21. Gia

The morning of Jack and Elle"s wedding dawns bright and clear, the sun casting its golden rays over the pristine beaches of Cozumel. As I slip into my teal dress, the soft fabric draping elegantly over my curves, I feel a flutter of excitement in my chest.

Today is a day of celebration, of love and happiness, and I can"t wait to be a part of it.

Ryder appears in the doorway, his eyes widening in appreciation as he takes in the sight of me.

"Wow," he breathes, his voice filled with admiration. "You look incredible."

I feel a rush of warmth at his words, a blush creeping up my cheeks as I meet his gaze.

"Thank you," I reply, unable to suppress the smile that tugs at the corners of my lips. "You don"t look too bad yourself."

He chuckles softly, the sound sending goosebumps all over my body. "I"ll take that as a compliment," he says, stepping forward to take my hand in his. "Shall we go and celebrate the big day?"

I nod eagerly, the anticipation bubbling up inside me like champagne. Together, we make our way to the beachside venue, the sound of crashing waves and gentle sea breezes guiding us along the way.

As we arrive, I"m struck by the sheer beauty of the setting. The beach is transformed into a scene of ethereal elegance, with billowing white canopies and twinkling fairy lights casting a soft glow over the festivities. The scent of tropical blooms hangs heavy in the air, mingling with the salty tang of the ocean.

Jack and Elle stand at the altar, bathed in the warm light of the setting sun. They look radiant, their smiles bright and genuine as they exchange vows of love and commitment. I feel a lump form in my throat as I watch the two of them, their love shining like a beacon in the gathering dusk.

Beside me, Ryder squeezes my hand, his touch grounding me in the moment. "They look so happy," he murmurs, his voice soft with emotion.

I nod in agreement, my heart swelling with happiness for our friends. "They do," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper as I tear my gaze away from the happy couple.

As the ceremony draws to a close, the sound of applause fills the air, mingling with the gentle crash of the waves. Jack and Elle share a passionate kiss, sealing their vows with a promise of forever. And in that moment, surrounded by the love of friends and family, I feel a sense of hope and joy that fills me with warmth from the inside out.

While the evening wears on, Ryder and I find ourselves caught up in the festivities, dancing and laughing with the rest of the guests. The music is infectious, the beat pulsing through my veins as Ryder twirls me around the dance floor with effortless grace.

"You"re a natural," he murmurs, his breath warm against my ear as he pulls me close.

I laugh softly, the sound mingling with the music. "I have a good partner," I tease, my heart fluttering at the warmth of his touch.

He grins, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, if you"re a good student, maybe I"ll have to give you some private lessons later," he says, his voice low and suggestive.

I feel a rush of heat at his words, my cheeks flushing crimson as I meet his gaze. "I"ll hold you to that," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper as I lose myself in the depths of his eyes.

As Ryder pulls me into his arms for a slow dance, I feel a rush of warmth flood through me, his strong embrace enveloping me like a cocoon of safety and love. The soft strains of music fill the air, a soulful melody that seems to speak directly to my heart. It"s a song I"ve heard a hundred times before, but in this moment, it feels like it was written just for us.

We sway together in perfect harmony, our movements synchronized as if we"ve been dancing together for a lifetime. I rest my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my ear. It"s a comforting sound, a reminder that I"m exactly where I"m meant to be.

As the song reaches its climax, he pulls me closer, his hand tracing gentle circles against the small of my back. I tilt my head back to look up at him, my heart fluttering at the intensity of his gaze. In this moment, there"s no one else in the world but the two of us, lost in the magic of the music and the love that binds us together.

And then, as if drawn by some invisible force, our lips meet in a tender, passionate kiss. It"s a moment of pure, unbridled emotion, a silent exchange of love and longing that transcends words. I lose myself in the warmth of his embrace, the softness of his lips against mine, and for a fleeting instant, it feels like time stands still.

But all too soon, reality comes crashing back in as we pull away, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. Ryder"s eyes search mine, his expression filled with an intensity that takes my breath away. "I love you," he whispers, his voice a soft murmur that sends a shiver down my spine.

