Nate
Anyone want to tell me why half the party scattered after midnight, and my fiancée asked me to stay with Beau?
Fuck. I put my forearm over my eyes. With all the other shit I’ve been dealing with, I forgot that Pippa and my argument had witnesses.
Beau
You haven’t heard from Cat yet?
Nate
She won’t tell me.
James
Ask Ryan.
Traitor.
Luke
What did you do, Ryan? And did it have anything to do with my sister disappearing, too? I couldn’t find Brinley anywhere just before the countdown.
Beau
I think the party was just crowded. People got lost.
Nate
Then why did James say to ask Ryan?
I make the executive decision that James has earned a little throwing under the bus, himself.
Ryan
I’ll explain when James does. Why was some old rich guy asking you about a honeymoon and an heir?
Luke
???
Nate
Are you sure it was “heir” and not “air”?
Ryan
ASK JAMES.
That should do it. With most of the guys dealing with residual hangovers, odds are good they’ll be too distracted to dig in on the Pippa thing. For now, I’m going back to sleep, because I’ve run the numbers, and being awake right now has zero advantages.
Meow.
A little noise comes from outside the door.
“Not now, Waffle,” I call. “I’m sleeping.”
Meow. Meow. Meooooooooow.
