While many—Birdie and Dash included—would enjoy a more traditional bachelorette party in the city drinking and dancing, this was far more my speed. A cozy evening withfood, drinks, and my best friends was exactly what I wanted. The only thing that would make it better is if I could share the experience of sleeping in a windmill with Oliver.
We opened the front door and made our way up a staircase that hugged the circular walls of the mill. The first level we hit was much larger than I expected, outfitted with a rustic kitchen, cozy living room, and stand-alone wood stove in the center of the space.
I adored the subtle modern amenities in the kitchen, like the espresso maker on one end of the butcher-block counter, the stainless-steel refrigerator, and a small built-in wine fridge. But most of all, I loved how the modern touches didn’t take away from the original details of the historic home. The rough-hewn beams lining the ceiling and exposed brick over the stove reminded me that this building had a rich history. I made a mental note to ask Dash and Birdie later if the owner had shared any of the background with them when they secured the rental.
In the living room, fairy lights trailed along the ceiling, giving the space a magical feel. In the corner by the stairs, a small bookcase was filled with a variety of board games, books, and movies.
“Here, let me show you to your room,” Birdie said, taking my hand and leading me up the stairs to the next floor, where four doors opened into three bedrooms and a bathroom. The stairs continued up to a third level, which I assumed housed at least one more bedroom. She took me into what had to be the master suite. The room was not large by any means, but it did hold a king bed and an ensuite half bath.
“When I booked this place, the lady assured me there was a bathtub.” Birdie cleared her throat. “Come to find out, it’s…outside.” She dragged out the last word as she pointed out the window, where I spotted a galvanized tub positioned next to an outside shower, both overlooking the fields.
I snorted. “You know what? I think I can go one night without a bath.” No need to give the security team, who I knew were patrolling the property, a show. My heart warmed at the lengths Birdie had gone to to make this day special for me. I adored her and looked forward to doing the same for her soon. Her friendship really was one of the best things I had gained through the last several months.
I heard a bustle downstairs, followed by a male voice that wasn’t Dash’s yelling, “The party is here!”
I shot a look at Birdie, narrowing my eyes. “Who is that?”
A gleeful look overtook her face. “Surprise! Oliver and the guys are early!”
I couldn’t help the excitement that ran through my body. I hadn’t realized how accustomed I had become to falling asleep and waking up with Oliver wrapped around me. I had been a bit sad at the thought of not being with him tonight, so this was an amazing surprise.
“You really did think of everything didn’t you?” I grabbed Birdie’s hand and pulled her into a tight hug, trying to convey my gratitude.
“I tried.” Birdie pulled back, placing a kiss on my cheek. “Now let’s go get our guys.”
“You can’t play another Draw Two card on top of the one that Vince already played!” Chauncey yelled at Tej.
“Yes, I can! And that means you have to draw four cards,” Tej argued.
“No! You can’t stack. The official rules say nostacking. I’m not drawing four. You have to draw two and then I play the color!” Chauncey yelled.
“House rules say you can.”
“Bullshit! Give me the instructions card and I will show you this is not okay.”
“Oh my God, Chauncey,” Mel cut in dramatically, drawing out the “O” in God for emphasis. “Just draw four and keep going. It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Like hell I will!”
“Is he about to flip that little coffee table and cause a scene?” I whispered into Oliver’s ear.
We stood in the kitchen snacking on the pizza the guys had brought while our friends played card games in the living room.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t put it past him.” He laughed as he took another bite of his slice.
“So, what did you guys do today?”
“They took me to a new sporting clay course. It was really nice. Although, unsurprisingly, Chauncey and Vince got into it over the technicalities of the sport.” He rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide the humor on his face. “Then we went to the Wexstone Distillery and I got to choose the whiskey for the wedding.”
“That sounds very posh,” I said, exaggerating my accent.
Oliver snorted. “Well, Iamthe king. I can’t be frequenting strip clubs or jumping out of airplanes, can I?”
“We both know you wouldn’t be doing either of those things even if you weren’t the king.”
“True.” He laughed in agreement. “How was your party?”
“It was delightful. We met at St. Jerome Library. In lieu of cards or gifts, everyone gave me their favorite book, so I have more to add to my growing collection.”
