Then we lie next to each other, limp, depleted, grinning from ear-to-ear. Eli glances over at me, looking more blissed out than I’ve ever seen him. “You okay?”
I bite back my smile, nodding because I’m too breathless for words.
He kisses me deep again. Then he tenderly cups my face. “Was that good for you, Firefly?”
I smile and lay my hand over his, my heart beating triple time. “Incredible. It was incredible.”
And amazing. And extraordinary. And un-fucking-believable.
“Yeah, it really was.” He smiles at me, then he kisses my palm. Next thing I know, he’s rolling out of bed.
Immediately, my heart deflates. He’s leaving?
He seems to read my expression from the end of the bed where he’s removing the condom and pulling his pants back on. “I-I don’t want Callie to...”
“Yeah, of course.” I paste on a smile to hide my disappointment. I pull the sheets up over my naked body and I’m not sure how to feel.
Of course he’s leaving. His little girl is in the next room. What would Callie think if she sees us stumbling out of bed together tomorrow morning?
He pauses at the door and looks at me. “I mean it, Jessa. Tonight was incredible. You were incredible.”
I blush so hot I’m sure I have smoke coming out of my pores. “Good night, Eli.”
He grins. “Good night.” He pivots to leave.
When I try to turn over, I can already feel a deep burn in my thigh muscles. I groan into my pillow. “I’m gonna be sore as shit tomorrow.”
I hear Eli call out from over by the doorway. “You gonna need a sick day? Or can I expect you up, bright and early and fresh as a daisy for work in the morning?” There’s a smirk in his voice.
“Stop gloating, Eli! Nobody likes a showoff?” I roll onto my back and fling the pillow at him. He chuckles.
When the door closes behind him, I tug my blanket up to my chin, clench my thighs and close my eyes. I’m cheesing so hard. It just won’t quit. I fall asleep with a big, ol’ smile on my face.
39 Jessa
My left foot is blue and trembling as it emerges from the bucket of ice water, a plastic ring with a fake rhinestone gripped between my numb, claw-like toes.
“I win! I win!” I shriek in the face of my opponents, flinging my arms up as I drop the ring onto the floor next to my bounty—another half dozen baubles I just finished digging out of the frigid water.
I shoot up to my feet to do my victory dance but because my sole is wet and numb, I end up slipping on the Portuguese tile floor. I land on my ass with a crack.
The tipsy women crowding the room go up in hysterical laughter. “Whatever, jealous bitches!” I sneer.
Iris shakes her head and mutters, “Bridal showers are weird…”
She’s not wrong.
It’s Sunday afternoon and we’re at Iris’s greenhouse on the Kingston Family farm. Jude bought the greenhouse from Walker last year when he and Iris decided to go halfsies on a flower shop. Long story.
Anyway, today the small glass structure has been transformed into a beautiful floral-scented tea room with hanging vines, lush ferns, vibrant begonias…and drunk ladies.
This is supposed to be Penny’s bridal shower, a small but classy affair. But Alexia ‘accidentally’ dropped an entire bottle of vodka into the fruit punch and now, everyone’s inhibitions have been smashed to shit.
Penny said she wanted to keep her pre-wedding celebrations simple. She’s more interested in the happily-ever-after part with Walker and her babies than she is with all the fuss that goes with planning a big wedding. She made it clear that this is as close to a bachelorette blow-out as we’re going to get. So we’re making the most of it.
“For heaven’s sake, Jessa. Get your ass up.” My sister extends a hand to me, emitting a boisterous laugh. With her help, I hobble up to my feet. “You’re such a lightweight. You really can’t hold your liquor.” She turns to Iris and Penny. “Let me escort this drunk madamoiselle to the washroom to get herself together.”
Our friends both decide that they might as well tag along in case Lexi needs reinforcements.
I’m carefree and snickering as we go off across the lawn in the direction of the family guesthouse. I don’t drink much, but when I do, I sometimes get a bit…messy. My limbs feel tingly, my eyes go glassy and I can’t seem to shut the hell up.
“I just love weddings,” I slur as we enter the lobby bathroom and position ourselves in front of the mirror above the sink. “They make me all happy inside.”
Iris checks the bottom of the two toilet stalls. They’re both occupied. Now, she’s dancing around from one foot to the next as she waits for one to free up.
“Stand still.” Alexia positions me in front of the sink and produces her makeup kit. Then, I’m being assaulted by brushes and glosses and coverup sticks.
“And I’ve always dreamed of having a big one.” I sigh dreamily.
“A big what?” Penny leans close to the mirror, freshening up her lipstick. She’s the only one who’s completely sober, given that she’s still breastfeeding.
“A big wedding, silly.” I tipsy-giggle. “With all the bells and whistles. Maybe even a horse-drawn carriage.”
Drunk as I am, I remember to drape my hair just so, to cover the mottled skin on my neck. Yeah, Eli left teeth marks. I spent all of five minutes attempting to obscure it with a thick blanket of foundation and concealer before rushing out the door but I feel like the bright lights of this bathroom only accentuate it. In any case, no-one has mentioned it so far and I’d like to keep it that way.
I drone on. “My sister spent our entire childhood
