Page 81 of My Brother's Best Friends

Moments later, my phone buzzes. I glance at the screen— a text from Alex. He’s trying to sound casual, but with what I know now, the message feels suspect.

The text reads, “How was the massage? Wondering if you want to meet up before dinner. We’ve got the afternoon wide open and would love to spend it with you.”

If I weren’t already on edge, I might find his words endearing.

My heart wants to melt, but my pride refuses to yield. My very soul is bleeding. I’m not easily hurt, but at the first tinge of pain, I fall back. I fall back fast.

“She’s not answering,” Alex says.

I roll my eyes and shove the phone under the pillow so I won’t be tempted to answer. The thought that I’m about to abandon my brother on what could be the most important day of his life twists my gut, yet the moment is already sour for me.

Regardless of what Melanie said, my brother and the Anderson triplets are clearly keeping secrets. From me, from Callie… I don’t want to be torn more than I already am. It’s too much.

Perched on the edge of the mattress, I tuck my hands beneath my thighs. I’ll wait until the guys clear out, then grab my things and bolt.

“What should we do?” Oscar asks.

“I think we need to split up,” Alex says. “I’ll check the beginner slopes to see if she’s skiing alone. You hit the restaurant and Kellan can take the spa.”

“What do we do if we run into Melanie again?” Kellan asks.

“Oh, you’ll know if she’s talked to Makayla. That nightmare of a woman won’t deny herself the chance to gloat,” Oscar says. “Hopefully that won’t be the case. Maybe we can reach Makayla before Melanie does.”

“Too late,” I whisper, grinding my teeth together.

How dare he keep me in the dark? I have every right to know anything that even remotely concerns me—and this definitely does. I glare at the carpet, willing them to leave.

Finally, they firm up their plan and walk out. The living room’s sudden silence lifts a weight off my chest. I grab the suitcase handle, zip it closed, and tug it onto the floor. With one quick swipe, I snatch my phone from beneath the pillow and stuff it into my pocket.

Tears blur my vision as I walk away from the smoking ruins of what could have been, desperate to reclaim some shred of normal.

26

KELLAN

Urgency claws at me as I power toward the spa.

I duck into every open doorway, searching for Makayla. She’s nowhere to be found, and I’m running out of options. A staff member notices me before long.

“Excuse me.” A plump older woman steps forward, pink scrubs stamped with the hotel’s logo. A gold-embossed badge above her right breast reads Mary Jo, Attendant. “Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for my girlfriend,” I say. “She’s been down here a while. We’re going to be late, and I want to be sure she’s okay.”

“Can you give me her name? I’ll check with our booking manager,” Mary Jo replies.

“There you are!” A too-familiar voice pipes up behind me. I know it isn’t Makayla, but it still takes a beat to place. Melanie bounces forward and loops her arm through mine. “I was looking all over for you.”

Mary Jo beams. “There she is,” she says, clearly mistaking Melanie’s clinginess for devotion. “You can wait in one of the recovery lounges if you’d like.”

“That sounds fantastic,” Melanie says, tugging me toward an open alcove at the end of the hall. “Your masseuse was wonderful, by the way—I feel completely renewed.”

I yank my arm free, swallowing my disgust—no need to cause a scene. I still need to keep my eye on the ball; since this shrew hunted me down, I might as well find out whether she reached Makayla first.

“Oh, good—I’m parched,” Melanie says as we enter the recovery lounge. She strides toward the water station, but I step in front of her.

“We’re not here to relax,” I say, my voice rough. “Where is Makayla, and what did you say to her?”

“I don’t know where Makayla is,” Melanie answers, yanking her arm away from me and doubling back toward the water with grim determination.

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