“Right?” I laughed. Axel had been…enthused by the prospect from the moment I’d agreed to marry him. It endeared him to me in a totally new way.
We sat around talking and laughing for a while before I heard the front door open. When Axel walked in with Jill and a sleepy Mason in tow, I almost fell out of my chair.
“Jill! Oh, my God!” I squealed, running over and throwing my arms around her. “How did you? When did you?” the words tumbled from my mouth as Axel chuckled.
“Your man here flew us out,” she grinned, cocking her head toward Axel.
I turned to him with wide eyes brimming with sudden tears. “Babe,” I tried to finish my thank you but the words were trapped in my throat.
He kissed me chastely, running a thumb over my tears. “It was nothing, baby,” he replied simply.
Maybe to him. To me it meant the world and he knew that.
“Thank you,” I managed.
“You’re welcome,” he replied, stooping to touch his forehead with mine. “Now, I’ll let you ladies have your fun. See you in a few hours, baby,” he grinned, his eyes alight.
“Yeah,” I beamed, watching my gorgeous man stride out of the room before turning my attention back to my friends.
We put Mason down in the guestroom where Jill would also spend the night. I was so beyond excited to see her I could barely stand it.
“Tim couldn’t come?” I wondered aloud as I grabbed her a drink and we all got situated in the living room.
“No,” she shook her head, not offering further details.
“Everything all right?” I asked carefully, not wanting to pry in front of the rest of the girls but wanting to make sure she was okay.
She shrugged. “It could be better but I’m not here to talk about me.” She forced a smile. “I’m here to watch my best friend get married.”
I eyed her thoughtfully for a minute, trying to decide if I should push the subject.
“Really, Soph,” she added quietly. “I want to enjoy myself.”
“Okay,” I agreed, reaching over to grab her hand. I’d let it go but we were going to talk – and soon.
By the time Axel got back with Wes and Mack in tow, Ettie was passed out on the couch, Connie was dancing to music only playing in her head and Scarlet, Jill and I were immersed in a very serious conversation about the TV show Scandal.
I’d taken it easy on the alcohol, not wanting to be hung over the next day, but I couldn’t say the same for the rest of the ladies.
“Have fun?” Axel asked with a lifted brow, eyeing Connie with evident amusement.
“Yeah,” I laughed as Wes sauntered over to his lady and twirled her, despite the lack of music. It was as though they were in their own little world as he grinned down at her with obvious adoration. Connie was a free spirit through and through. I loved that about her. Obviously, Wes did too.
Mack lifted Ettie off the couch and with a chin lift, carried her out to his truck. “Come on, ladies,” Wes said to Scarlet and Connie. He draped an arm over his
wife, and headed out with Scarlet following as they both called their goodbyes.
“I’ll turn in,” Jill announced, rising to stand a bit unsteadily on her feet.
“Okay,” I hugged her close. “I’m so glad you’re here,” I murmured in her ear.
“Me too,” she agreed, hugging me tightly.
“Come on, baby,” Axel coaxed, quietly taking my hand. “Night, Jill,” he called over his shoulder as he led me to our room.
“I think something’s really wrong with Jill,” I professed through the darkness after we crawled into bed. “She won’t talk about it but she’s always been dodgy about Tim.”
“I’m sure she’ll talk when she’s ready,” he replied, his fingers stroking through the hair at my temple. “For now, try not to worry about it. She wouldn’t want you worried about her – not with the wedding.”
