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“No, I know, but I’m positively beaten.” He chuckles awkwardly. “Must be all the wine.”
Archie throws his friend a stare that, if I had to define, I’d call suspicious. But he’s also just as quick to jump on the “going to bed early” wagon.
As he gets up, his devilish grin promises a whole lot of fun activities to take place in said bed, none of which include sleep.
“If you’re going, I’m going, too,” Archie says.
Winter narrows her eyes at him. “To bed? Alone? This early?”
“That’d be correct.”
“Why aren’t you trying to sleep with any of the female guests? Are you ill?”
I cringe at the stark reminder I’m only one of many previous conquests. Yet, I shake the thought away. This week he’s all mine, and I will enjoy the ride while it lasts.
Archie winces at being put on the spot. “Subtle much?”
“No, honestly,” Winter insists. “What’s up with you?”
“Maybe I already have a rendezvous arranged and was trying to leave politely without drawing attention,” he says, making my face catch fire. I hide it behind a glass of water, compose my features into the mother of all poker faces, and dare a peek at my sister. She’s completely oblivious and hasn’t looked my way once.
“Really?” Winter asks. “And who’s the lucky lady?”
“A true gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell,” Archie replies.
I almost roll my eyes, but catch myself at the last second, my gaze landing on Lana. And, oh my gosh, she’s staring at me slightly wide-eyed, kind of slack jawed, as if she’s just connected all the wrong dots. I try to telepathically send her a “please keep quiet” plea, and she must receive the message because her lips press together into a furtive half-smile and she gives me the tiniest of nods.
After some more badgering from my sister to find out who Archie’s conquest is, and more stubborn refusals from Archie to fess up, he and Tucker finally walk away, leaving me in need of a fresh excuse to beat it.
But now I can’t go. Not after Archie has openly admitted he’s seeing someone. I want to avoid arousing any suspicion in my sister’s head. I have to. At. All. Costs. Sorry, Surfer Archie will have to wait a while before I can safely join him in his room.
I’m already resigned to this sad destiny when Lana, unexpectedly, comes to the rescue. Giving me that secretive half-smile again, she stands up, saying, “Guys, I’m going to call it a night as well.”
“Not you, too,” Winter protests. “What’s your excuse?”
“Christian has been busy shooting all day and I haven’t spoken to him yet. Now is the only good time to talk.”
I can’t honestly say how much truth laces Lana’s statement. Does she really plan to call Christian, or is she leaving so that I, too, can leave without giving my sister the wrong impression?
Before I can decide on an answer, the maid of honor blows us kisses and is on her way off to the hotel.
Now or never.
I stand up. “Well, you guys, as much as I’d love to stay and be the third wheel all night, I’m going to go, too.”
Winter snorts. “Don’t be ridiculous. You’ll never be a third wheel with me.”
“I was joking,” I say. The last thing I want is to make my sister uncomfortable. “But you guys haven’t seen each other all day. I’d understand if you wanted to goresta little.”
Not taking the hint, Winter replies, “I’m not that tired.”
Thankfully, the groom-to-be seems to be more on board with my let’s-ditch-the-barbecue-and-go-have-sex agenda, even if he doesn’t know I’m sharing the same urges.
Logan yawns quite theatrically and gives my sisterthelook, saying, “Actually, I could use some nappy time.”
The bride finally gets the message, and suddenly an early bedtime becomes appealing to her, too.
She looks up at me. “Are you sure you don’t want to hang out a little longer?”
