39. Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Addie
“ I ’m going to lay out some ground rules before this last day of girl fun begins,” Liv says. Apparently, the bossy maternal gene has awakened in her. “If I hear any of you bitches talk about banging my brothers, I will literally vomit. I am fighting for my life with this damn morning sickness, and I don’t need either of you making it worse. Capeesh?”
“Wow, you’re handling your pregnancy hormones so well. You’re so even-tempered,” Isla says. A bit daring, if you ask me. I know better than to mouth off to a pregnant woman full of rage.
“You’re lucky it’s your wedding week and you get a hall pass this week. It’s on like Donkey Kong the second you’re home from your honeymoon.” Liv shakes her index finger at Isla.
Isla pretends to hold herself and shakes her body. “I’m shaking in my boots.”
With a middle finger and a sharp tone, Liv replies, “I hate you.” She’s been extra zesty since becoming pregnant.
Putting my hands up between them, I faux referee. “OKAY. Back to our regular scheduled programming. We have massages and mimosas first thing, and for Liv, you have a massage and unfermented orange juice.” She rolls her eyes and gets off the bed.
We all met in Isla’s room this morning for breakfast and for some good quality girl time. I’m ready for one last day of my bestie not being tied to someone else for life.
“Next up, we have manis, pedis, and then after that, we can go crazy. I packed extra sunscreen. No tan lines for you today, missy. What would you like to do for your final day of fun?”
“She’s getting married, not going to prison. I promise you there will be plenty more days of fun.”
“Um, let me think,” she says, tapping her finger on her jaw. “How about just a pool day? I know it’s lame, but I don’t want to hike and get sore. And I don’t want to go too crazy and feel like shit on my wedding day.”
“You’re the captain here. Spa day, mimosas, and pool it is.”
“Oh my God, this massage feels amazing,” Liv says. She isn’t wrong.
We all lay face down on our massage chairs. Our masseuses work out the tension we’ve all built up. This little relaxing day really hit the spot.
“It does. Cal can never get into these muscles like this. Plus, every massage turns into a di—”
“Don’t even say it. Strictly prohibited,” Liv says. I have to bite back my laughter because the two of them have been bickering like they’ve been sisters their whole life all day.
Isla lets out a big sigh. “You’re such a party pooper. You’ve talked about yours and Tyler’s rendezvouses.”
“Tyler isn’t a blood relative to either of you.”
“Ugh, so many rules. So, Addie, when are you going to take the plunge?”
I’m genuinely confused by her question. Take what plunge? “What are you talking about?”
“Well, now that the world knows you and Sam are in love and have been hiding it for months, are you gonna get married?”
“You sound like my mother. We’ve only been dating a few months.” Though, the thought of being tied to him for life makes me smile a little. Someday.
“Cal told Tyler he thinks you guys will be endgame.”
“Gossiping about my love life? Now you all really sound like my mother. We are super happy, and life is good. Wherever it takes us will be wonderful. There’s no need to rush.”
“So, this means you’re staying in Maine, right?”
This is quickly becoming the least relaxing and most chatty massage I’ve ever been a part of.
“I think the first sign of that was me signing a year lease on my apartment. There’s nothing left for me in Colorado. I can visit my family and vice versa.” At this point, someone couldn’t pay me to move back to Colorado. I’ve made a life for myself out here. I love my job, I’ve made friends, and I met one hell of a guy.
“Oh, yeah. Duh,” Isla says, and I laugh a little.
Maybe if I don’t say anything back, this massage can return to being relaxing.
“Do you think you will move in together?”
Holy crap on a cracker. Can we play fifty questions when I’m not face down and getting a massage?
“Isla, remember that one time we booked a relaxing massage so we could be all Zen-like before your wedding? You are killing my Zen.”
“Well, sorry. It’s not my fault you kept me in the dark and now I have no answers. Even Liv knew about you guys.”
At this, I pick up my head and glare at the back of Liv’s head. “You told her I told you before I told her. Why?” I wait for an answer but am met with a soft snore instead. Well, at least someone is relaxed.
Isla’s laugh fills the room. “I’m just giving you shit. I’ll stop with the twenty questions now.”
“Thank you.”
