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“I know, I know, I’m sorry! But also… kind of not. It was so good,” she giggles reminiscently.

“Oh God, you gotta stop.” I laugh, covering my ears as she cracks up. She always knows exactly what to say to pull me out of a funk.

“So,” she says, her eyes flashing with a sudden spark. “What are you going to do now?”

“I need a day just to sit with the anger.”

“Well, tonight is the joint bachelor and bachelorette party,” she smirks, leaning in close. “What better way to make him sweat than with a little jealousy?”

A slow, mischievous smile spreads across my face. “Now you're talking.”

“Get ready with the girls and me tonight!” she begs, clapping her hands excitedly.

“Alright, I will!”

Before we can talk any further, Cooper, Drew, Alex, and Christian all walk up the steps to our section of the deck.

“There you are!” Cooper says, leaning down to greet Ivy with a kiss.

Christian eyes me up and down, taking a deep swig of his beer. “Looking dangerous today, Benson!” he slurs out.

At the same time, Cooper and Alex smack him upside the head.

“Hey! You guys really need to stop doing that after I pay Cami a compliment.” Christian groans, rubbing the back of his neck. “She deserves to know she's a babe.”

I can’t help but smile at the compliment, mainly because he’s saying it in front of the one person I actually want overhearing it.

“Don't make me throw you overboard, Christian, because I will,” Cooper warns, before turning his gaze to me. “Cami, why don't you cover yourself up a little?”

I scoff, leaning back on my elbows, completely unbothered. “Absolutely not, it's a thousand degrees out here.” I smile, gesturing confidently to my body. “If you don't want to see all of this… then look away.”

“Yeah, girl!” Ivy cheers loudly in support.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watch the tiniest tug pull at the corner of Drew’s lips. With his dark sunglasses on, I can't read his expression. But if I had to guess? He hasn't looked away once.

As Ivy and the guys turn to walk toward the coolers, Drew lingers for a split second. He slowly lowers his sunglasses, his dark eyes locking onto mine. My breath hitches as I watch his eyes slowly trace every curve of my body, taking me all in, before he pulls his sunglasses back up and walks away without a word.

My pulse is beating rapidly against my neck, my entire body buzzing from the way his eyes just burned into me. I watch as he walks away, leaving me speechless. He slowly turns to look back over his shoulder, catching my stare and giving me one last glance. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me. Then he smirks before heading down the stairs to the lower deck. My whole body is burning with heat. I could literally throw myself off this boat right now. Ughhh! I groan, burying my head back down on the bench seat.

By the time the boat pulls back into the marina at sunset, the seltzers have done their job, and my anger has solidified into pure determination. I head straight to Ivy’s suite with the girls to get ready for our night out.

Back at Ivy’s suite, Cooper sneaks out to get ready in the guys' room with the groomsmen, finally leaving us girls completely alone. The other bridesmaids are a mix of Ivy’s friends from college and her nursing program, and they are all kind and welcoming. They start off by making a massive batch of Liquid I.V. mocktails, forcing them into our hands to rehydrate us after drinking all afternoon in the sweltering ninety-degree sun.

I couldn't be more grateful. Hopefully, the electrolytes will help me avoid a brutal hangover in the morning, but honestly? Right now, I’m craving a night of total, reckless fun. I just want to let go and be entirely in the moment. It’s not every day I have a huge group of people dragging me out to party. Being a librarian doesn't exactly bring a wild crowd running to your doorstep, so tonight feels rare and thrilling.

After washing the sand and sunscreen from my skin, I style my hair into loose waves. I take my time on my makeup for once, blending out a dark smoky shadow that accentuates the bright blue in my eyes. I decide on a mini, thin-strapped black bodycon dress that dips low at the chest, hugging every curve. I throw a classic denim jacket over my shoulders and, to stay true to my own style, I lace up my favorite black high-top Converse.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I take in the rest of the room. All of us girls are coordinated in black, creating a perfect frame for Ivy. She’s in a white mini dress and a hair clip with a small, bouncy veil. She looks stunning. We look cohesive and hot, and a thrill runs through my veins.

Our Uber pulls up at our first stop in town, a karaoke bar overflowing with summer tourists. We push our way through the dense and boisterous crowd, eventually claiming a tall table near the center of the room. Ivy orders a round of tequila shots to start the night out right. We lean against the high-top, talking and taking in our surroundings as a couple terribly screeches out a pop song onstage.

“Are you ready for tonight?” Ivy asks, yelling directly into my ear over the roar of the crowd.

“I’m ready,” I smile, adjusting the hem of my dress.

“Good, because it begins now.” She smirks.

A big group of guys flood our table. The second they arrive, Cooper snatches Ivy up by the waist, pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss as if being away from her for a few hours were a crime. Alex and Christian crowd around me, pulling me into warm, welcoming hugs. Over their shoulders, my eyes find Drew. He flashes me a soft, slow smile, and I return the gesture, the air between us suddenly feeling a little tighter.