The Sweet Addiction Series Collection: Sweet Addiction, Sweet Possession & Sweet Obsession (31 page)

“That’s not why I’m mad.” I sit up, glaring at both of them. “Well, okay, yes it bothers me that he’s been with other women. And I know it shouldn’t because I wasn’t a virgin when we started this thing between us, but I’ve only been with Justin.” I put my glass down. “Reese gave me a ballpark figure of close to twenty girls and that’s a fucking lot. Which is fine, whatever. I can deal with that as long as it’s not thrown in my face. But it was.” I close my eyes and picture one of the images from the box. Grabbing my glass off the small table, I down it quickly before I continue. “I’m not even mad at him about this. Not even in the slightest, which is what’s making this so fucking confusing. The only thing he did wrong was allow for the pictures to be taken of him and not confiscate them after he ended it with her. He didn’t send them to me. He doesn’t talk about other girls he’s been with. He tells me
I’m
amazing and
I’m
all he thinks about.” I sigh heavily and throw myself back down onto my pillow. “But now I have to deal with psychotic ex-hook ups and I’m not sure I’d do well in prison. I’m too hostile.” This is true. I’d probably end up permanently in solitary confinement after getting into too many fights or disobeying orders.

I glance over and see the bursting smiles on my two best friends’ faces, desperately trying to hold in their hysteria. I motion for them to let it out and the three of us fall into a fit of giggles.

“All right, so I have a question,” Joey says and I shake my head, preparing for the worst here. “How the hell did you wind up spending the night with him last night? I thought you were against sex in beds and sleepovers and anything too intimate.”

“You slept over at his house?” Juls asks.

“It was an accident. He wanted to fuck me in his bed for his birthday, so I let him, and then we passed out together. I’m not letting it happen again.” I glance over and see Joey’s mischievous grin and Juls’ teary eyes. “What?”

“You were his birthday present? Oh my,” she says and blinks rapidly.
Good Lord, she’s emotional lately.

I glare at Joey. “And what’s up with you?”

Crossing his hands behind his head, he continues after a dramatic pause. “I just think it’s cute that you
think
it was an accident. I mean, he could have woken you up and driven you home, but he called me instead and told me you would be late today. It was no accident, cupcake. He wanted you there.”

My eyes widen and I sit up. “He called you this morning, right?”

He shakes his head and grins wide at me. “Nope. He called me last night after you passed out.”

I shuffle over and sit on top of him, hearing him squeal underneath me. “What the hell do you mean he called you last night? Are you serious?” His grin answers for him and I glance over at Juls who is laughing hysterically. “I can’t believe this. He lied to me.”

“Oh, relax, sweets. I think it’s romantic that he wanted you to spend the night with him. How was it anyway?”

The memory of last night runs through me quickly and I feel my lip curl up into a smile. I shrug and play it off. “It was okay.”
Wow. I don’t even sound convincing to myself.
I roll off Joey and lay back down on my pillow. “I sure hope he enjoyed himself because that shit is never happening again.”

“Hmm mmm,” my two best friends say in unison. I bite my lip to contain my laugh but crack, letting it out as they fall apart next to me. This is how the rest of the evening plays out. Laughing and joking on the living room floor in Juls’ apartment as we polish off two bottles of wine. There’s Juls and Ian’s wedding talk, Joey and Billy’s moving in together talk, and mine and Reese’s crazy fight hard, fuck harder, non-relationship talk. It’s a much needed gab fest among three friends who used to only rely on each other. After several hours of gossiping and alcohol consumption, I pass out in the middle of her living room and slip into my Reese coma.

After a fast breakfast with Juls, Joey and I return to the bakery and put the finishing touches on the wedding cake before loading it up into Sam. The reception hall is thirty minutes away and traffic is a nightmare, but we make it on time and drop the beautiful, white chocolate, Gerber daisy cake off without any issues. I shower and dress after saying my goodbyes to Joey and lock the shop up, deciding to sit outside on the bench, which is a store down from mine, while I wait for Juls. Today is dress-shopping day and I’m not sure who is more excited about it, her or me. I’ve never been in a wedding party before and am delighted to be a part of Ian and Juls’ special day. Plus, I
would
have the hottest date on the planet. Of course, that’s if we are still doing this thing between us in three months. The thought unsettles me and I scroll through my phone while I sit on the bench, pulling up his last text message.

Reese: Don’t pull away from me.

What the hell does that even mean?
I’m sure it doesn’t mean the way I’m interpreting it, which is in the most gigantic scheme of things way possible. I’m sure he’s only referring to my justified freak out over the pictures I received yesterday.
Shit.
The thought of them makes me queasy. His face, the face I had hoped was only reserved for me, clearly isn’t because it’s been captured by another woman. I sigh forcefully and jam my phone into my jeans pocket. How stupid of me to think he only looks at me like that. That I’m the only woman he watches intently as he’s coming. I close my eyes tightly and the sound of a car approaching causes me to peek them open. Juls’ black Escalade pulls up to the curb and the passenger window rolls down as I stand up.

“Let’s go, sweets.”

I smile, pushing all of the Reese drama to the very back of my mind. I can’t think about this shit right now. Today is about Juls, and I’m going to keep my mind occupied with all things maid of honor like.

