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My eyes closed and I bit hard on my lip. Cole had maneuvered between my legs and I was doing everything I could not to moan into the phone. All I could feel was his heated breath.
“Mmm-hmm.” I tossed the phone on the floor. I didn’t even bother to ask Mary Ellen when her flight landed. My head rocked back and my hips started to follow Cole’s lead. “What are you doing? That was important.” I spoke through heavy breaths.
“I just wanted to say good morning,” he growled from under the covers.
Well, who was I to argue with that?
My car was packed with almost every accessory I owned. The girls were meeting at Sasha’s parents’ house to get ready. Sasha had hired a makeup artist and a hair stylist for all of us. I was excited about getting the royal treatment before the wedding, but I knew the whole thing just made Sasha more nervous. It meant more people fussing over her, more pictures, and more stress. I hoped Tara, Mindy, and I could try to keep her relaxed and calm. After all, it was her wedding day. It was supposed to be the happiest day of her life.
Cole was going to make the rounds at the Dunes then meet me at the ceremony. I hadn’t seen him this happy in weeks. I loved it. I loved him. For the first time, I felt like, regardless of the lawsuit, he and I were going to have a life together. I didn’t know if that life would include the Dune Scape, but we were going to be together every step of the way. I pointed the car toward the other end of the island.
The wedding ceremony was going to be performed at an island chapel, and then everyone would drive over to the oceanfront golf club for the reception. Sasha said there were more than three hundred guests. I was surprised she hadn’t broken out in hives by now.
I had to park on the side of the cul-de-sac. Her parents’ driveway was crammed with cars. I slung my overnight bag over my shoulder and lifted the blue dress, careful not to let the plastic drape across the ground. I sidestepped one of the florists as he ran past me with a box full of corsages and bouquets. This place was busier than graduation check-in at Wave Oasis.
I tapped on the door, but everyone was too busy scurrying around to notice me. I let myself in and marched to the back of the house where I thought I’d find Sasha surrounded by an entourage.
I was amazed that the house was so clean. There had been a massive party here last night. You would never know a trombone player had been standing on the coffee table hours ago.
I was surprised to see Sasha was alone. She sat facing a vanity. Her auburn hair was in loose curls around her shoulders, pinned on the side with exotic flowers. She looked almost ethereal the way her cheekbones glowed and her eyes lit up.
“Sasha, you look so beautiful.” I crossed the room.
There was something different about her, and it wasn’t the beautiful bride makeup or the way her hair was styled with delicate orchids. She was calm, as if in the midst of all this madness she had finally found a sort of sanctuary within herself.
“What do you think?” She stood and twirled in a small circle so I could get the full effect. It didn’t matter she was wearing a white robe monogrammed with the word bride over her heart; she looked ready to walk down the aisle.
“I think you look stunning. I can’t wait to see you with the dress.” I noticed it was hanging on the outside of the closet door.
“I feel like I’m walking through a dream or something today. This morning, my father broke down in tears over breakfast, and my mother keeps laughing hysterically for no reason. They have lost it.” She smiled. “But I’m ready to do this. I’ve never been more ready to be Cal’s wife.”
“Well I better get dressed, then.” I giggled.
“The stylists will be back any minute, and they can do your hair and makeup. How are you going to wear your hair?”
I hadn’t given it much thought, but now that I knew Sasha was wearing hers down, I thought I should go with some kind of up do. “Maybe a twist or a chignon?”
“Oh, a chignon would be pretty.” She crossed the room to her dress and stared at it.
“Do you want me to help you with it?” I offered, wondering where the rest of the crew was hiding.
She nodded. “Yes, I’m dying to put it on.”
I closed the bedroom door and turned the lock. Sasha tossed her robe on the bed, and I helped her step into the dress one foot at a time. I would never forgive myself if I pulled a single thread or left a trace of a smudge on the fabric. It was flawless.
She turned in front of the mirror. Sasha was the kind of girl who could pose in Bride Magazine. With the ivory dress against her olive skin and coffee-colored locks, she looked like she could pose on any page.
I felt the tiniest twinge of envy as she spun in a circle. Would that ever be me? Would I do this one day with the dress and the wedding? Did Cole want me to be his wife? I realized the envy I felt was because Sasha knew the answers to all those questions. Cal was waiting for her at the church, and there was a house full of people getting ready to support her marriage a hundred percent. She had certainty I was still trying to lock up.
My parents had been strangely ok when they got over the shock of Cole and me. Ryan came around. But a baby? A shotgun wedding? My heart started to race. What was I thinking?
“Knock knock.” I rushed to the door to let in a man with spiky blond hair. “Oh, girl, we need to do your hair.” He pointed to my head.
“Oh, ok.” I wasn’t sure if I should be offended.
“And look at you.” He beamed at Sasha. “Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous. Has your mother seen you yet?” He pushed my shoulders until I was sitting at the vanity, and he whipped up half my hair behind my ears.
“No, Anthony. She’ll just start laughing like a hyena or worse, bawling like my dad.”
