Episode 242
BAD MOON RISING
Sienna
I head back to join the others, with Emily following, just as Ariel says, “Hey you guys, where’s Jazz?”
I glance toward everyone who’s present.
Yeah, Jazz is definitely missing. The absence of her loud voice and raucous laugh certainly makes it quieter. Which is fine by me. Judging by Emily’s expression, I’m pretty sure she agrees.
“Come on,” I say to Emily. “Let’s check out that rum bar.”
We walk toward the bar, leaving the others to wonder about Jazz’s whereabouts. The last thing I want right now is to be caught up in another island drama.
The rum bar is a concoction of fiery spirits and tropical fruits. A bartender mixes drinks with flair as laughter and chit-chat fill the island air. I order a pineapple rum punch and Emily settles for a coconut mojito.
We take our drinks and move away from the crowd, finding solitude in a cluster of palm trees away from the beach party.
“Sienna,” Emily starts, her voice dropping to a murmur, “what are you going to do?”
I sigh and take a gulp of my drink. It burns down my throat but dulls my senses just enough. “What can I do?”
Emily looks at me with wide, understanding eyes. She takes a deep breath. “You could start by talking to them separately, lay it all out. Make sure you understand what Brett and Jake want.”
“And what if I don’t like what they have to say?”
Emily shrugs. “Then you walk away. You deserve someone who can give you his whole heart, Sienna. Not just a piece of it.”
I nod, staring into my drink. She’s right, of course. We’ve discussed this before. But the thought of losing Brett is like a punch to the gut and the idea of never sharing another kiss with Jake makes my heart pang.
“Look,” Emily says, placing her hand on my arm gently. “You don’t have to make any decisions tonight. This is a lot to process.”
A soft laugh escapes my lips as I look around the party—the twinkling fairy lights, the laughter and chatter from our friends, the tranquil sound of the waves in the background.
It all feels surreal.
“You’re right.” I take a sip of my drink. “Tonight is about Ariel. I shouldn’t let my mess overshadow her happiness.”
Emily nods and gives my arm a reassuring squeeze. “That’s the spirit.”
Easy for her to say. She’s got her man.
But just because my life’s in the toilet doesn’t mean Ariel and Emily can’t be happy.
We continue to chat about inconsequential things, avoiding the topic of Brett and Jake. It’s a welcome distraction from the roller coaster of emotions coursing through me.
As the night deepens and the stars twinkle overhead, June rises and grabs a champagne flute.
“Since Jazz seems to have disappeared,” she says, “I thought we could all toast Ariel.”
Emily and I look at each other, rolling our eyes. Some maid-of-honor Ariel’s bestie from down home turned out to be. Disappearing in the middle of the bachelorette party.
But Ariel is all smiles and laughter—happiness personified. She doesn’t seem to care that Jazz is missing. Her mom is here, Emily and I are here, as well as June, Heather, and Misty, who’s been on her good behavior since her brush with dehydration earlier.
She’s sitting alone while June raises her glass.
“To Ariel and Alex,” June says. “Whoever thought that our sweet little Southern belle would be the first to snag a billionaire?”
Is that a bit of snideness in her tone? I’m not sure. June is…
To be honest, I’m not sure what June is. But she’s toasting Ariel, who I like a lot, so I paste on my smile and clink my glass to Emily’s.
Then, without thinking, I walk over to Misty and clink my glass to hers. She offers me a weak smile.
“How are you feeling?” I ask.
“Physically? I’m much better. Thank you for asking.”
Physically? She’s kind of inviting me to ask what’s wrong. Should I? I already feel like complete crap myself.
What the hell? Misery loves company.
“And emotionally?” I ask slowly.
She sighs. “It’s nothing I can talk about.”
“I imagine finding out you have a brother is pretty daunting.”
“It is, but that’s not the problem. I’m thrilled that Jake is alive. I can’t wait to get to know him better.”
I warm at the mention of Jake. Our kiss.
It shouldn’t have happened, but it was a great kiss. One I can’t stop thinking about…
I motion Emily over to join us.
“You doing all right?” she asks Misty.
“Yeah. Thank you for asking.”
Same thing she said to me.
“So where do you think that little blond twinkie Jazz got off to?” Emily asks.
Misty shrugs. “I’m not sure. She was here earlier, right? I mean, I guess I didn’t notice.”
“How could you not?” Emily rolls her eyes. “She’s louder than a freight train in stilettos.”
Misty snorts. “Okay, fair. But she kind of blends in when she’s not trying to be centerstage. Like camouflage with glitter.”
Emily raises an eyebrow. “Well, she’s not blending now. She’s vanished. And you know what that means.”
Misty groans. “Drama?”
Emily grins. “Always.”
Funny. Misty is usually the one causing the drama. She definitely doesn’t seem like herself.
I take another sip of my drink, my mind drifting back to Brett and Jake.
“Hey.” Emily nudges me gently, pulling me from my thoughts. “Don’t stress about it too much. Everything will get sorted.”
I try to smile but I’m sure it looks as forced as it feels. “Yeah, you’re right.”
We turn toward June again, who’s clinking a spoon on her flute. “Hey, do any of you want to toast Ariel?”
Emily walks toward her. “I’d like to say something.”
“Great!” June waves her hands dramatically. “The floor is yours.”
Emily raises her glass and looks adoringly at Ariel. “Ariel, love, you were the first friend I made here on the island, and I feel like you’re my little sister. My little sister, I suppose, who was raised in Alabama instead of London.”
I laugh. Emily has a way of making things better.
“Anyhow,” Emily continues, “I wish you and Alex a lifetime of happiness and joy.”
I sniffle. I can’t help getting a little teary eyed. I’m truly happy for Ariel.
And completely devastated for myself.
But that goes on the back burner as of now.
Or maybe not…
Because just then I hear that ridiculous laugh of Jazz’s. And true to Emily’s hyperbole, she sounds exactly like a freight train in stilettos.
I turn, and there she is, naked as the day she was born, and in the arms of…
Oh my God.
In the arms of Brett.
I gulp.
“What is it?” Misty asks.
I paste my smile back on. “Nothing. Not a damned thing.”
Misty opens her mouth to say something, but June interrupts, keeping the others from focusing on Jazz and Brett.
Good.
“Okay, ladies!” June says jubilantly. “Now that we’ve feasted and drunk—and we’ve toasted our lady of honor—Evangeline, Heather, and I have a big surprise!”
“What?” Ariel asks.
“We’re heading back to the courtyard where we’ll join the men for a full moon ceremony!”
Misty looks at me. “What the fuck is she rattling on about?”
“An orgy,” I say. “She wants an orgy under the full”—I look up—“make that the crescent moon.”
“Uh…I’m not undressing in front of my brother.”
I don’t look behind me. Jazz and Brett are no doubt gone by now, anyway.
“You know,” I say, “when I got here, I was hellbent on having as many orgasms as I could. I did pretty well.”
“Did you?”
I nod. “And I’m thinking I might be looking for more of them tonight.”