As I happily drifted off into post-hurrah bliss, Lane rolled off me and went over to a shower stall made entirely out of glass. Someday I’d have to track down the architect who designed this place and thank him.

I ogled her as she soaped herself up. The only thing that would make this better would be if she started dancing.

“We were supposed to meet everyone fifteen minutes ago.” Before her hands reached her breasts, she stopped and looked at me. “So stop gawking at me like a pervert and get in here…” She laughed. “Like a pervert.”

I’d follow directions like that any time. I stepped into the waterfall of warm water and slipped my arms around her from the back.

She turned toward me and started washing my chest. “Everyone’s meeting in the bar.”

“Says who?”

“Clare emailed the weekend’s itinerary to everyone. Didn’t you read it?”

“Nope.” Not only did I never check my email, but I never, ever checked my email for messages from my family.

Even though Clare was no longer married to my older brother, she hadn’t divorced my family for some reason, so she still counted.

“The last thing I want is written proof I’m going to be forced to spend time with my family. It’s less painful to make it a surprise—less pre-event anxiety and more in-the-moment adrenaline.”

“Makes perfect sense.” She pushed me back a step so she could rinse off. Then, trying to avoid any soap transfer from me to her, she squeezed against the glass wall to get past me and left me to rinse myself.

After drying off, she slipped a thin blue dress over her head. “Don’t you think it’s weird Hayden’s ex-wife is planning a wedding for him and his next wife?”

“You should know by now, everything about my family is weird. Weird or tragic.” It should have been engraved on the Bennett crest.

I didn’t say anything more until I’d turned the water off and stepped out from behind the glass. “For instance, my brother actually invited Renee and Anna here. If that’s not tragic, I don’t know what is.”

“It’s tragic that Hayden wants your mother and your stepsister at his wedding?”

“It’s bad juju. Renee and Anna are each walking bad luck charms for relationships, so having both of them? In one place? At the same time? Honestly, I won’t be surprised if this island sinks into the ocean tonight. We should wear masks and snorkels to bed.”

“You’re too hard on them. Yes, your mom and stepsister have…questionable taste in relationships.”

“Nope. No question about it. It’s horrific.”

“But Hayden and Andi also invited Andi’s friends, two of whom have been happily married to each other for four years or so.”

“Emilia and Rob? Sure, they’re alright. Or they hide their dysfunction well.”

“Hillary and Eric will get here tomorrow—they’re happy.”

“He’s only here to photograph the wedding, and Hillary’s pretending to be his assistant so she can tag along. Nope, they don’t count.”

She sighed, sticking one hip out and crossing her arms. “We’re here. Are you going to tell me we don’t count either?”

“Hmmm…” I hung my towel over a hook, grabbed her arm, and yanked her into me. “You have a point. But, just in case, we’re going to have to work overtime on the lovin’ parts to create enough good juju to counteract their bad mojo.”

“For the sake of Hayden’s and Andi’s future happiness, of course.”

“Obviously. Why else would we do it?”

“Get dressed.” She pulled away from me and tossed me a t-shirt. “I promised them we’d be there.”

“And I promised myself we’d use all these condoms before going home. I allocated a certain number for each day, and we can’t fall behind.” I shrugged. “One of us is going to have to break their promise, Lane. Guess what my priority is.”

“There’s another option.”

“If you’re about to suggest we split up—you go hang out with my family and I stay here alone with the condoms—I definitely vote no.”

“How about we go meet your family now…?”

I waited. Impatiently and not particularly excitedly. Whatever idea she came up with would be a step down from what I wanted.

“And then, when we come back here tonight, we stay up as long as it takes to make up for the time we missed.”

My cock instantly perked up and listened. Lane’s sex drive was never lacking, but it had been a while since we did a marathon. “What if it takes all night?”

“I said, ‘As long as it takes,’ Carson.”

I pretended to consider the idea, weigh all the options. “All in favor say, ‘Fuck, yeah.’”

“Fuck, yeah,” we said simultaneously.

She laughed as we left the hut and walked over the wooden dock that led to dry land. “I love how well our voices go together.”

“Me too.” I took her hand and pulled her closer to me. “Almost as much as I love how well we go together.”

When she looked up at me and ahhed, I realized she thought I was being romantic. Had break those expectations before they had a chance to take hold.

So I added, “Which will be happening repeatedly tonight.”

“Why do I feel like you made a big deal about your family just to get what you’d been hoping for all along?”

I shrugged. “No idea. Hope and my family are two things that have never entered my mind at the same time.”

---

We accidentally met Anna in the hotel lobby. She looked great—no surprise there. Looking great was one of the things Anna did best. She came up to us, smiling. After my shivers passed, I acknowledged her with a nod.

She and I had come a long way in our relationship, but I knew better than to trust her again or forgive her. She was too good at hurting the people she cared about most. Maybe someday that would change, but she still had a lot of proving herself to do.

