Chapter Twenty-One
Amber
Five Days later
“Wake up bitch! It’s time for your bachelorette party!” Pippa is jumping on the end of my bed, a little too enthusiastically. Behind her, I can see Poppy and Mallory hanging in the doorway, both looking equally as exhausted as me.
Glancing at the clock, I cringe. Fuck, it’s eight in the morning.
“You can’t be serious? It’s only eight.”
“Dude, this is your day. I have every hour planned. First, we spa like our lives depend on it. You need some rest and relaxation after the week you’ve had,” she exclaims, shooting a pained look at Poppy, who hasn’t stopped beating herself up over Wesley’s arrest since it happened.
“After the spa, we’re getting you gussied up and prettified.
” She grins a little too wide. “Because what I have planned tonight is going to be fucking epic, and you’re going to need to look damn good. ”
“Why does that sound like you’re planning something nefarious?”
Poppy shrugs when my gaze darts her way. “She’s kept whatever she has planned hidden. I’m just as in the dark as you are,” she quickly adds.
“I didn’t want anyone to ruin this for you, Amber. So, come on. Drag that sweet behind out of bed and get ready. Tonight is your last night as a free woman.”
“Technically, I have a few more weeks.”
“Semantics. It’s still your bachelorette party. There was no other day I could have it.”
“This is psychological warfare, Pippa.” I try to hide my smile but I can’t help it, I’m actually kind of excited about tonight. In two more weeks, I’ll be married! “At least tell me why I’m having to get up this early on a Saturday?”
Pippa grins and pretends to zip her lip.
“It’s a surprise. Now come on, lazy butt; we got to make you look gorgeous for your big night.” Pippa smacks my ass as she jumps off the bed. “Twenty minutes is all you get. Now, get the fuck up and bring a bathing suit!”
In protest, I roll out of bed groaning. I honestly don’t care how I look. Me grabbing a pair of grubby sweats and a wrinkled T-shirt proves that. Lacing up my dirtiest tennis shoes and barely brushing my teeth only solidifies how tired I actually am. I want at least three more hours of sleep.
My slinkiest black bikini is sitting on my dresser along with the sexiest dress I own. A red number that’s all leg, and nothing but cleavage.
“Ugh, we should have booked an extra hour. She looks like shit,” Pippa chastises when I emerge from the bedroom.
I find one of the throw pillows on the couch and chuck it at her. “Say that to my face.”
“I thought I just did!” The pillow hits her hip, and she grunts like I threw a brick at her. “You’re getting better, but you still throw like a girl.” She laughs as I grab another pillow, missing her completely this time.
Poppy infiltrates our standoff, becoming an obstacle in my path. “Come on, you two, I’m ready for some rest and relaxation. I’ve been practicing meditation, and yoga. I’ve heard mud baths also help cleanse the body of sin.”
Pointing an angry finger toward Pippa, I shout, “You’re lucky she got in the way! I have an arsenal of flowery pillows with your name on it, bitch.”
Pippa grins and skips to the doorway.
“You act like I’m scared. Your aim is subpar at best, and you wouldn’t hurt a mosquito if it bit you on that big gigantic ass. Anyway, we should get going. They won’t keep our spots if we miss it.”
Mallory shoots me a scared look. She knows how shitty Pippa’s been to me lately, even expressed some concern the last time we worked together. I tried to tell her everything will be fine, but the second we step outside, a bad feeling sours my gut.
Something’s off. Something’s way off.
Pippa booked us a full day at an exclusive spa and salon.
Her father obviously paid for it, but I still feel a shitty for accepting such an extravagant gift.
As much as I wanted to decline it, a day at the spa was just too good to pass up.
After the week I’ve had, and finding out Eddie fucked a woman the day we broke up, I need some relaxation.
My mother, to my surprise, meets us at the spa, along with some girls from school I never really liked. They’re Pippa’s friends, and the way they whisper and stare daggers at me, while trying to paint on a fake smile, is aggravating.
“Why are they here?” I question, whispering to Pippa under my breath. “
“They are here to help you celebrate your last day being single! And your mom asked to come. I hope that’s okay?”
My mother’s eyes dart away when I look at her. She knows I don’t want her here. But like always, why would she miss a day of pampering? Especially, if someone else is footing the bill.
Reluctantly, I follow Pippa into the building, where she flounces in like she owns the place.
