Unbearable (Unexpected Sequel)|✔️

54- Meeting the Gals

Sorry it's been days. I had to send my laptop to Apple again... Sigh. We're all good now!

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"So... what's the deal with you both?" Ashley, one of Dean's cousins, asked with her hand on her hip. Her chocolate eyes flickered between us. Her twin, Ashton, leaned in, propping his elbows on the table. Like his sister, his stare was filled with curiosity.

Before Dean could butt in, I answered, "Nothing. We're starting over."

Dean groaned and smacked his head on the white-clothed table before sending me an incredulous look. "Seriously? You're going to make me ask you out again?"

"Hey, it was your idea," I reminded him, patting his knee that was gently rubbing against my leg. I always hated his habit of getting into my personal space – well, until I fell in love with him. Then everything seemed perfectly perfect.

Ashton visibly perked up. "So... what you're saying is that you're technically not together?" When I nodded, much to Dean's dismay, Ashton's lips twisted into a smirk. "That means I still have a chance."

Amused, I pretended to do a once-over. From his raven black hair to his sharp nose, it was clear he was attractive. He and Dean shared the same facial structure, but that was the only similarity really. Ashton had a different type of charisma around him.

He was dressed in his Sunday best – even though it was a Friday night. He wore blue jeans with a button-up shirt. He looked prim and proper compared to his cousin counterpart – who had to be forced to wear anything but a v-neck. Ashton was the epitome of charm. He was the type you'd want to take home to your parents.

I nonchalantly shrugged and leaned back. His bewildered look didn't go unnoticed. At first, I thought it was because I brushed him off, but he thought otherwise. "Damn! I need to practice my pickup lines then. There's a lot of competition here," Ashton whistled, eyeing his cousin.

Ashley smacked her brother on the back of the head. "You're such an asshat."

Asshat. Nice.

Similar to her brother, Ashley was dressed to the nines. Then again, we all were considering we were at Nat's rehearsal dinner. She wore a cute red dress that hugged her skinny frame perfectly, paired with black heels. Her makeup looked flawless too.

Dean was a little more reluctant to dress up. It took a lot of coaxing on my end, and yelling on Nat's, to convince him to swap out his leather jacket for a dress shirt. He reluctantly agreed on the condition that we matched tonight. It was dumb, but Nat would do anything for tonight to go smoothly, so I agreed.

So while he was wearing a navy blue button-down with the top buttons undone to give him more of a "sexy" look – his words, not mine – I wore a dress in the same shade. It was flowy and one of the most decent dresses I owned.

"Ugh, when's this going to start? I'm so hungry," Ashton complained. I hummed in agreement. We were some of the first people to arrive tonight. I had yet to meet the bridesmaids I didn't know. They all flew in today so I knew they'd be here.

"At least you get to sleep after this," Dean said gruffly. He was referring to the fact that the Bachelor and Bachelorette parties were tonight. As part of the wedding party, of course we were attending.

"Speaking of, what're you guys planning?" I asked casually. I knew what us girls were doing but I had no idea what Ethan's best man had in mind for him. Dean smirked in response and pretended to zip his lips. "Ugh, you guys and your mysteries."

"Well, what're you guys doing?"

A small smile found its way onto my face as I recalled what Jessia, the maid of honor, explained. "Pregame at the hotel, strippers, renting a party bus that'll take us to a club, club, then see where the night takes us." Unfortunately, I was remaining sober the entire night. Someone needed a responsible friend to make sure Nat didn't do anything stupid. I didn't mind considering, you know, I was underage. I just hoped the other bridesmaids were nice.