Say Yes

by Mellie George

  What Happens at a Bachelorette Party…

  Daisy had stayed the night with me in my bedroom that evening. We stayed up all night talking and had fallen asleep somewhere around dawn. I think Mama tried at some point to wake us up but was unsuccessful. After I had cried my eyes out and poured my heart out to her about Luke, she told me about what had happened with her and Jack. She said when he showed up after her shift with her favorite Christmas cookies and candy and the flowers, which turned out to be pink roses, something told her to give him a chance to state his case. He took her to dinner, and she said they had a nice time. They of course went back to his house afterwards but before things got intimate like usual, he politely stopped and told her that he wanted to slow things down. She was irritated, but understood that this was what he wanted. He said that when or if she was ready to commit to him, then his door was open. Despite my screwed up love life, I really, really hoped that Daisy would make the right choice and move forward with Jack.

  We both woke up around noon, and had big plans for the day. It was Friday, and Violet was getting married on Sunday, so we all had made an appointment to go get our hair done at Dazzle, the best beauty salon in town. Tonight was also our big bachelorette party at Brody’s, and it was just what Daisy and I needed to momentarily forget our screwed up love lives. After we both got out of bed and were dressed, we swung by Violet’s house and picked her up. Her school had already let out for Christmas break so it was lucky she didn’t have to miss work to be able to spend the day with us. Violet just had her blonde highlights touched up and her layers trimmed, keeping it pretty simple. Daisy had her short bob trimmed up again, but decided to get rid of her light brown highlights and went with a beautiful shade of chestnut brown which made her blue eyes pop. I was the one had decided to change my look up a little bit. I had always had regular plain brown hair and didn’t do much to it but wear it up in pony tails or buns, so I had the stylist freshen up my dark color on top but it blended into a lighter shade on the tips and she cut long bangs that swept to the side. Judging from the reactions I was getting from the other stylists, my sisters, and other customers there, the look was a good choice.

  It had been a great afternoon with my sisters. It was just what I needed to take my mind off Luke. I of course hadn’t heard from him at all since he stormed out of my house last night, so I was desperate to keep myself busy so I wouldn’t think about it. Once our hair appointment was over, and we had eaten an early dinner, we had about two hours to kill before the bachelorette party, and were all deciding what to do.

  “We could see a movie,” Violet suggested.

  “Nah, that’s boring. We could go get something pierced,” she joked. “I’ve been wanting to get my lip done for a while now.”

  “Daisy, come on. There’s gotta be something we can do to kill time.”

  A light bulb went off in my head. “You know what? I like Daisy’s idea.”

  Daisy smiled brightly and Violet’s eyes widened. “What? Lilly, are you serious? You want to get something pierced?”

  “No, not a piercing, but we should do something together, something that bonds us.”

  “I thought us being sisters and having the same biological parents was pretty bonding,” Violet said.

  “If you don’t want to, you don’t have to, Vi, but hear me out. What about a tattoo?”

  “A tattoo?” she asked nervously.

  “Yeah! Something small and hidden. Maybe a flower or a heart or a star or something.”

  Daisy was still smiling, and said, “I am so game for that! Come on, Vi, what do you say?”

  Violet seemed nervous and excited at the same time. “Well, I have always wanted a tattoo. Evan has a few, and they look so damn sexy on him.”

  “You don’t think Evan would freak out, do you?” I asked.

  “No, not at all. He actually thinks it would be hot.”

  “So, we doin’ this?” Daisy asked, looking like she was about to start jumping.

  She grinned. “Let’s do it!” she said, and we all ran out to my rental car and began the drive to the closest tattoo parlor.

  Luckily it was a slow night at Inked (the tattoo parlor we found that we liked), and two hours later, Violet, Daisy, and I were sporting matching pink heart tattoos on the top of our right feet. There were a couple of things we were thinking of doing, but the only thing we all agreed on was the heart, and I was glad for that. These two women were my heart, and the love I felt for the two of them made me keep going. We all decided on our feet so we when we look at them we know we’re not alone. They were perfect.

