Avery’s POV

“Here’s to a bright future for my two little…sisters,” Trevor said, holding up his glass before clinking it with Maya’s and mine. “May you both have many years of happiness with your up coming nuptials and always remember the old times.”

“Here! Here!” Maya said before throwing her drink back, a smile lingering on her lips.

Ever since we booked Matt’s favorite restaurant for Maya’s up coming proposal, she had been beaming with happiness. I don’t know if I had ever seen her this happy and excited before, but it looked good on her. There was no question in my mind that Matt and Maya were meant to be together and I couldn’t wait until they could experience this exhilarating feeling that I felt getting married to Brian.

We had one more show that separated Brian and I from the big week back home in Huntington Beach. I was so excited just thinking about it that I could barely sit still. I couldn’t wait to see all the pieces finally come together and to see the dress Maya had designed for me. She had been pretty secretive about what it looked liked besides a few little hints here and there. Most of the time when we worked on my dress, Maya just took measurements and pictures of me and sent them off. She was a mastermind and I trusted her completely. I couldn’t wait to see her beautiful creation in person!

“Just try to remember me when you’re both too busy with your men,” Trevor said with a small pout, his arm falling around my shoulders for the hundredth time today. Was it just me, or was he slowly becoming more and more…forward with his actions? I knew I was probably just imagining it but his leg was pressed up against mine and every time I scooted closer to Maya, he moved with me.

Maya frowned over her glass, her eyebrows pulling together. “We would never forget you. We will just have to make sure to plan a special day every week, just the three of us. What do you say?” I nodded in agreement as I finished off my drink, only to feel Trevor’s hand land on my thigh.

I swallowed thickly and tried gently move his hand off my leg, but he wouldn’t budge. He just gave me a sickly sweet smile and half-heartedly returned it. This had to be in my head, right? Trevor was practically my brother and he wouldn’t be putting the moves on me a week before my wedding. That was just crazy. Maybe I had more to drink than I thought. I mean, it had been a while since I’d had anything to eat.

“But what happens when you go on tour again? You know your men wont hire me again…they think I set up that whole thing at Rock on the Range,” Trevor started, and Maya just put her hand up, shaking her head.

“Don’t you worry about that, Trev. We’ve taken care of it and we will make sure you are part of the family wherever we are. That much I promise you,” Maya smiled, reaching over the table and taking her brother’s hand. “We are glad to have you back and we will not let you go again. You are stuck with us, big bro.”

“Really?” Trevor asked, his dark eyes looking down at me with an unreadable look.

I nodded my head and put my hand on top of his. “Absolutely, you are our brother and we definitely want you around,” I agreed, earning a smile from Maya but an odd look from Trevor. What was up with him today? Why was he acting so odd?

“That really means a lot,” Trevor said, looking between us. “Its good to finally catch up after all this time apart and this tour has really opened my eyes to a lot of things I have been missing,” he said, his hand creeping higher and higher up my thigh to the hem of my skirt.

“And on that note,” I squeaked, instantly standing up with my face burning bright red. “I have to use the ladies room.”

“Do you want me to come with you?” Maya asked, giving me a questioning look. I quickly masked my look of panic and shook my head. I didn’t want her to be upset because I knew I was probably reading way too much into this or even imagining it. Was it pre-wedding jitters? I had no idea but I needed to clear my head for a minute.

“No, I’ll be back in just a minute,” I said, leaving my purse on the bench and hightailing straight to the bathroom.

As soon as I reached the washroom, I wetted a paper towel and wiped my face. I hoped the cool water would help me snap back to reality. I mean, I had to be imagining Trevor’s actions. He was just being his normal friendly self and I was reading way too much into it. He was basically my brother and had no romantic interest in me. There was no way, not when he knew that I was to be married in a week.

“Come on, pull yourself together, Ave,” I scolded my reflection. “You’re just making shit up. He’s just being his normal friendly self.”

After a moment of pulling myself back together and actually using the bathroom, I excited the washroom to find Trevor leaning against the wall holding my purse. “Is everything okay?” I asked, looking around for Maya.

