Chapter 49
When Gabby suggested Seaside Pines for our trip, I couldn’t think of a better place to spend a few days with my girls.
It’s been years since I’ve been to the small coastal North Carolina town.
My family used to travel to Seaside Pines for beach trips when I was younger, but as we got older, we stopped going on our annual vacations.
“Hold your breath,” Gabby squeals from the front seat as we start the drive over the bridge connecting the island to the mainland. I laugh but take a big gulp of air and hold my breath, remembering my brother and I played the same game when we were growing up.
Ivory releases her breath in a rush from the driver’s seat.
“Oh my god. I can’t hold my breath that long.
” She and Preston just got back from their anniversary trip, but thankfully we were able to squeeze in a long weekend away before needing to be back in Nashville for the speed date competition with Landon next weekend.
Once we’re off the bridge on the island side, Gabby and I high five for making it all the way without giving up.
“You need to work on that breath play, Ives.” I smirk at her in the rearview mirror.
“We’re not all freaks like you, Tay.”
“Speak for yourself,” Gabby mutters.
“Has Chase tied you to anything new recently?” I ask, popping a gummy in my mouth.
Gabby blushes but looks over her shoulder and winks. “No, but he let me tie his wrists together last week.”
“Hell yeah, he did.”
Ivory drives down the quaint Main Street of Seaside Pines, and I roll my window down to watch as the mom and pop shops that have been staples in town for decades pass by.
The ice cream shop we used to spend time at looks a little worse for wear, but its faded pink awning reminds me of all the bike trips to get a waffle cone.
Hal’s Hardware Store still sits proudly on the corner.
There’s a cute coffee shop now that looks like it might be a bookstore too and rivals Jeni’s cafe in Nashville with its style.
“I can’t believe my family and Miller’s family used to vacation here and we never ran into each other,” I say as we pass the park.
“I know, that’s so strange. Wait, doesn’t Grant’s family own a hotel here? Did you guys meet here?”
“The Davenports do own the beach resort on the other end of the island, but I never met Grant there.”
I can’t remember if Josh met him here before college but feel like they might’ve been summer vacation friends. I loved seeing them together a couple weeks ago for my engagement.
“Do you think Grant’s family is here?” Ivory asks as we pass a sign for the resort.
“I’m not sure. I don’t talk to them, and we try to not speak about them. It’s been very contentious with his family since we first got together. I think two of his brothers kind of came around when he was in New York in September, but I don’t think I’ll be accepted into the fold anytime soon.”
“Their loss. You’re brilliant.” Ivory reaches back and pats my knee.
“Oh, I know. Can you believe they would willingly miss out on all of this?”
I may act like it doesn’t bother me, but there’s still some part of me that wishes his family weren’t assholes and we could move into this next phase of our marriage with their blessing.
The GPS directs us to take a turn towards Ocean Drive and Ivory signals taking the left.
We pull up to the gate of the beachfront house I rented for the weekend.
With Ivory’s celebrity status, I’m weary of staying anywhere without some form of protection, so even though the house isn’t massive like the one we stayed at in St. John, this one still comes with a locked gate and security cameras.
“What are the odds that the guys crash your bachelorette trip?” Gabby asks, taking in the two story house on stilts due to the potential for high surf and storms.
Ivory laughs, unbuckling her seatbelt. “One thousand percent. I’m surprised they’re not already here.”
“I figured they’d at least give us a day, maybe two. Why do you think I’ve booked a four-bedroom house?” I unbuckle my belt and open the car door to get out.
“Always thinking ahead.”
“Our little planner.”
“That’s me. Come on. We need to drop our bags and then my toes need to be in that sand and the water in the next ten minutes.”
We jump out of the car, grab our bags, and go up the stairs to the house. The common area and a bedroom are on the main floor and on the top floor are the remaining three bedrooms. Dropping our bags in the living room, we rush down the back stairs leading directly to the sand below.
“We’re not actually going in the water, right? Because it’s North Carolina in November and that water is cold!” Gabby calls after me.