  Finally, it was time to head to Brody’s for the bachelorette party. We put a novelty sleeping mask with the words “Mrs. Sanderson” sewn on it so she would be surprised once we got inside. We pulled up to the bar and after I shut off the engine Daisy helped Violet out of the car.

  Laughing, Violet said, “Y’all, this is silly! I already know we are going to Brody’s. Why do you need to blindfold me?”

  “Because we have a little surprise for you inside,” I said, looking at Daisy. We both smiled at each other. On the way over, Daisy had gotten a text from Evan letting us know that he and his friends were there and ready to surprise everyone. We led her up to the doors and I knocked.

  Brooke came running over and unlocked the door. “Hey girls! We’ve been waitin’ for ya. Y’all ready to have fun?”

  “Oh yeah,” Daisy said.

  Violet shook her head and giggled. “Why am I nervous?”

  “Don’t be. Trust me, you’re in for a fun night,” I said. I stood her still and asked, “You ready to lose the blindfold?”

  She nodded. “Yes, definitely.”

  “All right then. On the count of three, you can take it off. Ready? One, two, three…”

  She took it off and immediately smiled brightly, breaking into a laugh. The place was packed with all of Violet’s friends from high school and college. Brooke had rearranged the tables around the stage where she usually had local bands play. Half of the tables were covered in hot pink table cloths, and the other half were black. Each table had gift baskets as the centerpieces, and they were filled with various naughty bachelorette novelties. There was a banquet table set up to the side of the stage filled with different types of food, and a small table to the right of the food was full of different kinds of alcohol. Laughing, she pulled Daisy and me into a group hug and said, “This is amazing, girls. Thank you!”

  Brooke handed me a silver tiara with fuzzy pink trim on it and I placed it on her head. “Oh, honey, we’re just getting started. You are going to have the time of your life tonight, Vi,” I said, and Daisy took our coats and hung them up.

  “First things first…let’s get you some alcohol,” Daisy said, leading Violet over to the drink table. “You need to be a little bit drunk for what we have planned.”

  Violet laughed nervously. “Oh no, what did you girls do?” she asked, looking at me.

  “You’ll see,” I said, winking at her. I quickly looked over to Brooke, who gave me a naughty smile. The guys must be ready to go on. I nodded at her, and she quickly walked backstage. I led her over to a table right in front of the stage. “Take a seat, our beloved bride to be.”

  She sat down, waving at all of her friends. “I’m gonna need a couple more drinks. I’m getting scared,” she laughed.

  “Don’t be scared, trust me, you’ll love this,” I said to her as Daisy brought a tray of shots to our table. We all took one and slammed it back. I coughed…Lord, Brooke made these strong. The curtain that was covering the stage ruffled, and I saw Daisy nod.

  “Okay, ladies, who’s ready to get this party started?” Daisy yelled, and the crowd cheered as she stood up from her seat and walked on the stage grabbing a microphone that was sitting on a stool. “On behalf of myself and my sister Lilly,” she began, “I want to thank y’all for coming out for Vi’s bachelorette party. We have an awesome night planned and we’re all so happy you could help us celebrate our b
aby sister’s last days as a single lady!” The whole bar erupted in cheers. “Before we get to tonight’s surprise entertainment, I just wanted to take a moment to say that I love my baby sister so, so much, and I am beyond happy for her that she’s marrying the man of her dreams on Sunday.” Violet blew a kiss to Daisy as everyone cheered again. “Now, we all know that Violet is marrying Evan, who is an amazingly brilliant doctor here in town. He’s tall, tan, and panty-bustingly gorgeous, this much is true.” Now the cheers had turned into cat calls. Violet was laughing hard. “But, while Lilly and I were discussing tonight’s festivities, it occurred to me…what if Vi was sick of getting it on with a doctor every night? What if, for one night only, she might want to have a fling with, say, a hot fireman?”

  Violet, in sudden realization, turned beet red and, still laughing, whispered in my ear, “Oh, no, Lilly…please tell me you didn’t get strippers!” I just grinned wickedly at her and turned back to Daisy.

