“Fine,” I pout dramatically and cross my arms over my chest. “Whatever the beautiful bride-to-be wants, she gets… I guess.”
Ethan steps up behind her, shaking his head with that golden retriever grin, then his eyes slide past me and widen. “Milo? You two walked in together?”
Aria peers over my shoulder and finally notices the tall, unfairly composed shadow behind me. “Wait—Sienna, youknowMilo?”
“Yeah,” I say casually as I walk up to him and loop my arm through his. My head rests on his shoulder. “He’s my boyfriend.”
Aria and Ethan both freeze, their eyes bulging and mouths dropping open in perfect synchronization. I let the shocked silence hang for a few more seconds before laughter bubbles up from my chest.
“I’m just kidding,” I laugh, waving them off as I step away from Milo. “The airline decided we should bond over water, and then the resort decided we should bond over square footage for the next fourteen days.”
Ethan’s jaw drops. “You’re in thesamevilla?”
Aria gasps so loud the nearby server startles. “What?”
Milo steps forward, calm as ever, and offers the group a polite smile. “Double-booked. The resort is full. Two bedrooms, separate bathrooms. We’re… managing.”
Aria’s hand flies to her mouth. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry! The coordinator swore?—”
“It’s not on you,” Milo says quickly, his voice smooth and reassuring. “Resort glitch. They’re comping breakfast, spa credits, and excursions. We’ll survive.”
I cross my arms over my chest and tilt my head at him. “Speak for yourself. I’m already plotting how to frame him for my murder so I can get the villa to myself.”
Ethan grins like this is the best entertainment he’s had all week. “You two sound like you’ve been married for ten years and hate each other.”
Milo raises one dark brow. “We’ve known each other for twelve hours, and she’s already on my last nerve.”
I meet his gaze head-on, letting my lips curve. “You’re on my lastthree. They’re numberedandcolor-coded—I know how much that turns you on.”
Aria bursts out laughing, wiping actual tears from the corners of her eyes. “I love this. I love thissomuch.”
I shoot her a mock glare. “Don’t encourage him. He’s insufferable.”
“I’minsufferable?” Milo echoes, his voice low and dry. “You’re the one who turned my lap into a public swimming pool andthenblamed it on physics.”
“Turbulence is real,” I counter with a nonchalant shrug. “Your pants were just tragically in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He scoffs, but something darker flickers in those storm-gray eyes. “Do you expect me to fly without pants on a commercial flight? God forbid I don’t want to get arrested for public indecency.”
“I told you that in confidence!” I gasp, pressing a hand to my chest like I’ve been mortally wounded.
Ethan laughs so hard he has to brace both hands on Aria’s shoulders. “I need the full story on that water mishap.”
“No.” Milo and I snap in unison.
Dad lets out a deep chuckle and steps forward, extending his hand toward Milo. “I’m Gregory, the father of the bride-to-be and this wild child here,” he jerks a thumb at me. “It’s great to finally meet you, Milo. Ethan’s spoken so highly of you over the years. It sounds like you and my Sienna are getting along swimmingly.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, loud enough for everyone to hear. “Like a house on fire that refuses to be doused.”
Mom’s eyes widen in delighted horror. “Sienna Harlow!”
I purse my lips to suppress my laugh, but my mouth twitches at the corner anyway.
“Let’s sit and eat,” Mom says, already ushering us to the table. “Sienna, you and Milo can fight over the best shrimp skewer like civilized adults.”
I flash her a smile. “I’ll try not to stab him with a skewer… unless he starts alphabetizing the condiments.”
Milo’s voice drops as he falls into step beside me. “I’d pay good money to see you try.”