“One last question—”
“Isla, I swear to all that is holy, if you do not let me enjoy this, I will swim back to Maine right fucking now.” The masseuse finally breaks the imaginary fourth wall and chuckles.
Her voice turns mocking. “Gosh, you don’t have to be a bitch about it.”
I don’t answer in hopes that I will be granted the peace and serenity I paid for.
We all gather by the pool, toes freshly painted and mostly relaxed from the massage.
“Why didn’t we just go sit by the beach? We can sit next to a pool in Maine,” Liv says, peering at us from under her sunglasses.
“I don’t want the sand to chip my polish,” Isla says, wiggling her French-tipped toes. I opted for hot pink and Liv chose turquoise.
“Okay, I’ve got an itch for a Mai Tai. Fair warning, only get one. They’re straight alcohol. I learned the hard way.” Getting to the bar, we all get a round of drinks, and Liv gets a nice, crisp seltzer water.
“Any big plans for after the wedding?”
“Besides thoroughly consummating the marriage? I should show you the lingerie I packed for the big day,” Isla says. Liv glares and I laugh. “What? It’s a common practice.” Isla clearly likes getting a rise out of Liv. Personally, I’m really enjoying life right now.
“I miss the days when you were thoroughly embarrassed by me knowing anything about your sex life.” Liv’s voice sneaks up behind us as we make our way back to the chairs.
“Well, that was before I knew how much fun it was to pick on you.”
Liv walks between Isla and I, hip-checking Isla right into the pool. The water splashes around her and all that’s left above water is her drink. At least she saved her Mai Tai.
Her head pops above water and she takes a big gulp of air. “What the fuck, Liv?”
“I’m going to be completely honest with you, you 100 percent deserved that,” I say, looking down at her. She’s been a menace all day.
Liv didn’t miss a beat and is already back at the chairs a few feet down from us. I pop down on the side of the pool, dipping my legs in. The sounds of splashing and laughter fill the silence as Isla comes to a full stand.
“Well, at least you took off your cover-up.” Isla, looking a bit like a drowned rat, glares and then laughs.
She swims up next to me, propping her elbows against the pool edge. “I think I might have poked the bear a few too many times.”
“Liv scares the shit out of me. I knew she would bite back at some point.” She is usually levelheaded, but pregnancy has made her a bit spicy. Personally, I love it. Her usual sarcasm is there, just with a bit more bite.
“She’s not typically that scary. Remind me to pray for Tyler extra during the next few months, He’s gonna need all the help he can get.”
“You ready for the big day? Any second thoughts?”
“Not a single one. He’s the best thing that ever happened to me. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life.” The conviction and happiness in her voice is hard to miss.
“I’m happy you’re getting your fairy-tale. You deserve it.” Seeing my best friend be loved well is one of the best things I can ask for.
“You deserve it, too. I’m proud of you for letting yourself have it. Turns out, Sam’s not so bad. And I like that he can meet you at your level of sass. It’s really amusing for me.” That’s high praise coming from her.
Kicking my feet in the water, I look over to her. “And here you thought I repelled long-term relationships and commitment.” Hearing her say positive things about Sam brings a smile to my face. It’ll take time to fully mend that bridge, but he’s off spending the day with his brother and Tyler. Per his last text, he sounds like he is enjoying himself.
She places a hand to her chest. “In my defense, you did. You were like 40-percent DEET and men were mosquitoes.”
“I guess I was just waiting for the right mosquito.” This is the weirdest analogy to ever exist, but I’m going with it.
“You know what’s really exciting? Maybe this time next year, we will be actual sisters.”
“Soul sisters are real sisters, bitch.” I kick the water and splash her. “And slow your roll there. We're in no rush to move along.” It’s taken me half a year to realize that not a single part of life is a race. And if I’m constantly running and rushing for the next thing, am I really enjoying where I am now?
Right now? I want to enjoy every second of loving Sam. And my job. And my new apartment. As it turns out, I don’t need a big, bad, new job, new last name, or new baby to love my life. I’m still glad for my minor mental breakdown at the beginning of the year. If all that hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here.
Well, I would technically be here, in Hawaii. But I wouldn’t be here and in love with Sam. So, I’m calling it a big win. The universe knew what it was doing all along.