“Of course,” Trevor smiled. He passed me my purse and took my arm in a very gentlemanly manner. “Maya just got a call to meet Matt so I thought I’d take you back to the hotel,” he said, answering my question before I could answer it.

“Oh, did she say anything about Brian? I haven’t heard from him and I knew he wanted to do something tonight,” I asked, feeling Trevor stiffen next to me.

“She just said she had a dinner date and skipped off. My guess is the rest of the guys are still busy. The Berrys said they had a busy afternoon with interviews.” I thought the guys only had the one interview today, but maybe I was wrong. All the wedding planning was making the days blend together. “So it’s just you and me, beautiful.” Trevor leaned down and kissed my temple and I smiled weakly.

Trevor quickly led us out to the busy street just as the sun was setting in the sky. The colors were radiant and I couldn’t help but look up with a smile on my face. I just wished I could have shared this moment with Brian. “The sky is so beautiful,” I breathed, looking up as we walked. I had no idea where we were, so I hoped Trevor did.

Trevor suddenly stopped and turned to look at me, moving in closer. I took a step back only to find myself almost pressed against the building. “Not as beautiful as you, Ave.”

“That’s very kind of you to say,” I said, trying to move away from him. He leaned one arm out on the wall, blocking my path as his dark eyes scanned up and down my body. I carefully took a step backwards and crossed my arms in front of my chest, trying to block the view of my cleavage in my tank top. I was feeling more and more uncomfortable with each passing second.

“I would do anything for you, you know.” What did he mean by that? “We could have fun just like the old times.” He wagged his eyebrows at me and took a step forward. “Don’t you remember how much fun we had?”

“As much fun as we had, I can’t do that,” I gapped at him, not exactly sure what he was insinuating. I just new that he was creeping me out and I wanted to get away from him. “We just need to get back to the hotel before it gets too dark,” I said, desperately hoping he would take the hint and move on. I didn’t want things to be awkward between us, but I wasn’t sure there was any way out this now. I had definitely been picking up on the signs he was putting out, but I wanted it to stop. I was almost a married woman!

“Come on, Ave. You know we’d be good together. Let’s just have a little fun for old time sake. We don’t have to tell anyone.” Trevor took another step towards me as I took one backwards, caging me against the wall. He was inches from me and I held my breath so I wouldn’t touch him. I was still in shock that this was actually happening right now. “What do you say, Ave?”

I opened my mouth to reply but before I could get a word out, Trevor pressed me up against the wall and pressed his lips firmly against mine. I instantly froze and pushed as his chest until he pulled way, leaving me gasping for air. Without hesitation, I reach up and slapped him across the face as hard as I could, causing him to stumble back and look at me with a look of rage.

Oh my god! I really hit him? My hands moved in front of my mouth as I looked at Trevor in shock and horror. “I’m-I’m so sorry.. I-I—” I stammered, moving away from him an shaking my head. I just hit my best friends brother for kissing me...what the hell was going on?!

“No…I-It’s my fault,” Trevor replied, nursing the big red slap mark on his face. “I’ve had too much to drink… I’m sorry…” he breathed, looking more angry than I had ever seen him. It was almost like what he was saying wasn’t matching the thoughts going on inside his head. “Let me take you home—”

I shook my head and back toward the street, raising my hand for a cab. “That’s not really necessary,” I said, nervously gnawing on my bottom lip. “I’ll just see you tomorrow at breakfast, okay?” I said and thankfully in the next moment the cab pulled up. I quickly got inside, told the driver the hotel, and drove off, not even offering Trevor a ride.

Part of me was terrified of what would have happened if I had been left there with him, while the other part of me was mortified from the kiss. What the hell happened? We were fine one minute, and the next he was trying to shove his tongue down my throat? Did I give him the wrong signal?

When the cab pulled up in front of the hotel, my head was buzzing with thoughts and I was even more confused than before. None of this made any sense. Why would Trevor even kiss me? I was like his little sister for crying out loud! Was there something more to all this? I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach that maybe the guys had been right about him. Maybe he was trying to do something… but then again, why would he? I would just have to keep an eye on him, and my distance from now on. I honestly didn’t think I could trust Trevor any more.

