Page 5 of Braden

Chet blinked a few times and recoiled at Braden’s tone. Shaking the offered hand, exerting too much pressure which left Braden unfazed, the other man said hastily, “No problem. I uh left a few things at Elodie’s by mistake when we decided to part ways and asked her to bring them to the wedding with her.”

“It’s a fairly heavy box, Chet,” Elodie said in disdain. “And as it happens I forgot about it when I left home. I had other things on my mind, like oh say a big wedding. Your sports holo card collection and whatever else is in there wasn’t high on my list.”

Chet reacted with anger all out of proportion, his voice gruff and loud. “Damn it, I ask you to do this one simple thing for me and you can’t even be bothered⁠—”

“Tone it down, buddy,” Braden advised. “People are staring.” And he definitely didn’t like the way Elodie was shrinking into herself as Chet blew up. He wondered if this had been a common thing during their relationship and found the idea made him angry. “Doesn’t sound like this box is too important. Not worth making a scene over.”

“You don’t know a damn thing about it so I suggest you butt out.” Chet did lower his voice a bit. “She’s such a scatterbrained pain⁠—”

“That’ll be enough.” Braden took two steps and forced Chet to retreat. He was prepared to do more if the man didn’t apologize and stand down, even if it got him thrown out of the party for roughing up the best man.

“As soon as I realized the box didn’t make it, I commed my friend who’s watching the apartment for me and asked her to send it via direct cargo express,” Elodie said, leaning around Braden to see Chet. “It’s guaranteed to arrive here at some point in the next few days, while we’re all still here. I put the hotel concierge on notice to look for it.”

“Oh well then, let me know as soon as it’s delivered,” Chet said.

“And you’ll reimburse her for the expense,” Braden said. It wasn’t a question.

Giving him a glare, Chet nodded. “Send me the bill, Elodie.”

“Oh believe me, I will, with pleasure.” She picked up her drink and left her chair, taking Braden’s arm. “Ready to go?”

He could feel her shaking as he held her hand and they walked out of the room. When they reached the gravlift, he paused. “What do you want to do now? We could take a walk on the beach or go back to the club.”

“Honestly, I’m kinda worn out with the way this evening has gone,” she said. “I think I’m going to turn in.”

“I’ll escort you to your room.”

They stepped into the silvery stream and floated upward.

“I’m perfectly safe here in the hotel,” she said. “You didn’t have to do this.”

“Fine boyfriend I’d be if I left you standing at the gravlift and bailed.” He chuckled. “Never know who might be watching.”

“Oh, right. I forgot.” She rubbed her forehead. “My stepmother gave me a headache and then Chet made it worse. He’s such a tool. And I ask myself over and over why I didn’t see it when we were together.”

“He probably exerted himself to portray a good guy,” Braden said. “He obviously liked the idea of you being close with Tamarind and tying himself even more closely to Renald as a result. How did your friend and her fiancé react when you two split up?”

“Tam was mad at him because she’s loyal to me. She wanted to toss him out of the wedding party but he and Renald have been best friends since college and maybe even before. Renald made Chet apologize to me and by then he was already dating the maid of honor so in the interests of a peaceful wedding, I accepted the apology and we all smoothed things over.” Elodie stepped out of the gravlift and Braden followed her to her room.

Chet got off easy. Braden wasn’t satisfied on Elodie’s behalf but it wasn’t any of his business.

“Do you want to come in?” she asked, hesitating at her door. “We should probably go over our story in more detail for tomorrow’s activities.”

He didn’t take it as an invitation for anything more than conversation. Elodie was obviously still tense from the party and they’d only met a few hours ago. “Sure, probably a good idea.”

“Make yourself at home,” she said, tossing her purse on the table beside the couch and kicking off her shoes. “I’m going to change and then we can talk.”

“I’ll order coffee and whatever looks good on the dessert menu,” he said. “We can celebrate one event completed.”

“I like the way you think.” She gave him a smile and disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door firmly behind her.

Braden placed the room service order, charging it to his own New Switzerland credit account, and then used the bathroom, which was full of Elodie’s creams and lotions and makeup applicators, as well as filmy underwear drying on the shower rod. He appreciated the view and wondered what she’d been wearing tonight. When he re-entered the main room, she was waiting, curled up in the big cozy chair.

“I’m so embarrassed you had to see all my stuff,” she said, gesturing to the bathroom. “I was in a rush and I’m not neat by nature, to tell you the truth.”

“No problem.” He went to the door to allow the room service waiter to bring in the items he’d ordered, gave the man a tip and then ushered him out. “Real waiters,” he said, turning to Elodie who was already studying the desserts. “My hotel has robos. High end but not as posh as humans.”

“Which dessert did you want?” she asked.