Page 5 of Knocked Up by my Best Friend's Brothers

“And don’t stress,” she adds with a wink. “You’ve got this.”

Like a shadow, I move through the crowd, then along the wall and past the cocktail bar until I reach one of the pavilion exits. Once I’m out, and the music dims somewhere behind me, I make my way upstairs. I clutch the side of my dress, trying to hold the fabric together as I walk, but I can feel it slipping further with every step.

By the time I reach the door of the suite, I’m breathless and flustered. I fumble with the key card, my hands shaking as I push the door open and stumble inside. The moment I step in, I hear a loud rip. The seam gives way completely, and the dress splits down the side, leaving me half-exposed.

“No, no, no!” I mutter, panic rising as I try to hold the fabric together. But it’s no use—the damage is done. I’m standingthere, clutching the torn dress to my chest, when I hear the door open behind me.

I whirl around, and there’s River. This time, a scream escapes my throat. “Holy shit!”

“What the…” River is just as shocked.

We both jump back as if we touched an electric fence.

My heart is thudding, my breathing ragged. The torn dress slips from my fingers, pooling at my feet. Oh, shit, I’m almost fully naked with just panties on.

“I am so sorry,” he says, his voice low.

The air thickens between us. I can’t move.

“What are you doing in here?!” I blurt out.

He gives me a curious, slightly confused look. “This is my room.”

“No, it’s not. This is my room. My key card is right there, by the door!”

He takes out an identical key card and smiles. “I specifically asked Teagan to put me in room 13. I had a key card for room 13 until I lost it earlier and realized I got yours instead.”

“Wait, what?”

“You had room 16. A couple of doors down from here. When we bumped into each other before the ceremony. Remember?”

I remember stuff on the floor. His key. My key. I gasp and cover my mouth with both hands. “Oh, hell no…”

“Oh, hell yes, you took my key.”

“And you couldn’t just tell me that?”

“Couldn’t find you anywhere. Teagan’s off dancing with her groom, and I wanted to come to my room for a bit.”

“You should’ve called!”

“I don’t have your number.”

“You don’t have my—ah, dammit…”

He’s right. I’ve been so aloof. I changed my number, my email, and every single social media profile I had after the disaster with Perry-Sage happened. In a moment of clarity, I manage to grab the towel off the floor and cover myself, my face burning with shame.

I avert my eyes, but I’m tempted to look at him. I can feel him staring at me.

“I stopped by the reception desk and requested another key,” he says.

“Give me a minute, and I’ll be right out.” I move toward the bed to grab my dress and my shoes and my lingerie. “Ah, there’s your luggage,” I mutter, finally noticing a bag that’s not mine next to the dresser.

“Where are you going?” River asks.

His breath tickles my nape. I suck in a breath, realizing he’s way closer than he should be.

“I’m going to my room. Obviously,” I manage.

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