“She was a hoot. They all were.” Ryder locked his phone.
“Yeah. Fun people.”
Ryder said nothing else and closed his eyes. Maybe I was wrong? Or maybe my not remembering that random woman was enough of an answer for him? I remembered her, but I could never forget dancing with him, grinding our hips together,feeling his… I laid back and closed my eyes, too, before the memory got too visceral.
A few moments later, he said, “This place is actually really fucking nice.”
“Yeah, I was surprised Miles picked it. Not his style.” I glanced over at him.
Ryder turned to me with a stern face until it melted. “You really don’t know?”
“About what?”
“I picked this place, dude. I picked it and booked all the rooms. Planned everything myself, even after I told him it was too far and for too long.”
“No shit, really? Why?”
“He asked me to be his best man. Then unasked me.”
I sat up. “What? You’re fucking with me.”
He settled back and closed his eyes again. “Nope.”
“Why? Why would he do that?”
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“He told me you were too busy…”
Ryder’s single sharp laugh caused his shoulders to lift off the chair. “That’s what he said to me, too, that I was too busy. Everything already booked and planned. What the fuck ever.” He closed his eyes again and settled back.
I stared at him for a moment. That must’ve been why Ryder was so pissed at him. I would be too. I probably wouldn’t have even come on the trip if I were him.
“I’m…” I started and stopped. “I’m sorry. I’ll back down if you want. Kinda can’t believe he did that.”
Ryder turned to look at me. His face did some weird things. “Wouldn’t matter. If not you, then Tyler, I’m sure. Not him, Connor, and so on.”
“Seriously, what the fuck? I’m gonna say something to him. That’s not right.”
“No, man, please don’t.” Ryder’s gaze tensed, then relaxed. “I don’t wanna stir anything else up.” He closed his eyes again. “It’s shitty, but it is what it is.”
“I won’t, but I’m just saying, if it were me, I would’ve stayed home.”
“Trust me, I almost did. But he’s my little brother, and on the off chance thisishis only bachelor party, I needed to be here.” Ryder snorted a laugh, and I chuckled. “It is what it is, man. Sometimes the people you love treat you shitty.”
“I guess so,” I said and settled back, too.
Why would Miles do that? Maybe he changed, and I was too dimwitted to see it? With what he said about that content shit, it wouldn’t be surprising. But… he was the closest person to me in the world. Always had my back in the way I had his... My chest inflated, like it would explode.
After stewing in silence for a few minutes, I couldn't let it go. “I have no idea why he wouldn't want to have you as his best man. You’re the perfect option. His brother, first of all. But also, you’re fantastic at planning shit and getting shit done. You’re the most dependable, responsible, respectable guy I’ve ever known.”
“HA!” Ryder barked a laugh, then turned to me. His smile was… he just… Ryder was so goddamn handsome. My stomach fluttered.
He said, “Yup, that’s me. I’m always there for people.” He laughed once. “Just wish people were there for me too sometimes.”
I was about to say that he had people like Miles, or even me. But after what he just shared, Miles wouldn’t be great to bring up. And I might want to, but I didn’t know him well enough to betherefor him. Not how he meant.
So instead, I stuck my foot in my mouth. “Are they not?”
