Meg's apartment.
"What does he have to do with my sister?" Rian said through gritted teeth.
Meg raised a brow. "Isn't he your best buddy?"
Rian shut his eyes briefly, forcing himself to calm down.
"That's different," he muttered, thinking about Alex's past opinions of his sister.
"I like him. He's a brother to me… but Ria ... she's more important. I can't let her get hurt."
Meg gently rubbed his arm to soothe him. "I know, dear."
She took her phone and opened a few photos. "Here, look at this. How lovey-dovey they act."
Rian stared at each picture with widening eyes.
"Look at Ria's smile, Rian. She glows when he's with her. Can you afford to lose that?" Meg asked softly.
"What's wrong with this guy? He says he doesn't like her, and now he's secretly dating my sister behind my back," Rian muttered.
Meg chuckled. "He's good, but you're just not ready to accept it."
Rian sighed deeply. "You know me too well, baby," he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Meg giggled. "I love you too, Rian."
They shared a soft, lingering kiss.
Next day.
Alex was working out in the gym inside his villa when his phone began to ring.
Ria.
He immediately wiped his face and answered.
"Everything okay, right? No pain… or fever?" she asked gently.
"No, no. I'm all good now," he replied casually.
"Okay. I just thought of visiting you. If you're fine then I'm hanging…"
"No, no!" he blurted before she could finish. "I, uh… I have a slight pain near the shoulder. Yeah. And the wound needs to be dressed again. You know… it'd be good if you visit."
Ria giggled softly. "Okay, I'm leaving from the hospital. Send me your location."
Alex sent it instantly, threw away the dumbbells and ran toward the living room.
Rick was sprawled across the couch, mouth wide open, snoring. Beer bottles and glasses were scattered everywhere, snacks littered the floor, and an empty plate lay upside down on his chest.
Alex stared in horror.
"Rick!!! Get up, you pig!!" he yelled.
Rick jerked awake and fell off the couch with a thud. "Who died?" he asked, eyes wide.
"No one died. But soon you will, you idiot."
Alex hurled a cushion at him. Rick blinked, still half - asleep.
Alex gestured at the disaster around them. "What the hell is this?"
"You forgot? Oh man…" Rick mumbled.
Alex shut his eyes in frustration. "Hell with it. Ria is coming!"
Rick hugged the cushion, smiling sleepily. "Really? That's nice."
Alex kicked him. That woke him up completely.
"Come on. Clean. NOW."
"Yeah, yeah."
Both started picking up bottles, tossing them into the bin. But before they could deal with the rest…
Ding-dong.
Rick yelled, "Coming!" and walked toward the door.
"You idiot! Don't open it…it's her!" Alex whisper - yelled. But Rick didn't hear a thing.
Alex immediately lay down on the couch, pretending to look injured and exhausted.
Rick opened the door.
"Hi," Ria greeted, smiling. "Umm… where is Xander?"
Rick blocked the entrance. "You… you can't see him now."
Ria's smile faded. "Why? What happened to him?"
"No… nothing. Hey…"
She pushed him aside and hurried in.
Her eyes widened at the state of the villa. "What happened here? A tornado?"
"Ahem." Alex coughed dramatically from the couch.
Ria turned, narrowed her eyes, sniffed, and spotted the glasses with leftover liquor.
"God. How do you live like this?"
Alex looked away, embarrassed.
Ria sighed. "Both of you, go get freshened up. I'll take care of this."
"But…" Rick began.
"No buts. Go." She shot Alex a pointed look. "I know you can walk. Stop acting and go clean up. You're having breakfast downstairs."
Alex grinned sheepishly. Both men retreated obediently.
Ria cleaned the mess and prepared a simple breakfast.
When they came down, their noses were greeted by the aroma of sandwiches and coffee. The entire place looked neat and fresh.
Ria was setting the plates when she noticed them and smiled.
"Come, sit. Umm… there wasn't much to cook, so you'll have to manage with this."
"Oh, no problem, SIL," Rick said brightly. "We usually order food from outside. This feels like luxury."
Ria chuckled. Alex glared at him.
That's when Alex noticed, only two servings.
"Where's yours?" he asked.
"Oh, I'm not eating. I came straight from a night shift, and I can't eat right after freshening up. I'll have something at home."
Alex felt a pinch of guilt for making her work despite her exhaustion.
"Hey… can I make a quick fruit punch for you?" he offered.
Ria smiled. "That works."
He prepared a quick, refreshing punch, and the three of them finally settled down for their meal, quiet, warm, and unexpectedly peaceful.