CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX Brandon #2
The words are quiet.
Devastatingly honest.
It hits harder than it should.
“I know, baby,” I say softly.
I really don’t want to leave her either—more than she probably realizes.
“I’ve got to go back, though,” I continue as I slip my button-down over my shoulders and leave it open over my undershirt.
“Grab my stuff, change into something other than what I wore last night for the groomsmen outing with Gray and the guys… make an appearance before they start a manhunt. You know—my usual morning routine.”
That earns me a small smile.
“I’m sure Tony’s already issued an APB.”
I give a low chuckle as I gather the last of my things, shoving my wallet, keys, and tie into the pocket of my tux jacket before crossing the room back to her. I’m not leaving without this—without giving her a proper goodbye.
I lean in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her lips—something slow and certain to get us through the rest of the day.
When I pull back, I rest my forehead against hers for a brief moment until I force myself to step away—because if I don’t, I surely won’t leave.
As I head towards the door, I glance back one last time.
“I’ll see you back at the house later?” I confirm, my hand lingering on the handle.
“I’ll be there after the bridesmaid brunch.” She nods. “Grayson wanted to take the groomsmen to some brewery while we’re there, right?”
“I think so,” I say, a small smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Should be a blast.”
She smiles softly in understanding. I’m sure she feels the same way about her brunch with the girls… especially knowing my nosey, unfiltered sister with the ability to clock a change in energy with one look will be there.
“Text me when you get there,” she says.
“I will,” I reply.
There’s a beat.
Neither of us moves—as if we’re both waiting for the other to say something else.
Something bigger.
“Go,” she murmurs, her smile still playing on her lips.
I nod once—then I’m out the door before I can change my mind and stay in this room forever.
By the time I make it back to the other hotel, last night and this morning in Johanna’s room already feels like a different world and another lifetime ago. One I’m not ready to let go of any time soon.
The lobby doors slide open and—
“Jesus Christ.”
I close my eyes briefly, bracing myself. Then I take a deep breath and push through the lobby doors.
Tony is sprawled out across one of the lounge chairs with a coffee in hand, looking like he owns the place.
Eric’s standing beside him, scrolling through his phone until he happens to glance up and notice me walking their way.
He nudges Tony on the shoulder to pull his attention away from the brunette at the check-in desk.
“Well, well, well,” Tony drawls. “Look who finally decided to show up.”
I keep my expression neutral as I pull my wallet from my tux jacket pocket to retrieve my room key. “Morning.”
Tony’s eyes drag over me slowly, taking in my disheveled state. “Same clothes from last night.”
Eric’s brow raises. “That’s… interesting.”
Tony’s annoying fucking grin widens. “Oh, very interesting indeed.”
I roll my eyes, heading towards the elevator with my key card now in hand. “Relax, why don’t you?”
“Where did you end up?” Tony asks immediately, launching himself out of his chair to fall into step with me.
“No, no,” Eric cuts in. “Better question—who were you with?”
Tony whirls around and points at him dramatically like he just cracked the case. “Exactly what I was getting at, Eric.”
I sigh, pressing the elevator button and continuing to stare straight ahead. “You two about done yet?”
“Not even close,” Tony says, practically singing. “We’re just getting warmed up. Answer our questions and the rest of this will be relatively painless!”
The elevator chimes as the doors slide open and I step inside. Of course, they follow. I’m not getting let off the hook that easily.
Tony leans against the wall, watching me like I’m a live-action reality show.
“So,” he says. “Let’s review the facts, shall we?”
I groan, pressing the button for the twelfth floor.
Please, let’s not.
“You disappear before the night is even over,” Tony continues, ticking points off on his fingers as he goes. “You didn’t come back to our hotel. Then you just casually stroll in right before check-out wearing the same clothes.”
Eric glances at me. “Tony might’ve mentioned that the last person he saw you with before we noticed you’d left was—”
“Oh my God—you were with Johanna!” Tony blurts.
I don’t say anything. I don’t have to. After what Eric witnessed during the rehearsal dinner, he knew this was coming. Tony, on the other hand, lets out a loud, disbelieving laugh.
“No fucking way.”
His grin turns borderline unhinged.
“So are we talking about a one night reunion to get it out of our systems type situation?” he presses, far from done with his interrogation. “Or are we actually reopening the most chaotic chapter in Catastrophically Charismatic history?”
The elevator chimes again, the doors sliding open to let us off on my floor.
“It’s been six years,” I mutter as we step out and head down the hallway. “I wouldn’t have reopened that wound if I wasn’t sure about her.”
Eric exhales as we walk, shaking his head slightly. “Grayson’s gonna kill you,” he says. “Again.”
“Yeah,” I reply dryly. “I’ve considered that.”
It took me and Grayson a long fucking time to come back from when he’d found out about me and Johanna the first time. I’m not exactly eager to go back there—but I’m hoping that we’re not the same people we were back then.
“Wait—what did Jo say when you left this morning?” Tony asks, coming out of his daze of disbelief. “Are you guys, like… together-together?”
I stop in front of the door to my room.
“Not exactly,” I say. “She says we have a lot to figure out—and she’s not wrong about it. Last night just… happened. I didn’t plan any of it.”
Eric scoffs lightly. “Yeah, I’d say there’s a lot to cover.”
Tony leans against the wall beside my door, arms crossed now, still watching me.
“But you guys aren’t walking away from it,” he says. “You guys want to try to figure it out.”
There’s no humor in his voice now. He’s not teasing.
I glance at him, then down at the keycard in my hand.
“I’m not walking away,” I confirm—no hesitation in my words. “Not this time.”