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There’s no one else I’d choose but her.
Chapter 20
Rhett
The wedding is absolutely beautiful. From the ceremony, to the pictures, to seeing Maia dressed to the nines, it couldn’t have been more perfect. Even the weather cooperated, and the rain held off.
We dance until the very last song before the reception party is over and the lights turn on. Maia hasn’t stopped smiling, even now as we stumble back to our table, our hands intertwined. When we break apart, I immediately miss the warmth from her hand.
Tonight felt different…and not just because of the magic from my brother’s wedding. Something between Maia and me… fuck, what the hell am I even thinking?
It’s the alcohol talking. It has to be.
“Well, didn’t you two look rather close tonight,” my sister Emily says from beside me. “Is someone falling in love?” she singsongs before elbowing me in the side.
“What? No.”
“You can’t fool me, Rhett. I know what googly eyes are.”
I chuckle. Oh, at the young age of twelve, she still has so much to learn. “It’s from the alcohol,” I whisper, and her eyes grow wide.
“Ohhh,” she retorts, but her eye roll tells me she thinks I’m full of shit. “Whatever you say,” Emily says before walking off with one of our cousins.
Maia eyes me with amusement as she picks up her purse. “Googly eyes, huh?”
“Can you blame me? You’re the prettiest girl here tonight.” I’ve told her several times that the dress she chose with my sisters is stunning. They should dress people for a living.
Her cheeks flush as she swats at my chest. “Laying it on thick, my friend.”
“Don’t worry, I told Emily it was the alcohol.”
Maia’s mouth drops open before she giggles. “Ouch.”
“Ha, you know it’s not the alcohol.” I wink, and she flushes a deeper red. I take her hand and thread my fingers through hers. “C’mon, I want to show you something.”
I lead her across the street to the hotel and up to our room. She hasn’t seen it yet. Earlier, while she was distracted by my brother Ryan, I told him I’d buy him a few drinks if he kept her occupied while I ran over to the hotel and upgraded our room.
Yep. To one with a private hot tub.
“Rhett, isn’t our room on the second floor?”
“Not anymore,” I answer as I wait for the elevator to stop on the fourth. I didn’t forget the fact that she’s never been in a hot tub, but she’s always wanted to.
“What do you mean, ‘not anymore’?” she asks as she follows me into the hallway. A couple of turns and then I lead her down to the last door at the end of a long hall.
“I got our room switched.”
“But why? The one we had was nice. Oh shit, don’t tell me it was something gross.”
I shake my head as I slide the key card in the slot. I don’t answer her but instead pull her inside and speed walk to the bathroom.
With a flip of a switch, I hear the cute gasp I was waiting for. “Rhett! You didn’t!”
“I did.” I beam like a proud mom on Christmas morning as I turn on the faucet, and the large hot tub begins to fill.
“Where’s my bathing suit?!” Maia claps her hands and runs into the bedroom. I already have them lying out on the bed. “Wow, you did not disappoint.”
I love the zing of excitement running down my spine. It’s fun watching how excited and happy she is. “You can have the bathroom,” I say as I walk over to her. “I’ll change in here.”
