Jason said, “Good work,” after placing a hand on my shoulder. He retreated to his chair and book. If I thought about it for a second more, I’d bet the other thing running through his head was regret at agreeing to come. Or rethinking his friendship with Miles.
“Great. Thanks, man,” Connor said before stripping off his shirt and jumping in the pool.
I sat down next to Miles and said, “What the fuck is going on with you two?”
Miles grabbed his sunglasses. “Nothing.”
I’d never felt such a powerful urge to slap him. Miles must’ve read it in my eyes and said, “I don’t know what the fuck is wrong with him. He’s been pissy this whole time.”
“You guys are so close. Don’t give me that bullshit. There is clearly something going on.”
His eyes widened behind his shades. Miles wasn’t used to me getting into drama like that. Neither was I, but it had to be said, and I needed to say it.
“I don’t fucking know.” Miles looked away. “He wasn’t thrilled about going so far away for so long, and asked to do it closer, or for fewer days, but he’s my brother. He should suck it up and enjoy my bachelor party. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. You know what I mean?”
My face said, fuck that bullshit. “That can’t be it. C’mon.”
Miles shifted in the lounge. “Maybe he’s just pissed the wedding is happening at all.” He met my gaze. “He’s never been a fan of Bree’s. But he’s had a year to get over it.”
The pieces slipped into place. I could understand how that would make someone a rude asshole. But we were talking about Ryder. The guy who literally planned their entire surprise engagement party because Miles asked him to. The guy who went up to bat for his family and friends time and time again, without being asked.
Maybe Ryder was this selfless, awesome guy in public, and just a regular ego-driven person in private? I didn’t know, and thinking about it made both my head and stomach hurt.
“If that’s the case, he owes you an apology. He told me to tell you he was sorry. He’ll be down before we go jet skiing.”
“He said he was sorry?” Miles leaned forward.
“Yup. I think he realized he was being a dick and just needs a minute to cool off.”
Miles broke out into the biggest smile he’d had yet that morning. “Yeah. And maybe a margarita or something to loosen him up.” He sat up, looking for a waitress. “Let’s get some.”
Chapter Four
Finn
Ryder emerged a few hours later. His gait was confident as ever, but his face was downcast. He approached us, but didn’t speak until he was in front of his brother. “Sorry for being an asshole. Let’s just forget it and have fun.”
“Forgotten,” Miles said, before standing up and hugging his brother. But he couldn’t leave well enough alone. “Just stop being such a pouty little bitch, and we’ll have a great time.”
Tyler and Connor were in the pool, and Jason was napping under an umbrella. I was the only one who saw Ryder’s gritted teeth, fluttering eyes, and flared nostrils as they hugged.
Ryder let go and said, “Yup,” before taking his seat on the other side of the sleeping Jason.
Miles smiled as if all were right in the world. How he couldn’t see that was far from reality, butIcould, made the throbbing above my eyebrow worse.
Ryder didn’t get to sit for long. Tyler and Connor got out of the pool and announced that it was almost time for jet skiing. Their booming excitement, maybe because they noticed Ryder was back and Miles was smiling, or maybe from the five beersthey each drank, woke Jason and motivated the rest of us to get in gear.
“Yup, your partner is your roommate,” Tyler said, answering Jason’s groggy question.
Jason responded with a suppressed groan.
The place was a twenty-five-minute walk through Miami’s humidity to the Biscayne Bay Area. It was brutal, and I cursed Connor the entire time. We wanted to take an Uber, but he insisted it wouldn’t be that bad and would help with our tans. Something, according to him, Tyler and I desperately needed. “Also,” Connor had said, “why waste money on rideshare when we can just hoof it? Buncha pansy asses.”
I got burned on my shoulders and nose instead, despite reapplying sunscreen. It would’ve been better if we weren’t hungover. Miles looked about ready to collapse five minutes after we left, and wasn’t any better until we got there.
No one talked much on the trek, but I found myself next to Ryder several times. At one point, he said, “How’d you get stuck rooming with the douchebag? Just too nice to say no?”
I snorted a laugh. “I’m rooming with you, not Miles.”
