The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower #2)(74)

“Sunshine,” he says tenderly, and just with that one word I feel like I’ve been enveloped in a blanket of warmth. “Where are you?”

“Vegas.”

He chuckles in amusement. “I know. But what club?”

“Uh … hang on.” I look at my texts from Lauren, scrolling back to where she mentioned what club we were going to tonight. I take a screenshot and send it to Thayer. “That one.”

“I’m coming to get you. Stay put.”

“How? You’re in Massahootest. No, that’s not right,” I mumble to myself. “Damn, these drinks are strong.”

“Just promise you’ll stay there.”

“I don’t know. I really have to pee.”

“You can go pee, Salem,” he sounds like he’s trying not to laugh. “I only meant don’t leave the club.”

“Oh. I got it. I won’t leave, promise.”

The call ends and I stare down at the screen. But wait, how is he supposed to get me if he’s not even here?

I shake my head and go to find Lauren or at least one of the girls and let them know I’m going to pee. Elizabeth is quick to join me.

The bathrooms are packed, and we have to wait in line to finally make it to a stall. Thankfully I remembered to put some tampons in my clutch. I need to run by a drug store and get more before we go back to the hotel.

When I leave the restroom I run face first into a wall—well not a wall, but a person. For a moment I panic, thinking it’s Dylan or another creep, but then the familiar scent of wood and pine and all things manly invades my senses.

I look up, up, up into Thayer’s face. I drunkenly touch the heavy scruff on his cheeks.

“My lumberjack.” His lips quirk. “I must be dreaming. What a weird dream, though.” I look around at the club.

“You’re not dreaming, Sunshine.”

“You’re really here? In Vegas?”

“I am.”

“Why?” I ask, stunned.

“I thought you might need me.” My jaw slackens. This man got on a plane and came to Vegas this weekend just in case I needed him? He must think because I’m silent that I’m mad, so he hastens to add, “I wasn’t going to just show up and crash your weekend. If you were fine, I was going to be back in Massachusetts before you even left tomorrow, but I—”

Standing on my tiptoes I grab the back of his head and pull his mouth down to mine. He doesn’t seem to care that I taste like alcohol. He kisses me back, his hands on my hips, pulling me impossibly closer.

“I love you,” I murmur.

I say it because I mean it, I say it because I can. Our love is no secret anymore. It’s the most beautiful thing and deserves to be celebrated.

When I finally stop kissing him, my cheeks redden in embarrassment when I find that Elizabeth has joined us from the restrooms. “Who’s this?” she asks in amusement.

“Oh, um, Elizabeth this is my Thayer. My boyfriend. My fiancé. Yeah, that one. Thayer, this is Elizabeth. She’s Anthony’s sister.”

He knows all about Anthony now and has been looking forward to meeting him at the wedding.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Thayer holds out his hand to Elizabeth.

“Likewise.” She gives me a look that says she thinks I picked a good one. I can’t help but laugh. Thayer’s oblivious to the effect he has on women. He turns us all to mush.

We make our way through the club, finding the other girls, and I let them know I’m going back to the hotel with Thayer.

Lauren sends a smirk my way like she knows exactly what’s about to go down. I roll my eyes. I’m on my period, in case she hasn’t forgotten. I’ve never had sex on my period, and I doubt tonight will be any different

“If I had known our guys were invited, I would’ve told Anthony to tag along,” she jokes, sipping on a pink-hued beverage.

“Ugh, no, I don’t care if you’re marrying him, my brother would rain on my parade.”

“Yeah, sorry about this,” Thayer says sheepishly. “I just—”

“Go on.” She waves us away. “Have a good night. I’m going to call it quits soon anyway. I can’t party like I used to. I like my sleep too much.”

I give her a quick hug goodbye and let Thayer guide me through the throng of people to the exit.

We step out onto the street, and I eagerly breathe in the night air. Only, it’s far from clean and filled with cigarette smoke and God knows what else.

“Do you want to walk?”

I shake my head. The hotel isn’t far from here, but I don’t feel like walking in my heels.

He quickly gets us a taxi, but the ride back takes forever thanks to traffic on The Strip. Walking might’ve been quicker but at least my feet aren’t hurting.

The taxi finally reaches the hotel and Thayer pays for the ride. As we head inside, my stomach decides to grumble, reminding me I didn’t eat much of my dinner, which is a shame because it was expensive.

“I’m hungry.” Thayer glances down at me, his brows furrowed. “Stop frowning at me like that. You’re going to get a wrinkle there.” I reach up and smooth down said wrinkle.

“I’ll order room service.”

“Are you taking me back to your room then, Mr. Holmes?”