“Oh, come on, don’t be a wimp.” I kick off my shoes on the bottom stair and dig my toes into the sand. It’s cool from the temperature outside, but invigorating. Walking to the water’s edge, I wait for the wave to roll in and the water to cover my feet.
“What should we do now?” Ivory asks, linking her arm with mine. Gabby joins on my other side, both leaning their heads to my shoulder.
“Wine night on the porch and a movie sounds perfect to me.” I take a deep breath and realize I’m finally right where I want to be, with my best girls, the man of my dreams and love of my life, and a career that I’ve built brick by brick.
This is the life I’ve always wanted.
After the perfect relaxing night to start our vacation, we’re ready to explore the town, but first, coffee. Pulling up to the coffee shop, Ivory parks and we pile out of the car in search of caffeine.
“Inject it into my veins,” I groan, opening the door.
“You’d think after getting a good night’s rest, we wouldn’t be so tired.” Gabby chuckles, stepping inside the shop.
“We’ve been on the go too much—it’s catching up to us.” Ivory yawns, looking up at the board over the counter.
My eyes rove over the cute shop. They have books set up in the corner and oversized chairs mixed among the smaller tables. A blonde sits in the corner on her laptop and something about her is familiar. She lifts her head as if she knows I’m staring and when her eyes meet mine, I piece it together.
“Chloe?” I ask, surprised to see the photographer from Ivory and Preston’s wedding.
“Taylor, wow all of you, hi,” She stands from the table when I reach her and I pull her into a hug.
Her arms stay firmly pressed against her sides like she’s not sure how to react to seeing us.
Our only connection to this woman is her online friendship with Miller that turned into a freelance gig for one weekend.
“What are you doing here?” Gabby steps up beside me.
“Just taking some photos. I love the beach.”
“Us too. We have another wedding in our future if you’re interested,” I tell her, hoping now that I’ve seen her that it will be possible to hire her for mine and Grant’s ceremony. I don’t have pictures from the first time except a selfie we took on the pier after.
“Yeah, maybe. You have my information.”
“Taylor, Gabby, what do you want to drink?” Ivory asks from the counter where she’s placing the order.
“Sorry, we’ll leave you alone. It was good to see you, and if you’re ever in Nashville, let me know.”
Chloe nods and sits back down. Gabby and I order, waiting for our coffee and pastries.
“Oh, look at that cute little bridal boutique.” Ivory points across the street to a white building with wedding gowns in the window. “Should we go in and look for a dress?”
“Seems like the perfect bachelorette trip activity to me,” I agree, picking up my coffee and taking a long sip. We leave the shop, nodding to Chloe on our way out, and she gives a shy smile and a wave.
Gabby crosses the street first and stops in front of the shop. “This place looks so familiar. It looks like the one in Nashville where we picked out Ivory’s dress.”
“Francesca’s bridal? Did she move?” Ivory looks to me like I have all the answers.
“No idea, let’s check it out.” I open the door and hold it for them.
“I mean just look at this place. It’s like the Nashville store was completely cloned and re-created for this boutique, but with a beach vibe,” Gabby says, spinning to take in the place.
There are racks of dresses along the perimeter.
In the back is a seating area in front of a pedestal and three way mirror.
A raven-haired woman steps out of the back room and stops in her tracks.
“Who’s getting married now?” Francesca asks with a bright smile.
“That would be me.” I raise my hand.
She claps and bounces on her toes. “Oh my gosh, the planner is now getting married. I love this so much. Are you here to pick out a dress?”
I shrug. “We’re here on vacation, but it’s technically my bachelorette trip so why not.”
“Let’s see what we have.” Francesca grabs my hand and guides me over to the couch by the mirror.
“Can we play the game again? The one where Ivory and I pick out dresses for you since we got to pick out Ivory’s dress together?” Gabby’s excitement is contagious, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the rest of the morning.
“I would love that.”
“Oh my gosh, that sounds so fun. Let’s definitely do that again.” Francesca rushes to the desk to get her egg timer and the girls get into position to race around the store and pick out three options for me to try on.
When Grant and I got married, I just wore a simple white dress, so being able to do all the firsts this time around means everything to me, and being able to do it with my girls is the icing on the cake.