For a moment, I"m paralyzed, my mind racing as I try to process the weight of his words. I feel that I love him too but hearing him say it out loud makes it feel real in a way I never imagined.

But before I can respond, KJ appears out of nowhere, a mischievous grin on his face as he drags Ryder away to the bar for shots. I watch them go, a sense of relief flooding through me as I"m given a moment to catch my breath.

Alone in the dimly lit hallway outside the restroom, I take a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. Ryder"s words echo in my mind, a constant refrain that threatens to overwhelm me with their significance. I love you. Three simple words that hold the power to change everything.

But as I stare at my reflection in the mirror, I realize that I"m not ready to say them back just yet. Not because I don"t feel them, but because I"m afraid of what they might mean. I"m afraid of opening myself up to the vulnerability that comes with loving someone so deeply, of laying my heart bare for him to see.

The reception is in full swing, the air alive with the sound of laughter and music as Ryder and I join the celebration. But as the night wears on, Ryder seems to be indulging in one drink too many. His laughter grows louder, his movements more unsteady, and I can see the telltale signs of intoxication creeping into his demeanor.

I try to catch his eye, to silently plead with him to slow down, but he seems oblivious to my concern. Instead, he pulls me onto the dance floor, his movements clumsy and erratic as he tries to keep up with the music.

As we make our way back to our room later that evening, Ryder"s arm slung heavily around my shoulder, he leans in to kiss me, but his movements are sloppy and uncoordinated, lacking the tenderness and passion that usually accompanies our kisses.

I attempt to brush it off, to tell myself that it"s just the alcohol talking, but deep down, I can"t shake the feeling of disappointment that washes over me. This isn"t the Ryder I know and love, the man who always knows exactly how to make me feel cherished and adored.

As we reach our room, I muster up a smile, hoping to mask the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. "I think I have a headache," I say, my voice tinged with a hint of regret. "Maybe we should just call it a night."

His expression darkens for a moment, hurt flickering in his eyes before he quickly masks it with a forced smile. "Sure, babe," he says, his voice strained as he fumbles with the keycard to unlock the door.

Inside the room, Ryder falls onto the bed almost immediately, his movements sluggish and uncoordinated. I watch him for a moment, a pang of sadness tugging at my heart as I realize just how far gone he is.

With a sigh, I begin to undress him, the weight of his body heavy against mine as I peel off his jacket and loosen his tie. It"s a task that should be filled with tenderness and intimacy, but tonight, it feels like nothing more than a chore.

As I climb into bed beside him, I can"t shake the feeling of emptiness that settles over me like a fog. His "I love you" from earlier echoes in my mind, a constant reminder of the vulnerability that comes with loving someone so deeply. But now, as I lie here beside him, it feels like a hollow promise, an empty echo of the love we once shared.

And as I drift off to sleep, the sound of Ryder"s steady breathing beside me, I can"t help but wonder what"s wrong with me.

"I need coffee," Ryder groans the next morning.

"I already went down and grabbed some for you," I say as I come out of the bathroom fully dressed.

"You're an angel. I'm sorry about last night. I barely remember coming back to the room. I usually don't drink like that."

"It happens," I shrug. "Our flight is supposed to leave soon. You should hop in the shower."

He nods, shooting me a questioning look that I pretend I don't notice.

I'm not sure why his drinking last night irritated me so much, but it did and I need to figure out if it's that or me just blaming it instead of the fear coursing through me about his I love you.

An hour later, we're packed and leaving the hotel for the airport.

"I wish we could have had more time here," Ryder says as he reaches down for my hand.

"I need to be able to work tomorrow," I lie.

"And I don't want to miss another day with Chloe."

The flight home feels longer than usual, the steady drone of the engines lulling me into a state of numbness as I stare out the window, lost in my thoughts. Ryder sits beside me, his hand reaching out to gently squeeze mine, but I can"t bring myself to meet his gaze. I"m too lost in the whirlwind of emotions churning inside me, too consumed by the weight of my own doubts and fears.

