Thankfully, the brothers didn’t let their heated, drunken words spill over into the next day. I was also thankful Ryder didn’t just hop on a flight home like Tyler had sworn he would.
They were, however, quiet. Miles was hungover as all hell, so he had more of an excuse. Ryder less so. He spoke when spoken to, and wasn’t rude to anyone, but it was clear he’d rather be anywhere else than sitting by that gorgeous pool with us.
The rest of the guys did their best to lighten the mood or just enjoy themselves. Tyler rambled on about the jet skis we were supposed to rent later, while Jason read his book, but Connor kept trying to make Miles laugh.
Connor did that shit whenever Miles was in a bad way in college. It was annoying post-rager, after waking up in a frat house bathtub, but it worked. Miles would always laugh. Connor was satisfied with a mild chuckle that morning in Miami.
“That’s what I’m saying, man, hangovers are just your body’s way of telling you last night waslegendary,” Connor said, almost pushing Miles off his lounger.
Miles groaned, and I laughed too loud. It wasn’t true, or funny, but Connor kept the jokes coming, and I kept laughing. Trying hard to pretend everyone was having a great time.
Miles wrapped his arms around his torso. “Fuck that, bro. Hangovers are your body’s way of warning you not to do tequila shots at two in the morning.”
Tyler pushed his sunglasses down his nose. “Hey now, don’t blame tequila. It’s not her fault.”
“You never blame the booze, and it’s always the booze’s fault.” Miles laughed for real for the first time that morning.
“Wise words, Kilo,” Jason said, without looking up from his book. “Just remember that the next time we’re on shot five.”
“Eh, fuck that. For this weekend, anyway.” Miles sat up more. “Just don’t tell Bree.”
We laughed. Jason, too, but he rolled his eyes and went back to his book. All the way at the end of the row of lounge chairs, Ryder sat quietly and alone.
Why did I hate that so much? Ryder was wrong the night before, but he looked so isolated. He didn’t know those guys. Not like Connor, Tyler, and me all knew each other. Jason was in the same boat as Ryder, but the groom wasn’t pissed at him. Miles ignoring his brother was kinda fucked up, and I felt for the guy.
Would I have felt that way if Ryder hadn’t been flirting with me… Maybe? Maybe I would’ve felt even worse for him if he didn’t. It was a confusing knot I didn’t spend too much time on.
“We’re jet skiing, though, right, bro?” Tyler was insistent.
Miles huffed and sat back. “Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna go. But I swear to God, if you, or whoever my partner is, tries to jump waves and shit, I’ll cover your back in puke.”
“Then you should take a ski out yourself,” Ryder said, shocking us that he was paying attention. “If you can’t manage driving one yourself, then you shouldn’t go at all. No use vomiting on someone ‘cause you’re a baby and can’t handle being left out.”
The color drained from Miles’s face, only to fill back in bright red. “Why don’t you just shut the fuck up?” Miles tried to stand up, but couldn’t find his footing right away. “Fucking seriously. What the fuck is your fucking problem?”
“I don’t have a problem.” Ryder didn’t turn his head towards us.
Once Miles got up, he stomped over to his brother and yelled down at him. “Pout all morning atmyfucking bachelor party, and the first thing you say to me is an insult? FUCK you, bro.Seriously.”
Ryder didn’t take it sitting for long. He stood and got in his brother’s face. “I’m not pouting, asshole. And I wasn’tinsultingyou. I was looking out for you.Andwhoever the fuck drives your ass around when you should be taking iteasy. Or is that too hard for you to comprehend? Dickhead.”
“What the FUCK ever! You’ve been ignoring me this whole trip, and the only time you open your mouth is to say something shitty. This WHOLE time!Fuckyou!” Miles took the tiniest possible step toward his brother.
I’d never been scared that the Beckett brothers were going to hit each other. But Miles was shouting, and the tremble in his voice was the most unstable I’d ever heard. He sounded hurt, but expressed it as anger.
“Ignoringyou?! What the FUCK are you talking about?” Ryder’s volume went up, too, but carried a mocking laugh. “Do you haveANYidea how hard it is for me to take off work? Come all the way down here for yourbachelor party?” His arms were above his head.“My own fucking brother. No. You don’t give ashit. You don’t give a shit about me, or anyone. But most of all, me. Your fuckingbrother.”
Ryder’s emotion was clearer in his eyes than in his voice. He glared at Miles, beet red with flared nostrils.
Miles took another tiny step forward, and Ryder leaned in. Connor, Tyler, and I were up and heading toward them, but Jason got between them first.
Ryder said, “You’ve barely evenlookedat me.Jackass!”
Miles’s face crumpled. If Connor and Jason weren’t pushing him away from his brother, he would’ve hit him. I held Ryder’s shoulder, and Tyler’s hand was on his chest.
“Can’t you just be fucking HAPPY for me? You’re really a piece of shit. FUCK YOU!” Miles said.
“HAPPY FOR YOU?!” Ryder surged forward, but we had him under control. “I’m FUCKING here, aren’t I!?”
