Chapter 5

Alex POV

I have a couple of missed calls sitting on my phone but only one interests me, Adam. I don’t know what he could want with me while he’s on his honeymoon, but that’s why I instantly call him back. If he’s found out about last night already, then I should be aware of it just in case there’s anything I can do to calm things down.

I know Adam warned me away from the maid of honor but he can’t be that mad at me or can he? I can’t imagine he’s furious about it. He knows what I’m like and I couldn’t resist when Jane wanted me just as much as I did her.

“Hey, Alex.” I’m a little shocked by Adam’s tone. He doesn’t sound angry, he seems relaxed like he’s enjoying himself. Just like he should be on the first day of his honeymoon. He shouldn’t have even been calling me. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Mmm, a little rough,” I admit. “I got a bit lit last night but it was a lot of fun.”

“Yeah, what a wedding, huh? Marie and I are over the moon; it was amazing! Do you think everyone else enjoyed it as much as we did?”

I answer positively but I can’t tell if he’s tricking me. I don’t know what hole he wants me to fall into but I’m careful with every single word I utter.

“Yeah, it was awesome. Everyone had a good time. So, what’s going on now?”

“I got an email last night that I have a parcel at the mailing office,” he tells me. “Something I need for work. It was supposed to come next week but it’s early.”

“Right…?” I drawl, confused. What does this have to do with me and Jane? I really can’t pinpoint what’s happening here. It has me all on edge.

“So, I was wondering if you could pick it up for me…if you have the time.”

“Oh yeah, of course, I can. No problem at all.”

Is that it? Is that really what Adam wanted? My head is all over the place now, even more than before. Can this be because he just wants me to pick up a parcel? Utter madness, I got all worked up over nothing.

“Thanks, Alex. You’re a lifesaver. I ate it.”

By the time I hung up, my head was spinning and I had gotten caught. It was very unnerving, that just proves that I don’t want anyone to find out. I can’t imagine that Jane does either. So… we keep this to ourselves. Fine.

“God damn it, that was crazy,” I mutter to myself as I shake my head. “I’m losing my mind.”

That is a clue that I need to get my sorry ass out of bed. I’ve already wasted most of the day sleeping it off and it isn’t helping.

I need to sort myself out properly. Since I’ve already had other missed calls from my brothers, Vicenzo and Elio, I suppose I should get in touch with them to let them know I’m available if they need me.

“Vicenzo, hello,” I say sleepily the moment he picks up the call. “You good?”

“Oh God, you sound like shit,” he chuckles. “Heavy night at the wedding, huh?”

“Oh yeah, it sure was…but a good one. Adam and Marie put on a fine show.”

“Hmm, well we have some shipments I need you to check on,” Vicenzo continued.

“I know you’re supposed to be off today, recovering or whatever, but Elio and I don’t have the right information. So if you can get down here, I’d appreciate it.”

I sigh heavily. I already know that I wasn’t going to get the whole day off today because I never do - which is one of the downsides of having a successful shipping company - but it’s still pretty exhausting to know I’m needed. “Sure, I’m on my way.”

“You don’t need to come in right away, Alex…”

“Nah, don’t worry, Vicenzo. I’m coming. You and Elio can stop panicking. I’m coming to save the day. I know you both need me; in fact, you’ve proven that you can’t cope without me.”

Vicenzo laughs heartily. “Sure, yeah, you know how it is. We can’t live without you. I’ll start the coffee machine because if you’re as foul as you sound, then caffeine is the only thing that will fix it. Maybe we can order breakfast as well.”

“Bacon sounds good. Pastries too. Whatever will get me through.”

I hang up on my brother, kinda looking forward to getting back to work because sitting in my condo isn’t making me feel better.

I kept thinking about Jane and how hot she looked in every corner of this room. How much I wish she were still here so I could explore her body some more. I don’t feel like I got anywhere near enough of her.

“Stop it,” I mutter angrily to myself. “Don’t go to work in this mood!”

My brothers will jump on this if I go into the office all gooey-eyed over some bloody woman I spent the night with. They will start thinking that I’m going soft and letting my heart become exposed all over again.

I can’t deal with the questions that will come my way especially given that Jane has run out on me. Urgh, no chance.

“Get it together, asshole,” I say as I lightly slap my cheek. “Don’t be an idiot here.”

***

Photos have already made it online. Not the official ones of course, but pictures that people took throughout the night. Every time I get tagged, I examine it quickly to make sure that nothing is given away.

I mean, Jane and I weren’t exactly discrete; we were grinding against one another and kissing like crazy. If that’s been caught by a camera…

Well, the secret will be a secret no more.

I’m sure neither of us want that.

“Whoa, she’s gorgeous.” I don’t even notice that Elio is behind me, noisily peering over my shoulder until he speaks. “The brunette bridesmaid, she’s hot!”

Defensiveness curls up in my chest and I have to work hard to push it to one side. I don’t have any ownership over Jane and her beauty even if I do want to keep my brother a million miles away from her. Luckily, she probably isn’t in the country anymore.

“The maid of honor, Jane.” I try to sound bored and completely unbothered but I don’t think I pull it off as well as I would have liked. “Marie’s best friend.”

“I wish I’d been invited now. I would have had some fun with her.”

My chest tightens. God damn it, is Elio doing this on purpose? Trying to wind me up? I know he’s always like this but it feels like he’s going extra hard today. Almost as if he wants me to confess that I’m the one who bedded her last night.

But I’m not going to cave. I won’t give him what he wants. No way. I promised myself that I would keep things to myself and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

“I don’t think she’d want a perv like you looming over her,” I chuckle, trying to make a joke out of it. “She’s Marie’s friend. Classy, you know? Too good for you.”

Elio laughs good-naturedly and shoves me. “I take it she turned you down? You can’t imagine any woman not wanting to bed you, can you? It’d be different for me.”

I shove my phone away because this is too much. I’m done with talking to Elio.

“Aren’t we supposed to be working? Keep out of it, will you?”

“You’re the one sitting around doing nothing because of your stinking hangover.” He lifts his hands in surrender. “Whatever… you want to get off your high horse now.”

Vincenzo tuts and rolls his eyes at the pair of us. “You both need to get back to work.

If we allow things to slip now, it’ll put us behind and we're way too busy to get behind.”

Both Elio and I nod in agreement. That’s true, we pride ourselves on always being on time so we don’t want to let that go. Especially not because I’m all caught up over some woman I spent the night with…