AllFreeNovel
Share Us
They sit on the couch and I return to my seat on Holden’s lap. He taps a beat on my thighs as we listen to Skylar gush about their honeymoon. They went on a cruise that sailed through the Caribbean. They stopped in Saint Thomas, Saint Lucia, and the Bahamas. They also spent a few days in Puerto Rico before and after the cruise. When they first told me their plans, I thought they were crazy to do it in the summer, but they look like they had the time of their lives.
Bree and I both become envious as we see how great Sky’s new license photo came out. With the tan from the honeymoon, and the happiness that radiates off her– it’s perfect. I look at the name and smile.
Skylar Valerie Leadley.
“Aw. You’re Mrs. Leadley.”
She cringes. “Yuck, don’t call me that. It makes me sound like I’m 45 or something.”
“I mean, you’re married so you may as well be.”
“Watch it. You’re next.”
Holden hums contently and squeezes my thigh. “Mrs. Rivers. I like the sound of that.”
I bite my lip. “Me too.”
Jo and Bree both pretend to gag. Caleb laughs at them before looking at me. “You ruined my best friend.”
“I thought I was your best friend.” Jason mocks offense.
He waves him off dismissively. “You’re both my best friends.”
“Wait.” I interrupt. “How did I ruin him?”
“He used to be the perfect wingman. Now he’s all settled down and mushy.”
Holden barks out a laugh. “Bro, it’s not being a wingman when I throw the girls I don’t want at you.”
Caleb chuckles and shrugs. “Eh. It got me laid.”
THE EIGHT OF US sit around the living room, drinking beer and talking about our summers. Classes start back up tomorrow, and we’re all dreading it. Jason and Caleb will be working toward their Masters, while the rest of us – sans Holden – are starting our junior year. I, however, am skipping class so I can spend the day with my fiancé before he leaves on Wednesday.
A couple hours into the night, Holden nudges me. Being as close as we are, I know exactly what he’s trying to say. I nod and sit up, looking at all our friends and smiling.
“We didn’t just invite you all here to hang out.” I confess.
Jason eyes us curiously. “You know I love you both, but I don’t think any of us are interested in an orgy.”
“Dude, gross.” Holden replies. “My sister’s here.”
I roll my eyes and chuckle. “We set a wedding date.”
“Really?!” The girls yell excitedly. “When?!”
“April 11th.” Holden answers, still happy I agreed to that.
Skylar’s eyebrows furrow. “Um, you mean next April, right?”
“Nope, this one.”
Her eyes widen and she laughs, looking at me. “Good luck with that, babes.”
“Well,” I begin. “I was hoping I’ll have help. We would like all of you to be in the wedding as our bridesmaids and groomsmen.”
Each one of them lights up, accepting immediately and standing to hug Holden and I. Dawson looks somewhat surprised that he’s included as well, but happy all the same. Once we sit back down, we start to talk about what we’re thinking for the wedding. When it comes out that the only thing I have planned is who’s in the wedding, Skylar rolls her eyes.
“Oh, honey. We have a lot of work to do.”
