Tiffany watched as the two men stared each other down.
“Well, actually, since you asked. I’d love to spend some time with my wife here. Perhaps you can move along,” Colin’s tone was authoritative and possessive. Tiffany cringed as she heard him speak.
“Funny, she didn’t mention that. Maybe you shouldn’t be leaving such a pretty woman all alone.”
“Mate, it’s time to walk away now.”
The surfer rose from the sand and the men squared off. Tiffany held on to Pauly protectively as the two guys towered over her. The bulldog was growing agitated and starting to make low, growling noises.
“Colin, it’s fine. He was just curious about Pauly.” She wanted to defuse this before it came to blows, which Tiffany was worried was about to happen at any moment.
“I’m sure he was, Tiffany,” Colin answered swiftly.
“Hey, screw this,” he said to Colin. He looked down at Tiffany. “But I hope to see ya around.” The surfer winked at her before he turned and strutted away.
Colin stared in that direction for a moment, then he finally joined her on the sand. “You weren’t in the room when I got back.”
“Yeah, Mackenzie and Molly were tired. I figured the beach would be a nice place for Pauly and me to kill some time.”
Colin patted the dog, who seemed quite pleased to see him. “I just worry about you being by yourself.”
“What do you think I did before I met you?” Tiffany asked.
“Doesn’t matter. You’re my wife now and I want to protect you.”
“Colin, I’m a big girl. I can handle myself,” Tiffany said.
“Really? Didn’t quite look that way when I arrived a moment ago.”
Tiffany rolled her eyes and looked away. “He was asking about Pauly, then you showed up,” Tiffany explained. She didn’t want to admit to Colin that the surfer was sort of hitting on her, even though it had probably been fairly obvious.
“Yeah, looked like that’s all he was interested in.” Sarcasm oozed from his lips.
“Colin, stop. Nothing happened. Jeesh.”
“Would something have if I hadn’t shown up?” Colin questioned her.
“Are you serious?” Tiffany glared at him. “Have I ever given you any reason to doubt me?”
“You certainly weren’t telling him to take a hike,” Colin argued coolly. “You seemed a bit too cozy for my liking. All smiles.”
“Colin, just stop. I was being polite, nothing more.”
“How do you suppose it looked from my view?”
“I don’t know, like I was sitting here and doing nothing wrong?”
“You didn’t appear so innocent, my dear.”
Unbelievable. On one hand, Tiffany knew that Colin’s concerns were semi-valid and on the other, she hadn’t been ramming her tongue down that guy’s throat, either.
“Then you don’t know me too well, Colin,” Tiffany spat. She got up quickly, pausing briefly to brush the sand from her bottom, preparing to walk away.
“You know, maybe you’re right. How much do we really know about each other? Perhaps we do need to reevaluate this whole matter of being married.” Colin shook his head.
Tiffany felt like she’d just been sucker-punched. But why? Haven’t I been thinking the same thing for the last two days? Maybe she wouldn’t have actually gone through with breaking things off, but since Molly had woken her up to the seriousness of her situation she’d certainly been considering that she’d bitten off way more than she could chew with this ‘til death do us part’ marriage thing. She’d wanted to see how this trip went, then she planned to make up her mind. To have Colin not trust her and to hear those words leave his mouth broke her heart.
The honeymoon was officially over.
Chapter Eighteen
“Tiff, here. Drink this.” Mackenzie handed her a glass with an amber-liquid filled about halfway.
“Rum? Because if so, no thanks.”
“Whiskey,” Mackenzie answered.
“Well, in that case, thank you.” Tiffany accepted the glass and took a sip. She winced as it burned her throat. “This is super strong.”
“That’s kind of the point.” Mackenzie grabbed her own and took a sip, also wincing as she swallowed.
They were all in Mackenzie’s room. Molly was furious and Mackenzie was oddly peaceful. Then again, this could be just the calm before the storm. You just never knew with her these days. One moment she’d fly off the handle. The next, Mackenzie was all sunshine and rainbows.
“So, he wants to reconsider this whole marriage thing?” Molly asked as she fussed with the plastic top from the bottle of water she had been nursing. “How dare he?”
