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"Mr Ryan!"

I turned at the sound ofof heels on the wood floor

Shit

"Kristin," I said "We were just on our way out"

"The clothes," she said, nodding toward the key ring inI can do for you?"

"Ahhh," she started, and gave me the most pained smile I’d ever seen My stoht issue"

Deep breaths

"‘Slight’?" I repeated Small accident Tiny problem Minor wrinkle

"Snificant"

"Here we go," I heard Will say

We followed her out a back door, across a patio, and down to the lahere they were currently setting up for the wedding Or trying to My shoe sank into the grass with a sickening squelch on the first step

"Oh, God," I said, looking around "Fuuuuck" The entire area was flooded Chairs were knocked over, tables askeith legs sinking into the swa around in a panic

"A sprinkler line broke during the night," she said, apologetically "They’ve stopped the water but as you can see"

"Wow," Will said, poking at a puddle with the tip of his sneaker

I scrubbed

"They can fix it though, yeah?" he said, realizing I o seconds fro in front of h I couldn’t be sure through the sound of blood whooshing in my ears

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out, panicked that Chloe had seen this and was freaking out

But it was only my mother: Honey, do you happen to know if your father packed his black dress shoes? I can’t find them in our room but he says he did

I shoved the phone back in , "They’ve fixed the line, noe’ll work on getting this area dried up ora bit farther down the beach"

Max turned toto worry about, et you so by your expression, and everything will be fine e return And if it’s all the sa these" He plucked the keys fro for them

"Sorry, Ben, best for everyone, I’m afraid You’re likely to mon pedestrians in your state offestivities"

"I can drive, Max Give odda happening," he said, reaching up to tap my forehead before I smacked his hand away

Will snorted behind lare He held his hands out in front of hi away

I spun to Max again "Do you even kno to drive?"

"Of course I do"

"Here?"

He waved uided us back through the hotel and out to valet We argued the entire way,me where I’d left my purse Will trailed behind, half asleep on his feet

An attendant approached us i as he matched the keys to a list pinned to a clipboard We followed hio van parked at the curb, cool in the shade of a grouping of palms I waved off his offer of directions, placed a few dollars in his hand, and turned my back as he walked away

"So, the plan Will," Max said, waiting a beat before reaching out and s Will across the cheek

Will startled, eyes wide "What?"

"You all right?"

"God, I’ tired"

"Well, have some coffee and snap out of it," Max said "You’ll ride with us to the cleaners, then take a cab fros"

"What, am I your little sidekick now? Why can’t Henry help with any of this?"

"Because Henry talks too much and you’re much prettier," Max said "Who knows? We may need to sweet talk a feisty old bird at the dry cleaners, and who is better than you at seducing cougars?" He patted Will’s cheek, cooing, "No one, Blossoue, and waved hi just beside the passenger door "Ben, your chariot awaits"

"Fuck you," I said, slugging him in the shoulder as I cli as he rounded the front and got in, asking, "All right back there, William?"

"Yeah, yeah," came the mumbled reply "You’re both assholes"

Max put the keys in the ignition and the engine roared to life After grinning proudly at rew puzzled when he atterinding noise

"That’s encouraging," I said

"Would you stop being such a twat and relax? I’ve got this"

"Of course you do"