Picking Up the Pieces (Pieces, #2)(93)

I pulled back and brought a hand up to cup his cheek. “He’s bringing his girlfriend with him. I think it’s safe to say that he wants something different now. I know I do.”

He smirked. “Oh yeah? And what is it that you want?”

“You. Just you.” I leaned into him as he lowered his lips to mine and captured them in a kiss that expressed everything we felt for one another. It was the best kiss we’d ever shared.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered against my lips.

“Good idea,” I responded breathily as I pulled back from him. I walked around to the passenger side of the car, but Adam’s voice stopped me before I actually got in.

“And, Lily.”

I looked at him expectantly.

“If you think he doesn't still want you, then you don’t know him nearly as well as you think you do.” And with that, Adam lowered himself into the car and turned the ignition.

I hesitated a second, taking a deep breath of the cool night air before climbing in beside him, hoping to hell that he was wrong.

***

I drove to A.C. with Amanda, Steph, Danielle, and Kate. The boys were all driving together, except for Max, who was coming separately with his girlfriend. We pulled up to Bally's and checked in. We had reserved one Premium Suite for the girls and one next door for the boys. It would be tight cramming us all in, but we didn’t plan to spend much time in the room anyway.

Once we made our way up the elevator to the thirtieth floor, we located our room and proceeded to drop our stuff inside and inspect it. It was large, with one king-sized bed, a huge armchair that someone could easily sleep in, and we’d asked for a cot to be delivered. The five of us could definitely make it work.

Amanda plopped herself on the bed to relax.

“Not so fast,” I scolded. “We have reservations at the spa in thirty-five minutes. So don’t get too comfortable over there.”

“What are we having done?” Amanda asked.

“The works,” I replied with a wink as I walked into the bathroom to drop off my toiletries.

“Well it better include a happy ending or I’m gonna be pissed,” Amanda called after me.

“You’re getting your happy ending in seven days when you become Mrs. Shane Reed,” Danielle interjected.

Amanda flipped over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. “That’s so sappy.” As a smile slid across her face, she couldn’t help but add, “but totally true.”

***

Two hours later, we were massaged, pampered, and ready to blow the roof off of Atlantic City. We all put on the sluttiest clothes we owned, did our hair and makeup, and headed over to the guys’ room so we could head to dinner. I had made us all reservations at Arturo's, which was in the hotel. Then, we would all go our separate ways and see who made it back alive.

I knocked on their door and heard someone yell, “Our wenches have arrived.”

Great, they’re already wasted.

The door swung open and Ben stood there in a magenta button-down shirt with the top three buttons undone. He held a bottle of Tanqueray in his right hand as he waved us in. “Come on in, ladies. Feel free to remove your clothes and make yourselves comfortable.”

Amanda stopped in front of him, and fixed him with a deathly glare. “Just so you know, if you get my fiancé arrested, raped, or murdered tonight, I will make your children fatherless. I can’t believe Talia let you come down here alone.”

“I know, right?” he laughed.

Talia had opted to stay home with the kids instead of coming to the bachelorette party. Shane’s mom had offered to babysit them, but Talia declined. We all had a strong suspicion that a night away from Ben was too strong of a temptation for her to pass up.

We walked the rest of the way in and were greeted by catcalls, whistles, and bottles clanking.

“You guys are pigs,” I stated.

“Tell us something we don’t know,” Kyle retorted as he made his way over to Kate, kissed her cheek, and whispered something in her ear that made her blush deeply. Lucky bitch.

“You ready? I’m starving,” Amanda said as she leered at Shane. I couldn’t blame her; he was quite a sight. He was wearing a black polo shirt that hugged every last one of his rock solid muscles and light jeans that looked like they had been specially designed for his body.

He looked back at her, letting his eyes graze over her body as if he were deciding which part of her to eat first. And since her black shorts and black corset top accentuated everything she had to offer, he had quite a bit to choose from. “You really going out in that?” he asked, pretending not to care, though it was clear from the way he stared at her that he was very interested.

“Yup.” She popped the last letter as it left her mouth. She really was a masterful flirt.

He walked over to her and ran his hand down her bare arm as he leaned into her. “Just remember that I’m the only one who gets to take it off of you,” he said loudly enough for us all to hear.

“Trust me, baby. That’s one thing that you never have to worry about me forgetting.”

“Okay, let’s get out of here. We’re going to be late for our reservations,” I said to keep Shane from f*cking Amanda right where they stood, and giving us all the show of our lives.

Shane grabbed Amanda’s hand and started for the door. Kyle wrapped an arm around Kate’s shoulder and followed them. I took a quick inventory of the rest of Shane’s friends. He had brought his other three groomsmen, all guys he’d grown up with and who I’d met only a couple of times: Mark, Luke, and Matt. I was always stunned how hot guys seemed to flock together. Their group would definitely be attracting some serious female attention tonight. Though, as I looked around at the girls, I knew we’d be turning some heads ourselves.