Epilogue

epilogue

River

It's the morning of Stef and Lee's wedding, and Lily's grabbing items around the hotel room before she heads to hair and makeup with the girls. She gives me a kiss and starts to make her way to the elevators. It's a little while until the men are expected to do anything wedding related so Lee's dad roped us into a round of nine holes on the venue golf course. I'm just drying off out of the shower when I hear my phone ding:

Lily:

Hey! We're missing Nessa. My guess is she's off somewhere for coffee or a mimosa, but if you bump into her can you tell her Stef is starting to worry? More than a half hour late and we assume it's more Rabin sibling chaos.

River:

No problem, I'll keep my eyes peeled

Quickly, another ding comes in, this time it's Seth.

Seth:

Hey! We're waiting for you and Mateo – knock to make sure his ass is up. Mr. Carter is making me seem easygoing…

I guess that makes my next stop Mateo's room. I knock, before remembering that he gave me his second key last night to leave things after dinner and let myself in. He's probably passed out.

The last time I saw him was at the bar with Nessa and Delia playing a drinking game that looked mostly like Delia handing them both tequila shots and making them confess things.

The keypad beeps, lights flicker green, and the unlocking gears make noises letting me know I can open the door. As I turn the knob, I meet a little resistance and notice it's his pants. I lean down to pick them up, and as I pull them away, I see a silk dress a few steps ahead. Scrubbing my hand over my face, I call out for Mateo and his bedmate to cover up.

"Hey co-best man, we can't be late for golf with your sister's father-in-law. Lee doesn't have brothers, so this is a big deal for you to show up and be your usual charming self for," as I fumble for the light switch to wake him, I hear a distinctly female shriek. Well, his friend from last night is awake so that is good at least.

"Don't!" she yells as I flick the lights on, and I realize why she, Nessa Rabin, wouldn't want to be seen. Wide eyed, frozen with the sheet over her chest, messy hair and melted makeup on her face. An angry Nessa stares like a bull about to charge.

"Fuck, River, no. Please. You can't tell anyone. This was a one time thing, it won't happen again."

Shoving Mateo, she scares him and I catch a glimpse of a lot more of him than I bargained for as he falls, naked, from the bed.

Grabbing a pillow to cover his junk, Mateo grins up at me. "What's up, dude! Can we get a little privacy?"

Nessa groans in frustration while I try to hold back my laughter. "Morning, I'd love to let you go again but Mr. Carter expects us downstairs in ten. I'd hop in the shower. Nessa, Lily said Stef is looking for you in the bridal suite, should I tell her I found you? "

Simultaneously they shout, "No!"

Before I can even process the request fully, they are talking over each other asking me to keep this to myself. I look at them both firmly. Exasperation floods me, frustrated I toss my hands in the air.

"Fuck this, not again. I'm not the group's secret keeper, also I'm in a relationship, so, loophole!" I leave the room, letting the slow-close door slam loudly behind me.

Book 2 Fighting