Page 64 of The Star

He cracks his knuckles as he thinks over his next words, then leans a hand on the counter as he answers me. “It’s Hayden, C. Motherfucker does whatever he wants, doesn’t think of the consequences, just chases his nut and moves on. If he did, it wouldn’t mean anything.”

I huff a laugh, shaking my head, because he’s right. Hayden is ruthless. He doesn’t care what outcome his actions have; he just does whatever he wants without thinking. One day, it’s going to turn around and bite him in the ass, but until then, we can only watch Hurricane Hayden destroy everything in his path.

Hayden has always been fearless, even as a child. He was the first kid to do a flip on the monkey bars in kindergarten, simply because the teacher said it was dangerous. He’s quick to act, but loyal to the core when it comes to his family. Not his blood family, per se. But me and Levi? We’re that boy’s brothers. Even if he knows how I feel about Logan, as long as she’s single and pushing me away, he sees her as fair game. He’ll support me in my quest to sweeping her off her feet, but he won’t hesitate to fuck it all up on the way.

Evil bastard likes a game, likes to create his own rules and cut corners, so he’s the winner. It’s easy to be that way when you have no credit limit and an empty house, I guess. He’s jaded, haunted and damaged, and to an extent, I can see all the bad shit that lives inside of his head and use it as justification for his shitty behavior. At the end of the day, he’s my brother.

Levi claps me on the back. “Don’t let it get to you, man. Even if Haydenwould,I don’t think Logan would do that to you. She’s one of the good ones.”

“Did you not hear her?” I laugh, shaking my head. “‘I’m not yours.’She was looking right at me, bro. She doesn’t give a shit.”

He puffs his lips in a sarcastic smile. “That girl likes you, even if she’s denying it.”

I point a finger at him. “She was with some dick when she went to Franklin.”

He shakes his head. “And I’ll bet you a hundred dollars right now, she didn’t do shit with that pendejo.”

I slap my hand down on his when he holds it out for me, shaking it. “Bet.”

* * *

After another hour, the rehearsal dinner wraps up and everyone either heads to the bar to party the night away, down to the beach, or up to their rooms. Hayden, Levi, and I head to our room since we’ve run dry of mini liquor bottles, ready to drink the night away and relax. Logan was nowhere to be found on our way upstairs, and I found myself itching to pound my fists on her door just so I could see her one last time tonight.

We all change into sweats and crack open the large bottles of rum and whiskey Hayden brought from home, mixing them with ice in the glasses above the mini fridge in our room.

Settled on the balcony with low music playing from my phone, we all sit and drink in silence for a while. The music is quiet enough that I can still hear the ocean kissing the shore in the distance, and I close my eyes as I lean my head back against the couch so I can focus on the sound.

After about an hour, Logan’s sliding glass door opens, and she steps out into the evening, still in her dress from dinner. We wave when we see her, all too tired and warmed from the liquor to put any effort into teasing her right now.

“You guys got any ice?” Logan calls out, and when I look up, she’s leaning against the railing closest to my own balcony, a sassy smile gracing her face.

“There’s an ice machine down the hall.” I point in the general direction of inside the hotel, and she rolls her eyes at me in annoyance.

“I know that. I don’t feel like walking down there.” She bats her eyelashes, “Please?”

Hayden stands. “I’ll bring some over.”

Levi shoots an arm out to stop him, and he takes the hint, dropping back down on the couch and grumbling something under his breath.

Levi points at him. “You’re far too drunk to be in close proximity to Carson’s girl.”

Logan snorts, humor in her tone. “I didn’t know Cassidy was here.”

“Shut up, Logan.” I press my lips together, standing up. “Meet me at your door.”

She heads through her sliding glass door without another word, closing it behind her.

“I’ll be back,” I grunt to my friends as I walk through my own doors.

“Need a condom?” Levi shouts after me, but I ignore him, instead just laughing under my breath.

I grab a glass from the bar, pour some ice into it from the bucket we filled up earlier, and snatch my keycard from the entryway table before leaving my room. I tap my fingers on Logan’s door a few times to announce my arrival, and after a few seconds, she pulls the door open. Her makeup is still flawless, sparkling fireworks on her eyes, and I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips when she holds the door open for me, ushering me inside.

“Just take the glass.” I hold it out for her.

“Come in for a drink,” she answers, grabbing the glass of ice from my hands and motioning again with her other hand for me to come in.

I cross my arms over my chest. “I have drinks next door.”

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