Tiffany had failed to share with her friends that she’d pretty much decided to do the same reconsidering thing when they’d left the boutique—the same shop where they’d ended up buying Molly’s dress for the wedding. Tiffany was tormented, but she knew above all else that she didn’t want to ruin Molly’s wedding. This was Molly’s time—her special moment—and this was no place to break that kind of news.
“Jealousy is such a nasty thing. Ugh, men.” Molly rolled her eyes in frustration. “He’s right. He doesn’t know you and too bad, because you’re friggin’ amazing, Tiff.” Molly gave Mackenzie a high-five.
Mackenzie laughed. “Tiff’s pretty awesome. But more importantly, she’s loyal. You weren’t flirting with that surfer, were you?” she joked.
“Nah, but I wasn’t being a bitch, either. Colin would have preferred that.” Tiffany explained, “He sat down and asked about Pauly. I was more concerned that maybe he was going to try and nab him. Colin has me so paranoid about that now. It’s just the way Colin acted like I was his property and that I couldn’t think for myself. It was kind of degrading.”
“See? That shit pisses me off. Tiffany survived long before she met him and she’ll continue to survive after him,” Molly added.
After him. So, this is it. The end. Gosh, we haven’t really started and it’s already over. That was quick.
“You know. Let’s just quit talking about it,” Tiffany said. “You’re getting married this weekend, Molly. This is a happy time. Let’s focus on that.”
“It’s kind of hard to when I’m worried about your marriage.”
“Don’t be. It’s not like it was a real one, anyway. Definitely not like yours. You guys fell in love and he asked you to be his wife. I didn’t get any of that.” Stinging, hot tears streamed down Tiffany’s cheeks.
“You’re right. You got Elvis and a drive-thru chapel,” Molly agreed. “That’s a rip off for someone like you that wants it all. Me? I would have loved to have gone that route.”
“But instead, you two get sand, sun and a gorgeous ceremony,” Tiffany countered and forced a smile.
Mackenzie yawned. “You know, guys. It’s been a long day and things will look better in the morning.”
Tiffany crawled into bed next to Molly. “You sure Owen is cool with you staying here with us?”
“Yes. He’s probably out getting drunk with your husband,” Molly teased.
“I’m really sorry about all this. You should be with Owen and enjoying this beautiful place, not babysitting me.”
“It’s fine. I promise. Owen understands how important you and Mac are to me. We’re sisters, and right now you need me. God knows that you’ve been there for me.” Molly tugged the blanket around her.
“I’ll always need you, Moll. And you too, Mac,” Tiffany called out to Mackenzie.
“Sure, yet, here I am alone in bed. Look who is snuggling with whom,” Mackenzie joked as she turned off the light.
As Tiffany closed her eyes, she could hear the ocean. Its steady song began to lull her to sleep.
* * * *
“I don’t think it gets any better than this.” Molly released a happy sigh.
They were seated in a row, their feet swimming in a bubbling bath of fizzy water, cucumber slices on their eyes and their hands being massaged.
Tiffany wished she were more enthusiastic about getting pampered. Normally this would be her thing, but today the heavy feelings leftover from yesterday were still clinging to her. She wanted to snap out of this mood and had been trying to fake it for most of the day. Tiffany managed to get through lunch without cracking. No tears were shed over her Caesar salad. But now she was exhausted from all the effort of trying to keep a happy face for Molly’s sake. Mackenzie knew that she had been struggling and tried to keep the conversation light anytime Molly tried to bring up the subject of Colin.
Today wasn’t the day to discuss any of it, nor was tomorrow—or hell, any time after that. Tiffany didn’t want to talk about Colin, but she knew that it was a topic that was unavoidable. But it can be avoided for now, right?
Plucking off the cucumbers Tiffany looked at her friends. Mackenzie and Molly looked about as comfy in their recliners as one could get. They were fully relishing this treatment. Tiffany sighed quietly. She envied them.
“Does it feel weird knowing that tomorrow you and that fisherman are getting hitched?” Mackenzie asked playfully.
