Page 16 of Hook Up

“Mandi, we’ve been unhappy for months. Miserable, in fact, as made obvious by your extracurricular activities. I’m tired of pretending we mean anything to one another.”

“You mean something to me.”

“No, I don’t, and that’s fine.” Glancing at the time, I hold out my phone in Mandi’s direction. “Better get packing. Your ride to the airport will be here in an hour. Don’t worry, I’ll have someone send you the rest of your things.”

A single tear slips down her cheek. But I feel nothing.

Okay, that’s a lie. I feel like an enormous weight has been lifted, along with the overwhelming urge to party it up for the next few days.

I have the perfect solution.

“One hour,” I reiterate, as I turn on my heel, marching to the master suite. A small whine sounds from the bed, and I plop down next to the dog, scratching his ears. “So, that’s where she hid you. I know, you would have warned me. Guys have to stick together.”

With a sigh, I open the door, letting him scamper back to his mistress. He adores Mandi. No accounting for taste.

Time for me to finalize my new plans for the weekend. My childhood friend is getting married, and the idea of Vegas heat and Vegas strippers sounds like an excellent idea.

Fuck love. In all its forms.

And fuck Greer, too. All the love and unrequited feelings I’ve been carrying around for two decades can shove off. So what if she’s happily married? By the time she arrives in Vegas with her husband, I’ll have a woman under each arm… and a few more waiting in my bed.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Greg lets loose with a loud guffaw when he answers the phone. “Holy shit. Ryder Gray, as I live and breathe. How have you been, buddy?”

“It’s been an interesting week. Change of plans. I’m going to make your wedding if I’m still invited.”

“Absolutely. I don’t know if there are any more rooms available, but you can bunk with Jillian and me. The hotel isn’t anything fancy, but it’s the company that counts. I’d love for you to be there.”

See? This is why I love Greg. “Give me five minutes.”

Good to my word, I call him back with the surprise.

“Did you change your mind?”

“No, but you are changing venues. I booked a floor of suites at The Cosmopolitan. You’ve been my friend forever. It’s the least I can do.”

“Holy shit, Ryder. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Consider it a wedding gift. Let me send you out in style.”

“Wow.” I can tell by Greg’s voice he’s truly touched by my gift. Since he was ten, his life has been focused on survival. It’s time he got a bit of luxury thrown in there. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t say anything. This is what friends do.”

“Can you do something else for me?”

Okay, apparently shelling out twenty grand wasn’t enough for Greg. “Sure.”

“Will you stand up with me? Be my best man? Right now, Jillian’s brother is filling in, and to be honest, I hate the douchebag.”

I relax onto the mattress with a chuckle. “Come on, now I have to wear a tux? Fine, so long as I have time to find some beautiful women beforehand.”

“You had no issue before. Wait, aren’t you dating someone?”

“Was. She’s moving out, as we speak.”

“I’m sorry.”

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