Page 27 of Raine Out (Grand Slam 2)

“Sophie!” I yell as she walks away. “Do not set me up again.”

“I can’t hear you,” she says, dismissing me with a wave of her hand.

I look at Seb for support, but his eyes are fixed on Ricky.

“You get a good look?” Seb says, glaring at him.

Ricky hasn’t taken his eyes off Sophie’s butt since she stood up. Honestly, I took a quick look, too. It’s impossible not to look when it’s that perfect.

“Man,” Ricky whistles as he turns back toward us after Sophie disappears into the villa. “How do you expect me not to look at that? Especially when she’s wearing that little bikini.”

“Not only do I expect you not to look at it,” Seb growls, “I also expect you not to talk about it. Let me catch you looking again and you’re on the next plane back to Michigan.”

“I think it’s about time we left Seb and Sophie alone,” I say, draining the last of my beer. “I’ll take you guys back to the resort if you don’t have a car.”

“What?” Ricky looks over at Seb. “We’re not staying here with you? We always stay with you.”

“You’re not staying here,” Seb says as he stands up and starts to follow Sophie into the villa. “Even you’re not that stupid. This is our wedding weekend. Lock the front door behind you. We’ll see you over at the resort for the party tonight.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Stone shakes his head as he looks at Ricky. “You know how protective he is of his people and it’s on another level with Sophie. You better watch yourself or you’re going to get a beat down harder than the one he gave you in eighth grade.”

“Come on, Stone. You looked—”

“Brother,” I interrupt, “we all looked. The key is a quick look and then divert your eyes. Look. Divert. Look. Divert.”

“That’s bullshit,” Ricky says, popping open another beer. “I miss the Seb that used to look with me.”

“You think he isn’t looking at that?” Paul says. “Not only does he look at it all day, every day, he’s probably inside the house now pressed up against it. You see how they are in front of other people. I don’t even want to think about what they do when they’re alone.”

Ricky sighs. “I want it to go back to pre-Sophie when we all hung out as single guys.”

“Paul and I are married, dipshit,” Stone says. “Are you forgetting about those two women who were sitting next to us on the plane?”

Ricky makes a grunting noise as he takes another drink of his beer.

“Where are your wives?” I say, looking at Ricky over my sunglasses. He’s pouting like a five-year-old kid.

“They’re back at the resort by the pool,” Paul says. “They always give us a little male-bonding time with Seb.”

“Male-bonding, my ass,” Ricky snaps. “Why didn’t Sophie go over and hang out with the women while we’re here? It’s bullshit. We don’t get any alone time with Seb anymore.”

“It’s not going back to pre-Sophie, Rick,” Stone says. “You’re the only single one left. I mean, except for Alex.”

“Then it’s up to us, Alex,” Ricky says, lowering himself into the pool. “I was a great wingman for Seb. I’ll transfer my services over to you.”

“Yeah, that’s a hard pass.” I shake my head at him. “Sorry, man. I don’t need a wingman. And you’re in town for Seb’s wedding, so it’s not going to go back to pre-Sophie.”

“Maybe,” he says. “I’m still trying to convince him to slow it down. They haven’t even known each other for a year. There’s no need to get married so quickly.”

“You’re delusional,” Paul says. “You see how they are with each other. He’s not slowing that down. If anything, he wants to marry her today instead of waiting for Saturday.”

“I’m not the only one who thinks he’s moving too fast,” Ricky says, turning to Stone. “You told him you thought the way they met was shady—”

“I thought that—past tense,” Stone says, glaring at him. “Then I got to know her. She’s cool and she’s great for Seb. You need to give her a chance.”

“I second that,” I say. “If anything, she’s too good for him.”

“We’ll see. I’ve known Seb longer than any of you. I think he might change his mind and call off the wedding,” Ricky says, shrugging as he chugs the rest of his beer. “Who’s this friend they’re picking up at the airport? Like Renee or something?”

---