Holly exhaled with relief. Riley, who’d caught up, still looked annoyed, though. “I was told there would be facials.”
Ignoring her, Sissy finally looked up from her screen. “So, Holly, we’re going to relax around here this afternoon. I want to be rested for the rehearsal dinner.”
“Wonderful. Would you like to go down to the beach?” Holly asked.
Each bridesmaid replied in unison.
“I’m too tired.”
“Too hungover.”
“Sunscreen interferes with my face serum.”
“Well, if you change your minds, I hear the water temperature is lovely today,” Holly told them. “Just let me know, and I’ll ask Oliver to set up beach chairs.”
At the sound of his name, Sissy brightened. “Actually, yes. Please do.” She looked to the others, who’d already deflated at the change of plans. “Get changed. We’re going to the beach.”
“But my serum?”
“You didn’t have a facial, Riley. You’re fine.”
As the girls dragged themselves upstairs to get ready, Holly called Oliver in. “Would you please set up five chaise lounges on the beach?” She checked the notes Sissy had asked her to take. “Facing the sun, half-moon arrangement, so they can talk but not block the UV.” She looked up at him apologetically. “As requested.”
“I’ll get right on it,” Oliver said dazedly. He looked terrible.
“Oliver, are you feeling alright?” Oliver was sturdy as an ox, and always in a chipper mood. The young man with undereye circles and moppy hair standing in front of her was barely recognizable.
“I’m fine.”
They were interrupted by the approachingthwackof flip-flops echoing on marble. Sissy and her party had readied themselves for the beach in record time, and they sashayed into the lobby in one urgent unit. The bride, leading the charge, wore a poppy-red string bikini under an embroidered cover-up that covered very little. Holly didn’t catch what the others were wearing, she was so distracted by the distraught look on Oliver’s face.
“Hey there, Ollie,” Sissy purred.
When he said nothing, she pulled up in front of him like a sports car screeching to a halt. “Carry my bag?”
Linus, with a nose for detecting any flurry of bridesmaid activity, rushed in from the patio. “Ooh. Is it cocktail time, girls?” Holly did not love that he referred to them as girls, but it had the opposite effect on Sissy, who’d taken to Linus upon arrival.
“Aperol spritzes, doll,” Sissy called over her shoulder, already drifting to the door. She twirled her finger in the air. “All around.”
“Coming right up. Or down. To the beach, I mean.” Linus giggled.
Upon seeing him, the other girls rushed up and handed off their beach totes. Riley dumped hers unceremoniously at his feet. “Oh.” He snuck a look at Holly. “Shall I carry these down before I mix your drinks?”
“No orange in mine,” Peyton/Grayson said, and as briskly as they’d come through the lobby they sailed out the door.
Only Sissy hung back. Holly noted that she was walking alongside Oliver, and the moment they passed through the French doors, she slipped her hand in his.
“Do you see this?” Holly turned to Linus. “I knew they knew each other, but this is… what exactly?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, but none of it’s good.”
“Is anyone else aware of this?” Holly pressed. “Her parents? Thegroom?”
“M.O.B. has been steering Sissy toward Harry since they arrived, so she must have some inkling.”
“You meanHarold,” Holly reminded him. Linus was getting a bit too liberal with guest nicknames.
“Harry’s not the brightest bulb, but even he must’ve noticed.”
