AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ooh, we should watch a wedding movie.” Iris brightened. “One of the really cheesy ones.”
“Sounds good to me.” Domi beamed all around them. “I know this wasn’t the typical bachelorette trip, and I’ve had so much fun, but I really am so glad we’re getting tonight together.”
With that, all the lingering disappointment about missing out on a final night with Brian was swept away. It would have been great, but being here for her bestie was even more important. Domi was her ride-or-die, after all.
Chicks before dicks.
“We’re so glad to be here with you,” Rae said, putting down the champagne bottle and glass she was holding so she could envelop Domi in a big hug.
“Damn right!” Iris cheered, joining in on the hug along with Avery, who was laughing at their antics.
“I’m so happy we’re friends.” Avery leaned her head on Iris’ shoulder. “You all made my life so much better.”
“Back at you. And trust me, I am grateful you could get away from Marquis for a whole week.” Domi sniffled. “I know that wasn’t easy. You’re the best friends a girl could ask for.”
It was true. For a long time, it had been just Rae and Domi, and they’d shut everyone else out. Not on purpose, exactly. They were just so tight, they hadn’t needed anyone else, and they hadn’t tried to make friends outside of each other. There had been people they were friendly with, but they’d been their own little twosome. Now, their group had expanded, just a little, and they were better for it.
She would do anything for Iris and Avery, just like she knew they would do anything for her and Domi.
“Only true friends go to a kink island with you,” Iris joked as they broke apart.
Rae giggled, picking up her champagne again.
“Cheers to that.” Domi lifted her glass in the air, and they all clinked them together in a toast.
Brian
Being completely unpacked and having to pack everything up was good because it gave Brian time to get himself together. Time he needed. He had to get his game face on before facing his friends, all of who were far too observant on their worst days and now wouldn’t have their subs to distract them. Well, except for Kincaid, who was obviously already distracted by whatever was going on between him and Zach, but that still left Mitch, Law, and Nick.
By the time he knocked on Kincaid and Zach’s door, most of the ache in his chest had subsided. Logically, he knew Rae wasn’t rejecting him. She was doing what was right for them by rushing out. Both of them were there for Mitch and Domi, not for each other. Reminding himself of that over and over again as he’d packed up didn’t help much, but it did help a little.
He pushed a smile onto his lips when Zach opened the door.
“Hey, man, come on in.”
It didn’t take more than a moment to see that he was the last to arrive, which wasn’t surprising. He’d been taking his time. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he felt like the mood in the room was off. Kincaid was standing by the counter, obviously mixing drinks, but Zach didn’t go over to join him after letting Brian in. Instead, he went over to one of the armchairs. He wasn’t glowering or sulking, but he wasn’t smiling, either.
Shit.
Maybe they should have done this at someone else’s villa. Too late now.
“There you are!” Law called out from where he was seated on the couch. “I was starting to think we’d need to send out a search party for you.” He smiled, and Brian couldn’t help but wonder if he was trying to lighten the mood.
If only Brian’s mood was better, he might have been able to help more.
“No search party necessary. Just took a while to pack everything up.” He couldn’t think of a good joke to make.
“He actually unpacks everything from his suitcase,” Mitch said, nodding somberly. “If I didn’t know him better, I’d think he was a serial killer.”
“Hey!” Brian shot Mitch an indignant look, setting his suitcase to the side. “You did, too!”
“The one trip we took where we had to stay in the same room,” Mitch explained, answering Nick’s curious glance before looking back at Brian. “Of course, I did. I was afraid you were a serial killer. I had to make you think I might be one, too.”
When it came to breaking the tension, Mitch was the master, and as everyone laughed, the mood in the room lifted. Brian felt his chest unclench a little. Rae hadn’t worried he was a serial killer; she’d just thought he was weird.
“I unpack everything, too,” Law said, turning his head and leaning toward Mitch in a mock-threatening manner.
“Does Iris?”