  “Well, it just so happens that I found a fireman who is sexy as hell that was more than willing to put out your fire, little lady,” she said, and I couldn’t keep my laugh in any longer. The lights went out and a loud siren started to wail over the sound system. Daisy came back down from the stage and took her seat next to Violet, who was now covering her eyes with her hands. Loud music began to play, and I pulled her hands down from her face as the curtains started to rise and the house lights turned on above the stage. Then, right on cue with the music, the spotlight focused on Evan who was wearing nothing but the bottoms to a fireman’s uniform, big black boots, red suspenders, and a fire chief’s hat. Violet threw her head back laughing hysterically and clapped her hands together. His pants hung low right below his hips. He obviously worked out, because he had rock hard abs and was rocking some chiseled biceps. All of Violet’s friends were going crazy. I tossed back another shot and right when I set the glass down, I looked up and Luke was in the corner of the bar with Jack. They were both laughing and had their cell phones out, and it looked like they were recording the show. Oh no, I thought. This was just what I needed. He was trying to avoid me, but won’t give me a minutes peace…it’s like he was dangling himself in front of me. Why was he torturing me? Suddenly, my pain turned to full hatred when I saw some random woman walk over to him and start hardcore flirting. My face must have been burning red. His eyes were scanning the group and for a split second they landed on me. I scowled at him. Daisy looked at me with wide eyes, and even though I could tell she wanted to smile, she grabbed my hand across the table.

  “You gonna be okay?” she mouthed to me.

  I shook my head, and after tossing back two more shots, I told Violet I was going to go to the bathroom and got up and left the table. The sound of women yelling and cheering was making me nauseous. I just couldn’t watch some horny, drunk woman pawing all over him. I ran into the bathroom, my face burning with rage. I was beginning to feel those shots already. I grabbed a few paper towels and after wetting them I pressed them to my face. God this was humiliating. I had come back home to be a part of my sister’s wedding and relax with family, but I ended up falling head over heels in love with Luke, and it was making me act like a fool. And now, the man I loved who said not even twenty four hours before that he loved me too was out there probably being groped by one of Violet’s hot friends. I took a seat on the bench by the bathroom door and leaned my head back against the wall. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to go back out there.

  I didn’t realize how long I had been in the bathroom until Daisy popped in to check on me. “Hey, you all right? Everyone’s been wondering where you disappeared to,” she said, sitting next to me.

  I looked at her. “I just couldn’t go out there, Dais. Seeing that girl all over him...”

  She reached over and squeezed my hand. “Well he must not have been interested because right after you came in here she took a seat back at her table and has been giving him shitty looks all night. Don’t worry, his horse is still in the barn,” she joked. I rolled my eyes at her, and she said, “Hey, Lilly, I was just teasing. Come on, you can’t stay in here forever. Just go talk to him. I think he’s looking for you.”

  “He’s not looking, Dais. He’s had all day to contact me. If he wanted to talk to me he would have.”

  “Then forget about him. At least for tonight. You came here to be with your sister for her wedding, and she’s missing you out there, so let’s go. Come on,” she said, dragging me up off the bench. I took the beer she had in her hand and started gulping it down. If I was going to have to face him, I was going to do it stone ass drunk.

  Chapter 14

  No Going Back

  “Lilly, you are completely trashed, you can’t drive.” Daisy said.

  The room was spinning and everything looked like it was going to turn upside down. Rummaging in my bag for my keys, I slurred, “I’m not trashed. I’m fine.” I moved things around in my bag until I found the keys to my rental. “Aha! Found them! And now, if you’ll excuse me…”

  Luke came up behind me and grabbed the keys from my hands, and he tossed them to Daisy. I stumbled and almost fell. Suddenly I was upright again, and I felt something that felt white hot through my shirt at my side. “You all right to drive?” His voice sounded so far away.

  “Yeah, I only had two shots all night. I just don’t know how I’m gonna get her home and upstairs without Mama and Daddy waking up. They’d be so proud,” she snickered.

  “She can come stay with us,” Violet offered, but I put up my hands in protest.

  “Thanks, but no thanks. I’m really not in the mood to hear you two having sex in the next room while Violet’s screaming about how big your fire hose is,” I said, and Evan snickered while Violet blushed.

