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“Remind me again why I agreed to this?” I ask with a small smile.
“Because you’re getting married,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe not even a tiny little part of you wants to enjoy your last few nights out as a single woman. No drawbacks. You can do what you want for the last time in your life before you belong to someone else.”
“Belong to someone else?” I repeat with a snort. I don’t even bother to point out that I haven’t been a single woman in a long time. “I’m not a used car, Cin. He’s not buying me—”
“Good, because that car got written off a long time ago, right?” Casey pipes up, glancing up from her phone for the first time since we got there. I’d almost forgotten she came out with us, she was so detached. Hell, why did she even bother since she’d barely said a word to us since we arrived at the resort? I glower at her and she rolls her eyes. “Fine. I’ll be in my room.”
“Which is exactly where I should be,” I say, getting to my feet. “I have so much to do tomorrow, Cin. I have to meet with the minister, go to the restaurant to work out the menu, pick up Lennon from the airport—”
“Get ready for your bachelorette party,” Cindy chimes in.
“Yeah, that too,” I mutter, trying not to wince.
“Gee, sound a little less impressed, Darcy,” she says. “I’ve gone out of my way to make sure you get a night you’ll enjoy at least a little bit, so the least you can do is pretend to care.”
“I didn’t ask you to do that,” I point out softly. “In fact, I specifically remember begging you not to throw me anything. Remember?”
“Pfft,” she says, brushing me off. “Like you really meant that. And it’ll be fun. Trust me. Lennon is going to be out getting drunk and doing God knows what, so why can’t you? Do you really want to sit around, wondering what he’s getting up to?” She shakes her head. “You’ll be thanking me for this. You should be allowed to have some fun, too.”
“Nobody said I’m not allowed to,” I laugh, wishing she would get it. “Well, except for the law, because we’re not twenty-one yet.” Thank God for fake ID. “I would’ve been fine if it were just you and me, a bottle of wine and a few sappy movies.”
“Tragic,” she says with a shudder. “I’m so embarrassed to call you my friend right now.”
I laugh, Cindy’s such a fun-loving girl and I give up on fighting an argument I know I’m not going to win. If nothing else, it will take my mind off thinking about everything that could potentially go wrong over the next week.
Planning this wedding in six weeks has really brought out the insecure, anxious side of me. I’m glad that by the end of the week it will all be over, and we’ll be married. That is, if Cindy doesn’t kill me first.
***
After a few drinks, we walk up to our rooms together with me holding onto Cindy’s arm to steady her. Along the way, I manage to catch her from falling at least a couple of times. I glance at her six-inch heels and shake my head. If you’re going to drink so much you can barely stand, at least wear sensible shoes!
After I unlock the door to her room, I wait until she stumbles over to her bed before I close it and disappear into my own room. I peel off my clothes and lay down on the bed, unable to keep my eyes open. I let out a yawn, frustrated and pretty sure I’m still going to be awake in a few hours. I’m so tired, but I just can’t turn my brain off enough to sleep.
In the end, I lay awake for half the night, drifting in and out of semi-consciousness. I listen to the sounds of Cindy’s snores floating though our thin adjoining wall and smile. Maybe she had the right idea to get drunk, after all.
***
I arrive at the airport the next afternoon, so exhausted I nearly face plant into a badly-positioned Christmas tree. I regain my balance at the last second, steadying myself and the tree. I glance around to make sure nobody noticed. If they did, they weren’t showing it.
Wandering over to the Arrivals lounge, I sit down and wait for Lennon. I’ve spent the entire morning with Rev. Kama, the minister, running over the ceremony, and now all I want to do is go back to my room and curl up in bed. But all that changes the moment I see Lennon. He walks toward me, his suitcase rolling behind him. My heart races as he reaches me, his free arm curling around my waist.