“Yes and no. Like part of me is completely freaked out and wondering what in the hell I’m doing. Then there’s the lovey-dovey side that is so excited and can’t believe that he’s going to be all mine,” Molly answered. She wore a happy smile. Molly didn’t look like the same woman from a few months before. This one was softer and radiated joy.
“So, what is the game plan for tomorrow, exactly?” Tiffany asked. “Like, what time do we head to the beach for the ceremony? Hair, makeup and all that fun stuff before… Do we have an ETA for that?”
“See? Tiffany would be the total bridezilla, planning everything to the very second. Me? I’m just kind of taking a chill approach with this.” Molly sighed. “That’s why we are getting married here, no stress.”
“Best destination ever, by the way,” Mackenzie added. “Chill is good. Stress is bad.”
“Well, Thailand would’ve been amazing and that was one of our options, but it was too hard to coordinate on short notice. But you can’t beat Hawaii. It’s gorgeous. I’m happy and Owen’s happy,” Molly commented.
“We’re all happy,” Mackenzie added.
“So, you’re not the least bit stressed?” Tiffany asked.
“I wasn’t until that whole Colin and you incident that you refuse to discuss.” Molly threw her a frustrated glare.
“It wasn’t my fault,” Tiffany replied. She sat back and tried to enjoy the hand massage, but found herself more annoyed with being touched and pulled her hand away. “Sorry,” she apologized to the lady, who looked insulted.
“You guys getting hungry yet?” Molly asked. “It seems like I’m always hungry now.”
“You’re pregnant. Isn’t that what pregnant chicks do? Eat? And well…I guess throw up. Maybe that’s why they’re hungry all time,” Tiffany pondered out loud.
“So, are you starting to get any cravings yet?” Mackenzie asked with excitement. “Like pickles and ice cream or any of that nonsense?”
“Thankfully no. I just want to eat and sleep.”
“You’re making a human, so eating and sleeping about sums it up, I would imagine,” Tiffany agreed.
Molly giggled. “I’m probably making it seem far worse than what it actually is. I’m so barely pregnant. Talk to me when I’m almost due. I’m sure I’ll be utterly miserable by then.”
“Wouldn’t blame you if you were.” Mackenzie patted Molly’s arm. “Waddling around, eating everything in sight and being in a preggo coma, you poor girl.”
“Oh stop!” Molly rolled her eyes. “But I’m going in for an ultrasound next week. You guys wanna come?”
“Oh my God, yes!” Mackenzie squealed.
“Absolutely,” Tiffany replied happily. “Will we get to find out the gender?”
“Not from what I read online. That’s like closer to sixteen or twenty weeks. I can’t remember, but something along those lines. Owen is asking us to keep the gender a surprise.”
“No way. That’s no fun. It won’t only drive you crazy but us, too,” Mackenzie complained.
“What about Owen? I mean, will he care if we go to the ultrasound? This is kind of a special moment for you guys.” Tiffany wasn’t so sure she’d want to share this with anyone but the father of her baby, especially the first ultrasound.
“Oh, please. Owen is quite aware what he signed up for. You guys are a package deal. This is a big thing for all of us. Can you even believe I’m going to be a mom?”
“No, I’m barely wrapping my head around the fact that you are getting married tomorrow. But I’m so happy for you,” Mackenzie said. “Okay, and a little jealous.”
Funny, Tiffany would have been jealous a month earlier, but not now. Now, Tiffany was wishing more than ever that she could go back to when times were simpler, when hanging out with her besties was the highlight of her week. She’d even be willing to endure all those nights of them being single in Seattle. Tiffany would do anything to stave off this feeling of impending doom. She glanced at her cell phone—not a single message or missed call.
Maybe those nights of being single in Seattle aren’t a thing of the past.
* * * *
“You know, I’m just not feeling well tonight.”
“Tiff, come on. You have to deal with this,” Mackenzie urged. “The wedding is tomorrow and tonight is the dinner. Molly will want you there.”
“I’m sure she’ll understand. Besides, I have a bit of a headache,” Tiffany lied and Mackenzie saw through it.
