Chapter 101

Rio immediately went over to them. “Where’s Mark?” he demanded.

John and Alan looked at each other. “In our room—packing. He says he doesn’t want to come to the barbeque. We tried to talk him out of it. That’s why we’re late but…”

“What’s your room number?” Rio asked.

“Three seventeen, “Alan told him.

Rio was off at a trot toward the hotel. He took the stairs two at a time, ran down the third floor hall, and pounded on Mark’s door. “Mark, open up! It’s Rio! I need to see you!”

The door opened and Rio grabbed Mark in a bone crushing embrace. Any thought of going into his carefully planned speech—which gave a logical argument for why the two of them should be together—was thrown aside. Rio kissed the surprised man, hard.

“I love you,” Rio blurted out. “Don’t go. Stay with me!”