She hugged Lane with one of those society, don’t-actually-touch-the-person-you’re-hugging hugs. She didn’t bother trying to touch, or pretend to touch, me.

“Isn’t this place gorgeous?” Lane asked, gesturing around us. The lobby was open-air so guests could enjoy the view of the water while they checked in or had a drink.

“Absolutely. My only complaint is I wish I’d thought to bring a date. I’m going to be the only one without someone.”

“I’m sure you’ll find a stand-in,” I said. “In fact, I’m surprised you haven’t already found someone unsuitable. There’s gotta be at least a couple men in the bar whose wives have gone back to their rooms for a nap. That’s usually how you find them, isn’t it?”

Both women stared at me as if I weren’t speaking the truth. If there was an unavailable man within thirty yards, Anna would find him. Especially if he was also an asshole who would treat her like shit.

“Ah, crap, sis. Aren’t you feeling well?”

She glared at me briefly. “I’m feeling fine. Thanks for asking, Carson. You’re always such a gentleman.”

“Only where you’re concerned. Promise.”

Lane put her hand on my arm and squeezed, letting me know I should behave myself.

Right. Deep breath. Keep my rude but true comments to myself.

This trip was about my brother and his bride-to-be’s happiness. Therefore, no one else’s happiness or comfort mattered. Good thing being around Anna or Renee didn’t naturally supply any of that.

“Andi made reservations at a restaurant at the south end of the island,” Anna said. “I have no idea how big this island actually is, but I hope we won’t have to walk there.”

“Me too.” Lane stuck out her foot. “I’m not used to walking in heels.”

When Anna’s brow constricted, I figured out two things: One, her preventative Botox injections had worn off, and two, she really couldn’t comprehend why a woman would choose to wear flat shoes. The only shoes I’d ever seen her in were heels a good couple inches higher than Lane’s new ones.

Ever the unwilling gentleman, I let Anna take my other arm as we walked into the bar area just off the lobby. Andi’s whole crew was at the opposite end, sitting around a table with fruity drinks in front of them and laughing. Even Hayden had something pink in his glass. He dropped the little umbrella into it when he saw us.

“Hey, family!” he called, standing and kissing Lane and Anna hello before pulling a few more chairs over. I helped him, waiting until the ladies had seats before circling the table for the individual hello-good-to-see-you-again thing.

The group had subconsciously divided by parties—Andi and Hayden obviously sat next to each other, but her friends Emilia, Rob, and Sara sat on her side, while Lane, Anna, and I sat on Hayden’s. To my knowledge, the only other people who’d gotten invitations and plane tickets to the wedding were my mother—because Hayden felt a familial obligation I didn’t—and Hayden’s ex-wife, Clare.

“What do you guys want to drink?” Andi asked.

“I’m dying to try whatever Hayden was drinking,” I said, laughing at him.

“She forced me to,” he grumbled. “I made her a promise—one girlie drink.”

“It’s true,” Andi said. “He’s a man of his word. Now that he’s fulfilled his obligation, I’m guessing he’ll never order one again.”

Hayden shrugged. “I’m also a man who has found pleasure in doing the unexpected.”

She looked confused, everyone smiled, and I laughed out loud until everyone looked at me, including Hayden. I wasn’t going to tattle on him. He’d told me all about his kickass surprise gift for her before making the final walk-through my problem.

When Hay had been born, all my parents’ responsible genes had gone into him, leaving none for me. Every plan I’d come up with had ended with Lane unhappy or in pain—and not the good kind.

“What?” I asked. “It’s a brother thing.” It wasn’t. Or maybe it was. I kind of liked our new relationship, one where neither of us would break into a rash when we admitted we were head-over-heels, goofy in love with our women.

“Speaking of… Let’s go talk about brotherhood, Carson.” Hayden gave Andi a quick smooch and then stood, hinting with his eyes that I do the same. I thought about pretending to misunderstand him and leaning over to kiss Andi too. But that would’ve freaked out everyone at the table and, considering the potential for conflict Lane and I had been experiencing lately, I decided the joke wasn’t worth making. So I kissed my girlfriend—not his—and followed him away from the table.

As soon as the bar was between us and the table, he turned his back on the group and whispered, “Is it all set up on your end?”

Was it all set up on my end? Since when were we in an old spy film?

“Be careful. Any one of them might be able to read lips,” I whispered back, holding my hand directly in front of my mouth and laughing. “Don’t worry, bro. I did exactly what I was supposed to do, in exactly the way you demanded I do it.”

“It’s important, Carson.”

“Shit, Hay. I know it’s important. And I’m not being sarcastic. Well, only partially sarcastic. But it’s all taken care of. Your whole house is now smarter than both of us combined.”

“That’s not saying much,” he mumbled. “Did you bring video like I asked?”

