54. Chapter Fifty-Three
Chapter Fifty-Three
Riley
Watching Kian drink my booze while moaning about losing a girl to Trick was not what I had planned out for the first day of my highly anticipated vacation.
Laying on the beach with a cooler full of beer next to me is an acceptable compromise considering the circumstances, but if I close my eyes, I can see myself laying on one of the comfy sun loungers by the side of the pool at Golden Sands, a tequila-based cocktail within arm’s reach, and enough space between our sun beds to easily ignore my pack brothers.
Kian would usually be wearing headphones, and Trick would usually be in the bar.
Xane would be passed out face down on his lounger by now, sleeping like a log for the first time in fucking weeks, maybe months.
Usually, I’d get to finish every one of the drinks he ordered, every afternoon, because one sip and then he’d lay down and be snoring within a few minutes, like he didn’t just get up from bed an hour before.
Our lead Alpha needs this break more than anyone, and, so far, all he’s done since we got to this island is mess about in the jet. He’s missed his first afternoon nap, and he’s probably gonna miss sleeping entirely tonight, too.
I should probably go drag him out here.
Get him to relax before he goes crazy.
But I’m a little sluggish laying here in the sand, all warm and full of beer.
I’ll get up in a minute, maybe.
Or …
I open my eyes and turn my head.
Kian’s still at my side, sitting slouched over, beer bottle in hand.
“Hey, Ki,” I start.
“Hm?” he murmurs, looking my way.
He’s still depressed about that girl.
He’ll get over it.
We both know he should let Trick have her.
“Go check on Xane. If you can drag him back to the beach, and get him to drink a beer, I’ll go talk to that reporter for you.”
“I don’t think he wants to drink today,” he murmurs.
“Too bad, he needs it,” I tell him. “We both know he’s way too tired. He needs a beer, and a lie down in the sand, and he needs it yesterday. Too bad yesterday’s over, but if you go get him, he can make up for it now.”
He sighs. “I don’t think so.”
“You’re not hearing me. Go get him. Now. I’m not asking.”
He draws me an irate glance before he gets to his feet.
“If you want him, you get him.”
He moves away from me, finally, and I let out a happy sigh.
Peace at last.
“Don’t come back!”
He walks out of sight, and I smile to myself.
I close my eyes, ready to take my own nap.
That sleepy feeling is coming over my sluggish body.
I let out a yawn and set my empty bottle into the sand.
Arms under my head, I’m about as comfy as it gets.
Too bad for me, that’s when everything goes south.
“Sapphire!” Kian yells. “Trick! Where are you? This isn’t funny!”
He yells their names again, and I just know he’s not going to let this go.
Sitting up, the world spins lightly around me.
“Sapphire!” Kian yells, louder this time.
I wince as I push myself up to my feet. “Ugh! Calm down.”
It’s not like they could have gone far.
He’s too far away to hear me, and he’s only getting farther away as he rushes toward the trees near the slope. Oh. Well, I guess he’s gonna go grab Xane after all.
I yawn before I start to walk faster in the same direction.
Kian’s already gone from sight by the time I’m fully awake.
I regret the decision to get up, but I know I’m not gonna relax until I know what’s happening, and I need to speak to Xane anyway, so I guess I’m up now.
Running toward the forest where the tin-can death-trap came to its final resting spot, I call out, “Hey! Wait for me!”