Page 4 of Chasing Forever
I love this family. Always have. Hell, Lottie’s cousin Ben is my best friend. But there are times—like this—when the interruptions that come with a big family wear thin.
With a sigh, I slide the ring off my finger and tuck it into the pocket of my slacks from last night. Then I unlock the door and crack it open.
Bennett’s standing in the hotel hallway, already showered and dressed, looking as if he just stepped out of a damn GQ shoot—perfect dark hair, fresh clothes, and a to-go coffee cup in his hand.
“Shouldn’t you be enjoying sleeping in and maybe ordering room service with some hot woman you picked up last night since you’re not on daddy duty?” I ask.
He groans and strolls in, plopping down on the couch as though he’s got nowhere better to be. “I tried and gave up, finally got showered and ready. The breakfast buffet is pretty good if you’re interested.”
I’m not.
What I am interested in is getting him the hell out before he realizes his big sister is hiding in my closet.
“Why don’t I meet you down there?” I blurt out. “I just need to shower.”
Please, man. Please take the hint.
But no—he sinks deeper into the couch. If he only knew he was sitting right where Lottie picked up her discarded thong ten minutes ago…
“What’s on the agenda today before we head to the airport?” he asks, as though he’s got all the time in the world. He tips his head back as if he’s nursing a raging headache.
“I think a lunch or something.”
We’re here for his and Lottie’s cousin’s wedding. Emmett married Briar last night. Hey, look at that, Lottie and I are going to share a wedding anniversary with her cousin.
Bennett nods, totally oblivious. “I have no idea how you’re standing,” he mutters, taking another sip of coffee.
“What’s that mean?” My forehead wrinkles.
“You and Lottie just kept asking for more shots.” He sets his paper coffee cup on the side table then looks around, seeming to register his surroundings for the first time since he walked in here. “Why do you have a suite?”
The question of the morning apparently.
“They made a mistake on my reservation and gave me an upgrade,” I say. Not a lie. Although if they hadn’t, I might’ve tried to upgrade after… everything that happened last night. After Lottie and I apparently stumbled back from the chapel.
My gaze cuts back to the closet door.
I need to talk to her. I need five minutes. I need one goddamn second to figure out how to fix this before she bolts. Because she’s going to.
“It’s nice,” Bennett says, picking up the takeout coffee cup and sipping again.
I nearly clench my hair in my hands and scream up toward the ceiling.
“What’s up, man?” I ask, forcing my tone to be casual even though my brain is begging him to leave.
“Ah.” His shoulders lift and fall as if he’s carrying the weight of the world. “Emmett’s busy.”
I rock my head back, trying not to visibly twitch.
Emmett’s newly married and no doubt eight inches into his bride this morning, probably knocking her up again.
But I get it.
Ever since Gillian returned to town and she and Ben got back together, my time with my best friend has diminished drastically. Then again, Ben had been gone for years playing professional football, so I was used to not needing him to help me solve my problems. And maybe because of how lost I felt when Ben left for Clemson after high school, though every muscle in my body is screaming to get Bennett out of here so I can talk to Lottie, I drop down into the chair across from him.
“What’s up?”
A low growl rumbles from the closet.
