She grumbles awake. "What is that pounding?" She looks around, and I try not to laugh at her, but I can't help it.
"It's called a hangover." I reach out my hand and wipe the black makeup that is under her eye with my thumb. "Also, you got black shit."
"I'm starving." She bends her arms and stretches, arching her back. She is wearing a baby-blue tank top with spaghetti straps. "I really need to eat." She grabs the sweater laid over her lap. She leans forward, grabbing her bag under the seat in front of her and tosses the sweater inside it. When the plane stops, and we are allowed to get up, I step out into the aisle and hold out my hand for her. She slips her hand in mine, and I point at the overhead bin instead of asking her because, for some odd fucking reason, all the words are stuck in my throat. She shakes her head, and we walk out of the plane.
The hot air hits us right away as we stand in the middle of the tarmac on the metal stairs. "Why is it so bright?" she mumbles as we make our way into the airport. I hold the door open for her as she steps into the cool baggage claim area. "I'm going to go do something with my face." She looks around for the signs to the bathroom.
"What color is your bag?" She laughs.
"White. It says bride on it," she says, and I think she's kidding. "You won't miss it."
I shake my head and head over to the baggage carousel. The beep tells me that the luggage will soon arrive as the area gets more crowded. The belt starts moving, and when the first bag comes out, I groan. She was not fucking kidding. Not only is it white with the big letters that say bride but there is also tulle tied to the handles. I grab the bag, and the man and woman standing next to me smile. I don't even know what to say. "Oh, you got my bag," I hear from behind me and turn to see her wearing a white shirt now.
"I thought you were kidding," I grumble when I see my silver luggage come out.
"One does not kid about a bride suitcase." She smirks at me, and I see that her face is makeup-free now. All the black marks are gone.
"Apparently, one needs everyone to know that they got married." I smirk over at her as the lady that smiled at me leans in.
"Congrats, you two," she says. "You make a beautiful couple."
I look at Shelby, who just nods and then turns around. "Remind me to get a couple of markers when we get to the hotel and fuck this shit up." She looks over at me as we walk toward the exit.
"You know what you can do," I say. "Put runaway before the bride." I laugh. "No one is going to want to talk to you after they read that."
"That just might be the best plan you've ever had." We walk toward the exit and see the driver standing there with a big sign in his hand with hearts all over it.
Mr. & Mrs. J. Romano
"He's not going to need that sign," I say under my breath and look over to see how Shelby will react. I don't have time because the man's face fills with a huge smile.
His eyes find the luggage as he comes over to us. "Welcome," he says.
"What tipped you off?" I ask him, and his smile never leaves his face while he looks down at the luggage.
"That's what I thought." I try not to laugh.
"Are those the only bags you have?" the driver asks as he tucks the sign under his arm, rushing to grab the luggage from us, and we both nod. "I'll take that." He grabs the handles as he wheels them behind him. "If you’ll follow me."
We follow him to the white limousine. "You know what that outfit is missing?" I put my arm around her shoulders. "A hat with a veil." She turns her head to look up at me and glares.
"Remember when I said you should come with me?" She pushes away from me, but my arm remains around her shoulders. "I lied. You can go home."
"Go home?" I stop as the driver opens the door. A white balloon flies out, and from the looks of it, there are more in the car. "And miss all the fun?"
Chapter 14
Shelby
"Remember when I said you should come with me?" I try to push away from him, but his arm doesn't let me go. "I lied. You can go home." I was annoyed with him but also annoyed that when I got out of the bathroom, and I looked over at him, I got this squishy feeling inside me. It was all that fucking whiskey, I thought.