I blame James for everyone having a buzz. He bought rounds of beer the whole flight telling the flight attendants his little girl was getting married.
Raven didn’t bring her laptop but did sneak in her iPad. Her mom, Mrs. Black, and she went through every picture the photographer sent and approved the picture for the cover. I was forced to sit with Nate and my dad, James, Cooper, and Mike around us talking about the summer tour.
Jenna and James weren’t surprised that Raven was coming with us this summer. They were supportive of her managing us. But James and Mike signed a contract, and we had two guards going on tour with us.
We had two transport vans waiting for us when we got through baggage. I was glad Chris was one of the drivers. He was a great tour guide for our parents, and he also had no problem stopping at the store.
We went through the grocery picking up the things Raven wanted in our condo. I almost lost my shit when she tried to pay, but luckily she pulled out the card for our joint account. She’s finally getting it.
When we finally get to the Plantation, Jenna is going crazy. The bellhops help get the luggage of the people staying at the hotel and Laurie meets us with a huge box. Rave thanks her and I learn these are welcome gifts for our friends for their condos. She has already placed them in the rooms for hotel guests.
We have a three bedroom condo. Robbie, Ember, Kendall, Brian, Tripp, and Finn are staying with us. Tripp and Finn get the couches. It’s actually musical fucking rooms because Jenna insisted that Raven and I spend tomorrow night apart, so I have to sleep with my fucking band in their place.
The view from our condo is ocean front, and we are the only ones here so I take advantage and pull her to the balcony.
“You know how much I love you right?” I ask while kissing her neck.
“I think so.”
“You gonna marry me in two days?”
“Without a doubt.”
“You want to go downstairs and christen our room before your brother gets here in a few hours?”
“Yes.”
I lift her up and kiss her gently, but she pushes against me for more. By dick rages at her touch, but I want her in our bed. I start walking towards the door but stop when I see a very angry James staring through the sliding glass. My dad is behind him grinning widely.
“Fuck, our parents are here and your dad looks like he wants to kill me.”
She throws her head against my shoulder and laughs. “You better put me down. Looks like we’re hanging with the parents.”
For the next few hours, we tour the island. When we get back to the condo, Raven takes her mom and Mrs. Black for a walk on the beach to show them the mansion she saw last time we were here. My guys were at the pool, so Dad, James and I joined them and drank beer. Raven picked up some food to throw on the grill tonight since it was too confusing to try and go out to dinner.
The rest of our friends arrive after six, and I see Robbie holding Ember’s hand when they walk in. I try not to smirk, but he’s got it bad. Coming from me, who is as pussy-whipped as they come, I notice the signs. She chooses the room with twin beds, and I watch him sigh but place their bags in the room. When he catches my eye, I smile letting him know he’s not fooling me.
Dinner is simple, and we sit around eating and making plans for tomorrow. Raven’s mom made a spa appointment for all the bridesmaids and included Ember. The guys are going to the beach. I’m trying to figure out how to get Raven out of here when I catch the tail end of Harper’s conversation.
“What was that?” I ask her.
“We were talking about tonight. We’re taking Raven into town to a bar tonight. We didn’t have a chance to do a Bachelorette party yet.” Harper answers.
Hell No! I’m about to verbally squash this idea when Robbie speaks up.
“Yeah, man, I think that’s a good idea. We’ll hang here.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he cuts his eyes back and forth so I know he has a plan. “Okay, that’s cool.” Everyone looks at me strangely because they expected me to argue. But I’m trusting Robbie. I shrug and drink my beer trying to act normal.
We clean our mess, and everyone goes their separate ways. We say goodnight to all the parents. The girls all go to get ready, and I hang back with the guys.
“Robbie, you better have a plan because there is no fucking way I want Raven out tonight without me doing god knows what.”
