Page 77 of All Bets Are Off

“John was just telling me about his big win at the poker table last night,” he says, rudely snapping his fingers at Trina to summon another drink from her without even offering her the respect of looking her way. “I can’t believe I fucking missed it! I was so dead to the world. Five grand, huh?”

John overhears Liam and immediately pokes his head into the conversation, an arm enthusiastically propped on Liam’s shoulder. He grins smugly, looking across at Connor and me. “It was insane. I had a straight flush! I can’t believe you guys missed it.”

Liam’s smile immediately drops. He pulls his neck back to look at John hanging off his shoulder. “They missed it? Weren’t you all in the casino together?”

Now John is the one furrowing his eyebrows, confused. “No. It was just Tyler and me. Thank fuck someone was there to witness the greatest moment of my life.”

“It was just Tyler and you all night?” Liam asks quietly, and my blood turns cold as I watch the expression in his eyes change, because I know exactly what I told Liam last night when he called me—I told him we were all in the casino together, and that was a lie.

“Yeah. Hey, Tyler, do you still have that video of us hitting the jackpot on that slot machine?” John says, moving away to get Tyler’s attention, oblivious to the predicament he’s just placed me in.

Liam sets his eyes on me. His expression is completely neutral, blank and void of any emotion, but his gaze is cold and calculated. I can almost see his mind processing my lie, but he wants verification. “Hailey, where were you last night?” he calls out to my best friend.

Hailey glances up from her drink, surprised by Liam’s line of questioning. “Um, with Theo . . .” she answers, blushing.

“Liam,” I say, grabbing his arm. I look at him with pleading eyes and I shake my head slowly at him, but he ignores me, yanking his arm free. I don’t dare look at Connor right now, but I still wonder if his heart pounds as painfully as mine does.

“Evie, where were you last night?” Liam asks, turning to my sister now.

“With this guy,” Evie answers, exchanging a glance with Jameson. There’s a flicker of confusion on her face over the purpose of Liam’s demanding question, and she stares back at him, waiting for the follow-up.

“And Addy?” Liam asks through thin lips, intense eyes shifting between her and Hailey. “Where was Addy last night?”

“With you . . .?” Hailey answers slowly, flashing me a concerned look, like she’s worried that’s the wrong answer.

It is.

Liam snaps his head toward me, jaw clenched. “You were not with me when I woke up. You were not in the casino. You were not with Hailey or Evelyn,” he spits out, his tone harsh, and I know exactly what’s coming next. “So, Addy. Where the fuck were you last night?”

I gulp, my breath caught in my throat. This cabin feels like it’s shrinking, getting smaller and smaller, squeezing all of the oxygen out of the air. Around us, everyone is dead silent. Even Trina watches from behind the bar cart with concern. She lowers the volume of the music and asks, “Everything okay, guys?”

I’m rooted to the spot, my drink shaking in my hand. I disappeared on my bachelorette weekend and lied about it—I know exactly what conclusion his mind has jumped to. And for once, his lack of trust in me is justified. He has every right to be suspicious, because last night . . . Last night I was kissing Connor.

“Liam, hey,” I say soothingly, feigning courage as I step closer to him. “Tone it down, okay?”

“I asked you a question, Adelaide,” he says. “Where were you last night?”

Connor steps into the spot by my side. Without a moment of hesitation, he clears his throat and simply says, “She was with me.”

No, Connor, shut up.

My eyelids flutter shut for a brief moment as I brace myself. All of the liquor pumps through my veins and I feel unsteady on my feet, the cabin spinning around me.

“With you,” Liam repeats flatly.

“Yes, with me,” Connor confirms, voice unwavering. “I took Addy out for the night. We flew over Vegas in a helicopter, grabbed some food, and then I dropped her back off at the door of our hotel room so she could keep your drunk ass company.”

Liam laughs, harsh and cruel, like he can’t quite believe how brazen Connor is. “And you don’t think that’s weird, Connor?” he spits. “To take my damn fiancée out for the night on what sounds like a fucking date?”

“Well,” Connor says with a shrug, “I guess someone has to treat her right.”

“Connor,” I whisper, clutching his arm and digging my fingers hard into his tattooed skin. A warning. A plea. Please don’t.

Liam’s icy blue eyes bulge wide. He presses right up against Connor, his mouth by his ear as he hisses, “I fucking told you that in confidence.”

Connor presses both hands to Liam’s chest and shoves him back two steps. “There is no confidentiality when it comes to you hitting Adelaide.”

No. My heart feels like it’s been ripped straight out of my chest, leaving behind a gaping hole, because there is no going back from this moment now. Connor has announced the truth, in front of everyone, and my eyes instantly sting with a thousand pent-up tears as everyone’s stunned expressions land on me. Hailey’s mouth hangs open, Evie blinks through wide eyes, Theo steps forward. There is no saving this wedding now. The people I love will never let me.