All eyes are on us as we walk up to the desk, maybe because Pippa’s friends are being a little too loud, or maybe it’s because I look like a homeless chick who just rolled out of a box sitting behind a gas station.
A cheery girl works the front desk, but I can see past the painted smile, and perfect rows of teeth. This girl is everything but cheery on the inside. “Welcome to Luxury Spa and Resort. My name is Everette, how can I help you?”
“We’re here to celebrate the ending of an era. One of us is getting married, her death sentence sealed.”
“Pippa,” I mutter before she cuts me off.
“Nice to see you again, Everette.” Everette’s overly nice to Pippa. They definitely know each other because the two chatter away as she gleefully takes Pippa’s credit card, swiping it eagerly as she pays for five spa packages.
“Thank you for having us,” I say, butting into their conversation. “I really appreciate it.”
The girl snubs me completely until Pippa says, “She’s the bride.”
She looks me up and down. “Yeah, she definitely needs a spa day. Maybe even a makeover.” She paints back on that fake smile.
“Thank you for choosing us for your pampering pleasure. Tula will be your guide for today, enjoy your stay.” She hands Pippa back her credit card and waves over a woman standing nearby with a clipboard.
Tula looks eerily similar to Everette. It’s kind of creepy.
Both have long brown hair, the same dead eyed stare in their grayish green eyes, and a smile that’s way too perfect.
It’s possible they’re robots because they even walk the same.
The two girls Pippa dragged along, snicker, before handing the girl their cards, paying for their own packages.
It’s only then that I remember their names.
Devony and Katie Lyn. The two biggest bitches of our senior class.
At least Pippa was nice enough to pay for my mom and Mallory.
Though the free spa day is probably the only reason, my mother showed up.
The entire place looks like a walking laboratory.
Every employee dons the same white smock with a silver filigree embossed on the pocket.
There aren’t any male employees that I can see, at least not up front, and all the women look the same.
It’s like the Stepford Wives made a home here.
Nothing but slicked back brown ponytails, and all fake smiles with perfect teeth.
Each of them has on minimal makeup that barely accentuates their perfect features.
It’s like there’s a code for people instead of clothing, because unless you are a female with long brown hair, plastic smiles, and shitty customer service skills, you can’t work here.
“Congratulations on the upcoming wedding. You booked the full package. To start off your day you’ll be relaxing in our exclusive clay bath, followed by a nice cleansing eucalyptus shower.
After that, we have massages booked for all of you, and some optional seaweed facial cleanses.
Lastly, we’ll be sending you to our salon where full makeovers have been booked.
You will love Raul. He is the best there is. ”
I shoot Pippa my famous ‘seriously-this-is-way-too-much-but-thank-you look’ and she nods in response before skipping after Tula.
“Which of you is the bride?” Tula asks over her shoulder.
I raise my hand.
She scans me up and down, grimacing when her eyes land on my sweats and T-shirt. It’s a relaxing day; I should have the right to relax in whatever clothes I want.
She glances over at Pippa, then whispers something in her ear.
Pippa nods, and gives me two thumbs up, whatever that means.
“Follow me,” Tula instructs as she leads us into a room that smells like moldy arm pits.
I almost have to fight back the urge to vomit.
“All spa guests are required to stay in the baths for exactly one hour. No more no less. You must wear a bathing suit for sanitary purposes, and I suggest not going underneath the clay.” She eyes me like I am some kind of heathen, rolling her eyes when I grin and hold up my two-piece bikini, letting her know I’m ready.
“Once out of the bath we ask that you carefully make your way to our eucalyptus shower. Allow the fresh scent of eucalyptus take you to another place as our hot water cleanses your body of any toxins that may have seeped out of your skin during the clay bath. After you’re clean, please put on these robes, but make sure to fully rinse your bodies of all clay before putting them on.
They are yours to keep after you are done as part of the package.
” She heads over to a cabinet and pulls out seven robes, handing one to each of us.
The fabric is the softest thing I’ve ever felt, and I find myself caressing it with my cheek, which makes her roll her eyes again.
“Dressing rooms are over there. When you are done here, I will take you to our massage parlor where the best masseuses in Reno will roll out those stress kinks and aches.”
“Thank you, Tula,” Pippa says sweetly.
Both Poppy and Mallory stay quiet until Tula makes her exit, both squealing in unison.
“This is so cool,” Mallory squeaks. She grabs her swimsuit and takes one of the first rooms. “I feel so rich right now.”