“Hell yeah, I have a plan. Play it cool until they leave. Then we’ll be thirty minutes behind them. Finn and I can trace Raven’s phone to where they are. No fucking way those girls are out on the town in a strange city. Fuck, it’s bad enough Ember specifically chose a room with two beds, but no way her ass is out with that crew again without me.”
“Sweet and wholesome man, I told you.”
“Shut the fuck up.” He laughs but gives me a small smile.
We sit around for another hour shooting the shit until Finn whistles beside me.
“Dec, before you lose your shit, remember we have a plan. Don’t fucking go crazy.”
I turn around and spit out the beer in my mouth. Raven and the girls are walking towards us looking like a fucking wet dream. All of them, even Charlie, look like models. Every one of them has on a skimpy dress and sky high heels.
“Lookin’ good ladies. Want an escort?” Nate asks.
“No, thanks, we just wanted to say goodbye and tell y’all not to wait up for us.” Kendall tells us as she walks up to Brian and gives him a kiss.
Gabe snatches Harper’s hands and pulls her over to the side fuming. Raven comes to me and gives me a short kiss and then turns back to her friends. If I didn’t know that we’d be half an hour behind them, I would drag her upstairs and show her exactly what I think of her outfit.
When they finally leave, I jump up and head to our condo. The guys follow behind me. When we get inside, I almost cry. On the dining room table are seven cell phones lying there with a note.
‘Didn’t fool us.’
Robbie and Gabe are cussing as I have an idea. I’m pretty sure one of the plantation drivers took them to wherever they’re going, and I hope it’s Chris. I call down to the hotel and ask for him. The receptionist tells me he is out but will give him the message to call me. I run downstairs and change while waiting for his call. When I get back upstairs Robbie, Brian, Finn and Tripp are waiting for me.
“What do we do now?” Tripp asks not hiding his amusement.
“We hope Chris was their driver. He’ll call me back and take us to them. If not, I will personally go to the hotel and ask every driver who took them and then we leave.”
The other guys walk in and the phone rings. Chris tells me he didn’t pick them up, but he’ll ask around and come get us.
We pile into the van, and Chris tells us he couldn’t find out where they were dropped off. He has an idea of a few places in town we can search. I know we have found them when Tripp comes out of the bar smiling like an idiot.
“You guys won’t believe this. The girls are in there, and they’re shitfaced. The bouncer said they’ve been drinking the signature punch and a lot of it.”
“Let’s go.” I jump out of the van, and the rest of the guys follow. Stacks of plastic cups line the table where Ella and Harper are sitting. The rest of the girls are on the dance floor. Instead of walking up to them, we all stand back against the wall and watch them dance for a few minutes.
Raven has a sash across her body that reads ‘bride to be’ and some sort of necklace that is glowing. She looks up, and when her eyes lock onto mine she smiles widely. I push off the wall and go to her. Abbi jumps into Jimi’s arms, and I cringe. I’m starting to see why Robbie always threatens me around Raven.
We pull several more tables together to fit all of us. A waitress brings the girls another round of that punch shit, and I order a beer. I take a seat and pat my leg for Raven to sit with me. When she lands on me, I can smell the liquor from her drink.
“Careful babe, you’re gonna feel lik
e shit tomorrow.”
“I know but these are soooo good. Try it.” She points her straw at me, and I almost drink from it when I see what it is.
“Is that a dick?”
“Well, not a real one. It’s a straw shaped like a penis. The girls picked up some party items for tonight.”
“They make straws shaped like cocks?” I ask in disbelief and take a sip of the drink for the side of the cup.
“Yes! And all sorts of other things too. Harper liked these best.”
“While I find that disturbing and hot at the same time, let’s talk about the stunt you pulled tonight.”
“Nothing to talk about. You think I didn’t see right through you and Robbie. I don’t like to think about his love life, but it’s obvious he’s crazy about Ember. And we all know how possessive you are of me. When y’all didn’t argue about us coming out, I knew something was up.”
“Yeah, but it wasn’t smart coming out in a strange town without a cell phone. What would you do if anything happened?”
