Do you want help decorating for the bridal shower?
Stephanie
Decorating? Aren’t the hotel people doing that?
Me
Um, no. You said you wanted to pick the decorations.
Stephanie
I thought they were doing it *shrug emoji*
Me
Did you order food for it? Or plan games or anything?
Stephanie
I already said I thought they were taking care of it all, Minnie! God, you’re annoying.
Mother fucking Stephanie. She told us weeks ago she had everything handled. Thank god I ordered stuff online last month just in case. Shoving my phone in my pocket, I follow Bean to the checkout counter.
“I’m starving,” she groans.
Alex chuckles behind me, sending a wave of want through me. I can’t let what happened last night happen again. Things are too fucking complicated between us.
“When are you not?” he asks.
“Well, usually right after I eat, at least,” Bean says.
“For about three minutes,” I add, tossing a few mystery box keychains into my basket. I’m shopping like I still have a well-paying job and my savings account is taking one hell of a hit.
“What sounds good for lunch?” Alex asks as we step outside with our bags full of books and random shit.
“I know we just did tacos last night, but I’m craving street tacos from that cart by the studio,” Bean says.
We hop in the car and head back across the river to Cottonwood Creek. After too many tacos, I lie and say I have a headache. Once Bean and Alex drop me off at my car, I haul ass to the venue an hour away.
I immediately order food for the bridal shower, not giving a shit how much it will cost. Alex can afford it. He’s already paying an assload for this wedding, might as well make it more. I feel bad for not telling him, but not bad enough to call him at the moment. Maybe I’ll tell him tomorrow at the rehearsal dinner.
Once the food is taken care of, I decorate the room before driving home, where I pull a big bag of bachelorette party items out of its hiding place under my bed.
Bean might think it’ll just be a small get-together tonight, but it’s going to be a lot more. And it’s not going to be at our favorite bar and grill. Or at least, it’s not starting there. I rented a limo to drive us over to Portland and take us to a couple of clubs that Haven and Stephanie can go to, then we’ll probably hit up Micky’s.
Yeah, I’m kind of exhausted after going out last night, walking around Powell’s, and hanging streamers, but it’s Bean’s big day. Or, long-ass weekend. Whatever. I’m doing this for her.
Chapter 31
Yeah, it's pretty fucked
Alex
After we drop Amelia off, Lizzie and I decide to take it easy for the rest of the day, since her bachelorette party is tonight, and the next two days will be filled with wedding prep and then the actual wedding. We head to my hotel to watch a couple of movies in the suite’s living room before ordering room service for dinner.
“I’m so excited for tonight. The official start of the wedding activities! Well, at least for me.” Lizzie scowls at her fork for a second.
I take a deep breath, still trying to find the right words of support. “You definitely deserve a night out with your friends after putting up with me all week.”
