Page 107 of Flirting with Trouble

“Perfect. I look forward to it.” She swishes her fingertips along the surface of the water and says, “You’ve become such a big part of Wells’s life, it feels like you’re already becoming a part of ours, too.”

Having never met Harvey’s father, this is a new kind of wonderful for me. “Thank you. I love getting to know everyone better.”

“Big families have an energy all their own. I know you’re leaving Sunday, and I’m sure my son won’t want to give up time alone with you, but we’d love it if you’d join us for a family breakfast before you go. Even if you can only come for a little while.”

The thought of leaving saddens me, but I’m not going to let that ruin this amazing day. “I would love to.”

“Mom! Vic!” Bellamy hollers as she and Jules run into the water, splashing both of us.

We shriek with laughter. Margot kicks water at them, making them squeal and starting a full-on splash battle. Our laughter is a battle cry, and before we know it, all the women are joining us, splashing and laughing. Water flies at my face, and I lose my footing, stumbling backward. I grab Keira’s arm, taking her down with me in a fit of hysterics.

“Sorry!” I say.

“No, you’re not,” she says, and we burst into laughter seconds before Leni and Shea tug us into deeper water, and we all tumble beneath the surface.

As we break the surface, finding our footing, our laughter filling the air, Lenore and a number of older Bra Brigaders take each other’s hands and lift them to the sky, shouting, “To the sisterhood!”

Cheers ring out as Keira and Leni take my hands and throw them up, shouting, “The baddest bitches on the island!” earning more whoops and shouts.

“I can’t believe I’m doing this,” I say as we each tie a rope that has a hot dog secured to the other end, around our waist. We’re playing Swinging Weenies, one of many bachelorette-party games Abby and Jules have lined up for the afternoon.

“Don’t act like you’ve never had a wiener in your mouth,” Lenore says, and everyone laughs.

“Okay, listen up,” Jules announces. “The goal of the game is to swing your hips and catch the weenie in your mouth. If you touch it with your hands, you’re out.”

“No stroking the dog?” Keira yells, inciting more laughter.

Leni shouts, “No frank wanking? Boring!”

“My baby girl is getting married tomorrow. If she wants to wank a frank, more power to her!” Shelley hollers, and we double over in laughter.

“We taught these girls well,” Lenore says to Tara’s grandmother, and they high-five.

“All right, ladies. Listen up. The first one to catch a weenie in her mouth wins a prize,” Abby says. “Ready?”

“Wait! Hold my hair,” I say to Keira, and everyone laughs.

“Do we have to swallow?” Randi asks, and we lose it, tears rolling down our cheeks.

When we finally stop laughing and they start the game, there is more hilarity as we cheer each other on, and the hot dogs smack us in the face and chest.

Someone yells, “Don’t use your teeth!” and someone else hollers, “That’s what he said.”

I swing my hips, and the hot dog hits me in the eye. “Ouch! It nearly put my eye out!”

“I hate it when that happens,” Margot says, and we all crack up again.

A motorboat roars behind us, and we all turn to look as it speeds toward shore and fishtails to a stop. Roddy’s at the helm, Steve is tossing out the anchor, and Alexander grabs a megaphone and says, “Margot, baby, what are you doing with a weenie when you’ve got a kielbasa at home?”

Laughter erupts anew, and Bellamy yells, “Ew, Dad!” as the men jump off the boat and jog through the water to shore.

Margot plants a hand on her hip and says, “Alexander Silver, I expect this from our boys but not from you!”

He bolts out of the water in shorts and a T-shirt, showing off his athletic physique. He swoops Margot into his arms, says, “Then you don’t know me at all, baby!” and kisses the hell out of her.

We all cheer, and Keira yells, “Get a room!”

Roddy and Steve jog over to their wives and pull them into dramatic kisses, earning more cheers and a jealous sigh from me. I gasp as strong arms circle me from behind.