My invitation clearly takes her by surprise, but she nods and falls into step.
We don’t have far to go, so I cut right to the point. “You may not want to hear what I have to say. If he’s anything like he was with me, Rick is probably making you feel like a princess right now.”
Alexis stiffens and pulls away a bit, but she keeps walking.
“All I’m going to say is be careful. He lied to me, he took things from me, and he wasn’t the man he pretended to be. Keep your eyes open.”
She doesn’t respond, and her expression is tight, but not angry.
I give her a moment, in case she wants to respond or ask questions. When she doesn’t, I pick up my pace and cut to the right, toward the side entrance. I’ve said all I need to say. “See you later, Alexis.”
Before I reach the door, my sister calls after me. “Callie, wait.” When she catches up, she sounds sheepish. “Would you have time to do a favor for me?”
“Sure.”
“I’m sorry to ask you to do this, but could you go back to the spa and pick up some of the small tubes of their signature lotion? Everyone loved the vanilla sandalwood scent, and I’d like to add it to the bridesmaids’ gifts. You liked it too, right?”
“Yeah, it was nice.”
“Please get six of them, if you can. You can have them charge it to my room.”
“Will do.”
“If the spa was closer, I’d get them myself, but Adam needs help wrapping his groomsmen gifts, and I won’t have time to do both.”
“No need to explain. I’ve got it.” I turn to leave, but she’s still apologizing.
“I’m just really sorry to ask you to pick up part of your own gift. I’m such a bridezilla.”
“Oh my gosh, Sadie, you are not. That term is nonsense, anyway. It’s your special day, and you deserve to get what you want. Now, Mom, on the other hand …there should be some monster mashup nickname for how she’s been behaving all this time.”
My sister grins and nods. “Yeah, there should be.”
“Something mixed with King Kong, since she looms over everything, or maybe Medusa, her gaze turning me to stone.”
Sadie laughs with me, but quickly sobers. “She’s been a huge pain, but she really did a great job overseeing the planning of all of this.” Sadie gestures toward the rehearsal site and at the resort in general. “It’s all been feeling really special.”
“That’s good. I’m glad. You deserve it.”
“Thank you, sis.” She smiles at me for a few seconds before asking, “How are things going with Max? You two looked really into each other on the dance floor last night.”
“We had a good time dancing.”
Her smile turns wicked. “And then …?”
I shake my head, laughing. “And then nothing. We were tired and we went to bed.”
“I never did ask about your sleeping arrangements. Are you sharing a bed?”
“He slept in my bed, but it was just sleeping. Nothing happened.”
Sadie nods, looking all-knowing. “Taking things slow, huh? That can be good. Build a strong foundation before you get physical.”
“The relationship is fake, Sadie.”
“Keep telling yourself that, Callie. I know better, and I’m pretty sure Max does, too.”
CHAPTER 40
