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“I can’t help that I’m ticklish as fu— Well, you know,” I stop myself as I hold the arms of the chair tight, trying not to flinch as I laugh. It happens every time.

Viola is sitting in the chair with her eyes closed relaxing. I know that if I even dare do that, I’ll be out in five seconds if my feet aren’t being touched.

“What color would you like?” the lady doing my feet ask.

“Whore red,” I blurt out. Kayla and Ashley burst into a chuckle.

“I want whore red, too,” Viola says, and we all get the same color.

Once the pedis are done, we get our manicures and allow them to dry before we head to the backroom to get our clothes.

“Miss,” a woman behind the counter says to Viola with a box and a big red bow tied around it. “I was told to give this to you once you all were finished.” She opens the box, and it’s the tightest, black dress I’ve ever seen. Her eyes go wide.

“Is he serious?” she asks me.

“I think he is,” Kayla says as I hold it against my body.

“Put it on! I wanna see,” Ashley says, and we all wait as Viola changes. When she enters, my mouth falls open.

“That ass!” I can’t help it. “Hot!”

She smiles. “Yeah?”

Everyone nods and agrees.

“Travis knows what he has and apparently knows your best assets,” Kayla says.

Viola is so damn happy that it’s contagious.

Once we’re all dressed and makeup is freshened up, I look at my phone. It’s close to six. Next up is dinner and then we’re going to rock the fuck out of some karaoke.

As I’m walking out of the spa, Mr. Hottie Hot Hands Massage Therapist meets me in the foyer and hands me his number. Of course, I take it and give him a wink before I walk out the door. Not looking back, all I can think about is if he knows Kama Sutra. What a perfect distraction that’d be.

CHAPTER SEVEN

DREW

The night before the wedding…

I voted for a strip club, but of course, Travis shot it down. Apparently, strange titties weren’t on the list the night before one of the biggest days of his life. Instead, he planned a night at his friend’s cabin and had the house stocked with premium cigars and whiskey for all of us. I can’t complain too much, but I know he was tempted to text Viola the moment he packed his suitcase.

“Do you want me to check in on them?” I ask.

His eyebrows lift, and I already know the answer.

“I just want to cancel it all and meet them at that stupid karaoke bar,” Travis says as he cranks the Range Rover. Since we graduated college, he’s driven a black Challenger but after the second baby was born he traded it in for a utility vehicle. But I’m happy he did. I couldn’t listen to Viola bitch about putting car seats in a two-door car anymore. Since he rented them a limo, we took the Rover to the cabin.

I pull out my phone to text Viola then decide against it because she’ll know I’m checking up on her. Instead, I pull up Courtney’s number and send over a text.

D: Just expect nightly check-ins. Travis is going crazy without her.

C: Considering what he dressed her in, I imagine he is.

Courtney snaps a picture of the girls and Viola’s wearing the tightest black dress I’ve ever seen her in.

D: That explains a lot. Please watch her.

C: Duh. But you might have to come arrest me.

I’m not sure what to say in response until a picture comes in of her flexing.

C: Because I’ve brought the guns tonight. Also, Viola has already given us a curfew, too. We can’t stay out past eleven. *eye roll*

I instantly start laughing, hard.

“She’s crazy. Actually, they both are,” I say out loud.

Travis speeds down the highway. “But that’s why we love them.”

That’s why he loves Viola, of course. He loves everything about her—the good, the bad, and the nerdy.

“They’re eating dinner then going to karaoke. But they are leaving at eleven.”

Travis smiles. “That’s my girl.”

D: Be safe. Have fun. Give me updates.

C: You too. Wear protection. Stripper titties can sometimes be gross.

D: You must know from experience.

C: A proper southern lady never tells.

Somehow Courtney and I have transported back to how we were before Mia and I got back together, and I had that crazy dream. I’m happy that it feels normal again. I didn’t want it to feel strange with her. Pretending it all never happened is the best thing for us both.

Actually, I’m a bit shocked because it’s the first time I’ve thought about Mia all day, which is an odd feeling. She still hasn’t texted me, and I haven’t made an effort either. Usually, when we break up over something, it’s obviously stupid, and I don’t push the issue, but this time is different. I always allowed her to get her way. More times than not, I’m tripping over myself to prove I love her, that I’m the man for her, but now, I feel done with it all. When a person steps away from the manipulation they’ve been smothered in for so long, the real issues become obvious. At least that’s been my experience since we’ve broken up. It feels like I’ve finally seen the light—again.