“We’re not married,” I say weakly. “And I’m not sure he meant for us to shop on his card.”
“But you will be married,” Maya says. “So what’s his is yours.”
“And ours!” Greta cheers.
“Will you, though?” Colette says lightly, her eyes never leaving her phone. “I mean… let’s be honest. I don’t think anyone here believes this is really going to last. I’m sure Graham’s already giving you signals—like this trip. No man loves his girlfriend enough to fund her friend’s bachelorette party. This is the last dying gasp of guilt.” She smiles, syrupy. “So why not blow out his credit card? If he dumps you over that, he was planning to dump you anyway. Girl power,” she adds.
Gran is already rummaging through my closet.
“We have to go shopping,” she declares. “Piper, why did you let her pack this nonsense? You pack like my grandmother. What is this, overalls?”
“We’re not clubbing,” I protest. “This is a wholesome weekend. I have fondue planned for lunch today and some fun evening entertainment, not strippers,” I beg as Gran waggles her eyebrows.
Piper and I pull on our sensible boots, not the stilettos the Girl Squad is strapping on.
“Thanks for coming to help corral Gran,” I say to Piper.
“You owe me,” she replies.
“Put it on my tab.” I sigh.
“But not too much. This place is swanky. Though I do appreciate a real bed.”
“Room service is on Graham’s tab,” I promise.
I double-check that Graham’s credit card is in my purse. I absolutely cannot afford any of this on my own.
“How much did this even cost?” Piper asks as we take the private elevator down.
“Like… a lot,” I say. “Likea lota lot.” I chew on my lip. “You think that’s why Graham’s so…”
“Angry? Crazy?”
“He’s afraid he’s going to jail.”
“Billionaires don’t go to jail,” Piper argues.
I fidget with Lulu’s leash. “I know. That’s what I said. I mean… what if it’s me? What if he secretly wants to get rid of me?”
“I thought you said he wanted to be your real boyfriend.”
“What if he was caught up in the moment? Now he regrets it. I mean, you saw the photos of his mom at the party. Guys don’t want a girl who’s less attractive than their own mom.” I fret.
“You guys had kinky kitchen sex. He’s clearly attracted to you.”
“Yeah, for sex, but not a relationship.” I check my phone. “Graham hasn’t responded to any of my text messages. See?”
“He’s probably at work, or maybe he’s in the throes of a sex-starved mental breakdown. You guys were at it about as bad as Gran is.”
“I told him maybe one of his brothers should stay with him while I’m gone. Make sure he eats the food I left. I don’t think his private chef uses enough cheese.”
Piper looks at me. “You like him. You’re going full wifey mode.”
“I feel like I owe him,” I say. “He’s paying for this bachelorette. It’s not even the money—it’s that he even offered, that he was even paying attention enough to offer. He’s like… the perfect boyfriend.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“I don’t know,” I admit as we walk through the snow to the shopping district. “Something’s, like, bothering me. Kraig said—”