“Yeah, a six foot two headache. More like a pain in the ass.”
Tiffany laughed. Mackenzie didn’t mince words and always told it like was. Sometimes it drove Tiffany nuts, but then there were times when she needed to hear it straight.
“Don’t let him ruin this for you. For us,” Mackenzie hissed angrily.
Tiffany nodded but wasn’t convinced.
“Look. Here’s an idea. Why don’t we make you look friggin’ fabulous, like super-hot and Colin can eat his dumb ole heart out?” she suggested.
Mackenzie was already dressed in a soft, coral-colored strapless dress and she looked incredible. Mackenzie brushed her blonde hair and continued, “That way he can see what he’s missing out on. Colin is such idiot. He could have been getting laid in one of the most beautiful places.”
“True. You have a point there.” Tiffany smiled. She was in a fetal position on one of the beds in Mackenzie’s room. She figured if she looked the part of being sick, maybe Mackenzie would buy it. Yep, not happening.
“Come on. Let’s get you dressed.”
“I’d rather not.”
“Too bad. You can’t sit in here and wallow. Your best friend needs you out there. Regardless of this whole stress-free act she’s trying to pull, you know Molly has to be freaking out,” Mackenzie argued as she tugged Tiffany from the bed. “I know either of us would be. How can she not be a little nervous?”
With her shoulders slumped, Tiffany looked at Mackenzie. “You know you suck, right?”
Mackenzie winked. “Some say better than others.”
Who is this new and improved Mac? The old Mackenzie was a prude. Now she was sassy, and if Tiffany didn’t feel like her heart was missing, she’d gobble up this fun Mackenzie. Maybe Tiffany cared more about Colin that she realized. But there was someone else she was missing, a lot.
Chapter Nineteen
Now this was Hawaii—or at least the one Tiffany had always pictured, thanks to the movies. There were torches flickering in the darkness, the roar of the ocean in the background and everyone—literally everyone—was wearing a lei. Mackenzie walked with Tiffany. She’d give anything to not have to endure this dinner. Tiffany avoided the cold stare coming from Colin, but she could feel it to her very core, freezing her. She looked to Mackenzie, who gave her a tender smile and squeezed her hand.
“It’ll be okay,�
� Mackenzie muttered under her breath.
Sure, it will be. The icy daggers that Colin were sending in her direction weren’t any cause for alarm. Everything is just peachy.
“There you guys are,” Molly greeted them happily. She rose from the table, adjusted her enormous lei and hugged them both.
The table was small and the seating choices were limited. Owen was seated next to Molly and across from Colin. There were two remaining seats—one right next to Colin. Tiffany paused, she didn’t know where to sit, but Mackenzie winked.
Mackenzie took the seat next to Colin, acting as a wall between them, which Tiffany appreciated.
“Hey, Colin, hope you don’t mind,” Mackenzie said in a rich and sarcastic tone.
He shook his head and sent Owen an annoyed look. It would appear that he wanted to be there as much as Tiffany did.
“We ordered already, but what about drinks? What are you guys in the mood for? Rum?”
Rum, yeah, right. That’s what had gotten her into this horrible mess to begin with.
“I think she’ll pass on the rum, Moll,” Mackenzie answered playfully.
The three of them laughed nervously. Owen looked confused and Colin turned his head away, pretending that something more interesting had caught his attention.
A server came by and Mackenzie and Tiffany order drinks that didn’t contain the evil ingredient. No, Mr. Captain Morgan, there will be no more shenanigans.
This was as awkward and just about as uncomfortable as Tiffany had imagined it would be.
Owen cleared his throat and raised his glass. “I just wanted to thank our dear friends for being here with us. Molly is my lighthouse in the dark, my heart and the love of my life. She’s given me so much, and our love continues to grow in ways I never imagined.” Owen paused and placed his hand on Molly’s flat stomach. “Here’s to love,” Owen toasted. His stormy-gray eyes were wet and he hastily wiped them. He bent over and kissed Molly full on the mouth.
Molly was not quick to let Owen go. Mackenzie sipped her drink and obviously drowned her emotions.
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