“Is this the longest six hours of his life?”
Her phone pings with an alert and she tips her head back and lets out a groan. “It must be. He’s not usually so clingy.”
“Bachelor parties do something to men.”
“Yeah, usually the exact opposite.” Her ringtone starts playing again and she picks up the phone. “Aren’t you supposed to be bro-ing out or playing wingmanfor your single groomsmen or something?”
I giggle, lifting my wine glass to my lips. Now my own phone pings with an alert.
Reid: Hve I told you how grogeous you look tonihgt
I look around the terrace, half expecting to find Reid leaning in the doorway with his usual smug grin that warms my chest. Instead, I see the terracotta-tiled patio behind us empty, the light from the living room spilling out of the wide-open dark double doors. I turn back around with a frown and start typing.
Jane: How would you know how I look tonight?
Reid: I’m just asumming
Reid: You always look grogeous
Reid: Like ridiculusly grogeous
Ignoring the butterflies in my stomach—and the plethora of typos so bad even autocorrect couldn’t fix them—I type back a response.
Jane: Exactly how much have you had to drink tonight?
Reid: Who says I’m drink
Jane: I’m just assuming
Now my phone is the one ringing. I look from the screen with Reid’s name flashing across it to stare at Elise in disbelief. “What is happening with these men?”
Elise shrugs, her own phone still pressed to her ear for her thousandth call with my brother. I swipe the answer button. “Hello?”
“Jane, I can’t find you.” Reid’s words and slightly slurred and I can tell despite all his moderate efforts to convince me otherwise that he’s drunk.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been searching everywhere.”
“I’m . . . I’m at the villa, Reid. The same place you’re staying at.”
“I can’t find it.”
I can feel the confused expression on my face, even if he’s not here to see it. “Aren’t you with the rest of the boys?”
“No, I left to find you.”
I pause. “Why did you do that?”
“Because I missed you.”
“I . . .” I cut myself off, a small smile touching my lips as the words sink in. “That’s really sweet, Reid. Incredibly stupid, but also really sweet.”
“I told you I could be sweet.” Before I can say anything else, he lets out a very long, dramatic breath. “Please come rescue me.”
If I drag him away from the bachelor party, Kate will kill me. She’ll find a way to blame me for Jason’s best man ditching, and being in the same villa all week is the only motivation I need to stay on her good side. I mean, on top of every other motivation I have too, of course.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Reid. You’re supposed to be celebrating Jason.”
