Page 9 of And the Best Man Ran Away With the Groom

“Xav!”

I stop short, snapping my head around at the unexpected sound of my name to find Trent beaming at me. “What the—” I shake my head slowly in confusion. “Aren’t you supposed to be mid-flight by now?”

“I got bumped from my flight,” he says with a helpless shrug. “So, they upgraded me on the next one as compensation.”

My mouth falls open so wide he can probably count my teeth. “You got a free business class ticket just because they overbooked your flight?”

“Looks like it.” He continues toward the bar, and I fall in step beside him. “Hey, what time’s your flight? Maybe we’re on the same one now?”

I pull out my boarding pass and present it to him.

He lets out a loud rumble of laughter, his face cracking into a broad grin. “Hey, look at that. Looks like I got Jack’s seat.” And he produces his own boarding pass, showing me that not only are we now on the same flight, but we’re sitting next to each other.

I try not to give away how unsettled I am by this development. I have nothing against Trent, but if we’re being honest, I’m still not a hundred percent sure this trip is the best idea and I’d been planning to use the alone time on the flight to wrap my head around everything. It’s all happened in such a rush I’ve barely had time to think.

“You okay?” he asks, a hint of concern crossing his face.

“Yeah, of course. Bit tired, I guess.”

“Come on,” Trent says, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “Let’s get a drink. I hear they’re all free here.”

“For you, maybe,” I say with an eye roll. “Some of us actually paid for our ticket.”

He lets out a soft chuckle, smiling at me. “Then you’ll be wanting to get your money’s worth.”

GLOSSARY

Bloke - Guy

Boot - Trunk

5

Trent

We arrive on Koh Samui in the afternoon and are met at the airport by the resort’s shuttle bus. It only takes us about twenty minutes to drive to the resort, and by the time we get there I’ve already got the inside scoop from the driver—whose name is Arthit—on all the best places to eat and some must-see attractions in the area. He’s incredibly enthusiastic about a mummified monk at a temple up in the mountains. It sounds pretty cool to me, but when I turn to Xavier for his reaction, he just shrugs and grumbles out a “Whatever.” Clearly, he’s still tired from the flight. I still can’t believe my luck in getting a free upgrade on the Melbourne to Singapore leg of the journey. No doubt it’ll be the first and last time I ever fly up the front end of the plane.

When we get to the resort, we’re greeted at reception by a lovely woman named Junta who offers us mimosas as she tells us about the accommodation, which she and her husband own and run.

“Wow, talk about star treatment,” I say with a grin as I sip my mimosa while Junta leaves us for a moment to find someone to escort us to our bungalows. “I could definitely get used to this.”

“I’m pretty sure they do this for everyone,” Xavier says with an eye roll. “And I don’t know what you’re getting so excited about. It’s just champagne and orange juice.”

I arch a brow at him. “Does that mean you won’t be drinking yours then?”

He scowls and holds his champagne flute closer, as though protecting it from me. “I didn’t say that.”

I can’t help letting out a rumbling chuckle before draining the rest of my drink and setting my glass down.

Junta returns with a young man, who I’m surprised to see isn’t Thai. He’s Caucasian, with skin pale enough to rival Xavier’s and a shock of bright red hair. She introduces him as Oliver and I offer a bright smile, stepping forward to shake his hand, ignoring Xavier’s huff of annoyance.

“Hey, how’s it going?”

Oliver returns my smile with a broad grin of his own. “Aussie blokes, are you?” He sounds like a character fromDownton Abbey, so I’m working under the assumption he’s from somewhere in the north of England. “Here on a romantic getaway?”

“God no,” Xavier practically spits out.

I let out a wry chuckle. “Just friends.”

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