Page 106 of Beached Wedding

ASHLEY

We spent the day with my family. Shane and Izzy joined us at the villa for dinner and we all stayed up late, laughing and talking, even though I had to be up early to say goodbye the next morning.

That meant I had to say goodbye to my family while Mom was cooking breakfast. The rest of them were leaving swimwear out of their packing so they could enjoy the beach for a few hours before leaving for their own flight tonight.

Somewhere between the aroma of bacon, and the oatmeal scented hug that Ryan gave me, and the familiar fragrance of Whit’s hairspray, I began tearing up.

“Don’t be silly.” Mom wiped my cheeks with her thumbs, then turned away to flip the pancakes before they scorched.

Fliss buried her face in my neck the way she used to, when she’d been Ryan’s age. I held her, trying not to cry, but my heart hurt. A lot.

Fox didn’t rush me. He shook hands with everyone and made promises to text the minute we landed safely. He reminded all of us that we would see each other at Christmas.

“We’ll start budgeting to come to you the following year,” Oliver promised.

“Really?” Fliss cautiously lifted her head from my shoulder.

“Sure. I’d love a hot, sunny Christmas. It’s enough notice to work things out with Ryan’s mom.”

When the clock ran down, Fox set a gentle arm around me and walked me away amid their chorus of goodbyes.

“I’m sorry,” I blubbered as we approached the valet stand where Shane already waited.

“You’re entitled.” He rubbed my back. “Feel like driving, mate?”

“So you two can snog in the back seat?” Shane asked.

“You don’t have to. I’ll be fine.” I searched my bag for a tissue and gratefully accepted one from the valet who held out a box. I took several, anticipating I’d need them.

“Ash.” Shane opened the door and pushed the seat forward so I could get in the back. “You know I would have been shite at this, right? Let Fox give you a cuddle. He won’t sit still otherwise.”

I had to laugh because it was true. I got in and Fox settled beside me. He pulled me into the center and clipped that belt around me so I was right against him.

Shane looked at us in the rearview mirror. “You better have booked first class tickets. I amnotsitting in coach.”

“Oh, this is gonna be awkward.” Fox scratched under his chin. “I booked my own return in economy. That was before all this.” He circled his finger at the way things had changed between all of us.

“You’re such a cheap bastard.” Shane flipped him the bird as he pulled away from the curb. “Well, I hope you enjoy sitting with the pleebs while Ash and I drink free champagne.”

“Come on, mate. You’re not going to do that to us,” Fox chided.

“I bloody well will. Did I ever tell you about the time he rented us goddamned pedicabs instead of a car?” Shane flicked aglance at me in the mirror, still driving slow as he made his way out of the resort.

“Here’s a thought. You could make your own arrangements instead of treating me like your travel agent,” Fox suggested. “Then you would always get what you want.”

“Youknowwhat I want. You’re just too damned cheap to make it happen.”

“I can sitin coach,” I offered.

“You’re not sitting in coach,” Fox and Shane said together.

“He’s the one who booked it. He’s sitting in coach,” Shane said.

“I’m going to be crying the whole way,” I said to Fox as Shane pulled onto the highway and picked up speed. “I might as well be back with the fussing babies.”

“We’re all in first class,” he murmured against my ear. “But let him have this.”

“It’s not like he can’t afford first class,” Shane continued, speaking louder to be heard over the rushing wind. “I hope you realize what you’re doing, falling in with him. His wallet is sealed up tighter than a mummy’s tomb. It only gets pried open every thousand years or so. Did you two eat breakfast?” Shane had to slow for the inevitable congestion. “I haven’t. Let’s stop, get out of this traffic.”

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