Chapter 40
Chapter Forty
Rayna
Apollo told me he was going to take Yordan to handle some business with a few of his brothers, but I didn’t expect the house to be this quiet when I came downstairs.
It’s a regular week night, and I had only gone upstairs for a nap a few hours ago.
I woke up hungry and in the mood for company, but I’m not sure I’m going to find the latter.
Most of the lights on the main floor are off, which is odd for how early it is in the evening. I have to assume that everyone else had some sort of plans, because this is the first time I’ve walked into the Moretti common room without running into a single person.
Deciding that I’ll get something to eat and put on the TV to fill the silence, I flick on the living room light and nearly jump out of my skin as the room is brightened.
“Surprise!” Ana and Jade shout, jumping out from behind the couch with big grins and matching party blowers sticking out of their mouths. They both blow into the noisemakers, a sharp and bright horn sound coming from them.
A giant pink banner is hanging from the ceiling. “Happy Bachelorette Party!” is written in large silver script.
“Holy shit,” I choke out, clutching my chest. “How long have you two been waiting down there?”
“Oh, we only turned off the lights and hid once you started going down the stairs. We were decorating and setting up while you slept but I had the hallway camera send me an alert when you triggered it,” Ana explains, sounding proud of herself.
“That’s…creepily wholesome,” I tell them, swallowing as I take in the room around us. There’s pink everywhere. Candies and napkins, pillows and balloons, streamers, twinkly lights, and more. They’re even wearing matching pink pajamas, silky looking shorts and tank tops that look brand new.
Jade notices me looking at their outfits and positively beams. “We have a set for you too!” Almost diving across the couch, she grabs a bundle of satin fabric and holds it out to me eagerly. “Change into them if you want. We’re going to do a slumber party. Food, movies, games, and girl talk.”
“We figured that you wouldn’t want to go out and party,” Ana explains, nodding to the setting around us. “Jade and I like low-key stuff too, so we thought this could be fun. We kicked basically everyone out, but we’ve got guards watching. Ivan and Javi are upstairs, too.”
“But if you’re not into it, we can totally scrap it,” Jade rushes out. “No pressure, I promise.” Fingers crossed, she makes an X over her heart like it’s some kind of sacred vow.
Ana grins at her friend and then lifts a brow in my direction. “So, bride-to-be, what do you say?”
“This is the nicest thing…” I trail off, chest swelling with emotion. “I’ll get changed right now. What are we eating?”
“A woman after my own heart,” Ana replies, sounding charmed. “Dinner is a must, and we have plenty of options.”
“Pizza, wings, sliders, tacos, some pasta,” Jade lists, blurting out dish after dish. “Plenty of dessert, too.”
“My mouth is watering,” I admit sheepishly. “Do you guys care if I change right here? I could run upstairs—”
“Go ahead,” Jade insists. “Ana and I have literally seen each other fully naked, I promise your underwear won’t bother us in the few seconds it takes you to switch clothes.”
“Is it really a bachelorette party without partial nudity?” Ana adds in a quip. “It’s bad enough we opted to forgo the penis straws and cock-shaped cake. But with Apollo being your man, it seemed wrong to go the fun tacky route as his sisters.”
Jade shivers in disgust. “You can say that again.”
Feeling reassured by their responses, I start to quickly undress. “Speaking of nudity, there are no strippers coming, are there?”
“God no.” Jade bursts into a startled laugh. “Oh my gosh, could you imagine? The boys would lose their minds.”
“I’d probably lose my lunch,” Ana tacks on, looking almost sickened by the thought. “I don’t want to see any man’s junk other than Cassio’s.”
Pulling my new outfit into place, a new thought makes my stomach churn. “Are the guys having a party?” The idea of Apollo getting a face full of boobs at a bachelor party gives me the undeniable urge to throw up.
“If you consider fight night a party, then yes.” Jade giggles. “They’re being testosterone-fueled goobers and hitting each other for fun. You don’t have to worry about them getting up to no good. None of my brothers are fond of clubs.”
“No strippers for any of us,” Ana agrees, nodding happily. “Unless you want to watch a movie with them.”
A chuckle vibrates in my chest. “Let’s start with food.”
“Thank God,” Jade exclaims, clapping her hands together. “I’ve been dying to dive into the tacos for twenty minutes now!”
“You didn’t have to wait for me,” I tell her, almost feeling guilty for my nap. I couldn’t explain it, but I’d been getting tired more often in the late afternoon. I think sex with Apollo has been sucking up all my energy.
“Of course I did,” Jade disagrees in a happy cheer.