“Ave! Where the hell have you been?! I’ve been trying to call you all night!” I heard Brian’s voice call as soon as I entered the lobby. He looked like he had been pulling at his hair with worry by the odd angles it was sticking up. “I’ve been worried sick.”

“Sorry, Bri. We went out for drinks with Trevor and my phone died,” I explained, leaving out a LOT of details. I knew I couldn’t tell him that Trevor tried to kiss me. He would literally kill him and I knew Maya would never forgive me. I guess some things were better left a secret.

“Couldn’t you have have used Maya or Trevor’s phone?” he hissed, holding me tightly against his chest. “I thought something happened to you. And where are Maya and Trevor?”

I hugged him tightly, inhaling his intoxicating scent. It seemed to make all my worries wash away. “I’m sorry,” I said again. “Maya left to meet Matt and Trevor…had other plans.”

“What do you mean Maya went to meet Matt? He’s been blowing up my phone for the past four hours trying to figure out where she was. She was supposed to meet him at six.”

“At six?” I asked, looking up into Brian’s amazing brown eyes with a frown. “She left around nine thirty, or at least that’s what Trevor said.” Something suddenly didn’t feel right about all this.

Brian shook his head and ran his fingers nervously though his hair. He looked stressed out and cursed under his breath. “Fuck, well I hope she makes it there soon. I know Matt was looking forward to that dinner all night,” he sighed before looking down at me. “ And I know I’ve been looking forward to something all day too, Miss Jacobson…” He purred in my ear before I pulled away from him in a teasing way.

“Who? I only know a Mrs. Haner,” I playfully teased, sticking my tongue at him. “Oh, you’re asking for it,” he laughed before picking me up over his shoulder and hightailing it to the elevator.


Matt’s POV

I could feel my heart beat echoing in my ears as I moved around the back room of the restaurant, trying to set up all the final details before Maya would arrive. Everything was perfect, including the cabin and the dock where everything would take place. But somehow I was the most nervous I had ever been in my entire life.

My hands were shaking and every breath felt like I was gasping for air. If I was having this much anxiety about asking a simple question, how was I even going to get it out? I had no idea, but I had planned the perfect speech, the perfect dinner, and the best ending to the evening a girl could ask for. Maya had to agree to be my wife after all this trouble, right?

“Everything’s set up, do you need anything else?” Gates asked, looking around the room with a small smile on his lips.

“Yeah, some fucking drugs to calm me down,” I joked, only for Gates to clap my shoulder and chuckle. “How did you fucking do this?”

“I just did it,” he shrugged. “And Maya will say yes, she has too. Just like Ave did with me,” he explained and I rolled my eyes. Yeah, like it wasn’t that simple. His fiancé wasn’t afraid of the word ‘forever’.

“Relax, Shads, Gates is right. She’s going to say ‘yes’,” Zack agreed, clapping his hand on my shoulder. He was right, thanks to my friends, everything was set up perfectly and now all I needed to do was wait for her to show up. “But if you’re all set, we are going to take off to get some dinner.”

“Yeah, I’m good. Thanks guys,” I said, waving goodbye to them as they left me in the private section of the restaurant. When they all filed out, I walked over to the perfectly set table, sat down, and took a few deep breaths as I pulled out the ring.

It was the perfect ring for her—I knew it from the moment I saw it at the shop. It was a princess cut black diamond in a silver setting, engraved with our names. She would love it and I just hoped the guys were right and that she would accept my proposal.

After staring at the ring for a few seconds, I put it back in my pocket and pulled out my phone. I still hadn’t heard back from Maya about our dinner date but the message indicated it had been seen. I bet she was just busy with Ave and would show up like she always did. It would just ease my nerves if she would have replied…

“Shit,” I said, looking at the time on the screen. It was nearly time for Maya to show up and still had to get dressed.

I quickly redressed in a blue button down shirt and dress pants, I styled my hair perfectly and added the final touch with my sunglasses on the rim of my shirt. I was satisfied with myself and hoped Maya would be too. I know she loved me all dressed up, so I hoped she would be able to appreciate the effort I put into everything today.

