Holding You

Pulling her into my arms, I held her tight. “Alex, everything is going to be perfect. Don’t worry about a thing.”



Sniffling, Alex nodded into my chest. “I’m so scared, Lauren.”



“Oh, honey. Why? Why are you scared?”



Pulling back some, Alex worried her lower lip. “I don’t know. I love Will so much and I really can’t wait to start my life as his wife but at the same time . . . I’m getting married in a little over a month.” Letting out a nervous giggle, her eyes widened. “Married. As in Mrs. William Hayes.”



Staring at Alex I tried to hold it back, but I couldn’t. I busted out laughing. It didn’t take Alex long to start laughing also. Before long, we had tears streaming down our faces and I wasn’t even sure why we were laughing. Grace and Maegan walked up and looked at us with smiles.



“What’s so funny?” Grace asked as she walked up to us.



Wiping my tears away, I winked at Alex. “Just being silly and we lost control of our giggles.”



We spent the rest of the train ride planning our evening. We were going to dinner, then dancing at a local club that would allow Taylor and me in.



THREE HOURS LATER, Grace was grinding up against yet another cowboy as we all sat at the table and watched. After the song ended, she meandered her way back over to us.



“Whew. Damn, that boy was hot! I was pretty sure I was one move away from getting his number.”



Maegan jumped up. “That’s it! Okay, the first one to get a guy’s number wins!”



We all looked around at each other and then back to Maegan. “What in the hell are you talking about, Meg? I thought we all agreed no getting wasted tonight,” Libby said with a wink.



“I’m not wasted, I’ve only been drinking water all night. Come on y’all! It’s innocent fun.”



Taylor shouted over the loud music. “What do we get if we win?”



Maegan looked around at each of us. “If we all chip in fifty bucks, that would be three hundred dollars.”



Alex jumped up. “I’m in! I have a wedding to pay for.”



Libby started laughing. “Okay, but for those of us with guys, no kissing is allowed so those who are single, no kissing either.”



Grace rolled her eyes. “That is totally not fair, Libby.”



“The only lips my lips touch are Colt Mathews.’”



Alex gave me a wink and mouthed, thank you.



The air in the dance club suddenly became thick. The music was a mixture of country, hip-hop, and pop. My stomach tightened and I wasn’t too thrilled about this bet, but the way Maegan was eyeing me was starting to piss me off. Turning to Grace, Maegan said, “This is in the bag for either you or me. Let’s do this.” They both slapped hands and I seethed with anger.



How dare Maegan think that just because we had boyfriends we couldn’t still pull a number from a guy.



“Who’s up first?” Grace asked.



Alex jumped up. “Me. I’ve got this. I see my victim, too.” Taking a drink of her lemon drop, Alex started walking over to the blond-haired guy who had been sitting at the bar with three other good-looking guys. Alex walked up and placed her hand on his shoulder and whispered something into his ear.



“Ah hell. Look at my girl go!” Grace shouted as we all laughed. I was silently thanking God they didn’t come up with this bet last night when they were all drunk.



The blond stood up and wrapped his arm around Alex’s waist and moved her to the dance floor. “My brother would be going through the roof right now if he saw this,” Libby said.



Some hip-hop song I’d never heard of began playing as the bass thumbed in my chest. Had Colt been here I would have been turned on by the idea of dancing all up on him. But he wasn’t, so I needed to stow away my naughty thoughts of him.



Alex wrapped her arms around the guy’s neck and went after it with everything she had. She smiled, she tossed her head back and laughed, she whispered against his ear. She even turned and placed her backside to him. When he brushed his hand down her side and dangerously close to her breasts, she quickly turned around.



“Oh! Nice move, Mathews!” Maegan shouted. Glancing to Taylor, she was watching Alex closely but smiling.



The song ended and Alex walked back over to the bar with him. Less than thirty seconds later, she was walking back with a napkin and the guy’s number on it.



Grace and Maegan’s smiles dropped. “What? No fucking way!” Maegan yelled as Alex walked up and smiled as she waved the napkin around. Grace shook her head and placed her hands on her hips and glared at Alex.