Danielle’s hand shoots into the air. “Me. I like dicks swinging in my face.”
We’re in hysterics again. The wine has loosened everyone’s tongues, lowering our defenses and letting thoughts slip free that would normally stay tucked away.
The server arrives, carrying plates of passion-fruit cheesecake and warm bread pudding drizzled with caramel.
“Guys, I have to admit,” Carina says as we dig into our sweet treats. “This whole itinerary was planned by my mom.”
The look on Danielle’s face tells me she already knew. Jaylah shakes her head.
“Down to the guest list, the wedding colors, flowers, and the dress.”
Lety purses her lips. “Well, I won’t lie. That dress is everything. Your mom did her big one with that one.”
Carina looks at me. “A custom-made dress by Viktor&Rolf,” she says as if to keep me updated. I hadn’t seen the dress yet. But I know any gown made by Viktor&Rolf had to be spectacular.
“If it were me, I’d have a gang of strippers right here, right now,” she hiccups.
“I don’t know why you let your mom make so many decisions for you.”
“She’s a visionary. She knows what this wedding needs. And she’s just making sure it’s classy and elegant.”
“No,” Danielle shakes her head. “Your mother wants control, and you’ve gotten so used to giving it to her that you don’t even notice.”
“That’s not true,” Carina says defensively. “This is a wedding she’s envisioned for years. Something she didn’t have when she married my father. They were just starting out in the world with barely any money, and my mom always said this is the kind of wedding she would want.”
“Did you hear what you said? You said whatshewould want. What about you?” Jayla asks. “I love my auntie and all, but I have to admit she can be overbearing.”
“Your mom and dad have money falling out of the sky,” Danielle interjects. “They could wipe their ass with a hundred-dollar bill. Why can’t she just renew her vows and have a wedding like this for herself?”
Carina rolls her eyes, sips her prosecco, and shrugs. “I don’t know. I just know this whole wedding was her idea.”
“What would you have done instead?” I ask her.
“I know this sounds crazy, but I would seriously have a courthouse wedding.”
Camila chokes on her wine.
“Your mother would have a heart attack,” Lety laughs.
“She absolutely would,” Carina agrees, laughing herself. “But sometimes I wonder what would’ve happened if I just disappeared.”
“What about Gavin?” I ask. “What do you think Gavin would want?”
Carina’s eyes stare at me dreamingly. Or maybe her brown orbs are sparkling due to the wine.
“Gavin would want whatever I want. He just wants to be with me.”
Suddenly, a loud chomping sound fills the air from above. A rhythmicwhump.whump.whump. Our heads fall back, looking up into the sky. It’s a helicopter.
“Seriously?” Jaylah groans.
“Seriously,” Danielle answers, pointing at a drone nearby. The red dot from the hovering machine glows in the night.
Carina’s face falls, a flicker of sadness so brief it disappears almost as quickly as it arrives. Then a smile stretches across her face, and she pushes back from the table.
“Let’s go,” she hollers, gathering the skirt of her flowing dress in one hand and waving us forward with the other. We watch her shoot off across the lawn and toward the vineyard. In most cases, when you see someone running, you run too and ask questions later.
“What are we doing?” Danielle asks through a drunken laugh. But she’s running too. We all are.