My heart sped up as the minutes ticked closer and closer to six. It was almost show time and I would make it. She would say ‘yes’ and make me the happiest man alive. I mean, there was no way she could say ‘no’. And honestly, I didn’t know what I’d do if she didn’t reply or brushed my proposal away. All I knew was that I would have to make her see reason and that we were meant to be together forever. I breathed deeply in and out and tried to dry my hands on my pants, but that wasn’t working.

“Come on Shads, pull yourself together,” I scolded, fixing my eyes on the door. She would be here any second and I could barely hold myself together.

But as the minutes passed by, the more and more anxious I got. Where was she? She was supposed to be here a half an hour ago and it wasn’t like her to be late, let alone not answer her phone. She always fucking answered but here it was, going straight to voicemail. Did something happen or had she gotten lost. Suddenly my anxiety was shifting to worry and I pulled out my phone, calling Gates.

“Haner,” he answered on the third ring.

“Have you heard from the girls?” I asked shortly, running my hands over my face as the wait staff brought in the first course of dinner. Fuck, this wasn’t how this evening was supposed to go at all!

“You mean you haven’t heard from Maya either?”

“No shit Sherlock! Why the hell would I be calling you in the middle of my proposal! Maya’s not here and she’s not answering her goddamn phone. It’s going straight to voicemail.” I snapped, instantly regretting it. I knew it wasn’t his fault Maya wasn’t here yet. “I’m sorry… I’m just so fucking stressed right now. What if she doesn’t show?”

“She’ll show, just let me call Ave and see if I can figure out what’s going on. Maybe she is just running late,” Gates said, and I could just picture him pinching the bridge of his nose. “You know how the girls like to get super dressed up.”

I let out a sigh of relief and ran my hand over my face, “Yeah, you’re probably right. Thanks man. Text me if you hear anything,” I said before hang up and looking at the delicious meal for two set up in front of me. “She’ll be here any minute… she has to be.”

Only when two more hours passed with only texts from Gates saying he couldn’t get ahold of Maya either, all hope was sinking in the pit of my stomach. She wasn’t coming and I had wasted all this time and money for the perfect evening. And for what? Nothing… absolutely fucking nothing. It was too late now to do anything and I would have to plan it all again. I just hoped had a good fucking excuse.

Around ten, I paid the bill at the restaurant and headed back to the hotel. I was pissed at both myself and Maya for the ruined evening. I mean, where the hell did she get off not even trying to call me? She knew we had plans tonight but I guess I wasn’t important enough to her. I was hurt and beyond pissed off when I entered the hotel and took a seat at the bar. I ordered a double shot and quickly slammed it down before asking for another.

“Rough night?” I barkeep asked, looking at me sitting in front of him in my dress clothes.

I scoffed and took the second shot. “You could say that,” I grumbled, motioning for another drink.

By the time I had drown my fifth shot, some of the pains of being stood up on my proposal night started to fade away and slowly started to be replaced with anger. How could she do this to me? Didn’t Maya know how much time I spent on tonight? And for what? Fucking nothing! I was beyond pissed that I could barely see straight, not to mention worried about my girlfriend. Where was she anyway? It was nearly eleven and I still hadn’t heard anything from her.

“Fuck,” I hissed, slamming the shot glass back down on the bar as the shot of tequila burned all the way down my throat.

“Matt?” A soft voice suddenly called from behind me and I scoffed, knowing exactly who it belonged too. And now she decided to show up? It was too late, the evening was already fucking ruined.

I slowly turned around to see Maya standing behind me, twisting her hands in front of her. I scoffed and shook my head. “So now I’m important to you?”

Maya opened and closed her mouth before she crossed her arms in front of her chest, looking both hurt and pissed. “What is that supposed to mean?”

This was a joke wasn’t it? A little game that we kept playing over and over again. My temper was quickly rising and I couldn’t control what came out of my mouth. I was too hurt and pissed off. “Why don’t you tell me, Maya? Or maybe you could start with why you stood me up tonight and couldn’t even bother to call. Where the hell have you been?!”

Notes