Wrecked By the Best Man

Chapter 1

Owen

THE LODGE LOOKS LIKE the kind of place where people find themselves—which is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. Yet here I am anyway, because apparently loving your sister means enduring weekend retreats.

My rental car crunches over the last few feet of gravel as I finally park, cut the engine, and sit for a moment, gathering myself.

Through the windshield, Pine Ridge Eco Lodge stretches before me like something out of a nature documentary—reclaimed wood and solar panels, native plants spilling from every available crevice. Very Ava. Very not me.

I grab my weekend bag from the passenger seat and head toward the entrance.

The doors whoosh open to reveal a lobby that screams sustainable living: bamboo floors, furniture made from recycled materials.

The air smells like pine and something herbal that costs thirty dollars an ounce at Whole Foods.

“Owen!” Ava rushes toward me, all bouncing blonde hair and bright smiles. Behind her trails Bryce, looking impeccable as always, in pressed khakis and a white polo.

“Hey, Av.” I accept her enthusiastic hug, breathing in her familiar vanilla perfume. For a moment, the knot in my chest loosens. Whatever else happens this weekend, at least I have her.

“How was the drive? Not too bad? The GPS didn’t send you through that construction zone, did it?” She’s already reaching into her purse, pulling out a keycard. “Here’s your room key. You’re in 240—second floor, east wing.”

I take the card in the recycled paper sleeve. “Thanks. Sounds good.”

“Oh, and you’ll be sharing with Bryce’s best friend, Slade. I hope that’s okay? We had to do some shuffling with the rooms and—”

“It’s fine. Really, it’s not a problem.”

It is, kind of. I prefer my own space, my own routines. Sharing a hotel room feels too intimate, too reminiscent of college dorms. Still, this is Ava’s weekend. I can handle sleeping in the same room as a stranger for two nights.

Bryce steps forward. “Good to see you again, Owen. Thanks for making the trip.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.” I shake his hand, noting his firm grip and direct eye contact. Everything about Bryce exudes competence and calm—qualities that probably serve him well in surgery. “Congratulations, by the way. On the engagement.”

“Thanks, man. Means a lot.” His smile is genuine, and I can see why Ava fell for him. He has that steady, reliable energy she’s always been drawn to.

“Why don’t you go drop your bag and then meet us at the petting zoo?” Ava bounces on her toes. “Everyone’s already down there.”

I nod and head toward the elevators, leaving them to their cheerful mood.

The room is on the second floor, just as advertised.

I slide the keycard and push open the door to reveal a space designed for two occupants.

Twin beds separated by a nightstand, a small seating area by the window, and a tiny bathroom.

Everything is done in earth tones and natural materials, continuing the lodge’s theme.

One bed is already claimed—a black leather duffel bag sits on the luggage rack, and I catch a whiff of something masculine and woodsy. My mysterious roommate has good taste in cologne, at least.

I drop my bag on the unclaimed bed and unzip it to grab a fresh shirt.

The drive left me feeling wrinkled and stale, and if I’m going to face whatever social gauntlet Ava has planned, I want to look put-together.

I change quickly, running my fingers through my hair in the bathroom mirror.

The reflection looks at me with tired blue eyes and a jawline that carries tension from the road.

This is fine. I can handle this. It’s just a weekend.

I make my way back downstairs and follow the signs in the direction of the petting zoo, which apparently exists because this lodge caters to families who want to commune with nature while still enjoying room service.

The path winds through well-maintained gardens, past a playground that looks like it was built by artisanal elves, and toward a fenced area where I can already hear the sounds of various farm animals.

“There he is!” Ava waves me over as I approach the gate. She’s standing with Bryce near a pen full of miniature horses, but my attention snags on the couple by the goat enclosure.

Maia. My ex.

She’s laughing at something her companion—Jace, I assume—has said, her auburn hair catching the afternoon sunlight as she tosses her head back.

She looks radiant, wearing a sundress that shows off her tan.

Jace has his arm around her waist, and they’re sharing a bag of feed pellets, taking turns offering treats to an eager goat that keeps head-butting their hands for more.

My shoulders lock up like someone just dumped ice water down my spine. They look happy. Genuinely happy in a way that Maia and I never managed, even in our best moments.

“Owen, come meet everyone!” Ava’s voice cuts through my spiral, and I force myself to glance away from the scene of domestic bliss playing out near the goats.

