Chapter 22
EVIE
"Would you get off your phone? We are supposed to be relaxing," Ellie said as she took her phone from her.
"Hey, give that back," Evie demanded, reaching for her phone.
"Nope, I don't do this often, but I'm pulling the bride card," she called out with a barely contained giggle holding the phone out of Evie's phone. In turn Evie easily snatched it right back.
"Girls, what is going on in here? This is supposed to be a calming day," their mother reprimanded.
Both bit back their smiles and tried to calm down. The other bridesmaids filtered in, and they all got into their fluffy robes and mimosas and started their day of pampering.
Evie took one last glance at her phone. She hadn't heard back from Cash yet. She really hoped golf was fine. At least the men in her family were a bit more chill than her mom.
"It looks like we are getting massages first," Ellie said with a big smile.
Evie's phone buzzed in her hand.
Cash - You didn't tell me your ex was going to be here today.
Evie moved to reply
Evie - Wha
That was all she got out before her phone was yanked out of her hands and put in a basket the spa worker took away.
"What the hell was that?" Evie snapped.
"I told you no phones!"
Then Ellie and the rest of the bridesmaids made their way out of the room, but Evie grabbed her mother's elbow, keeping her in the room. She squeaked with surprise, turning to Evie.
"Mother..." Evie turned to her mom with fire in her eyes. "Why is Bryan golfing with the wedding party?"
Her mother returned Evie's fire with an icy stare. "It's not just the wedding party. Cash isn't in the wedding party."
"You’re the one who invited him. I cannot believe you. Actually, I can..."
"Evelyn,” her mother cut in, “don't ruin your sister's day."
Evie shouldn’t be shocked that this was happening. Of course, this was happening. Her mother had never been good with boundaries, but it seems like ever since Evie decided she didn’t want this life, her mother decided she didn’t care about her boundaries. All of that had gotten so much worse planning this wedding. Evie could almost feel a storm brewing, but she didn’t know what to do about it.
"I’m not the one ruining her day. Why are you doing this?"
"Evelyn, I'm just trying to do what's best for you."
"I’m a grown woman. I have been for a long time now. I am perfectly capable of deciding who I date."
At that moment Ellie popped back in the doorway beaming at them. "Are you guys coming?"
If Evie didn’t love her sister so much, she might have shouted at her to leave them alone. Or maybe she would have just walked out and driven to the country club to rescue Cash. There were a million different scenarios running through her head. But she did love her sister. She did want her sister to have the day she had always dreamed of. Somehow, she managed to push all the anger she was feeling down and turned to her sister with a forced smile.
"Of course, we’re coming now," her mother said, stepping out into the hallway past Ellie.
"Is everything okay?"
"No."
"What did she do?" Ellie asked.
"She invited Bryan golfing. So, he is there with Cash. He told me right before you took my phone away."
Ellie just sighed and shook her head. "Of course, she did."
"Ellie, I'm going to kill her," she said quietly as they held back a little, letting the rest of the wedding party get ahead of them a bit.
"Not today you're not. There's nothing you can do about it now. If he can't put up with this bullshit, then he's not the one babe."
Evie just glared at her.
"This sucks, but I'm sure he can suffer through the golf game with them until we meet up with them later," Ellie said, trying to sound encouraging.
Evie sighed as Ellie pulled her out of their room and into the hall to go start the spa day. She could do this. She could get through the day with her mother. She only hoped that Cash would survive the day with the men in her family...and her ex.
After a day at the spa, Evie was feeling less than relaxed. Somewhere along the line her mother seemed to mellow, which was much needed, but she couldn't wait to get her phone back and check in with Cash.
"Thank you everyone for coming. It was such a good way to kick off this crazy week," Ellie said, pulling her bridesmaids into hugs. Evie was less than patiently waiting for her phone.
Finally, the basket came out and she quickly snatched it out.
"I'll see you at the restaurant at seven-thirty," Evie said as she quickly made her way out of the room. Maybe she should be more supportive of her sister, but her mother was making it difficult.
She pulled her phone looking to see if Cash had texted her back at all. Their tee time was hours ago...he had to be done right? But so far, the last text was the one telling her that Bryan was there.
Evie - I'm so sorry, my phone got confiscated in the name of tranquility. Are things okay there?
She waited for his reply but nothing, he was probably just finishing up. She got in her car and headed home to get ready for the night.