“I can’t believe you got a limo for this. Did the boys leave in one, as well?” I ask, climbing into the back of the stretch-Hummer-style limo that could easily fit twenty people. The last time I was in a limousine was prom, and it was nowhere near as nice as this one. The cool leather of the seats chills my legs as I slide over to the bench seat.
“No. They aren’t fabulous like we are. They all left in a cab,” Joey answers as he settles into the seat to my right. Juls slides in next to him and smiles at me, pulling the hem of her dress down on her bare thighs.
Brooke opens one of the cabinets and grabs a bottle of champagne and several flutes. “Let’s make a toast.”
“Should you be pouring that? Didn’t you pre-game it at the house with a few of the minis from the fridge?” Joey asks, scooting closer to Brooke.
Brooke glares at him. “Shut up, you queen. I’m perfectly capable of pouring under tipsy conditions.” She fills the glasses, handing them out to the three of us. Joey takes his with a disapproving look before dropping it to give me his winning smile. “Who wants to do the honors?” Brooke asks.
“Me. I have to practice for Saturday anyway.” Juls holds her glass in front of her, prompting the rest of us to do the same. She beams at me sweetly. “To my very best friend, Dylan, who deserves all the happiness in the world. We all love you very much, sweets.” Her lip quivers a bit and she looks down, hiding her teary eyes. She wipes her finger across her cheek. “Sorry. I’m just so happy for you.”
Joey sniffles next to her and squeezes her knee.
“You guys are lame. Is this how it’s going to be all night?” Brooke asks. She tips her glass back when no one responds and downs the contents. I smile over at my two best friends, motioning to them for us to do the same. Brooke collects our empty glasses before reaching up and rubbing the back of her neck. “That stupid couch was not meant to be slept on. I’m getting a bed tonight.”
“Not mine,” Joey informs her. He looks out the window as the limo begins to slow down. “Oooo, we’re here!”
My nerves hit me in one big rush, not knowing what to expect when I step out of the vehicle. I try to look out the window, but Brooke blocks my view as she stands and smoothes her dress. Shit. I really don’t want to go to some seedy strip club where you’re most likely to catch an STD just from breathing the air. But I can’t bail, not when we’re already here.
Juls places her hand on the door, looking back in my direction. “You ready, sweets?”
I nod and force my most convincing smile. Juls and Joey file out of the limo, followed by Brooke. I scoot myself along the bench seat and take Joey’s offered hand that’s held out for me, mentally preparing myself for what I’m about to endure. And then, I step out of the limo.
I am expecting neon lights and loud music pumping from a building.
I am expecting drunk patrons stumbling along the street and the smell of booze and cigarettes.
But I am not expecting this.
The limo has dropped us off outside a very ritzy establishment, the words ‘Bella Donna Day Spa’ scrolled in fancy script above the doorway. I turn toward my two best friends who are smiling at me. “We’re having a spa day?”
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Juls asks.
The tenseness in my shoulders has disappeared completely. I reach for Juls’ hand and she places hers in mine, squeezing it gently.
Joey wraps his arm around my shoulder. “Did you really think I’d make your bachelorette party all about me? What kind of friend would I be if I did that?”
“But you told me to dress sexy.”
He runs his eyes up and down my body. “And you knocked it out of the park. Don’t worry, we’ll put that dress to use when we go dancing after this.”