She leads me toward two women I don’t recognize. One has curly chestnut hair and an outfit that suggests she raided a paint store for color inspiration. The other is dressed in flowing fabrics that look both comfortable and expensive, with kind eyes that seem to take in everything.

“This is Zara and Naya—they’re friends from work. Girls, this is my brother, Owen.”

“Nice to meet you,” I manage, shaking hands. Zara’s grip is firm and confident, while Naya’s is gentler and more perceptive, like she’s trying to read my palm.

“Owen’s a project manager for a tech company,” Ava continues, her matchmaking wheels turning in her voice. “He’s really good with organization and problem-solving.”

“That sounds fascinating,” Zara says, and I can tell she’s being polite rather than genuinely interested. Which is fine. I know I don’t have the most riveting job in the world.

Ava leans closer to me, lowering her voice to what she probably thinks is a whisper. “I think you and Zara would really hit it off. She’s single and has a great sense of humor.”

I glance at Zara, who’s now talking to Naya about the miniature horses. She seems nice enough, but I feel nothing. No spark, no interest, no desire to know more about her life or her thoughts or what she does when she’s alone on Sunday mornings.

“Ava,” I say, giving her a look of gentle exasperation. “You are aware of your track record with matchmaking, right?”

She huffs. “That was different. This time I have a really good feeling about it.”

“You had a really good feeling about setting me up with your yoga instructor, too. And that barista from the coffee shop near your apartment. And—”

“Okay, okay, point taken.” But she’s grinning. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I know you do.” I squeeze her shoulder. “But maybe focus on your own happiness this weekend? It is your engagement party, after all.”

Before she can launch into another speech, movement near the baby animal section catches my eye.

A man is crouched down next to a small enclosure, bottle-feeding what appears to be a baby goat.

Even from this distance, I’m able to see the concentration on his face, the gentle way he’s holding the animal.

“Oh, that’s Slade. Bryce’s best man,” Ava says, following my gaze. “And your roommate. Come on, let me introduce you.”

We walk over, and as we approach, I get my first clear look at the man I’ll be sharing close quarters with for the next two nights.

He’s…striking. Tall and broad-shouldered, with brown curly hair and lightly tanned skin.

His shirt sleeves are rolled up, revealing strong, steady forearms. There’s something hypnotic about the focused way he’s watching the baby goat drink.

When he looks up at our approach, I’m caught off-guard by his gaze. Dark eyes that take in everything and give nothing away in return. He has the kind of quiet confidence that fills a space without needing to announce itself.

“Slade, this is Owen—my brother and your roommate for the weekend,” Ava says cheerfully.

He stands in one fluid motion, still cradling the baby goat against his chest. “Owen. Good to meet you.” His voice is deep, with just a hint of roughness.

“You too.” I extend my hand, and when he shakes it, I’m struck by how warm and solid his grip is. There’s something steadying about it, like shaking hands with someone who’s never uncertain about anything.

The baby goat bleats, nuzzling against Slade’s shirt. He glances down at it with amusement.

“Do you want to pet?” he asks, looking back at me.

My brain, which was already struggling to process his presence, completely short-circuits. “Whom?”

There’s a pause. A long one. Slade’s eyebrows lift, and I swear I can see the corner of his mouth twitch.

“The goat,” he says, and there’s definitely amusement in his voice now.

Heat floods my face. Of course he meant the goat. What else would he mean? I’m an idiot.

“Oh. Okay.” I reach out and run my hand over the soft fur. It’s warm and surprisingly comforting.

“Do you want to hold it?”

“Uh, sure,” I say on autopilot and cradle the animal in my arms.

“She likes you.”

I glance up at him, attempting to regain some semblance of composure. “How can you tell?”

“She’s not trying to eat your shirt.”

Despite my embarrassment, I smile. “High praise.”

“With goats, yeah.”

We stand there for a moment, both focused on the animal between us. There’s something about Slade that makes me feel off-balance, like I’m standing on uneven ground.

A burst of laughter from across the petting zoo returns my attention to Maia and Jace. They’ve moved on to feeding sheep now, and Jace has his arms wrapped around Maia from behind, helping her hold the feed bucket. She’s leaning back against him, comfortable and trusting.

The sight hits me like a freight train. Not because I want to be the one with his arms around her—that ship sailed months ago. But because they look so happy together, so naturally connected in a way that Maia and I never achieved.