“You mean ordered? Yes, sir, I did.” I pulled out my phone, found the video clips Sean had sent, and handed the phone to him. He quietly watched the walk-through of the house, and I nodded along with Sean's narration as if I knew how any of that shit worked. On video, Sean explained everything he’d added—solar panels, lights, temperature, music, security, sprinklers, kitchen appliances, showers, and door locks that could be controlled by an app, the remote, or vocal recognition. Basically, every automated bell and whistle a techno-freak like Andi could ever dream of.

I had to give it to my brother—he knew his woman well. She’d techno-freak out as soon as she saw it.

“Hayden? Just thinking out loud here—"

"Do you ever think silently?" he shot back.

"Never. Why keep all of my wisdom from the rest of the world?” I quickly added, “That was rhetorical.”

“Too bad.”

“Anyway, here’s my concern: The remote symbolizes a man’s last shred of control in a relationship. Handing it over to your woman leaves you completely powerless. Is that really what you want, brother? To be powerless?

“Plus, have you considered the possibility she’ll love playing with the new gadgets so much, she might forget you’re even there?”

“Sure. I’ve also considered the fact that, if the toilet seat automatically lowers and the refrigerator reminds me to pick up milk on the way home, we’ll have less to fight about as a married couple.”

Wow. “I take it back—you’re almost as smart as your house.”

“She’ll like it, right?”

Hayden was decisive and stubborn as hell. Every decision was made and stuck to. The end. I’d never seen him second guess himself like this. Not to mention he’d never needed my assurance before. I kind of liked it.

“She’ll love it, bro. She’ll get all gushy and blushy about it.” I slapped him on the back. “Honestly, I don’t get why you have to buy her a present at all. Isn’t handing over our eternity enough for women nowadays? In the olden days, we menfolk got all the gifts—pigs and goats and shit for the home front, right?”

“Like a dowry?” he asked, looking at me skeptically. “Yep, men sure had it good back then. Pigs and goats…and disease, an average lifespan of thirty-five years, no showers, and no birth control. The last one wouldn’t matter, of course, because you couldn’t sleep with your bride until after you were married and even then, she’d probably been taught it was her wifely duty to just lie there and take it. So that must’ve been lots of fun.”

“Hmm…I take back every criticism I've ever made about the modern-day world.”

“Great. I’m glad I know you’re so dowry driven. So now, if you ever propose to Laney, I’ll be sure to let her know you’ve always wanted a baby pig that fits in your purse.”

“No need. She’s already got a pig”—I slapped myself in the chest—“right here.”

"I'm so happy for you both.” He didn’t look happy. He looked like he wondered if Lane would ever marry so far beneath her. “Speaking of you being happy, have you seen our mother yet?"

"Damn it, she’s here? I was hoping her plane would go down." I glanced around the bar, still hoping. "When did she get here?"

"Two days ago, but she's been touring the island, trying to stay out of the way."

"Sounds like Renee." Always staying out of the way unless she wanted something from you.

Maybe that wasn’t fair. Maybe, now that she was trying to get her shit together, was avoiding men who would hit her, and hadn’t married someone in two whole years, I should have given her more credit. Thing was, I’d played along with her bullshit, pretended to be the dutiful son, and had covered the bruises left by my father and every other man she loved, ever since she’d taught me how to lie. So, no matter how sorry she was or how much I wanted to forgive her, I figured she still had about nineteen more years of crap to make up for.

But this weekend wasn’t about me or Renee. It was about Hayden, Andi, love, and skinny dipping.

I focused on the last one to make me smile. “Where’s Clare? I thought she’d be at the entrance to the bar, checking boxes next to our names and telling us where to sit, what to drink, and when we were allowed to take a sip.”

“Believe me, I’m sure she would be if she wasn’t already too busy screaming at the hotel staff about something.” Hayden shrugged and rolled his eyes. “She was so unhappy about our wedding, she never really got into it. This is her chance to plan the hell out of one, and after everything she’s gone through, I think she deserves it. As long as she doesn’t anger the staff too much…”

“Oh please.” I laughed. “I bet you a hundred bucks you’ve already apologized and tipped them all enough to deal with anything Clare throws at them—literally and figuratively.”

His brow lifted and he suddenly looked like he’d gotten too much sun. “You won’t tell her, will you?”

“Tell someone how damn nice my brother is? Definitely not. I already wonder if Lane is with me just to get close to my perfect older brother.”

I couldn’t exactly judge Hayden and Clare’s very mature and amicable post-relationship relationship and his decision to invite his ex-wife to his wedding. Especially because if—when—Lane and I ever tied the noose—I mean, knot—she’d want Hillary there.

Unfortunately, Hillary and I had gotten together once, way before I met Lane, but there was nothing mature or amicable about our relationship. Thankfully, our better halves had moved past it. Primarily because we were in much better places now than we’d been then.

All of us were. Huh. I wouldn’t think that was too common. Actually, until I’d met Lane and Hayden had met Andi, I wouldn’t have thought that was even possible.