As we touch down and make our way to pick up Chloe from Ren"s, Ryder tries to engage me in conversation, but I can barely muster up the energy to respond. He looks at me with concern in his eyes, his brow furrowed in worry, but I can"t bring myself to tell him what"s really going on.

When we arrive at Ren"s, Chloe runs out to greet us, her face lighting up with excitement as she throws herself into Ryder"s arms.

"Gia, Daddy, you"re back!" she exclaims, her voice filled with joy.

But even her infectious enthusiasm can"t lift the heaviness that weighs on my heart.

"Hey Princess," Ryder says as he swings her up in his arms.

"Gia, are you going to spend the day with us? I've missed you guys so much."

"I would love to, Sweet Pea, but I have a really bad headache. I think I'm going to go home."

"Okay," Chloe replies sadly as she gives me a giant hug.

Ryder looks at me with concern, his eyes searching mine for any sign of what"s really going on.

"Are you sure you"re okay?" he asks, his voice gentle.

I nod, unable to meet his gaze. "I just need some rest," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper as I turn away. "It happens sometimes when I fly."

It's not long before we're back at the house. Ryder opens my door for me before he gets Chloe out of her car seat.

"Do you need anything? Are you sure you don't want to stay here and let us take care of you?"

"I'm fine, thank you. I'm sure once I get some sleep, I'll be fine."

Chloe hugs me again before Ryder kisses me on the forehead. He carries my luggage to my car and loads it into the back for me while I climb into the driver's seat. He and Chloe wave at me as I leave the driveway and make my way back to the cottage.

The door is open when I arrive, a subtle sign that someone has been here while I was gone. I push the thought aside. I knew this was a possibility. It's why everything of value came with me on the trip.

I clean up the mess they left. Half expecting Allison to appear out of nowhere. I'm certain that she's the one who went through the cabin, probably hoping that I left my work laptop or phone behind so she could pin me with her evidence. I take extra precautions and check every possible hiding spot to make certain she didn't plant something in the house.

I had set up nanny cams before I left, just in case. I sit down with my laptop and start going through the footage.

Mia and Allison together?

What the fuck?

How do they know each other?

Wait, does Allison think Mia is me?

As I comb through the video footage, I see that they cut a hole in one of the walls and put duffel bags inside of the hole, then covered it up with one of the decorative pictures.

Are they really that stupid?

No one would believe that someone with my background would do something so obvious to hide money.

I'm certain they're trying to frame me, but damn, be smarter ladies. Once they realize I'm back home they'll call the CIA and tell them where to find the evidence.

I'm a step ahead of them though.

I begin to call Rodney and think better of it. He knows that Mia exists, so is Mia being used as bait to capture Allison? Or is this just a ploy that's been set in motion to take me out?

I go to the wall and pop open the hiding spot with latex gloves on. Inside are two duffel bags. One filled with drugs, one filled with fake money. I take both bags out and immediately go out to my car where I have a small shovel in the trunk.

I take the duffel bags and the shovel and start walking until I find a spot off the beaten path a few miles from my cottage. I find a spot and begin digging. When I get deep enough, I throw the bags in before I begin covering them back up with the dirt. I make it look like a makeshift pet grave and then make my way back to the cabin. I stop along the way to wash my hands and the shovel off in the seawater.

They're not pinning anything on me. The CIA or whoever else can come in the cottage all they want; they're not going to find anything on me.

I refuse to go down for other people's sins.

Later that night, as I lie in bed staring at the ceiling, my phone rings, breaking the silence of the night. It"s Ryder, his name flashing on the screen in bold letters. For a moment, I consider answering, letting him in, but the words catch in my throat, and I can"t bring myself to do it. Instead, I watch the phone ring until it eventually goes to voicemail.

How are you feeling?

Part of me wants to tell him the truth, to open up and let him in, but another part of me is afraid of what that might mean.

Migraine is worse. I've just been sleeping all day.

Do you need anything?

No thanks. I'm just going to stay in bed and try to go back to sleep.

The lie leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, but I push it aside, telling myself that it"s for the best. But even as I close my eyes and try to sleep, I can"t shake the feeling of emptiness that washes over me like a tidal wave, leaving me feeling more lonely than ever before.