Page 97 of Rum Sips and Salty Lips

But for a moment, I want to stay in this joy with him.

They enter the bar in a flash of light and panic. Orion and I don’t have time to react. Haley and Alex’s demeanors are enough to let us know something serious has happened.

Haley sits down next to me and takes a long swallow from my cocktail. Alex follows, stopping at the bar to grab four glasses and a bottle of Wendell Beach Rum—a bottle of the unaged one that usually only goes in cocktails. He cracks the seal and pours us each a drink. His hands shake but his years of bartending show and he doesn’t spill a drop. He won’t look any of us in the eye, but instead focuses on the table, the glasses, and the alcohol.

“What’s—” I start.

Alex pushes a glass in front of me. “Nope, drink first.”

I take a sip and it burns unpleasantly the whole way down. There’s a reason this one usually isn’t drunk straight. He and Haley down theirs in one. Orion gives me a look, but I’m as lost as he is.

Do you know anything?his eyes ask.

No, I answer without words or shaking my head.

Alex refills everyone’s glasses, not caring that Orion and I have a full pour.

“We picked up the programs from the printer since someone insisted we use a union print shop instead of some online retailer,” Alex says through gritted teeth.

“The source of our errand is not the issue, Alex,” Haley interrupts.

I was the one who insisted on a union print shop.

“Anyway, we go to drop them at Alex’s place,” she continues, “and…ew. You have to say it.”

Alex takes another drink from his glass. “Beckett and Kim were in my bed.”

I’m glad I’m not taking a drink at the moment because I would have spat my rum in Orion’s face. Truth be told, I’d nearly forgotten about Kim. Alex hardly ever brings her around. I only remembered they were dating when I looked over the guest list.

This is the worst possible scenario for Sienna. She will be devastated. There are a million terrible ways to end a relationship, but cheating is the one Sienna would never be able to forgive.

“I didn’t know you and Kim were living together.” I’m reeling on the inside, but I have to stay collected on the outside. Everyone else is allowed to panic, but I can’t.

Alex pours more rum. His hands are steady now. “We’re not. But she has a key. She either doesn’t care if I found out or was so sure I wouldn’t.”

“Fuck, man. I’m sorry,” Orion says, taking a sip of his rum. He tries to catch my eye, but I can’t tell what he’s thinking.

“Does Sienna know?” I ask.

“I told Beckett he has one hour, or I’ll call her.” Haley looks sick at being the messenger.

“She’ll be devastated,” I say. Sienna was so ready to be married. But there is no possibility we wouldn’t tell her. We won’t keep this secret from her. None of us will protect Beckett.

“Any chance she won’t call off the wedding?” Orion asks.

“No,” Haley and I shout at the same time.

“Cheating’s a hard limit for her. Her father had an affair. Beckett would’ve known,” I finish. Affair is too simple a word for what he did. He had an entire second family that Sienna found out about in high school. I didn’t meet her until after, but I remember the pain in her voice when she got drunk one night and told us what happened. I can’t believe anyone who loves her could ever hurt her like that.

I thought Beckett loved Sienna. For all his flaws, I thought when the time came, he would put her first. Now he never will.

I look at Orion.

“Even if the wedding somehow does happen,” Alex continues, “I sure as hell won’t be the best man.” He’s slowed his drinking at this point.

“Hamilton won’t have an issue taking your place,” I say.

Orion looks disgusted, like he doesn’t want to imagine Hamilton as the best man. I don’t blame him.

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