Page 63 of Reckless

“Yes.”

At least she didn’t fight me on that one.

Our first night as a part of the Hayes organization went well both upstairs and downstairs. Kieran came. His father didn’t.

“He considers this my training,” Kieran explained while we sat in the back during the third fight. “He won’t intervene. We are doing this alone. You and me.”

“Fine by me.” If I never saw Patrick Hayes again, it would be too soon.

The next few days Kieran came to the bar every night to share a drink with me. I genuinely liked the kid. On Wednesday I received a text.

Unknown: Bachelor party on Saturday. Book a flight back home.

I never bothered to save Lucas’s number. I guessed it was him. Or that dumbass Chase. I didn’t answer.

A minute later another text came in.

Unknown: I need a new best man. Want the job?

So it was Lucas after all.

Hell, no, I wanted to write back.

The wedding was planned for the second weekend of September. I already knew Chase couldn’t come to the wedding because of his game schedule. Clem had informed me about that development. My sister and I were texting daily now. I had a bad feeling about the venue debacle, so I checked up on her often. She took it as a sign I was now glued to my phone and willing to talk.

I didn’t want to be the best man. I didn’t care about the title, nor the responsibilities. Not to mention that Patrick Hayes never said anything about a paid vacation.

Hannah Spencer was another downside. She had a boyfriend, and she probably hated my guts right about now. We would have to dance and take pictures together. After that kiss we shared in that bathroom I didn’t trust myself enough to be that close to her. Although I would enjoy watching her blush in front of her boyfriend while I whispered something dirty into her ear during the photoshoot.

I ignored Lucas’s texts, even though he could see I read them, and went about my day.

Hours later I glanced at my phone and I saw I had another message.

Unknown: Also, don’t bring a date to the wedding. Hannah will be solo.

Dr. Douchebag probably had to save lives and all that shit, but knowing little Spencer, I suspected she might have told him about the bathroom incident, so I had to ask.

Me: Why?

At this point I saved Lucas’s number. I was already invested in the conversation.

My phone buzzed just a minute after I texted even though he wrote me hours ago.

She broke up with her boyfriend.

Why?

I don’t know. Maybe it was a huge-ego-small-dick situation. He seemed like that type of a guy.

I laughed out loud. I even inserted a laughing emoji, but then deleted it without sending it.

Going to Cali wasn’t bad idea. I could check Madison’s progress with the venue.

Party in Vegas?

If I was attending a bachelor party as a best man, I would make sure it was a decadent one.

No. Cali. Not leaving Clem.

---