Shrugging, I follow the two of them into the kitchen, finding the counters bursting with delightful smelling food. My mouth drops open, taking in every inch. “Did you guys make all of this?”
“Fuck no,” Ana responds immediately, cracking up. “Trust me, you don’t want me to prepare food for you. Martha made some of it, and we ordered in the rest.”
“Make a plate, or two,” Jade instructs, passing me a pink plastic plate. “We’ll eat in the living room.”
All of us pick out a variety of food, and head back to the pretty pink party room they’ve created. We decide on a 90s Rom Com and dig in, all of us too ravenous to talk much. Everything tastes great, and in addition to the food warming my belly, a fuzzy feeling does too.
I feel spoiled and incredibly lucky. I wasn’t expecting this at all. With the wedding coming up in a week, Jade and Ana have been helping me plan, but a bachelorette party was never mentioned. Even when we went dress shopping this past weekend, we only discussed our typical topics, and the wedding.
Shopping for my dress was something like out of a fairytale, though.
Armani arranged for a shop to shut down for us, and assured me that whatever I picked out would be tailored in time for our needs.
He also arranged for all price tags to be hidden from me while we looked around, refusing to let me consider money as a factor.
I ended up finding a great gown, and Jade even shed tears when I had it on.
She and Ana were becoming staples in my life, and though it was overwhelming, I was selfish enough to enjoy how lovely they were to be around.
The only thing that could have made the day better, would be if Sienna got to be there.
It would be nice if she could be here now, too.
Sadness seeps in before I can stop it.
Jade’s sincere voice pulls me out of my wandering mind. “What’s wrong? Your face just changed.”
“Oh, sorry.” I clear my throat, shaking my head. “I’m fine.”
“What is it?” she prods softly, setting down her empty plate.
“I was just thinking about Sienna. I wish she didn’t have to be locked up for all of this. She would love it. She’d love you both too, you’re closer in age and she’s into a lot of the same things you guys are.”
“We can’t wait to meet her,” Ana tells me, lips barely containing a smile. “But would you settle for a scheduled video call tonight instead?”
My heart swells and breaks all at once, feeling wholly undeserving. Voice cracking, I ask, “You planned a call with her?”
They share a concerned look, and Jade looks like she wants to reach out and take my hand before thinking twice about it. “Are you okay? You look devastated, Rayna. Will the video call make missing her worse?”
“No, no,” I croak, head shaking. “It was so thoughtful of you guys to think of her. This party was so kind of you. But I just suddenly feel like a horrible person who doesn’t deserve your friendship.”
“What?” Jade asks, crestfallen. “Why would you say that? You’re not a horrible person, and I love being your friend!”
“What she said,” Ana adds, looking at me with a curious frown.
“I’m not good like you.” I give Jade a watery smile. “You’re both so considerate and welcoming to me and I haven’t done anything to deserve it. I’ve done terrible things, Jade. I’m not worthy of—I’m sorry, this is such a lovely evening, we don’t need to talk about this.”
“Awww, Rayna,” Jade responds sadly. “You can talk to us, we have absolutely no room to judge.”
“It’s true,” Ana agrees, her soft voice coming out clear and confident. “We’ve both been through some shit.”
“Done some shit too,” Jade adds, smiling in encouragement.
“I’m not sure any of it will make me feel less like an awful person.” I swallow thickly. “I wouldn’t want you to think negatively about me. I’m going to be married to Apollo for…well, ever and family dinners should be the least awkward we can manage.”
“I’m sure you think that,” Ana says hesitantly. “But trust me, I’ve likely done worse. Jade is a bit of an angel, I won’t lie. But me? I have no room to judge. No room at all.”
“Hey, I’m not totally innocent,” Jade grumbles, nudging her best friend. “I started seeing Dmitri in secret and got knocked up with twins at eighteen.”
My eyes widen, hearing the bold way she speaks about her very healthy marriage. I had no idea she started her relationship with Dmitri Morozov in secret, but it seems to have turned out perfectly for her. Dmitri is basically another Moretti, Ivan too.
And their children are treated like precious little beings, never to want for anything. So, while it sounds scandalous, it isn’t that bad.
“You’re in love,” I reason with a shrug. “That doesn’t seem that bad…”
“I slept with my stepbrother,” Ana tacks on, her lips twitching between a frown and a smile.
“With Killian Knight?” I gape, eyes wide. “Does Cassio know?”
Jade bursts into laughter, giggling hard while Ana fights a smile.
“No, not Killian. Cole, before he…We were together.”