Kicking it with the Best Man: Out and Kickin' Book 1 by Riley Long

Author:Riley Long [Long, Riley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-06-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Nate

I needed to talk to Mom. I didn’t want to spoil Marcus’s wedding day, so after I’d spilled my guts to Sadie, I shoved everything down and tried to pretend nothing had happened. I caught Devon shooting curious glances my way during our co-best man duties, his brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed, but I avoided him as much as possible for the rest of the reception. I gave my speech, toasted the happy couple, and tried to stay out of the way of the festivities.

The next morning, after we’d set sail for home, I asked one of the kitchen staff to send me breakfast in my room so I could—once again—avoid everyone, especially Devon. Marcus and Christa were staying on the island, so at least I didn’t have to worry about them. I settled in on my bed with a book, hoping that I’d be able to focus, but no matter what I tried, my mind wandered to Theo.

About a half hour into our voyage, I jumped when a knock echoed throughout the cabin, snapping me out of my self-pitying brain fog. “Coming,” I called, setting my book aside and pulling a shirt over my head as I shuffled to the door. My stomach growled in anticipation of breakfast, whatever the chef may have sent up for me. I hadn’t eaten enough at the reception and I was decidedly hungry.

I swung the door open and on the other side stood my mother, holding a tray that contained what smelled like my breakfast. The scent of coffee and pastries filled the air and my stomach snarled once again. I was so hungry that nausea swept over me and I had to take a deep breath.

“Good morning,” she said in the same singsong tone she’d used every single day of my childhood as she lifted the tray higher.

“Mom?” I took the tray from her with a frown. “What are you doing here?”

“I asked Lucas if he’d seen you when you didn’t come to our departure breakfast. He said you asked for breakfast in your room, so here I am.”

Lucas was my stepdad’s personal assistant. He made it his business to know everyone’s business, so I shouldn’t have been surprised that he knew I was having breakfast alone in my room. I stepped back and made room for her to enter before setting the tray on the nearby desk and leaning against the chair. “Is everything okay?”

She frowned and sat at the foot of the bed. “I should be asking you that. You disappeared last night for a half hour and then barely said a word that wasn’t scripted the rest of the night. And if I’m not mistaken, you were avoiding Devon like the plague. What’s going on? Did you two have a fight? Not at the reception, I hope. You two always did like to bicker.”

I shook my head. “No, we’re fine. No fighting. I don’t know. I was just in a weird mood last night.”

Her expression softened and her tone took on a sympathetic lilt.

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