15. Chapter 14
Ria
“Oh God, why did I drink so much last night?” I groan into my pillow.
“Because you’re in Vegas,” Grace chirps from her spot in my doorway. Why is she so spritely?
“I blame you and your shots.” I roll over slowly, regretting it instantly as my stomach rolls.
“I don’t think you can completely blame me.”
“I most definitely can.”
“Nope, you disappeared on me.” The mattress dips as Grace sits next to me.
“Babe, I can’t remember leaving you.”
“You said you were going for some air and then when I got the first photo from Leo of the two of you, I knew you were safe.”
“First photo?” I peek up at her as I turn my head to the side.
“Yep.”
“So I embarrassed myself?”
“I mean, there’s some stories there.”
“Great.” I sit up very slowly. “There’s photographic evidence?”
“Oh, yes.” She pats my leg, and the look she is giving me is worrying.
“Why do you have that look?”
“I’m just happy.”
“Happy that I’m dying from alcohol poisoning and there’s forever going to be evidence?”
“Something like that.”
I run my hand down my face, groaning. “Why are you being evasive?”
“I’m not.” She stands quickly, pulling me with her. “Now go shower; you smell like a foot.”
“Ugh, okay.” I stumble into the bathroom, grabbing hold of the basin to ground myself and stop my head from spinning.
Jesus, I’m on a detox today.
Opening my eyes, I frown as I take in the apparently new tattoo on my wrist.
Well done, Ria. Five-star effort for the ultimate bachelorette cliché. Of course I got a tattoo.
Inspecting it closer, I trace the lines of the small and delicate drawing of the joker card who is holding an ice hockey stick.
It’s beautiful. Wisps of various shades of blue are dotted throughout the tattoo.
I try to pull some memories from last night, but I have no recollection from after I left the club.
Continuing to trace the tattoo, my mind reels as I hate the thought of not being in control. But my heart stops and my mouth goes dry when I catch sight of the delicate white gold band on my ring finger.
“G-Grace,” I stutter. “Grace!” I shout louder when she doesn’t appear.
“Yes, my love,” she says smugly, sauntering into the bathroom.
“What is this?” I thrust my hand in her face, and she gives me a toothy grin.
“Why, that’s your wedding ring.”
“Why am I wearing a wedding ring, Grace?”
“Maybe because you went and got married and didn’t invite me. Which I’m very salty about and will be reminding you of for years to come.”
“You put this on me to mess with me?” I scream.
“Babe, if I wanted to mess with you, I’d have put a live pigeon in your room and watched you flap more than the bird.” She cackles.
“They are rats with wings.” I thrust my hands in the air as I pace the small bathroom. “The worst thing about living in London.”
“Or the funniest in my case. Girl, you are an actual boss babe and you crumble at a beady-eyed bird.”
“We’re getting off track.” I stop pacing and stand in front of her, my eyes wide, my hangover long forgotten. “Who the fuck did I marry, Grace?”
“Do you really not remember?” She actually looks shocked as she unfolds her arms and grabs my shoulders.
“Does this face look like the face of someone who remembers that she got married last night and to who?” I’m panicking now because fuck, this could be bad if I married a random person. They could now be entitled to half my family’s fortune.
“Babe, freshen up,” Grace coaxes. “Then I think we need to talk.”
I’ve had the quickest shower known to man and am now sitting on the couch in the living space in the suite, every pair of eyes on me as my mom passes me my phone.
“I think you need to see these. It should explain most of your questions.” I gingerly take the phone from her, and I’m hit with a pang of regret as she looks at me with kind eyes, but her sad smile hits me in the gut. She’s disappointed.
Fuck!
Unlocking my phone with shaky fingers, I tap on the messages in our joint bachelor and bachelorette group chat.
Ria - I’m heading to a bar with Leo. Don't wait up.
Grace - Make sure Chuckles looks after you.
Leo - I’ll look after her like the precious jewel she is.
Lily - Bit creepy Leo
Leo - My Ri Ri knows how precious I think she is
Ria - Back at you.
Hunter - You do know I’m in this chat right?
A few more messages are passed before I see the first photo, and it’s me and Leo in a country bar. I’m wearing a cowboy hat that reads “wear the hat, ride the cowboy” and I’m sitting on Leo’s lap, a huge smile on my face, and he’s grinning wide as he squishes his face to mine.
The next photo is of us at the tattoo parlor, and we’re both proudly showing our new ink.
Every photo that comes into the chat, I’m either on Leo’s knee or wrapped around him in some way or another.
And then we both sent a cryptic text.
Ria - About to do something very special
Leo - Something I’ve always wanted to do
I look up at Mom and the girls who are still silent as I scroll through my night.
“Keep going, sweetie.”
When the next photo appears, I almost drop my phone.
I have the goofiest smile on my face as Leo kisses my cheek while holding me in his arms, bridal style.
I’m clutching a bouquet of blue tulips and have a short veil draped haphazardly on the top of my head, and we both look like we don’t have a care in the world.
“I—I married Leo?”