“Didn't you make your own reservation?” Haley had taken care of my arrangements, but I figured that was because nobody trusted me to be responsible enough to fend for myself.
Ryan shook his head. “No. Deegan said Haley was taking care of everything for the wedding party and the family.”
Must be rough having a nice fat bank account. I managed to keep that thought to myself, just barely. I loved Haley and knew she wasn’t the type to flaunt the trust fund she’d never asked for, but sometimes I wondered what it would be like to have that type of cash to throw around.
“Oh. Okay cool. I just hope I'm not bunking with one of the single cousins. That would be torture,” I grumbled. Ryan might have somehow gotten a room of his own, but there was no way Deegan would have agreed to the same for me. He thought I was being a drama queen when I said I needed space.
“I'm sure Haley wouldn't do that to you. Remember, she's not just the bride, the two of you have been friends almost as long as Deegan and I.”
It was both heart-warming and sad that Ryan understood my issues better than my own brother did. And now I was getting emotional. I didn’t have the time or the energy for that right now, so I tried to lighten the mood.
“Not possible. The two of you are old men.” I was completely unprepared for the sharp crack of Ryan's palm against my thigh. “Ouch! That hurt, you ass!”
He just laughed as I rubbed the tender muscle. “What did I tell you the correct response was?”
Ryan quirked an eyebrow that made me squirm in my seat. When I didn’t answer immediately, he slipped his hand under my sweatshirt again and pinched my nipple. Hard. I moaned, really hating him for teasing me like this.
Shit. He really was a kinky fucker. “Thank you, Daddy. I’m sorry for saying you’re old.”
He gave my knee a squeeze. “That's a good boy. Once we get some time alone, I'll be sure to reward you for having such good manners.”
“Fuuuuck,” I groaned as the valet opened my door.
We were whisked inside to where Haley and my mother were lying in wait. As soon as I caught my best friend’s gaze, she rushed to my side, enveloping me in the biggest hug ever.
“I'm sorry we couldn't stick around to pick you up this morning. The hotel has everything all screwed up. They lost half the reservations, and I wasn't about to leave your mom alone with them.” She gave me a meaningful look and I stifled a laugh.
“Worried they would've canceled your wedding?” I teased as she looped her arm with mine, her hand resting in the crook of my elbow. I caught a flash of the huge diamond solitaire engagement ring. I was one of the few people who knew she didn’t like it. She loved my brother, but wished he understood that something so gaudy wasn’t her style.
“You say that like it's a joke,” she scoffed. “Come on, let's get a drink and you can tell me all about the drive.” She wiggled her eyebrows, and I wondered if this had all been set up.
“Haley Jane—”
“Oh no. Don't you middle name me,” she scolded. “Something's going on and it's long past time you come clean Tanner Patrick. See, I can do it, too. And before you ask, the hotel really did botch the reservations. But maybe that was the universe’s way of stepping in to smack the two of you upside the head…”
How in the hell did she know? No, maybe I didn't want to know. Haley had always been a little scary about sniffing out gossip. Maybe I should have been surprised we kept that stupid night a secret for this long.
I'd have to think quick about what I could say to her that wouldn't create more questions than answers, because Ryan and I had agreed that the past was in the past and neither of us would ever bring it up again. If he forgave me and promised to help me forgive myself, that was all that mattered.
Haley flagged down the bartender and ordered each of us a drink. I glanced over my shoulder, feeling slightly guilty for leaving Ryan to deal with my mother on his own. I shouldn’t have worried. He had always been the golden boy. Even though he wasn't her biological child, sometimes I think she forgot that. She had him wrapped in a warm hug, the type mothers should give their sons.
And yet, there was no doubt my mind that when she finally made her way over to say hello to me, it would be with little more than an air hug and criticism. Hell, she’d probably tell me I was turning into an alcoholic for having a drink before evening, even if it was Haley’s idea. Haley stopped to say hello to a few people I didn't recognize as she led me to a corner booth.
“So, how was the ride? Did you and Ryan talk about anything interesting?” She slid into the booth and patted the cushion next to her. It was hard to believe she could look so relaxed the day before her wedding when she’d been dealing with last-minute issues. She scowled at me over the rim of her glass, then pouted. “Come on, tell me something good. I’ve been stuck with your family all week. It’s a good thing I love Deegan as much as I do, or you might be an accomplice to a runaway bride at this point.”
“There is still time,” I pointed out. I doubted Ryan would help her getaway, but Maverick would be in his car before I could even tell him what was going on. Despite whatever had happened between the two of them, he’d be down for helping her escape a lifetime shackled to the more insane part of my family.
Haley elbowed me in the ribs just as I picked up my drink, sending a trail of red splotches down the front of Ryan’s gray sweatshirt. “Shit! I’m sorry. Let me go get… Holy shit, Tanner! That’s Ryan’s. I’m going to get some soda to clean that up, but then you owe me one hell of an explanation.”
“It’s no big deal,” I lied. Wearing anything of his was major, but she was seriously freaking the hell out about me wearing something of his.
“You don’t know how much of a lie that is.” Haley shook her head as she slid out the other side of the booth.
I buried my head in my hands while I waited for her to get back. Nothing about today was going the way it was supposed to. I hadn’t had to suffer through a ride with my brother that would have left me numb to the rest of the family’s insults. Ryan didn’t hate me, he liked me and wanted to claim me as his boy for the weekend, and that was mind-blowing.
I had wanted to throw my fabulous femininity in everyone’s faces, but now I wished I had a pair of comfy Chucks to go with my skinny jeans and Ryan’s shirt. But I didn’t, and no way could I strut around in a stained shirt.
Haley returned, while I struggled to keep my composure, and immediately started dabbing at the spill. “Deegan has a sweatshirt just like this. It’s from some stupid club they were in together. Every time I’ve grabbed his because I wanted something warm and comfy, he swore there was some stupid ass rule about no one wearing these but the members.”