“Honey, we had a cell phone. Harper snatched Gabe’s when he hugged her goodbye.”
I can’t help but laugh. We were played. “You know it took me over an hour to find you. I think you may need to make that up to me later.” I kiss her neck softly and watch goose bumps rise and her arms.
“Put me down! No, Gabe, I’m serious!” Harper’s yells break me away from Raven’s neck. Gabe has her thrown over his shoulder and is stalking towards a back hall and bathrooms, I assume.
“I guess he found out she stole his phone. Maybe I should go back there.” She starts to get out of my lap, but I hold her in place.
“Nah, I think they can work this out. You’re fine right where you are.”
“Are you sucking on a dick?” Cooper asks Kendall across the table.
“Technically it’s a straw.” she slurs back.
The look on his face is priceless. Raven and the other girls burst into laughter, and she shakes against me.
“Fuck, that’s hot.”
The girls look at each other and raise their drinks to their mouths. Robbie’s face is so red I’m worried he may have a stroke. When Raven’s drink is close to her lips, I snatch the straw and throw it across the table.
She tries to act shocked but can’t hold a serious face and starts giggling. Gabe and Harper come back to the table, and he holds her close. Raven gets up to dance and pulls my sisters’ with her. Will and Jimi sit next to me, and I tell them about Harper stealing Gabe’s phone. Jimi gives him shit about it, which we all find funny.
Several hours and drinks later, we finally leave. Chris and another driver have come back to pick us up. I cradle Raven’s body against mine and listen to her breathing even out. Even with all the noise going on around us, Raven passes out against my chest.
The next morning I hear her groaning into the pillow. I get the aspirin and water I set to the side.
“What time is it?” she croaks as she takes the medicine out of my hand.
“Just after eight.”
“Thank God, I have three hours until I have to get up and meet my mom.”
“Come here baby,” I open my arms and she crawls over to me.
“Dec, I’m sorry but I can’t fool around right now.”
“I know, I only want to hold you. Go back to sleep.”
“Will you sing to me? Anything you want, but it’ll help me go back to sleep.”
I sing softly and rub circles on her back until I know she’s asleep again. While she sleeps against me, I think of the words I’m going to say on the beach tomorrow. There’s a good chance I’ll get my mancard revoked, but maybe she will finally understand how much I love her.
Chapter 48
To the Ends of the Earth
Raven
Spa day is awesome! My mom knows right away we were all hung-over so she
orders food, and we eat between treatments. By the time we are done, I feel like a new woman. We head back to the condos to get ready for the rehearsal.
Declan and the rest of the guys are still at the beach so I text him that I will be taking a shower. I know this would get his attention. Since I was too hungover this morning to do anything, I figure he wants some time alone with me this afternoon. Right as I step in the shower, the bathroom door opens behind me. When I see him, I immediately lick my lips. He’s wearing black swim trunks and nothing else. His chest is glistening with sweat, and it makes me want to lick the tattoo across his upper body. Apparently he likes what he sees too because he is stripped and in the shower with me in less than five seconds.
“Hi,” I say softly against his neck as he kisses my shoulder.
“Hey babe, you have a nice day?”
“Yes, but I have a feeling it’s about to get better.”
“You’re right. First I’m gonna taste you then I’m gonna wash you. Once you’re clean, I’m taking you back to that bed and fucking you.”
“We have to be quick and quiet.”
“Quiet yes, but I don’t plan on being quick.”
I don’t argue with him because he places kisses down my body and lowers himself as he goes. He does everything he promised, and we still make it to the rehearsal on time.
When we walk through the hotel, most of our crew is already at the outdoor bar waiting on us. I spot Finn first, and his eyes rake over me before he smiles. He was running this morning when I left for the spa, so I hadn’t seen him yet today. Last night he danced with us a little bit but mostly hung at the table drinking beer with Jimi and Tripp.