We’ve arrived at Christian’s Bridal Shop, and after a few moments of quick hysteria over the fact that we are
actually
shopping for Juls’ wedding dress, we walk around the store and peruse the selections. Juls’ sister Brooke, who will be the other bridesmaid next to Joey, met us here shortly after we arrived. I haven’t seen her in a while and she’s been talking my ear off nonstop about the lack of men in her life and probing for information on mine.

“Oh, come on, Dylan. Tell me all about this guy who works with Ian. I’m dying for some hardcore gossip and Juls won’t tell me shit,” she says from the dressing room next to me. We’ve been handed a few dress choices and I’m currently slipping myself into a chocolate brown strapless number that feels and looks incredible.
Damn. Would it be weird to buy this if Juls doesn’t pick this for her big day?
I zip up the back and open the curtain.

“There’s nothing to tell. He’s just a guy I’m having fun with.” I step out and hop up onto the pedestal in front of a massive mirror, seeing Juls’ reflection as she stands behind me.

“Holy shit. I love that one. What do you think though? Is it comfortable? Do you think we should go for something more cheery, like maybe a burnt orange color?”

I spin around to face her. “Burnt orange? How the hell is that more cheery? And are you trying to make us look like pumpkins?”

She bites her bottom lip and eyes up my dress as Brooke walks out in the exact same one. “I love this one. Juls, pick this because the other three are fucking hideous and make me look like I’m six months pregnant.”

Juls moves to stand by her sister and runs her hand over the material. “Yup, this is it. You both look amazing in it and I love the color.” She smiles and bobs her head. “Well, that was way too fucking easy. Now it’s time for the real fun.” She wiggles her brows and walks to her dressing room while Brooke and I stand and gaze at our reflections.

“And what do you mean you’re just having fun with this guy? Are you telling me it’s strictly a sex thing between you two, because if you are, I think that’s bullshit. Guys can make that shit work, but I don’t think girls can. We’re too emotional.”
Jesus. Did she hit the nail on the head or what?
Leave it to Brooke to be exceedingly insightful when she hasn’t even met the guy I’m just having fun with yet.

“I’m keeping my emotions out of it.”
Or, at least, I’m desperately trying to.

“Ha! Yeah, okay, good luck with that. How’s the sex?” I glance over at her and issue my wicked grin. “Damn. I need to start checking out office buildings for smart men. You and my sister are making bank.”

My phone beeps in my dressing room and I hop down quickly, racing in to pull it out of my discarded jeans. My heart sinks a bit at the message sender.

Joey: Party is postponed. My baby has the stomach bug that’s going around. How’s the dress shopping going?

Me: Oh no! Tell Billy I hope he feels better. We just picked out our dresses and Juls is trying hers on now. I’ll send you a pic.

Well, shit. I guess I won’t be seeing Reese tonight at the party after all. My disappointment quickly gets blanketed by the realization that it might be a good thing to go a few days without seeing him. Between the accidental, but not really accidental, sleepover to the photos I received, I have a lot of shit to think about. I hear a gasp from Brooke and I quickly slip out of my dressing room and let my eyes fall on Juls who has just emerged from hers.
Holy shit.

“Holy shit. Juls… oh my, that’s… oh, wow.” There are no words to describe the woman I’m staring at right now. She’s beautiful, exquisite even, in a strapless tight laced bodice and ruffled skirt, her tiny waist accented with a deep brown sash that falls down her back and onto her train.

“Wow. You look amazing,” Brooke states as her sister takes her place on her pedestal and begins to twirl slowly.

“It’s beautiful, right?” She shakes her hands out by her side and I can tell she’s nervous.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know. Is it weird that I have no desire to try on any other dresses? I mean, this is the first one I put on and I feel like this is it. I can see myself marrying Ian in this. Maybe I should try on more.”

“Fuck that. Who cares if it’s the first one you try on. You look amazing in it. Like crazy amazing. I can
totally
see you marrying Ian in this dress,” I reply and see the tension leave her shoulders. Leave it to Juls to worry about the standards of bridal gown shopping. Her smile widens in the mirror and I can tell she’s on to something. “What?” She quickly hops down and slips back into her dressing room.

“Damn it. I wanna get married. There better at least be some hot groomsmen for me to fool around with at this thing,” Brooke grunts.

“The best man is off limits, just so you know,” I reply and she squints at me.

Juls re-emerges with another gown in her hands and walks over to me, thrusting it into my arms. “Here, try this on.”

“What? Are you crazy?”
She must be if she thinks I’m slipping into a wedding gown.
“I am
not
trying on a wedding dress.”

“Why not? This would look amazing on you, right, Brooke?”
Oh, for Christ’s sake.

Brooke steps up and admires the gown. “She’s right, Dylan. It’s a halter and you always look amazing in halter dresses with those boobs of yours. Remember prom? God, I fucking hate you both.”

I back up. “You are both nuts. There’s no way I’m putting that thing on or any other wedding dress for that matter. I’m pretty sure I’d seal my fate as being perpetually single if I did.” This is an honest fear. Karma has been increasingly hostile toward me lately and I can see her crossing her arms and stomping her foot at me now, daring me to push my luck.