The Missing Sixth

I was deleting our digital wedding invitation when a burst of cheering erupted behind me.

Anders Greer had just finished kissing Brielle Rice. He let go of her waist, but her cheeks were still flushed, and her fingers remained on his shoulder.

Someone called out, clearly not satisfied yet, "Kiss her again!"

Brielle laughed and scolded them. "You guys are awful."

But she didn't immediately move away from him.

It wasn't until Anders saw me that he seemed to suddenly remember something. He looked down and touched the ring on his ring finger.

"Clark, the ring's stuck. I can't get it off." He held up his hand with an easy grin. "Mind if I keep it on tonight?"

That engagement ring was the one Brielle had given me on my birthday. She'd told me she'd had it custom-made to fit my finger.

Yet now, on Anders's hand, it fit perfectly.

I didn't call them out on it. I simply nodded. "Sure."

Brielle glanced at me, apparently surprised I'd agreed so easily. Her brows drew together. "Clark, don't be like this. Everyone came all this way to travel with us. Don't ruin the mood over a game."

I looked at her. "I'm not ruining anything."

"Then smile."

Duncan Houston already had his phone out. "Come on. Temporary bride and groom, look at the camera."

The others quickly crowded around Brielle and Anders. The five of them lined up together, fitting perfectly into the frame.

Duncan handed me his phone. "Clark, you take the best pictures. Get a few for us."

I took the phone.

They stood close together, with Anders in the center. Brielle, still in her wedding dress, had her arm linked through his. The other three gathered around them.

They looked like they were posing for a real wedding photo.

"Clark." Brielle's impatient voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "What are you staring at?"

I came back to myself and pressed the shutter.

One picture. Two. More than a dozen.

I wasn't in a single one.

By the time we got back to the hotel, it was already two in the morning.

I'd originally booked three suites for two. The other four were supposed to split between two rooms, while Brielle and I shared the third.

But as we were getting our key cards, Preston Barnett suddenly announced with a grin, "There are still twelve hours left in the couples-swap game. According to the rules, Brielle has to stay with Anders tonight."

My hand tightened around the key card. "Sharing a room is part of the game too?"

Anders answered as though it were obvious, "We're just sleeping in the same room. The suite has two beds. It's not like anything's going to happen."

Brielle's expression darkened too. "With everyone here, what exactly do you think we're going to do?"

I looked at her. "Then where am I supposed to sleep?"

They exchanged glances.

Duncan pointed toward the end of the hallway. "Brielle and Anders have the family suite. There's a sofa bed in the living room. Why don't you sleep there?"

So I was supposed to sleep outside the bedroom where my fiancee and my best friend were spending the night, listen to them close the door behind them, and wait for the twenty-four-hour game to end.

The whole thing suddenly seemed absurd.

"I'll get another room."

Preston immediately stopped me. "Don't. This place costs thousands a night. Why waste the money? Besides, we've all known each other since we were kids. It's not like there are any strangers here."