Page 60 of The Star

When I’ve finished my food, I down the entire bottle of water and test my legs again. When I can walk in a straight line without wobbling, I make my way to the glass door and slide it open to let in some fresh air. I step out onto the balcony, which has a little loveseat on it, and lean against the railing to stare out at the ocean.

I still have a few hours before the dinner, and I plan to spend all of them out here breathing in the salty air, listening to the waves crashing in the distance.

Closing my eyes, I take a big, deep breath in as I lean over the railing on my forearms, my mind taking me back to the last time I was listening to the sounds of the beach.

Carson deep in my throat. His hands sliding into my pants. Our mouths pressed together so fiercely that just the feeling of him kissing me had me aching to be touched.

I press my lips together and moan, letting the memory heat my core.

“Reminiscing?”

My head snaps to the side, my eyes flashing open to find Carson fucking Raines sitting on the balcony next to mine, his feet kicked up on a little table as he lounges on his own loveseat. He grins at me – that grin that makes my head spin and my skin flush.

“You’re in the room next to me?” I slice my eyes, walking to the opposite edge, closer to his own railing.

“I asked if we could bunk together, but your dad said no.” He smirks.

My eyes go wide. “You didn’t.”

He laughs, his head going back. “Of course I didn’t, Logan. Do I look like an idiot?”

I drop my head to the side, humming through puckered lips. “Sure you want me to answer that?”

He laughs effortlessly. “Shut up.”

“Carson, there’s only two fucking bottles of vodka in this bullshit mini fridge, what kind of hotel is this?” Hayden steps through the sliding glass door of Carson’s hotel room, Levi hot on his tail with about fifteen little bottles of liquor in his arms.

I roll my eyes. “You brought Dumb and Dumber with you?”

Carson laughs, and both of his friends turn to look at me at the same time.

“Hello to you too, Logan.” Hayden smiles smugly, showing me his white teeth.

Levi and Hayden drop down on the couch next to Carson, and Levi deposits the unopened bottles from his arms onto the table in front of them.

“Hey, Logan, wanna come over and be the entertainment?” Levi beams.

I snort, spinning on my foot to head back inside my hotel room. “I would rather die.”

“We’ll be here if you change your mind!” Carson calls out after me, so I slam my sliding glass door shut once I’m back inside.

I figure I might as well get ready, since Sara is trusting me to becamera ready– her words, not mine – tonight.

I find my dress hanging in the bathroom, as well as a bunch of stuff spread out on the vanity sitting next to the shower, like someone was in here setting up for me prior to this.

My makeup bag on the counter is still packed, filled with all my grocery store cosmetics and body spray, but next to it there’s all different cosmetics laid out – Dior, Urban Decay, Tom Ford, a bunch more unrecognizable names – all in their plastic like they were purchased for me brand new. There’re also a couple of bottles of expensive perfume, so I smirk as I grab my own makeup bag and throw it straight into the garbage can sitting by the door.

Might as well, right?

There’s a curling iron, a hair straightener, and a bunch of hair products lined up on the edge of the counter as well, and thank God since I forgot to pack anything for my hair besides a brush.

I pull my dress down off the hook on the wall, unzipping the clear garment bag it’s inside of and running my hands down the black, beaded fabric. I told Sara I didn’t want to wear anything tooLuxington, and to my very thankful surprise, she offered me this little number, which feels reallyme.

Behind the garment bag, there’s another, this one a solid black, and when I unzip it, I laugh. It’s black lace underwear – no, not underwear –lingerie.

Part of me wonders why I’m being presented with classy and sexy undergarments, but the other part doesn’t really care. Not like anyone will see them, and it’s probably normal to wear this type of shit at a wedding, right?

I’ve never been to a wedding, certainly not one hosted by a millionaire, so I decide to just roll with it.

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