Under My Skin (Skin Deep #2)

Between Emma and the store, I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to get everything done at the store and last minute wedding things for Emma. I think we finally had everything ready to go and she was going to be an amazingly beautiful bride, especially because she had essentially had a weight lifted off of her shoulders.

Creepy’s trial date had come and gone and, just as Emma wanted, he accepted a plea bargain prior to the hearing so she didn’t have to go through the trial. The photos and recorded statements they had of Emma right after the incident painted very graphic and damning picture; so much so that his attorney was bending over backwards trying avoid the trial to keep him away from a jury. He pled guilty to felonious assault with a deadly weapon, weapons under disability, kidnapping, and gross sexual imposition in exchange for them dropping the attempted murder charge.

All in all, he’ll be in prison for a about 15 years with no parole, will have to register as a sex offender, and will be put on community control after his release, as well. Emma was relieved that it was over and, now that it wasn’t hanging over her anymore, she glowed with happiness, ready to get hitched and make babies!

But first…we had one hell of a party to throw!

Chapter 13

The day of the party dawned bright and beautiful. Yes, weather-wise it was, too, but when you wake up being loved from top to bottom by four hands, two mouths, and two…well, you know where I’m going with that…it would make anyone’s day better. Seriously, I’ve been smiling non-stop since I woke up.

Brandon and Jackson kissed me goodbye and headed out to meet Calland for a little last minute shopping. What they needed to shop for, I was a little scared to think about, but whatever. I had made a trip down towards Cincinnati to the Hustler store and got a nice little stash of party favors and pretty much anything I could find penis shaped. I had a crystal penis-encrusted mini veil for Emma to wear on her head, headbands with wiggly penises for the rest of us, penis-shaped shot glasses on beaded necklaces for us to wear around our necks, and even drink glasses that had flashing lights in the bottom, plus penis shaped straws for us to drink out of. I got Emma a sash to wear that proclaimed her as the bride-to-be, but sadly, they didn’t have any with penises on them.

I know it seems tacky and very classless to walk around bedazzled in penises, but come on. I think it’s a prerequisite to a kickass bachelorette party. That and at least one stripper, but I’d left that out of the public plans so Luke wouldn’t find out and kill me beforehand. I also had a list of things that we all had to complete before the night was over, as well as a ‘suck for a buck’ t-shirt for her to wear.

It was more of a ‘bite for a buck’ though, because I was nice and just tacked a bunch of wrapped flavored Lifesavers to a plain white t-shirt; no sense in making people pay to suck unsanitary candy. This way, they get to bite off the candy and be able to actually eat it, and Emma doesn’t have to stand there awkwardly while a creeper takes his time sucking off the candy.

Jenna and Leah pitched in and we all rented a limo for the night so we didn’t have to worry about needing a DD because we were definitely making the rounds tonight. I was standing in my office at home gathering everything into a couple large totes to take with me since we were all meeting at Emma’s for the limo to pick us up when someone tapped lightly on the door. I yelled for whoever it was to come in and smiled as Chloe pushed through the door.

“Hey!” I said. “You coming with us tonight, still?” I asked her. Emma had invited her and Chloe had tried to decline, stating that we didn’t want some stranger hanging out on our fun night. Emma and I both had waved her protests off and told her she was more than welcome. Frankly, I thought she needed at least one night out to cut loose and have fun for once.

She nodded slightly and then opened her mouth, to protest I’m sure, but I cut her off. “You’re coming with me, no excuses. You need to get out and have some fun. I promise, it will be worth it! Now, come help me grab everything and haul it to the car.”

“Oh…okay…” she stuttered. She reached down to grab a bag by my leg and I froze.

“Wait, wait, wait. Nu-uh. You can’t go like that,” I said firmly, getting a real good look at her. She was wearing a pair of baggy old sweat pants and a t-shirt.

“Well, just give me a second to change. I’m sure I can find something…” she said.

I shook my head. “You know what? I have something perfect for you at the shop. You don’t mind, do you?” I asked her.

She shook her head. I nodded once, motioned for her to go ahead and grab bags and we loaded the car on the run. We made a quick stop by the store, spent about twenty minutes getting her all dolled up, and rolled out, giggling like little school girls on the way to Emma’s house.

We pulled up right as the guys were leaving. I got out and waved, shaking my head exasperatedly when Luke started yelling out the window, “You take care of my woman, you hear me, Allie?!”

“Yo, bitches!” Emma yelled behind us.

She was standing on the front step holding up a champagne glass that was filled to the brim. Well, it would have been if she’d kept it still. As it was, it kept sloshing over the sides as she waved her hands around dramatically.

I glanced over to Jenna who was standing beside her, looking up to the sky like she’d get some type of answer or help from that quarter. Leah was standing behind her, either dancing or trying to hold Emma still. I quirked my brow at her, silently asking for an explanation as to why the bride was already half-shit-faced.

“Luke kept asking questions. And then she got nervous, so every time he looked at her, she’d gulp her champagne. Brandon and Jacks finally took pity on her and made him leave, but…well…you see what we’re dealing with now,” she said.

“Allie!” Emma crowed.

“Emma,” I shrieked back before replying to Leah, “Well, good thing we’re going to dinner first. Geez.”

Everybody finally showed up, including Emma’s mom, my mom, and the limo driver. I passed out all my penis stuff and we all piled into the limo. We were all laughing at each other because, let’s face it, we looked ridiculous. Really, that many penises probably were overkill, but…it sure made one hell of an impact when we all stood together!

We started out with a champagne toast (not that Emma needed more, but hey, it was her bachelorette party!) in the limo while we headed towards dinner. I’d made special arrangements at Manny’s because that was Emma’s favorite restaurant. They set up a back room for us so we didn’t scare anyone or scar any children for life from seeing us all ‘pe-dazzled’.

An hour and a half later, we were all stuffed from too much Italian food and sangria and piled back into the limo. Emma was well on her way to being blitzed, and her mom was already there. Funny thing about Jan when she’s drunk? She gets quite philosophical and lovey. Like seriously lovey. She was currently cuddled up to Emma, kissing her cheek and telling her over and over how much she loved her.

I couldn’t help but shake my head and smile at my own mother who was sitting on the other side of Emma and interjecting her own two cents every other give seconds. Guess she hit the sangria harder than I thought…

Now, don’t judge me. I may have promised Luke that there would be no male strippers involved in the night’s plans. So we were going to The Back Room, which…ok, yes, is a strip club. But the dancers are female. And it’s totally not my fault that I ‘didn’t realize’ that there was a male review on the main stage that ‘just happened’ to be scheduled for the night we would be there. Tonight. Oops. (Evil grin…)