expect to go to a wedding, but I did always bring a jacket and slacks, being the only type of outfit that was in my wardrobe anymore, I started to get dressed to go to a f*****g wedding. Chuckling, I shook my head as I buttoned up my white shirt. I needed to see her again. See if what last night…what I felt was real. She already made me prove I could take a risk when I followed her down unknown streets and two alleys in Vegas. If there was nothing, no harm done. We would part ways and the weird phenomena that happened would just be forgotten.

Finishing my water, I got the call that the car was downstairs, and I grabbed my jacket with my sunglasses. Walking out of the hotel, I stopped when Carlos, my man and hookup for anything I needed in Vegas, was leaning against a red convertible Corvette. My nose wrinkled.

“Sorry man, it’s what I could get in a short time. Everything is booked.”

“It’s fine, man. I appreciate it. Thanks for coming through.” I shook his hand.

He opened up the door for me and I rolled my eyes. “How long you thinking about keeping this baby for?”

“Probably just a day? That alright?”

He nodded. “Just make sure you pay up when you’re done.”

Putting on my sunglasses, I started up the Corvette and revved the engine. Smiling, I gave him a wave and headed out, following the directions on my phone to the address Evie gave me. I drove out of downtown Vegas and further into the desert. My head said this was a f*****g stupid idea, but my heart was racing just at the thought of seeing her again. I put my foot down and allowed the Corvette to roar to life as I headed toward the country club that this wedding was being held at.

–

Shutting the door to the Corvette, I lifted up my sunglasses. The venue was actually beautiful. It took advantage of the Red Rock Canyon and the mountains in it. There were a ton of people walking up and not at all dressed for the weddings I had been to. It was a far more casual affair than I realized. Leaving my sunglasses on, I grabbed my jacket and walked up to the front of the building that was being used.

I realized not only did I not have Evie’s number, but I didn’t have an invitation either. I didn’t know how well this would go, but damn if I wouldn’t try. There was a short line as people got signed in. A young kid was standing at the entrance to the venue, making sure everyone signed the book and knew where to go. Once it was my turn, I pulled my sunglasses up and settled them on my head.

The kid looked me up and down and smiled. “Damn, I lost fifty bucks. Shit. Chris is gonna kill me.”

My eyebrow rose.

“You’re Evie’s plus one, right? Tall, dark, handsome, brooding and looks like he doesn’t belong anywhere near here. You fit the description perfectly.”

Laughing, I nodded. “That’s me.”

“You can sit on the bride side, that’s the left. I don’t know if you will replace Evie beforehand but I’ll text her that you actually showed up.” He huffed. “She made a f*****g fool out of all of us.”

“How much total?”

The kid smiled. “Out of the whole family and bridal party? Over a thousand bucks for sure.”

I scoffed. “Everyone said I wouldn’t.”

“Of course, we did. F*****g look at you man. Get in already.”

I couldn’t contain my laughter as I walked in to the venue. There were tables set up with photos of the bride and groom. There were also games and snacks littered around for people to enjoy while they mingled. I looked at my watch and it was 1:54 p.m. Did normal people’s weddings start on time? In my world, you were lucky if they were only an hour late. But there usually was a red carpet leading up to the whatever church they were getting married in. Then another red carpet leading into the venue that housed the reception.

“No f*****g way.” I saw one of the girls Jason had in his lap stop dead in her tracks as she walked past the room.

“Angelica…right?” I smiled.

She shook her head. “Damn it. He wasn’t joking. Is Justin with you?”

“Jason, actually, and no. Not really a wedding kind of guy.”

“Neither are you, but here you are.”

Shrugging, I didn’t reply.

“I have to go but…make sure Evie takes you out. She made bank off of you today.”

“Will do.” Laughing, I watched her scurry off. I realized I didn’t take in the dress she was wearing as a bridesmaid. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Evie before the wedding. Hoping that if the sparks weren’t there, I could just leave and wouldn’t have to suffer through the whole charade.

Walking outside, the chairs were set up facing the beautiful mountains and it was luckily not a scorcher outside, allowing everyone to sit comfortably. I sat near the back, on the very far edge. More of the seats were already full on both sides and I just enjoyed the view.

I knew she was behind me before she said anything. My body felt her come up behind me, but I sat stiff in my seat as her voice whispered in my ear.

“You know, you look a little lonely over here.”

“Quite content, actually. It’s a beautiful view.”

Evie let out a sigh. “I thought so, too. She wanted to have the wedding on the strip, and I told her hell no. She was going to have to look at these photos at least until she got married again. So do something beautiful.”

Chuckling, I nodded. “Angelica says you owe me dinner.”

“Bitch. I make a little money off of them and they go and tattle.”

My head tilted to the right, and I looked at her. She was smiling, light makeup on her face. I realized that last night she didn’t have a single ounce of makeup on. I preferred it, too. My hand twitched and I couldn’t stop myself from tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“Why did you come, Z?”

I searched her face, her eyes staring into my soul. “I needed to know. Needed to know what I felt last night wasn’t a fluke. Wasn’t just the alcohol and the Vegas lights.”

“Your verdict?”

My heart hammered in my chest. “I was an idiot.”

She smiled and her face brightened. “Why?”

“Because I should have known last night I fell for you. You’ve captured my soul, Evie.”