“Oh, we do have one somewhat coed activity, too,” Siobhan added. “Low risk of personal injury, I think, though I make no promises because…well, you know. And I’m not going to tell you what it is, but just so you know to leave a time slot.”
It was a game Robin had suggested, but Siobhan hadn’tbeen sure how it would go over with people she hadn’t met. But she’d gotten to know the Kowalski family pretty well and they were exactly the right players, so she’d mentioned it to her counterpart, the best man. Wes had immediately been on board, but they were both a little out of their element as far as supplies, so they had to get Brian involved. When she’d explained it to him, he’d laughed and said they would absolutely make it happen.
“I’m intrigued,” Steph said, leaning forward. “Can we get a hint?”
“Nope.”
“When are we doing it?”
Siobhan laughed. “Not yet, since the guys aren’t even back yet. And based on the last time they went riding, they’ll probably need some time to clean up. So approximately…later. Brian will text me when they’re ready.”
“So Scrabble first, then,” Lisa said.
“More mimosas first,” Keri corrected. “Thenwe play Scrabble. I found a website that taught me lots of new naughty words and my spam ads have taken quite a turn, so I intend to win.”
* * *
“This is the most ridiculous thing we’ve ever done,” Danny grumbled before blowing out a breath that made the toilet paper hanging in his face quiver.
“You look radiant,” Rob said as he snapped photos as fast as his camera’s shutter could fire.
“Stop fidgeting,” Joey ordered, trying to get Danny’s veil fixed.
The toilet paper bride pageant had been Siobhan’s idea, but she didn’t exactly have to twist Brian’s arm to get him on board. Especially since the two of them, as the hosts of the pageant, were excluded from participation. Technically Wes should be hosting, as the best man and brother of the groom, but he was a quieter introvert type and he’d privately told Kyle and Brian that he’d have a much better time if the Kowalski brothers stepped in for leading the festivities.
Since Siobhan had come to Brian with this party game, he’d called dibs.
Several heated rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors had Kyle and Danny as brides for Team Groom. And Steph and Amber—sister-in-law of the groom—were representing Team Bride. The goal was to fashion wedding gown finery from toilet paper, and the most fashionable bride would win.
“Easy,” Rob cautioned Joey. “You’re going to rip it again.”
“Whose idea was one-ply?” Kyle asked. “If I was in charge, I would have sprung for two-ply.”
Danny snorted. “You can’t be in charge because you’re the groom. And we got one-ply because we needed a lot of it, and this was the cheapest we could find at the store after Brian here thought he’d raid the campground supply.”
“You make us buy it in bulk,” Rob pointed out.
Danny started to turn his head, but a growl from Joey stopped him. “It’s all fun and games until we run out of toilet paper and our campers are flushing who knows what down the toilets.”
“Okay.” Joey backed away from Danny. “Are we done?”
Brian had to admit they’d done a good job. Kyle’s looked more like a hula skirt than a gown on the bottom and they’d wrapped the toilet paper around his torso like bandages for a bodice.
Danny’s flowed from where the ends had been tucked into the neck of his T-shirt, with a sash tied just belowhis chest to hold it all in place. He had a traditional veil, though they’d finally given up on covering his face.
“We’re done. Team Bride?”
“We’re ready,” Kevin called back from the other side of the tarp they’d strung to divide the store into two “dressing rooms.”
“Texting Siobhan now,” Brian said.
I hope you’re ready because they’re going to sweat and we’ll have a ton of papier-mâché on our hands.
Ready. I’ll count to ten and start the music.
Even though he was in the back, trying to keep Stella from grabbing at the trailing toilet paper, he heard the women’s laughter and knew the men had been spotted. He wasn’t surprised the chosen brides threw themselves into their roles, walking regally across the grass to the tinny rendition of “Here Comes the Bride” coming from Siobhan’s phone.
The women—who were wound up from a lot of mimosas and a rousing round of dirty Scrabble, based on the shrieks of laughter coming from that end of the grass—clapped and cheered throughout the pageant.