Jay and Mike arrived sometime midday, and they were talking to David. Even though Laurie only needed the wedding party, it looks like everyone’s here. We didn’t choose a best man or maid of honor. Neither of us wanted to make that decision.
Laurie gathers the Groomsmen and Bridesmaids to figure out their order based on height. Then she walks us down to the beach where the ceremony is scheduled to take place. She explains where the chairs will be set up, and since our group is so small, she tells everyone to sit where they want. We’re not splitting up the sides. We meet the man officiating the ceremony and give him our wedding license.
Laurie wants to show us the room where the girls will be getting ready, so we follow her while the guys stay behind to wait for the actual rehearsal. The room is already set-up for us tomorrow and my dress is hanging in the corner.
My dad joins us, and we follow Laurie back down to the beach. Declan isn’t at the end of the aisle where I would assume he needs to be, but my dad tells Laurie to go ahead and start, we can practice a few times. When it’s time for my dad and I to walk, Declan still hasn’t appeared. Nate is standing in his place. I look around, and all the guys including Jay and Mike are grinning.
“What did y’all do?” I whisper to my dad. He shakes his head and put my hand in Nate’s as if he’s the groom. The officiate starts talking about the next steps when there’s shouting behind us.
Declan is running towards us screaming profanities. As soon as he reaches us, his face is red and fuming. Every single male in our group starts laughing, including David and my dad.
“Which one of you fuckers did it?”
No one speaks.
“Who!” Declan screams at no one in particular.
I step towards him, and he grabs me possessively. “Dec, honey, why are you shouting?”
“Because one of these douchebags locked me in the bathroom. I’ve been trying to get out for fifteen minutes.”
My mom snickers and Laurie tries to hide her smile. Even though Declan has my body, Nate still has my hand. My dad is standing beside us, and the officiate is looking at us all like we’re crazy.
“Nate, let go of Raven’s hand.”
“It was one of the best things in my life watching Raven coming down the aisle towards me. I will gladly take an ass kicking for that.” Nate goads him.
I pull my hand back and can’t hold in my amusement anymore. I giggle into Declan’s throat remembering his expression as
he ran towards us. “Baby, it was a joke. I bet no one will ever tell you who locked that door. From the looks of things, it could have even been your dad.” I tell him trying to calm him down. “How did you get out?”
He looks at Laurie, “You have a small mess in the bathroom next to the pool.”
She nods her head and uses her phone to send a message to someone. Then she comes over and explains the rest of the ceremony, and we go through it several times making sure no one has any questions. We go over alternate plans in case we have to move the wedding into the ballroom because of rain.
When we get to the restaurant for our rehearsal dinner, they have given us the entire back half. David is over the top happy with this place. Our photographer floats around the entire night taking candid shots. Several patrons try to come outside, but management stops them. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice a few girls about my age taking pictures with their camera phones, and I wave to them to let them know they’re busted.
I make a point to tell Jay and Mike because if they figure out who we are, I’m pretty sure it will be on the internet soon. Declan doesn’t leave my side all night and shields me every time Nate tries to talk to me. Even when we sit down for dinner, Declan chooses the table with our parents. He still isn’t over their little prank.
Max arrives while we are going through the buffet and greets us briefly. Everything goes exceptional until David gets up and starts the speeches. I’m a blubbering mess after he and my dad speak. Both say sweet things about us as children and the people we have turned out to be today.
Robbie talks a bit about how proud he is of me and the depth of our brother sister relationship going beyond just family. He calls me his best friend and you can hear sniffles around the room. I practically tackle him in a hug and see Ember wiping her eyes next to him.
I’m relieved to see Harper stand up, and she states she’s speaking for all my girlfriends. Nate does the same thing for Sayge. When he is done, Declan gives him a hug and pinches his side so hard Nate hisses. He looks at me and winks and mouths ‘it was worth it.’
My hearts starts beating in my throat when Finn stands up to talk.
Surviving Page 34