  I looked up at Luke, who I now realized had his arm around my side. His body was so warm that it made me shiver. “She can come home with me. I’ll get her sobered up and I’ll bring her back home tomorrow.” Of all the reasons to be going home with Luke after a night out, being drunk and him taking pity on me wasn’t the one I was hoping for.

  “You sure, Luke?” asked Daisy.

  “I’m sure. I’ll take care of her, I promise.” I took advantage of his closeness and snuggled into him. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled his scent and sighed. He smelled delectable. I felt him stiffen.

  “Okay, well, thanks then.” Daisy hugged me and said, “Call me in the morning, okay?”

  I nodded at her and said my goodbyes and apologies to Evan and Violet. I don’t remember saying goodbye to anyone else. The last thing I remember of the bar was Luke putting my coat on me and us walking out the door into the cold Georgia air.

  The next thing I knew, we were at the lake house. I opened my eyes and looked around. I was on the couch in front of the fireplace with a blanket around me. My shoes and coat were gone, and there was a glass of water, two pain relievers, and a mug of coffee on the table in front of me. I looked up and saw Luke standing in front of a picture window, looking outside, his arms crossed across his chest. I heard a clap of thunder…it must have started to rain while I was out. “Hey,” I said, my voice sore.

  “Hey,” he said curtly, not even looking my way.

  “How long was I out?”

  “About an hour.”

  I sat up on the couch and immediately popped the pain relievers in my mouth. I washed them down with water and put the glass back down. “Thanks for taking care of me, Luke. You didn’t have to.”

  “No problem,” he said angrily. Lightening lit up the sky outside, and a few seconds later a deep roll of thunder boomed loudly.

  “Geez, what’s your problem with me?” I said, and he turned his gaze to me. I stood up off the couch, wobbling slightly. His eyes narrowed at me and I decided to continue my rant. I had to get it off my chest while there was no place for him to escape. “I have done nothing to you to deserve the way you are treating me! You’re the one that’s been ignoring me…avoiding me like the fucking plague would be a more accurate descriptio
n. I have been losing my mind trying to get a hold of you and then, when I finally do, I invited you to dinner which you gladly agreed to come to. While you were there you are all complimentary and nice but then flipped a freaking switch when I wanted us to watch a movie. You were so cold to me and then out of nowhere you tell me you love me, but race out of my house before I can even say anything, then went straight back to ignoring me again. Now, on top of that, you have the nerve to be shitty to me and act all pissed off because I got drunk tonight. You want to know why I got drunk? Because I was trying to drown the pain you’re causing me! It is killing me that you are shutting me out and I can’t take it anymore, I just can’t!”

  “Lilly, I am sorry that you feel this way, but you need to just lie back down and get some rest before you say or do anything else that you can’t take back. This isn’t going to work out for us, trust me. It’s what’s best,” he said angrily.

  I sprinted over to him and pointing my finger at his chest. “Oh no you don’t! You do not get to decide what’s best for me!” I yelled. “Ever since I got back into this town I have been listening to everyone’s advice on how I should act around you so I wouldn’t lead you on, and I’m sick of it! I am not a god damned child! I don’t want to lie to myself about my feelings for you anymore. I am so tired of trying to make everyone else happy! Shouldn’t it matter what I think? What I want?”

  “And what is that, Lilly? I mean you are so wishy-washy all the time, and you have been sending out some pretty mixed signals. Do you even know what you want?” he asked.

  “Luke, I have known what I wanted since the night I came back. I’ve been dreaming about it almost every night.” I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing. “I want you, damn it!”

  I looked into his eyes, but they were unreadable. He had a damn good poker face. “You want me,” he said, disbelievingly.

  I walked closer to him and looked him square in the eye. I carefully reached my hands up and placed my hands on his cheeks and held on firm so he wouldn’t be able to look away. His jaw hardened. “Of course I do. I was afraid to admit it out loud because I am still scared about what to do when it comes time for me to leave. I know I have to go back, but the thought of being away from you again makes me not want to go. I can’t imagine not being near you, I feel like I won’t be able to breathe without you. And that terrifies me,” I admitted, speaking softly.