She smirks. “Don’t you mean bachelorette party?” Her eyes light. “Or a joint party?” Ah, I got her interest. “Like all of us together? In N.Y.C?”
I smile back. “Only if you fly us there.”
Her lips curl down. “I don’t know if I can risk it,” she says. “Not you.”
“So fly yourself there and I’ll meet you?”
She hits my chest playfully. “I’ll think about it. When?”
“Next weekend?” I shrug. Leif won’t care. He’ll love it. He’ll close the whole entire base for a week if it means he’ll get some time alone with Malena. His pursuit is relentless. “In an effort to get this marriage ball rolling as soon as possible. Let’s plan it.”
“Oh, Malena will freak out if I tell her this. I’ll let her plan it all.” She pulls on her bottom lip, her gaze far away in planning land. “And she can put the wedding together.” Now she claps her hands. “I won’t have to do a thing!”
I laugh. “You really don’t like this stuff, do you? We could elope? In New York? No one would know except us?” As much as I don’t like the idea of her not getting a proper wedding, I wasn’t lying when I said I would do anything to make her happy. My motto has transformed from “Keep It Simple,” to “Whatever It Takes.”
She shakes her head. “No, I think we should have a wedding for sure. A small one. Do you need to get back to your party?”
I take her by the left hand. “It’s our party now,” I coo. “Happy Engagement Party!”
Her eyes widen. “Oh dear,” she replies.
Chapter Twenty-One
Caroline
I did it. I flew that stupid plane all the way to the private airport outside of Manhattan. Tahoe kept a straight face, trying to hide his phobia of flying in small planes. I was grateful if only for having one less thing to deal with. I was on alert the entire time, using more caution than I’ve used since I was a flight student. It was a smooth ride and everything went as planned. I spent all of Wednesday and Thursday tracking weather patterns and studying air traffic patterns outside of the area.
“Wear the green one, Caroline,” Malena hollers from the other side of the suite. “I’m going to wear the lilac one. Britt is wearing the champagne colored skirt and black blouse,” she adds. I do have my own room here at this beautiful hotel, but everyone is getting ready here because there’s more space. Tahoe is one floor down and seven doors to the right. On the corner. I’ve seen New York in movies, but I never expected it to be so busy. In real life, it is so grand. There’s no grass save for squares here and there, and in Central Park. The buildings take up all the space where sky should be. The city has a way of making you feel small and insignificant, but it’s an experience I’m happy to be having. An outlook I never considered.
Tahoe took me to breakfast and then after a make out session in his room, he took me to lunch, and now we’re in our separate quarters getting ready for the festivities tonight.
His friends have promised debauchery and the finest strip clubs money can buy, and my friends, or rather Malena, by herself, has lined up the best restaurant, and bars. She did it all on the crazy time crunch of a week that we gave her, and she did it happily, without asking me too many questions. Though, I have a sneaking suspicion she probably pestered Tahoe with most of her concerns in an effort to keep me from freaking out and calling the whole thing off.
I finger the green dress in my hands and shake my head. This is going to make for an interesting evening. Britt, who only came because Malena begged, has been on full on jealous mode because not only am I getting married before her, we’re in a big city celebrating my union. Not in a dirty bar sipping old, foamy beer while feeding a juke box. She didn’t cancel her wedding to Whit, but they did pause it. I’m not even sure what that means, or how it’s any different, but that’s what she’s been saying to anyone who asks.
Shirley hangs up her cell behind me with a curt goodbye. “Caroline, it’s going to look amazing. Put the damn dress on and let’s get this party started.” I sip the champagne, my third glass since I started getting ready. Someone came to the room and did our makeup and hair, and I’ve never felt so fancy in my entire life. “I won’t even look like this on my wedding day, Shirley. Isn’t it,” I say, slurring a bit. “All too much?”
She laughs and lays her hands on my shoulders. “All women need to feel like a princess once in their life. Put it on,” she orders. I do, and she zips me up, moving my cascade of curls to one shoulder. “You look like a blonde Princess Kate,” Shirley drawls. “He knew what he was doing.”
“What do you mean he knew? He chose this?” I run my hands down the sleek fabric as I stare in the mirror.
“Of course he did.” I knew he was footing the bill for this weekend, and I was hesitant to let him, but I never would imagine his duties involved selecting fashion for his bride.
“I love it,” I say.
“Now you love it,” Shirley says, rolling her eyes. She’s wearing a black number complimented with thick, dark eye makeup. ‘A 90’s grunge dream come to life’ she proclaimed after the makeup artist completed her look.
I turn to view the back of the dress, eyeing the detail more thoroughly. “Of course I love it more now that I know he likes it. Take a photo and send it to mama,” I say. I pose with my hands on my hips and it feels awkward. “Wait, wait. Take another one. How should I pose?” I ask my friend.
She tilts her head, surveying me. “Cross your ankles. One hand on your hip. Turn to the side a little. Hair over that shoulder,” she orders, as I try my best to follow along. “A little bit more twist. Yes. Like that.”
Her cell phone camera flashes and she squints her eyes as she appraises the image. “Perfect.”
“Let me see,” I say, teetering on my heels to stand next to her. It is a good photo. I look like a totally different person. Everything polished and preened to city shine. Shirley presses a few buttons and proclaims it’s been sent. To both my mama and to Tahoe.
My cell phone, the new one, that has a touch screen front and more features than I know what to do with rings on the night stand. Tahoe’s text reads, “You look beautiful. I can’t wait until you’re my wife.” He ends it with a smirking smiley face.
“So you can take the dress off?” I fire back.
