Chapter 2

Devin's Pov 

People swarmed the hall like bees in a hive. Voices overlapped, footsteps clattered, fabric rustled. Someone barked about the cake tiers not aligning, another panicked over misplaced corsages, and a poor man sprinted by holding a tray of glassware that jingled as if seconds from shattering.

In the middle of it all stood Stella, her shoulders stiff, her breath coming short. She clutched a clipboard like a weapon, eyes darting everywhere.

I slid in behind her, wrapped an arm around her waist, and leaned close to her ear. “If you keep glaring at the flowers like that, they’ll wither.”

Her lips twitched, fighting a smile. “Don’t start with me, Devin. These people are supposed to know what they’re doing.”

“They do,” I said, lifting a flute of champagne from a passing tray and pressing it into her hand. I grabbed one for myself and clinked gently against hers. “They’re just performing for you.”

I paused, then continued “They're a theater of panic… and you’re the star audience member!”

She rolled her eyes but sipped anyway. The color returned to her cheeks after the first swallow. I brushed my thumb across her knuckles.

“You’ve done more than enough. Nothing will fall apart. The building could cave in and I’d still marry you.”

She gave a laugh, the kind that softened her whole face. “You’re either lying or drunk already.”

I squeezed her arm and held her gaze. “Neither. Well, maybe slightly drunk on you. You ready for tonight?”

Her lips parted, then curved in a smile that reached her eyes. “Yeah. I’m ready.”

“Good. Bachelorette mayhem for you, bachelor chaos for me. Let’s go give the city something to talk about.”

She laughed again, shaking her head. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m irresistible, admit it.”

She leaned in, then whispered. “Irresistible when you’re ***.”

‘Woah.’ I was slightly turned on by that.

I kissed her before she could pull away, champagne fizz still on her tongue. For a heartbeat, the world was ours to conquer.

A horn blared outside, cutting through the moment. Stella and I groaned in unison. One of her friends barreled in, heels clacking, shrieking, “Bride-to-be, come on! We’re going to be late!”

Stella shot me a look of mock despair as they latched onto her arm.

“Well,” I said, lifting my flute like a toast as they dragged her toward the door, “there goes my ride.”

She blew me a kiss over her shoulder. I caught it with a grin and headed outside.

Waiting at the curb was a sparkling white Lamborghini.

I whistled low. “What the hell is this?”

My friend, Patrick, leaned across the driver's seat with a smug grin. “This bad boy’s yours, bro. Wedding present.”

“...One of only four in the world.” He added, just to complete the humble brag.

I blinked. “You’re kidding.”

“Do I look like I’d joke about a machine like this?” He slapped the wheel. “But before it becomes your garage queen, we’re taking it out. Let’s baptize it!”

I laughed, hopped in, and fist-bumped him. “Thanks, man. This is insane.”

“Insane is what I do.” He floored it, and the car roared like a beast unchained.

We tore through the city, neon streaking past the windows, bass rattling the seats. The grin never left my face. For a moment, nothing hung heavy over me.

By the time we slid up to the club, the air was thick with promise. He clapped my shoulder. “Enjoy yourself. I’ll be… busy.” He winked, already eyeing a pair of women by the entrance.

“You won't be a bachelor forever you know?” I shook my head with a laugh and let the music swallow me. Inside, the club throbbed with life. Lights pulsed… everywhere. It wasn’t my scene. But this was a party in my honour. I couldn’t say no. Ironic really, there were so many things in my life I couldn’t say no to.

“Yooooo. If it isn't the man of the hour.” A friend of mine cooed from the stripper lounge.

I gave a curt nod before heading the other way. I couldn’t escape all of them forever, but I could try.

“Might as well loosen up a bit…” I sighed as more and more of my friends, acquaintances and business partners made their way here.

I grabbed shot after shot from waiters weaving through the crowd, each one burning down my throat. Compliments flew at me, the groom-to-be, the lucky bastard. I smiled, I joked, I soaked it in.

But every laugh rang hollow, every cheer reminded me of the ring burning on my finger. The closer tomorrow crept, the tighter the knot in my chest.

I didn’t even know where this… this… cold feet? Whatever it was, came from.

I just felt lost. Like there was something I was missing.

Somewhere between being lost in thought and getting drunk I reached for another shot. My hand already curled around the glass, when another hand slid over mine.

“Woah, woah, woahhh,” a voice teased. “Trying to drink yourself into an early grave?”

I turned. The guy standing there looked carved out of mischief. Dark hair, sharp grin, normal eyes that still managed to be magnetic.

“Maybe I am,” I said. “Cheaper than therapy.”

He leaned in, voice smooth. “Or, you could try talking to someone who actually listens.”

“Yeah? What next, you'll ask me to confess my sins?”

“Do I look like a priest?” He stretched his arms, showing off a lean frame under a black shirt that clung in all the right places. “Trust me, I specialize in sins, not forgiveness.”

His grin pulled one out of me too. “Dangerous company.”

“The best kind.” He tipped the shot back before I could, then slid the empty glass onto a passing tray. “Besides, you don’t look like you need saving. You look like you need… reminding.”

“Of what?”

“Living in the moment.” His eyes glimmered, and for a strange second, it felt like he knew me deeper than he should have.

Something tugged in my chest. Familiar, fleeting. I brushed it off with another laugh. “You always hit on strangers this hard?”

“Only the ones worth the effort.” He winked. “And you, Devin… you’re very worth it.”

My head snapped a little at my name, but he smoothed right over it with a story about losing his drink tokens, and the moment slipped like water between my fingers.

The banter turned into touches, and the touches into heat, and all it took was one kiss to break the dam, and it drowned me whole. 

His mouth tasted better than any I’d known, his breath curled against my neck like sweets.

I didn’t think. I didn't resist. I followed his rhythm.

We stumbled into a room, clothes a blur, skin burning, hands greedy. It happened so fast I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to.

After the deed was done… probably multiple times, I lay there, chest heaving, sweat cooling all over my body.

He grinned lazily beside me, a finger along my arm. Completely spent.

I smiled, but when I shifted, the glint of my engagement ring caught the dim light. My stomach turned cold. The warmth drained out of me, leaving nothing but the pounding guilt.

Stella’s laugh echoed in my head. The champagne on her lips. Her trust.

Suddenly all the right questions came to mind… since when was I gay?

I slipped carefully out of bed, heart hammering. He murmured something in his sleep, but I didn’t answer. I dressed in silence, slid my jacket over my shoulders, and stared at him once more. For what felt like an eternity…

It was a shame I couldn't even get his name.

It was a shame I fell into such temptation.

And just like that. I was gone.