Chapter Twelve
“I’ve been told you’re always on time, usually early.Even five minutes late is cause to send out a search party.”Courtney waved over the waiter.“A margarita for my new friend.”
Amy’s jaw hit the floor as their waiter, in tight minimalist shorts that left absolutely nothing to the imagination, with only suspenders and bulging muscles to complete the outfit, nodded at the flamboyant redhead.
From beside her, Carrie scrambled from her seat, curled her fingers around the guy’s suspenders, and thrust a five-dollar bill into his belt.“I’ll have another one of thosedee-liciousdaiquiris.”
“What the…” She yanked her friend back into her seat.Amy hadn’t been that late leaving her room.“How many of these have you had?”
“Two.”
Two?Amy turned to Linda.
“Yep.”The maid of honor nodded.“What can I say?She’s a cheap drunk.”
When Courtney had insisted that Amy and the rest of Carrie’s bridal party join her group to give their singlehood a respectable farewell at the Bare Cave across the street from the hotel, instead of the Wine and Cheese Board, Amy hadn’t given the nightspot’s name much thought.
“Saved you a seat.”Emily pointed to the empty chair between her and Courtney.
Amy took a second to scan the immediate surroundings of the dimly lit club.On the other side of their table a dark cross-shaped stage jetted out into the room.If the wait staff were already more than half naked, she wasn’t sure she was ready for whatever performances were going to happen on that stage.She was even less sure if she wanted to watch it seated next to her brother’s fiancée, but it would make one heck of a bonding moment.“Thanks.”
“Isn’t this great?”Courtney shouted over the din of the customers and the tune “It’s Raining Men” blaring from the overhead speakers.
“Definitely not my normal Thursday night,” Emily said.
“This entire trip is turning out to be so beyond perfect.”Courtney took a sip from an oversize martini glass filled with frozen swirl.“Better than I’d imagined.”
“How’s that?”To hear better, Amy leaned a bit forward.
“We saw the reception area today.Oh, my heavens.The photos online just can’t capture the awesomeness of that view.And with the wedding scheduled just before sunset, it will be phenomenal.If we time it right, the sun will be all sorts of pretty shades of red and orange at the same moment we promise to love, honor, and cherish for the rest of our lives.”
“Noobey?”Amy asked with a smile.
“Not in my marriage.”Courtney grinned.“Oh”—she scooted to the edge of her seat—“and you should see the room my mother got for the same price as mine.There’s a balcony facing the ocean and a little living room, and a bathtub the size of my entire bathroom at home.”
“Wow.”Amy leaned back.
“You’d think,” Courtney continued, “that they’d give the free upgrade to the bride not the bride’s mother.”
Lisa stuck her head between the women.“They should have given it tomy mom.You were practically another tax deduction.”
“No kidding.”Courtney laughed.“BFF for sure.”
“That’s right,” Amy said.“You guys have been friends since elementary school.”
“Yep.”Courtney nodded.“Third grade.”
“Did you see this?”Lisa held out her phone.
Courtney turned toward her BFF, and, swiping at the screen, the two women huddled in more wedding conversations.
“You’re looking more relaxed tonight.”Emily scooted her seat closer to Amy so she could lower her voice.
Amy dialed back her smile to something that didn’t shout I’ve found the guy I want to kiss for the rest of my life.“It’s been a… good day.”
“Things are going good between you and Ray?”
Oh, yeah.Not that she knew where things were going exactly, but she was pretty sure whatever came next, she would be along for the ride.
