Alex chuckled, “Alright then, you do your thing. Don’t drink too much, and be careful. I’ll call a cab back myself.

“By the way, I’m not going back to the manor. I’ll stay at my own place for a few days. If I go back, I’ll just be on the receiving end of Mom’s disapproving looks again, as if being single is so shameful. River isn’t even married yet! He just brought his girlfriend home to meet the family, and Mom’s already that anxious.

“She doesn’t consider how old River is. He’s almost thirty-two, while I still have like a year or two before I hit thirty.

“River’s not innocent either. He always used to say he definitely wouldn’t get married before he turned thirty-five. I thought if he got married at thirty-five, he could be our shield and let us enjoy a few more carefree years.

“But then, before this summer’s even over, River brought his girlfriend home. That was really fast.”

So even rivals could become lovers. River really was something else.

Then again, River and Ms. Lafayet