“You terrify me and I love you.” I sigh and lean back in my chair. “You know the worst part of this?”
“That he’s unfortunately super easy on the eyes?”
I roll my eyes like that’s not true, even though it is. But it’s not the worst. “I feel like I’ve missed all of my fun years and it’s too late to start now because it’s too ingrained in me to be agood girl.”
She doesn’t answer right away.
“I have, haven’t I?” I glance at her, knowing if anyone else were studying me that closely, I’d be super uncomfortable. But Sabrina, Emma, and I have been through too much together for her to intentionally hurt me with the truth. “I’ve put so much effort into doing the right thing and being the right person that I’ve missed out on so many opportunities to have fun.”
“How drunk are you?”
I lift my glass, which is still half full, and not merely because Theo splashed more water into it.
“Good. C’mon. We’re going shopping.”
I look back at the pool.
Theo’s Uncle Owen isn’t around, so there’s little chance he’ll goad Theo into another dare.
Claire’s approaching from the beach side with a few of her and Emma’s sorority sisters who are here for the wedding but notinthe wedding. She’lldefinitelystick around once she realizes Theo’s in the pool.
And I don’t say that because I think she wants to throw herself at him or introduce him to the rest of the women.
It’s more that I’m certain she knows Emma’s stressed over his behavior too. Claire’s always been great whenever I’ve seen her. I know she wants Emma to have a good wedding week too.
She’ll help.
“Where’s Chandler?” I ask Sabrina.
“Golfing. Again.”
“Emma?”
“Shopping with the moms. They all want souvenirs and to see the town a little. She’ll be back for dinner. Comeon. We’re going to get you some fun.”
“What kind of fun?”
“The kind that requires you to buy a brand-new bikini at the overpriced tourist store and go cannonball the hell out of the pool.”
My stomach freezes over.
And I know she knows it.
I scowl down at it myself. She’s right.
I should do it.
“Your parents aren’t here, Laney,” she says softly. “And you deserve to see what it feels like to have half the wedding party flirting with you when you show up in a bikini.”
She’s so full of crap.
Compared to her redheaded bombshellness and Emma’s bright glow in the world, I’m the frumpy, flat-bottomed mouse.
But I’m also the one who wants to break out. The one who wants to take more risks. The one who’s in a safe place with people who love me and trust me and who won’t let me do something stupid if I’ve had more of this mai tai than I think I have.
I glance at Theo, out there splashing away as he catches the eye of every single freaking person around the pool.
Then I look back at Sabrina. “Okay. Let’s do this.”
