Surrendering Series Box Set

“You cannot be serious,” I said, looking at the flashing plastic penis necklace that she held out to me.

Chloe and Marisol were laughing hysterically, holding onto one another.

“I hate all of you,” I said.

“Sorry, but this is happening.” Sloane started to come toward me with the tiara and I put my hands up.

“I swear, if you put that on my head, you will be the maid of dishonor!” I yelled, stumbling back to try to get away from her.

“I told you,” Marisol said, still giggling.

Sloane didn’t look like she would be deterred, but I put both hands up.

“You’re going to mess up my hair.” That was one of the only things I could think to say to stop her.

“Oh, fine. Would you at least wear the sash? And the penis?” I took the sash from her and then the penis. I threw the latter on the floor and put the former over my head and settled it across my chest. It wasn’t too garish, but it did make me feel like a pageant contestant.

“I feel like I should be getting ready to twirl a baton for my talent or something,” I said, adjusting the sash in the mirror.

“Or answer a question about world peace?” Chloe asked.

“Well, of course.”

“My favorite date is April 25th. It’s not too hot and not too cold. All you need is a light jacket,” Marisol quoted from the movie Miss Congeniality. We’d had our fair share of Sandra Bullock movie marathons and we’d all pretty much memorized most of them.

“World peace. World peace. Oh, that’s easy, world peace!” The four of us said at the same time and then started laughing again. We all had a bad case of the giggles tonight and we weren’t even drunk yet.

“So, now where am I wearing this wonderful sash?” I asked.

“That’s a secret,” Sloane said, slicking on one last layer of lip gloss.

“You know I hate secrets,” I said, fixing a stray hair.

“Yeah, well. Suck it up, buttercup,” she said, smacking my ass. “Let’s roll out!”

~*~*~

We didn’t end up at one place. We ended up at several. First was dinner at a beautiful restaurant that had gorgeous industrial architecture and a killer drinks menu. Afterward, we headed to a club for dancing and more drinking and then to another club for more drinks and dancing.

I completely let myself go. I forgot about work. I forgot about Lucah’s will. I forgot about Dad’s heart attack. I just danced and drank and laughed and let myself live. It was glorious.

I got hit on right and left and it was very flattering, but I was only thinking about my redhead.

“You’re so in love it’s disgusting,” Chloe said as I turned down another guy by pointing to my sash and shaking my head.

“I know!” I yelled and threw myself back into dancing like a maniac. Poor Chlo. It couldn’t be easy being the only one of the four of us who wasn’t in a committed relationship. I knew she was okay with fooling around right now, but that she really wanted the security of being with someone. It had been nearly a year since she’d ended things with Harmony, but the sting hadn’t worn off. I didn’t care if she wanted to stay single, or be casual. I just wanted her to be happy and I knew she wasn’t right now. It almost made me feel a little guilty for being so happy about getting married. If I asked her about it, she’d tell me I was being crazy, but still.

After we were clubbed out, we went back to the hotel, ordered every single dessert item from room service and put on our pajamas.

“So, how has your first night of bacheloretteness been?” Sloane asked as she pushed the last bit of chocolate cake toward me. I nabbed it before someone else went for it. I was the bride. I got to have the last bite of cake. They could get it when their time came.

“Awesome. I’m so full and still sloshy from booze and I’ve probably gained about ten pounds tonight, but I don’t give a fuck. No fucks given!” I raised my fork and they raised theirs and they clinked together.

Instead of sleeping in the huge bed, we called down for tons of pillows and blankets and made a bed on the floor in the living room so we could watch movies until we passed out.

“I love you all,” I said just before I knew I was going to head off to dreamland.

“We love you too,” Sloane mumbled.