Page 25 of The Best Man's Secret

“Huh.”

“For breakfast. Are you okay? You look flushed.” He pressed a hand against my forehead, but I pushed it off.

“I’m fine. It’s too hot out already, that’s all. Let’s go.”

I couldn’t tell if he could sense my unease, but I was acutely aware of the space where our friendship ended and this new, confusing territory began. A line had been crossed, even if only in my mind, and now I stood on unfamiliar ground.

“Ladies, gents, and enbies, let’s welcome our new grooms!” Noah teased as we sat at the breakfast table.

“You’re not even half as funny as you think you are,” I said, grabbing the pot of coffee from the center of the table.

“Are you saying you aren’t following the honeymoon ritual of making sweet loooove all night?” Lex added. “Even after we left you alone all day yesterday?”

“Not you too,” I said, rolling my eyes. I picked up the menu and scanned through the omelet options.

“Good morning, gentlemen. I’m Morgan, and I’m here to take your breakfast orders if you’d like anything from the menu.”

I looked up to find myself staring at the bartender from our first night at the resort.

“You’re the bartender,” River said, smiling at the guy.

My gut twisted and I lost the appetite I had. “I’ll just go hit the buffet.” I pushed away from the table and went searching for carbs. Pilling up eggs, ham, croissants, and chocolate spread, I didn’t return to the table until the guy was gone.

“He’s really nice,” Emery said.

“You’d say that, baby. He agreed to serve you pancakes with ice cream for breakfast,” Lex added.

“Seriously though, the guy is hot, and he seems to have a soft spot for River,” Noah said.

“I don’t think so,” River said, and the twist in my belly eased a little.

“What’s the plan for today? Beach and then what? Are we swimming with the sharks or the turtles?” I asked, grabbing a croissant and stuffing it in my mouth.

Food, coffee, and some kind of physical activity. That’s what I needed.

“I was actually joking about the sharks,” Noah said. “There’s only one set of teeth I want on my skin, and it’s sitting at this table.”

Lior ran his hand over his face in a clear sign of resignation, but the corners of his lips raised a little as he looked at my brother.

Damn, what would it feel to have that kind of love? The one where you can be totally deranged like my brother, and instead of being put down for it, your partner finds you amusing and adorable.

I glanced at River, who looked from Noah to me and wiggled his brows.

11

RIVER

“You are going down.” I watched Adam hurl a handful of water at Lex, his matching blue eyes sparkling as he dunked his twin brother under the water.

“Come on, River! Save me from this maniac!” Lex hollered between breaths, dashing behind me as if I could shield him from Adam’s playful wrath when teamed up with Emery.

Adam’s chuckle rippled through the air, warm and infectious. I couldn’t help but join in, scooping water in my palms and pouring it over Lex’s head, much to his mock indignation.

“Traitor!”

“Hey, just protecting my own interests.”

We messed around in the water until my fingers were like prunes. It reminded me of when Adam’s parents would rent a cabin by the lake in Stillwater and take me along on their family vacation. Me and the guys would practically spend the whole time in the water, coming out only when their mom called us in with promises of her amazing food.