Dear Future Ex-wife

Amelia snickers. “I think your nose grew from that lie.”

I chuckle at her Pinocchio reference.

“It’s not a lie,” Jules challenges, pushing her hands to her narrow waist. “Reid Grayson is an asshole who thinks he owns the world. And I’m not for sale.”

“Bah!” Callie groans, ignoring her comment. “You’re whatever Boss Man wants you to be. Who are you kidding?”

“Anyway,” Lola interrupts. “No more Reid talk, please. I’m sick of hearing about him.”

“Like I was saying,” Callie groans, her eyes pointed at Jules. “Before I was so rudely interrupted, we were discussing our limited options. We have Reid, Stefan, and Dylan up for grabs. Reid is a hard pass for me.” She makes a sour face and raises another finger. “Maybe Jules can fuck the pole out of his tight ass, but I’m def not game.”

“I’m seriously going to murder you,” Jules snaps, though I can tell she’s just messing with Callie. “Dexter style. With plastic wrap. The whole shebang.”

Callie laughs, holding her hands out in front of her like a zombie. “Take me to your lair.”

“Keep going,” Amelia urges, ignoring their stupidity.

Amelia seems to be the one to hold this band of weirdos together. She’s the responsible one, the only one who can afford their own place, and the one who calms all of them down. Maybe it was because she raised herself from an early age. I learned a long time ago that money doesn’t buy happiness. It also doesn’t make up for the lack of parenting. In Amelia’s case, her parents were taken from her, their bodies found at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. Mine, they just suck, two miserable bastards who never should have had a child together.

Callie clicks her tongue and then continues, “Dylan is hot, like if Zac Efron and Johnny Depp had a lovechild, except even more eccentric and moody. Yeah, so not really my type, which leaves Stefan. He checks off all my boxes. But that little shit always turns me down. Whatevs. I know it’s just foreplay.”

“No,” Jules says with a snort. “It’s because he’s not into you. News flash, the entire male population isn’t DTF just for you.” Down to fuck.

“Please,” Callie grunts. “Stefan would stick his cock into any wet hole. He’s not picky.”

“Then, how come he hasn’t put it in your wet hole?” Jules asks with a straight face.

“Ladies,” Amelia says, moving into the center of the room with a glass of champagne in hand. “Must I remind you that we have a bridal shower to rock, a bachelorette party to plan, and a sexy bride to corrupt?”

Jules gives me a wicked smile, raising a glass of champagne to her lips. “Let the corrupting begin.”

“We’re saving the bachelorette party for the island,” Amelia says. “I spoke to the resort this morning, and we’re all set.”

I glance over my shoulder at her. “Should I be worried?”

Callie lets out an evil cackle that answers my question.

I feel an odd sense of comfort when I step inside Nate’s childhood home. We created hundreds of memories here, most of them good, some of them sad. His father’s mansion is packed with friends, family, and even our business associates. I don’t know half of the guests at my own party.

Nate slides his hand to my hip and guides me through the living room, acknowledging a few of his coders. I’m shocked to see so many men, none of which look like they want to be here. Can I blame them? The house looks like Barbie had a baby with The Little Mermaid.

Sticking to my wedding theme, my bridesmaids strung turquoise beads and shells from the chandeliers. Splashes of coral and pink pop against the greenish-blue hues. Real sand is littered on the floor along with beach chairs and towels. It’s done tastefully, but I bet Richard had a cardiac when he saw the girls dumping cheap sand on his pristine slate floors. When Nate and I were kids, Richard went ballistic if we spilled water on the floor.

“How are you doing?” Nate says against my ear. “You want to run away yet?”

My skin tingles from his breath, and I find myself leaning into his arms, allowing him to envelop me in his warmth. This relationship started as a business proposition, but it’s becoming so damn real. At least it is for me.

I smile up at him. “I wish I could. I’d run away with you.”

“We can bow out at any time. Just say the word.”

“My dad would kill me if I left early,” I point out. “While Voss and his wife are in the house, my dad made it crystal clear that my ass is to stay put and I’m to smile like I want to be here.”

Nate rolls his shoulders, shaking me along with him. “Who cares about them? This is your party. Everyone is here for you, not them.”