Blame it on the Tequila by Fiona Cole (the reading strategies book txt) 📕

to my white high-heeled ankle-boots.

With a kiss on my cheek from each girl, I closed the small gap between me and Parker. With tears in both our eyes, I slid my hand in his and married my best friend.

“You may kiss the bride,” Elvis finally declared.

Parker and I crashed together. What our kiss lacked in finesse, it more than made up for in happiness and passion. We clung to each other like we’d spent a lifetime apart rather than only an hour.

“I love you so much.”

“I love you, too.”

Cheers erupted and Elvis announced us as Mr. and Mrs. Parker Callahan.

It was perfectly short and sweet. We’d been years in the making and I hadn’t wanted to wait another second.

He’d asked me to marry him on the red carpet of our second Grammys together—forever memorialized by the paparazzi—and I’d almost demanded we skip the awards and get married right then.

We compromised with Vegas.

“Where to now?” Oren asked when we all stood outside after pictures.

“I don’t’ know about you, but I have a car waiting to take us back to our suite.”

“What?” Ash asked. “No reception?”

“Oh, we’re partying,” I said, waggling my brows at Parker.

“Yeah, but it’s a no pants party just for me and my wife,” he said, pulling me close.

Wife.

I’d never tire of it.

“Evan just texted me about a party at the Bellagio,” Brogan said.

“I’m down with that,” Rae interjected.

Brogan turned to her with a smirk, but before he could say anything, Austin cut in. “Don’t you have a boyfriend you should call?”

“You’re not her boyfriend?” Brogan asked confused.

“Nope, he’s just my forever wedding date,” Rae explained.

Austin’s scowl showed how much he appreciated being called just anything.

“Well, then by all means, come along. I know I’d love to have you there,” Brogan assured, scanning her from head to toe.

“I am not going to some random hotel party,” Austin grumbled.

“Vera will go with me.”

“Girl,” Vera stepped back. “I love you, but Nico and I have plans. It’s our first trip after the baby and we are making the most of it.”

Rae stuck out her tongue. “Party poopers. I’ll just go alone.”

I looked to Austin with wide eyes. “Please. I don’t want to have to skip out on my wedding night to make sure my best friend is safe.”

“What?” Parker almost shrieked.

I reassured him with a wink.

“Fucking fine. I’ll go. But we’re not staying long,” Austin demanded.

Rae smiled proudly and I turned to face my husband. “Now that that’s settled, let’s get the hell out of here. I’ve got plans for you Mr. Callahan.”

“I like the sound of that Mrs. Callahan.” He opened the door of a hired car, but wrapped his arms around me from behind before I could get in. Dipping his hand low, fingering the top of the apex of my thighs, he leaned in and nipped at my ear. “But I have plans, too, and they start as soon as we get in this car. However, there’s no privacy glass, so you better be quiet.”

A shiver worked its way up my spine. Even more eager than before, I pulled away and nibbled on his full bottom lip before whispering, “If it gets leaked to the press about what we do in the backseat of cars, we can blame it on the tequila.”

RAE

My head pounded with beating drums. No, not just my head—my whole body ached.

The last thing I remembered was finally talking Austin into enjoying the night and taking a shot of vodka with me. Followed by many more. Everything after was blur.

Not even sure if I made it back to my own room, I managed to squint open an eye at the blinding sun. Cream curtains didn’t give a clue as to where I was, but then I saw my teal suitcase opened in the corner with my dress from last night tossed haphazardly over it.

Good. I made it back to my own room.

“Fuck,” I muttered.

A deep groan came from behind me. Apparently, I hadn’t made it back to my room alone.

My boyfriend would not be happy about that. I guess it was a good thing I broke it off before leaving.

With a deep breath, I prepared to roll enough to face whoever laid in bed with me.

Please be hot. Please be hot.

“What the fuck,” the deep voice said.

Not any deep voice. Austin’s deep voice.

I’d know that sexy rumble anywhere.

Oh, thank god. He must have just stayed in my room when we made it back. Also, I kind of liked the idea of him not finding some girl to bang while he was in Vegas. Not that I’d delve too deeply into that emotion. Ew.

“How much vodka did we have?” he asked.

“Too much? No enough? I don’t know,” I answered, rolling to my back.

His thick arm came into view when he rubbed at his face. “I got to piss,” he grumbled.

“So sexy,” I deadpanned.

“I turn on the extra charm just for you.”

“Lucky me.” I looked over and bat my eyelashes just in time to watch Austin stand fully naked from the bed.

As if in slow motion, we both looked down at the same time.

I’d known Austin for over five years, lusted after him from day one. But I had never, ever seen him naked.

“Holy. Shit,” I said with awe. I knew he had to be big everywhere, I just hadn’t been prepared for how big.

“Holy shit,” he shouted, snatching a blanket to cover himself.

It was then, I saw the flash of gold on his finger.

I jutted my hand out and pointed. “Austin, what the fuck is that?”

It was then I saw the flash of gold on my finger.

We both held up our hands and eyed the matching gold bands, trying to piece the night together.

Unable to come up with anything, we both looked up with wide eyes.

“We did not just get married in Vegas,” I said.

“I think— I think we did.”

Acknowledgments

My family: Thank you for always understanding and supportive. Thank you for the cuddles after a hard day and laughs when all I want