Nikki
NICOLE MARIE
Finally, a response comes through.
I can’t talk right now. Shit is going down. But Sybil is safe. Just get back to Malibu ASAP!!!
I turn to Finn. “Nikki says Sybil’s back. We need to get to LA right now. Rick, can you take us to the airport?” I’m already pulling the back door of his Corolla open.
“Sure thing. Hop in.” Finn throws our bags in the back of the car, and Rick floors it to the Flagstaff airport.
Finn books our flights on his phone, and I don’t even let myself think what the last-minute fares must be costing him, while I keep calling Nikki until she picks up. “Sweet Jesus, Emma, I was going to call you as soon as I was free!”
“What is going on? Tell me everything. Is the wedding still happening?”
“There’s nothing to tell right now. I don’t know if the wedding is going to happen. All I know is Sybil called and told her parents that she was on her way back. Mrs. Rain just came by to tell us. Do you think you’ll make it back in time?”
“Yes,” I say firmly. Given all the travel snafus I’ve experienced over the past two days, I shouldn’t be so confident, but there’s no way I’d miss Sybil walking down the aisle. “I’ll be there.”
The flight back to LA is a whirlwind—but I’m amazed that there is not even a flutter of anxiety in my chest. No need for the 3-3-3 technique. I guess the chaos and catharsis of the past few days have been enough to drain my body of nervous energy for the time being. And having Finn sitting beside me, holding my hand during takeoff, doesn’t hurt either. Before the plane begins its final descent, I spend several minutes in the tiny lavatory, putting my Vegas makeup to use and trying to get all my hair to go in mostly the same direction. After we land, we spend another hour in traffic to get to Malibu. That’s when the nerves set in. What will I be walking into? Is Sybil really okay? Where has she been the last two days? I’m practically vibrating as we pull up to the resort. Finn grabs my hand and pulls me to him, dropping a soft kiss on my cheek. “It’s going to be okay,” he says. I let out a deep breath, and I believe him.
“You’re right.” We head to our separate rooms.
Willow waves me down as I’m scanning my key card in front of my door. She’s already wearing her champagne silk bridesmaid’s dress. “How’s Sybil?” I ask.
She ignores my question. “Did Finn Hughes just kiss you?”
“Maybe.”
She looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to elaborate, one hand on her hip, the other on her pregnant belly, her lips a perfect French red. She really is stunning. “Listen, Wills, I’m sorry I always nag you about the cigarette thing. I know you’re an adult, and you can make your own decisions about your body.”
Narrowing her eyes at me, she asks, “What the hell happened on that road trip, Em?”
I don’t know how to sum up everything that’s happened in the last few days with my dad, with Finn, with me, so I just throw my hands up and offer her a watery smile.
“Oh, sweetie.” She tries to pull me into a hug, but mostly I end up bent over her stomach with my face resting in her cleavage while she rubs small circles on my back.
“Willow.” My voice is muffled. “I can’t breathe through your boobs.”
She releases me with a laugh. “Another benefit of pregnancy: giant boobs. Put that in the pro column. Though, the fact that they’re always sore is definitely one for the con column.” A sharp movement ripples the satin of Willow’s gown, and she cradles her belly.
“Did the baby—”
“Just kick?” Willow’s smile widens. “They must want to say hi to their aunt Emma.” I loop my arm through Willow’s, and the DONOTDISTURBsign swings as I open the door to a room that is exactly as I left it. “You can nag me about cigarettes asmuch as you want,” Willow adds, settling onto the little couch in the cottage’s living room as I race to my suitcase to slip out of my shorts, tank, and sports bra, shimmying into a strapless bra instead. “I know you only harp on it because you’re worried about me. Besides, I’ve been reading a lot about it, and I think I might be more of a psilocybin woman these days.”
Reaching for my shoes, I try to make sense of Willow’s words. “Psilocybin… like… shrooms?” I pause, one high heel shoe dangling from my fingers. It takes everything in me, but I force the words out. “If… that’s what… makes you happy.”
“I’m just messing with you, Em.” Willow cackles from the couch. “The hardest thing I’ll be on for the foreseeable future is acetaminophen.” I giggle as I throw on my own champagne bridesmaid’s dress and rejoin Willow in the living room. She studies my face and gently smooths down a bit of haltered neckline. “Wow. Finn Hughes really did a number on you. I like it.”
A soft smile comes to my lips. “I like it too.” More than that.I love it.My breath hitches, and I realize I have to talk to Finn. But first, I need to see Sybil. On impulse, I pull open the closet, and Sybil’s wedding gown is gone. Sighing in relief, I throw my heels on, and Willow and I book it out of the cottage.
It’s a perfect Southern California afternoon. The sun is shining golden, and a breeze is blowing sea air up into the mountains. It’s only been a few moments that I’ve been away from Finn, but I already miss him so much I imagine the faint scent of woodsmoke and lavender. Except, I’m not actually imagining it. Because as I turn down the path toward Nikki’s cabin, I spot Finn just a few yards ahead of me. He’s managed to put on his tux, and I’m struck all over again by how handsome he is. “Stop, Emma. I just need one minute.”
“Oh no. Is Sybil gone again?”
“No, this isn’t about Sybil. You look beautiful, by the way.”
Willow gives me a wink and keeps waddling toward Nikki’s room.
