Ryder’s tone wasn’t brotherly annoyance. Had he called him a little bitch, we’d have laughed, Miles included. No, something was up with the two of them. I made a note to check in with Miles when we had a minute alone.
The bar across the street from the hotel was nice for a dive bar. Small and cramped, but cold drinks, and hot people. TheLatin music thumped my chest like I was in a club, not a space only large enough for the bar top and three booths.
Ryder seemed to be in a better mood. Or just drank more. Either way, he was more engaged with the rest of the guys. No one sat anywhere, but he was always right beside me. And not just next to me.
A hand on my hip, or the small of my back. Pushing me away with a laugh or squeezing my elbow. His arm slung across my shoulder as he talked to the other guys. At one point, he had both hands on my hip to move me, but lingered there for a few beats too long.
All the guys I’d ever known went out of their way not to touch each other. If they do, it’s fast or painful, depending on their meaning. Then I remembered Ryder was gay… None of his touches were inappropriate. He just had no reason to avoid touching other dudes.
How could I have been so stupid? My face burned. Connor asked me what was wrong, and I had nothing to say. It wasn’t just me. Ryder was hanging on everyone. When he and the rest of his family got drunk, they hang on people. There have been entire nights where I was a human crutch for piss-drunk Miles.
How could I have forgotten? Maybe because I’m stupid, don’t think about shit like that, and he’s more traditionally masculine than the rest of the guys on that trip? I felt even worse when I remembered how he opened up to me about someone he was seeing, who turned out to be married. Fucking Christ.
I almost succeeded in not letting it bother me, but failed to keep the boys and myself “decent.” We weren’t black out, but would feel it in the morning.
Chapter Two
Finn
Tyler was already rummaging around well before I could’ve gotten out of bed. I blinked, and another hour had passed.
His first words were, “Dude, get up. Beer and breakfast burritos down by the pool.” He shoved me. “C’mon, man. It’s boring as shit down there alone.” He was already a little buzzed, shirtless in a bathing suit.
“Yeah, alright.” I sat up.
My head hurt, not blaring, but in need of some Advil. Instead, Tyler handed me a beer. “The number one male needs to keep the party going.”
I took it, then a sip. Tyler kept his stash in the hotel mini-fridge, though I wasn’t sure when he got it. Booze just appeared whenever he was around. The beer was ice-cold and faster than the pain reliever would’ve been.
Tyler always liked to drink. He was the first one on the freshman football team to puke at a party. It was like he was on a mission so far that trip. I had no desire for a beer. I also couldn’t skirt my duties as thenumber one male. Part of that was to make sure everyone had a good time, including my roommate.
Tyler sat on my bed while I medicated. “You know what’s up Miles’s ass?”
“What do you mean?” I said, failing to suppress a burp.
“He’s just been in a shitty mood. He’s smiling and drinking, but something’s up with him.” Tyler flexed his shoulder blades against each other, making his chest stand out. “And what was with that comment Ryder made last night? Kind of a low blow, right?”
I never liked causing drama or being anywhere near it. If I was wrong about Miles and Ryder having some beef, I didn’t want to start a rumor. Love the guy, but Tyler’s lips aren’t the tightest when he’s drunk, and I knew he’d be smashed the entire trip.
“Nah.” I chuckled and took a swig from the can. “They give each other shit like that all the time. You and your little brother give each other shit, too.” I laughed. “I’ve seen you fuckingpummelhim.”
“That shit’s different,” Tyler said, stretching his back by moving side to side. “If I punch Kev in the face, it’ll only piss him off. Miles looked hurt. That’s different.”
I never understood sibling dynamics since I didn’t have any. Tyler and his brother’s feral relationship even less so. The closest thing I had was Miles, and if I ever hit him in the face, it would cause a huge problem.
“Yeah, I dunno. Maybe Ryder has work shit on his mind? Been kinda quiet.”
“Except to you, or when he’s drunk,” Tyler said with a pinched face, still trying to be his own chiropractor. “That fucking bed, man. Killed my back.”
My cheeks heated. “I guess. But not really. He’s just been quiet.”
“Well, if it’s not that, then something else’s up Miles’s ass.” His back finally popped, followed by a look of deep relief.
“I dunno, man. Maybe Bree’s been on his ass?” I said, referencing Miles’s bride-to-be. “She wasn’t in love with the idea of a bachelor party to begin with. And having to fly out here even less.”
Tyler chuckled. “She’salwayson his ass. I think this is different, but maybe she ramped it up? Did you get that text too?”
“What text?”
